Though the games are titled Super Mario Brothers, Mario and Luigi rarely receive the same amount of credit for successful crusades. Mario is apt to obtain the glory while Luigi is regarded as a mere accessory. Exceptions to this rule are the Mario & Luigi role-playing series, which have see the duo engage in crazy antics such as fighting against an evil bean queen and meeting up with their younger selves via time travel.

While those experiences required Nintendo’s dynamic duo to think outside the box in order to achieve success, their latest escapade requires them to not only venture out of said box, but into the bowels of their greatest foe. Such is the premise in Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, the third Mario role-playing game released on a portable system. This newest adventure of the brothers Mario proves to be an enjoyable experience thanks to a mix of innovative gameplay, clean graphics and a sharp sense of humor.

After opening scenes that successfully detail the kingdom’s latest peril, which involves the Mushroom Kingdom inhabitants turning into "blorbs," Mario and Luigi arrive on the scene. However, before they can begin their adventure, Bowser appears to complicate the proceedings. Mario volunteers to take him on, and the game uses this moment to introduce you to the battle system. The combat methods employed by Bowser’s Inside Story favor timing-based attacks and counters that were first established in the intrepid duo’s first adventure and improved upon in its sequel. This emphasis on timing-based actions succeeds in differentiating this game from the majority of turn-based role-playing adventures and lends a scent of freshness to this experience.

Bowser, embarrassed by this defeat, returns to the castle attempting once again to kidnap the princess and overpower Mario. He proves successful this time around, due to his possession of inhalation abilities that would make Kirby jealous. These abilities allow him to not only inhale Mario, but also his brother, the princess and the rest of the kingdom officials.

Article Author: Jason Townsend-Rogers

I am a master's student at the University of Florida pursuing a degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in Journalism. I enjoy writing about anything that has to do with technology, entertainment and politics.

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