Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
2009
- role-playing (rpg)
- adventure
- action
- fantasy
- comedy
- single player
The story
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is the third game in the Mario & Luigi series of games. Players control Mario and Luigi simultaneously in the side-scrolling platform environment of Bowser's body, while also controlling the Koopa King himself in the top-down world of the Mushroom Kingdom. Similar to games like Earthbound, enemy encounters are seen as actual enemies that players can avoid or attempt to strike early. The actual battles are a combination of turn-based menu attacks, and timed reactions to enemies during battle. By watching the way an enemy reacts, you can anticipate their attack and avoid it or counterattack.
What it’s like
Bright, cartoonish sprite art in saturated primary colours, with the Mushroom Kingdom rendered in sunny top-down pastels and Bowser's body turned into a squelching, organic interior of pinks, reds and wet greens. The 2D sprites are small and expressive, animated with a bouncy, rubbery charm, and the chiptune-leaning score is lively and melodic, with comic sound effects punctuating every jump and hit. Its handheld screens feel tactile: you tap, time button presses and watch enemy wind-ups closely in the hands. The vibe is playful and warmly absurd, the kind of thing to pick up for a long-haul flight or an easy evening with a gentle, goofy sense of adventure. Pacing is brisk in the platforming and more deliberate in the turn-based battles, with backtracking and optional side paths stretching sessions out. Emotionally it stays light; the two brothers' bickering and tentative teamwork carry the warmth, and Bowser's bumbling, sympathetic sidequest gives it a surprising softness. Violence is cartoonish and bloodless, with defeated foes simply vanishing, and there are no sexual or frightening elements, though a few tense time-limit moments and boss fights add mild pressure. It suits players who enjoy classic RPG systems, quirky humour and a charming, family-friendly world.
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