Review: Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (NDS)

What makes it especially frustrating for us is that we just know we cannot completely give up on Nintendo, because even though the gap between “real” games seems longer than ever, the games that do finally make it out are usually among our favourite games of the generation. Such is the case with this third entry in the sublime Mario and Luigi series; though developed by a third party, it’s classic Nintendo magic.

The plot, as usual in this series, is supremely silly. The citizens in the Mushroom Kingdom have come down with a nasty case of the Blorbs, which causes them to inflate to giant proportions and roll around, but that’s not really that important. What does matter is that Bowser is soon tricked by series baddy Fawful into shrinking and inhaling Mario, Luigi and the rest of the population in Peach’s castle into his gut. Thus begins the quest to find a way out of Bowser’s unpleasant innards and stop Fawful’s plot to take over the Mushroom Kingdom.

What this ultimately means is that the story is experienced from two intertwining points of view. On the bottom screen you control the brothers as they wander around Bowser’s insides like a traditional Mario platformer, but you can also take control of Bowser himself on the top screen as he tromps around the overworld through the series' standard top-down viewpoint. Unlike the (mildly) disappointing previous game, Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time, you don’t switch between the two playing styles constantly; you get a good half-hour’s worth of play-time with each character before you have to switch, and later on Mario and Luigi can exit Bowser and explore the overworld themselves.

The controls work as well as they ever did, and the game remains consistently inventive in its puzzles. Most of them make gleeful use of the split perspectives, such as Mario and Luigi having to massage Bowser’s muscles to help him manipulate heavy objects, or having Bowser gulp down water so the brothers can swim through a tricky area in his body.

While the game does contain the usual RPG tropes of statistics and changeable equipment, these are nowhere near as all-important as they are in other RPGs. Random combat has once again been removed completely, and battles themselves are more a test of timing and reaction than of who has the highest hit stat. Timed button presses are used to add extra power to attacks or to dodge and counter enemy attacks, and the combat remains fast-paced and enjoyable throughout. Where the two perspectives differ is in the use of special attacks, with the bros still working as a team for timed special attacks, while Bowser is able to call on minions which are manipulated with the touch-screen. The two styles even overlap, as Bowser can inhale some smaller enemies or parts of a larger enemy, with Mario and Luigi continuing the fight. As enjoyable as the combat is though, it will feel over-familiar to veterans of the series.

Also, little use is made of the touch-screen, outside of Bowser’s special attacks and various mini-games. The mini-games themselves are a mixed bag. There is one involving Mario and Luigi spinning around inside Bowser’s nose (it’ll sort-of make sense when you see it for yourself) which is frustrating and we really could have done without it. On the other hand the all-too-few fights where Bowser enlarges to Godzilla-size are brilliant, even making good use of the DS’ microphone to simulate Bowser’s fire-breath.

Graphically the game looks superb, with superbly-animated (though sometimes a little pixellated) sprites and deliriously colourful and well-designed environments. Sound is also effective, with amusing little snatches of speech and nicely-composed music (which cleverly changes slightly depending on whether you’re inside or outside Bowser’s body). Where the game really sparkles though is in the script and characterisation, containing a nice line in gentle humour. The sly digs and clever riffs on genre convention and the Mario series in general make for plenty of smile-raising antics; indeed it’s the nearest gaming has ever come to a legitimate parody. Bowser himself steals the show, portrayed as a creature of pure, blustering ego who reminds us of why he’s one of gaming’s greatest baddies.

It’s distressing to think that Nintendo games like this are so few and far between nowadays, especially when they turn out to be so hugely enjoyable. It’s not only the best of the Mario and Luigi series (in fact, we’d be perfectly happy if the series ended on such a high note), but it also ranks as one of our games of the year. This is not something we say lightly, especially considering the quality (both confirmed and potential) of certain other games released and to be released this year. It really is that good.

Rating: 9 / 10

Words by Drew Middlemas