Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

 DS
User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 461 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 412 out of 461
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 461
  3. Negative: 22 out of 461
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  1. knifeandfork
    Aug 1, 2013
    7
    Judging by the extremely positive reviews from critics, you'd think this RPG was amazing. It's not. It's a good game, but there were a few drawbacks. It has a reasonable plot, especially for a mario game, but the cutscenes are a bore. They try to make jokes, but they are not funny in the slightest. Once you get to actually play, things get better. It takes the form of RPG gameplay mixedJudging by the extremely positive reviews from critics, you'd think this RPG was amazing. It's not. It's a good game, but there were a few drawbacks. It has a reasonable plot, especially for a mario game, but the cutscenes are a bore. They try to make jokes, but they are not funny in the slightest. Once you get to actually play, things get better. It takes the form of RPG gameplay mixed with platforming. The stroy switches between Mario and Luigi, and Bowser. When you play as Mario and Luigi, you must control them at the same time inside Bowser's body. It takes the form of 2D platforming, along with some puzzles involving Bowser's body. Controlling them is a pain, especoally when you have to mke jumps- you must press a and b at the same time. Combat is more exciting. It's turn-based, and clever, as certain attacks require you to coordinate attacks with both Mario and Luigi. The other person you play as is Bowser. He is forced to work together with Mario anf Luigi to resolve the plot. This is far better than the other form of control because you only control one character, it is not platforming, and it takes place from an isometric viewpoint. Overall, Bowser's Inside Story is good, but not a true RPG. Fans of the series will especially want to invest in this.… Expand
  2. pavi132
    Feb 15, 2013
    6
    I really wanted to love this game and would have given it an 8/10 or maybe a 9/10 if not for a few problems that marred the experience. It is a pretty cool RPG with some neat interactive battle mechanics. It has a light but fun story. It isn't particularly interesting, but it's enough to keep you somewhat invested. The itemization was done pretty well also. The choice of putting the twoI really wanted to love this game and would have given it an 8/10 or maybe a 9/10 if not for a few problems that marred the experience. It is a pretty cool RPG with some neat interactive battle mechanics. It has a light but fun story. It isn't particularly interesting, but it's enough to keep you somewhat invested. The itemization was done pretty well also. The choice of putting the two heroes in a setting within the main antagonist of the series was incredible in theory. However, in practice, the developers severely screwed up. The good parts involve changing the internal environment of Bowser through his actions and navigating levels with Mario and Luigi this way. The bad parts come when you need Mario and Luigi to manipulate the inside of Bowser to create a change in him. These are done through some pretty frustrating mini-games. Sometimes it's just because they become very difficult and long to the point that if and when you mess up (and chances are you will many times), you not only lose coins but have to start over from the beginning and go through the whole thing again. Other times, such as the infamous pollen mini-game, the controls feel terribly unresponsive to the point that the mini-game seems unfair. The worst part is that many of these are mandatory and force you to complete them before you can move on with the game at all. You can't explore anything else or go anywhere else as a break, and you can't get around doing them. You just have to sit there and try to work your way through them. This could have been a terrific Mario RPG game, possibly better than its predecessors due to the very interesting setting, if not for these mishandled and seemingly forced mini-games.… Expand
  3. morrae
    Oct 18, 2013
    6
    I was determined to finish this game no matter what even though I had urges to put it down and never play again. And I found out that it's pretty fun and worth picking up. Even though the story is kinda predictable, I don't think people play this game for story. It's mario, how complicated can it be? Game aims more for the younger crowd I believe. Still I enjoyed playing it, it was fun andI was determined to finish this game no matter what even though I had urges to put it down and never play again. And I found out that it's pretty fun and worth picking up. Even though the story is kinda predictable, I don't think people play this game for story. It's mario, how complicated can it be? Game aims more for the younger crowd I believe. Still I enjoyed playing it, it was fun and satisfying.
    Game is build around timing. You have to react accordingly and it's basically a reaction game between walking around and reading dialogs. It's fun for some people, but I quickly learnt I'm not one of them. Sometimes timings can be really hard and you'll be struggling to make a counterattack or evade one of them. But the game itself is not hard, you'll be given a plenty of restoration items and do-overs. It just can be a little frustrating is all. On the other hand there's plenty of exploration and I liked that. You can explore regions as Mario and Luigi and as Bowser and they all can reach different places.
    Overall, I would recommend this game to mario fans (as you can play bowser and that's really cool if you ask me, he is lots of fun) and people who want some easy and cute rpg without deep involvement. It won't grab you into the story and hold you tightly until it's over. It's pretty relaxed game. Pick it up for some quick and basic fun.    … Expand
  4. DolphinReviews
    Jul 20, 2022
    7
    Great RPG. A must buy for the DS. Superstar Saga is better but this title stands on its own. It's good.
  5. tukumalu
    Jun 6, 2020
    7
    You get a decent story with Bowser and his minions coupled with engaging mechanics this time. Truly unique experience.
  6. ND-Bringer
    Sep 26, 2021
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I still remember back in the day, I would play this game for hours, in my Mom's old yoga studio after school while sipping a mango lassi. I had good times smashing enemies as the King Koopa himself. Returning to this game after many years has been a nostalgic experience, I love so many things about this game but after completing it for the first time, I felt a bit empty. Here's the scoop, the first act of the game is utterly brilliant, a classic Superstar Saga tutorial battle followed by Bowser buying drugs off the street...I mean obtaining a mysterious mushroom from a complete stranger(Either way, Bowser think of your kids that may or may not exist in this universe, since this isn't the remake). Oh and there's the "Blorbs" disease too...but you're likely to forget about that plot until the 2nd act of the game, when Mario and Luigi enter Toad Town. Anyway, I'm having a good time with the first Mario and Luigi level. After Bowser sucks everyone up, Mario is sent to a creative side scrolling world that lies within Bowser. Grinding and practicing my timing attacks just gives me such a warm feeling inside. Every time you level up you have the option of boosting one of your stats little further and little things like this can even make grinding really enjoyable. Bowser wakes up and learns about the returning villain Fawful's plan to take over the Mushroom Kingdom. And after a quick showdown with his very own Wario Land clone, he sets off on a quest to reclaim is title as the Mushroom Kingdom's top villain. Man I love Cave Cape's music, its a shame that there's barely anything to do in accept come back and use your new abilities to collect some hidden treasure. But moving on, playing as Bowser is the best thing about this game! Throwing wicked punches and setting blaze to my foes, it's the literal best to play as a boss. And then comes the Vacuum Block, its a great mechanic but I hate the control. The DS is made for swift movement, not intense button mashing! I'll get back to the worst of it later. The 1st act takes us through a nice order of levels. Bowser's intestine trash pit, a cape, a beach, Bowser's esophagus where you have the change the water level very once in a while on the outside, a forest, a Birdo worm fight, a Giant Bowser battle(which is freaking awesome to control), a quick field level, and finally Bowser's castle. It's a nice lineup that keep you motivated with a few fun mini games here and there. Seeing the world with Bowser's eyes is just an interesting experience. But his naive character leads to his downfall, as I roll my eyes with a missed opportunity to knock out Fawful. The 2nd act of the game has us search for Star Cures to remove Fawful's Dark Star barrier and remove the Blorbs disease. It's a fine act for what it is, but Bowser is just shoved aside for the most part as I start to remember that the Bros have platformer levels. While exploring the exterior of Bowser's Castle, I'm pondering why are their puzzle mechanics exclusive to Bowser's new Body Slam technique? Heck, his shell print is placed onto to the puzzle obstacles. Did Fawful install this? Why? This game is creative, but it like a kids cartoon that doesn't make a lick of sense sometimes. After collect all of the Star Cures and some new special moves, Mario and Luigi storm the castle and free Bowser from his safe prison, its a race against the clock to stop Fawful from draining the power of the ancient Dark Star. But the Bros. can't enter the castle...because the game won't let them. So Bowser storms the castle after the game literally asks us to take a break while we heal his back. Honestly why not? The pollen and leg muscle mini games were stressing me out a tad. And we reach the 3rd and final act of the game. It's also my least favorite part of the game. I'm glad Bowser's Spike Ball ability helps speed things up, but why is there an entire contraption dedicated to this ability within the castle!? I was about to take this game's plot seriously with the dark star, but this is just bizarre! And the boss fights here are really cool, but they're just visually stunning. Mashing that X button with your life force in order to win the battle is just painful. And the painful brew is mixed in with tedious mini games that just slows everything down. The Dark Bowser fight in particular is a mess. Again, it LOOKS awesome...BUT you can't defeat him unless you can suck up his healer, Fawful. And I killed Dark Bowser like 13 times, because I just couldn't summon the might to mash the X Button enough according to this game's standard's. And even after I finally did it, Fawful can just crawl out if you don't defeat him in time. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? Afterword, Bowser is beat up by the Bros and they send him a "thank you cake", for technically saving the world. This game is rather good, but since the post game just consists of collecting and grinding, I'm done here. It's just a game to experience once because the remake just has more content.… Expand
  7. Yojimbo2015
    May 21, 2023
    7
    Very similar to its predecessor Partners in time but with added 2D levels and the chance to play as Bowser. A solid little arcade adventure and slightly better than the first game.

Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best DS Game of 2009
3
#3 Most Discussed DS Game of 2009
1
#1 Most Shared DS Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 58 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 58 out of 58
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 58
  3. Negative: 0 out of 58
  1. NintendoWorldReport
    90
    Fans who loved the first two games shouldn't hesitate in picking up Bowser's Inside Story. It features everything that makes the series enjoyable and adds onto it everything but the kitchen sink. Despite a few minor flaws, it's a game that features an ingenious game design synonymous with Nintendo games and is easily one of the best DS games of the year.
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  2. Worth Playing
    96
    The bottom line on Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is that it's one of those games that every DS owner should buy, period. Regardless of your feelings about RPGs, the title is just so entertaining and well-executed that you're nearly guaranteed to love it.
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  3. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    92
    The freshest, most vital RPG on the DS for ages. You'd be daft to pass it up. [Nov 2009, p.76]
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