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Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Official Thread

I can finally report for duty in this topic. Just started playing this (CD Wow is sloooowwwww on delivery) and it's awesome, I really love the humor in the game.

Bowser as King of Awesome, Luigi taking a nap, hilarious :lol
 
Finally got a chance to play it, and so far I'm pretty impressed. The writing is amazing, especially how they managed to make Bowser look and sound dumb, yet extremely likeable at the same time. The gameplay seems to have much more variety than its predecessors, and the interaction between the inside and the outside feels really fresh. I didn't like the controls at the beginning because it's a bit odd using X/Y all the time, but it makes sense and I'm getting used to it.

So far, I've played only 5-6 hours but if it can hold that level of entertainment until the end, this might actually be my GOTY.
 
I left the game sitting on my shelf for a few weeks near the very end of the game, and I just now got around to finishing it. I liked the last boss battle quite a bit and the game overall is quite brilliant.

My only issues with it is that it's a bit lengthy. It's a hard complaint to make since through and through the game oozes charm and is so amazingly polished, but I don't think the game needed to be as long as it was. I'm sure most won't make that complaint, but I'm not a teen anymore and I can't devote hours and hours and hours into a game. :lol

I don't mind RPG's clocking at the 20 hour mark or over but usually I'd like anything above the mid teens to be due to non-linear, optional, exploration content and side quests. This game didn't have too many side quests I don't think? I guess mainly the blitties? (I only missed one :'( )
 
Sloane said:
Finally got a chance to play it, and so far I'm pretty impressed. The writing is amazing, especially how they managed to make Bowser look and sound dumb, yet extremely likeable at the same time. The gameplay seems to have much more variety than its predecessors, and the interaction between the inside and the outside feels really fresh. I didn't like the controls at the beginning because it's a bit odd using X/Y all the time, but it makes sense and I'm getting used to it.

So far, I've played only 5-6 hours but if it can hold that level of entertainment until the end, this might actually be my GOTY.
Click to expand...

It stays like this until the very end, IMHO.

My SO just finished it and I started my game a few days ago. I peeked in on it being played here and there, random snippits up until the endgame; it was creative and amazing all the way through.

AlphaDream actually did up their game this time around. I really didn't think it could be better than Superstar Saga but... damn.

I think I may end up liking it more than Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door. This is saying something.
 
^ same here :lol . So many awesome moments in this game.

Tiktaalik said:
My only issues with it is that it's a bit lengthy. It's a hard complaint to make since through and through the game oozes charm and is so amazingly polished, but I don't think the game needed to be as long as it was. I'm sure most won't make that complaint, but I'm not a teen anymore and I can't devote hours and hours and hours into a game. :lol
Click to expand...

Completely agree. I'm 20 hours in now, at the final level. And I think the game is a bit lengthy. But god damn, the amount of polish and constant new gameplay mechanics just blows me away.

Can't wait to finish this tonight. I heard some good things about the final boss.
 
Wizpig said:
I LOVE the music in this game.
Click to expand...

The soundtrack is nice, but I kinda wish they brought back whoever composed for Paper Mario 1 and 2.

Best Mario RPG battle music ever.

Paper Mario TTYD battle theme

Paper Mario 1 Battle theme

Rawk Hawk (:D ) Battle theme

Superstar Saga did have a great fast paced boss battle theme though, but not sure if the same composer worked on this one.

Covering all series, whoever thought of using different button combos in a turn based battle, making it feel sort of like a normal mario game, is a genius.
 
Lengthy ?

I felt Bowser's Inside Story's game length was very good.

It would have been longer if it relied on level grinding and throwing in potentially lame side quests but I'm glad it didn't. It's because it doesn't have such things that the game really doesn't feel like it's as long as it really is.
 
Great game. Just got back inside Peachs
Castle at the end. Does anyone have a map for where to find all the beans? I'm so OCD about them that I just have to get them all.
 
I beat it. Was a really great game....but it kinda went down in quality during the final parts of the game.... they were reusing the same enemies, and QUITE EARLY. Oh, and the last boss: easy, and not epic at all. :( I still liked the game, but the end really didn't do it for me.
 
I thought it was surprisingly lengthy. I almost spent as long with it as I did with Dragon Quest V.

It wasn't a massive issue given that save-points were numerous and intelligently placed, but almost every aspect of the game - be it sections of Bowser's body, locations in the Mushroom Kingdom, or certain battles - went on longer than I expected.

Not that I didn't appreciate it, just that it confounded my expectations for a portable game and a Mario RPG.

(This was my first Mario & Luigi game. And in spite of the slightly negative tone of my post it's one of my favourite games of the year).
 
Teknoman said:
The soundtrack is nice, but I kinda wish they brought back whoever composed for Paper Mario 1 and 2.
Click to expand...

That's the Fire Emblem composer. She's retired after FE6. They do bring her back to help every now and then.
 
I was very hesitant to get this game even after hearing how good it was. Superstar Saga didn't really do it for me, so I never bothered with Partners in Time. Grabbed this with Amazon's B2G1F last month and after starting it a couple days ago, I'm really glad I did. The humor was always there in the previous titles, but the variety in gameplay is really what's making this a winner for me. The sidescrolling portions are by far my favorite, which might explain why the other games weren't very thrilling.

I'm not sure how far in I am at 7 hours, but it's keeping me interested for now.
 
Tiktaalik said:
This game didn't have too many side quests I don't think? I guess mainly the blitties? (I only missed one :'( )
Click to expand...

There was the optional boss battle for Mario & Luigi near Bowser's castle, the Blittie sub-quest (best attack in the game imo), the Puzzle Challenges and Bowser's Challenge Room.
 
jaundicejuice said:
There was the optional boss battle for Mario & Luigi near Bowser's castle,
Click to expand...

!

Where?!?

EDIT: never mind, read that as "optional boss battle near PEACH'S castle....
The shroob fight was awesome though. :D
 
Well, I think I am at the final boss now, my DS has been in Sleep mode with me putting the charger in and out for the last 3 weeks in what I think is the last dungeon in Bowers body.
 
Does this work well as a stand-alone game? I don't think I'll be picking up the previous games (given how expensive they seem to be), and the thought of a Bowser RPG specifically appeals to me. The M&L segments should be fresh to me as well since this'd be my first game in the series.

Does the gameplay/design variety remain fresh throughout? The pacing?

One of my concerns is that I saw one boss video at one point, where the player just basically used the same special ability over and over again. Didn't make the gameplay look very appetizing.
 
Llyranor said:
Does this work well as a stand-alone game? I don't think I'll be picking up the previous games (given how expensive they seem to be), and the thought of a Bowser RPG specifically appeals to me. The M&L segments should be fresh to me as well since this'd be my first game in the series.

Does the gameplay/design variety remain fresh throughout? The pacing?

One of my concerns is that I saw one boss video at one point, where the player just basically used the same special ability over and over again. Didn't make the gameplay look very appetizing.
Click to expand...
The game is good as a stand alone game, there is no direct reference to any past game. I feel it got a bit stale at the end, but it has good pacing, and is only 20 hours long for the main game.

The main reason to use a single special ability is some are just easier to pull off, or more effective on the enemies being battled.

I enjoyed it though.

This came at 9-fucking-thirty a.m. this morning via FedEx.

I don't know why Best Buy sent me this. I didn't preorder and I don't think I even bought it on day 1. But it certainly wasn't worth me getting out of bed that early.
Click to expand...
You didn't have to preorder, all you had to do was buy the game the month it came out. And even then I bet you they will send it to anyone who buys the game and using the RZ Card in till they run out.
 
Drkirby said:
The game is good as a stand alone game, there is no direct reference to any past game. I feel it got a bit stale at the end, but it has good pacing, and is only 20 hours long for the main game.

The main reason to use a single special ability is some are just easier to pull off, or more effective on the enemies being battled.

I enjoyed it though.


You didn't have to preorder, all you had to do was buy the game the month it came out. And even then I bet you they will send it to anyone who buys the game and using the RZ Card in till they run out.
Click to expand...
Wrong. I won't say which as that would be a spoiler, but there is 1 reference at the very least, one that is directly made to PiT.
 
HUELEN10 said:
Wrong. I won't say which as that would be a spoiler, but there is 1 reference at the very least, one that is directly made to PiT.
Click to expand...
No, IMO thats indirect, since it doesn't effect the main story or brought up by it, and only is a single optional boss battle and an easter egg.

You are talking about the Shroobs, right?

Finished the game yesterday.

Incredibly satisfying (though easy) final boss fight.
Click to expand...
IMO, all 4 of the last fights I think of as one long battle with save points in between (And some time to grind if you suck)
 
Teknoman said:
The soundtrack is nice, but I kinda wish they brought back whoever composed for Paper Mario 1 and 2.

Best Mario RPG battle music ever.

Paper Mario TTYD battle theme

Paper Mario 1 Battle theme

Rawk Hawk (:D ) Battle theme

Superstar Saga did have a great fast paced boss battle theme though, but not sure if the same composer worked on this one.

Covering all series, whoever thought of using different button combos in a turn based battle, making it feel sort of like a normal mario game, is a genius.
Click to expand...

That was Shigeru Miyamoto's idea that he suggested to Squaresoft back for Super Mario RPG.
 
I finished it today and I have to say that it is an excellent game. The last boss battle was really satisfying. I plan on playing trough the game and find all the secret stuff. I haven't been able to spot all the badges or reach the highest ranks or cleared all map areas. The game is fun and rewarding enough for me to go trough it all. That says a lot about the quality.

This ranks among the top RPG's this gen for me.
 
HUELEN10 said:
Wrong. I won't say which as that would be a spoiler, but there is 1 reference at the very least, one that is directly made to PiT.
Click to expand...

A "true" reference is an unexplained reference.

All references in this game (which would include all characters!) are explained and accounted for within the game itself. Inlcuding that one. (which was awesome)
 
I think Super Star Saga is richer, has better characters, more more diffcult, and its better as a whole than Bowser's Inside Story (or A Journey to the Center of Bowser, great name they gave to the spanish version, I like it better, and a great tribute to Juilius Verne), but BIS is also great. Bowser is a great character, and I love the little cutscenes of Mario and Luigi acting like in a 30's black and white cartoon, but I dont understant really how most people say BIS is the best of the series.

The last boss although its very, very easy, I found it very fun also.

One more thing, the game is VERY easy, much easier than SSS, but the enemies take TOO MUCH life, so they kill you for stupid things and not because its hard (good bless the continue clocks). If I rember correctly, the SSS enemies were much harder to avoid (bosses taking the cake, the last boss of that game was fustrating but fun) but you didnt take a lot of damage from enemies. Maybe 15 points max. Here the norm is 30 or above.
 
So I beat the game. Ending sucked. Beat the game again at level 40, because I heard there was an extended ending. Well the extended ending was just a message. Great game, but seriously, worst ending ever.
 
udivision said:
<shameless plug>
If you guys are fans of the Mario RPG's you might be a fan of this... fan... game.

Super Mario RPG: The Seven Sage Release Trailer


It's an 10-15 hour game, has a lot of references to other MRPGs including the original, M&L and the Paper Mario series, and overall is pretty good for an RPG Maker 2003 game.

For more info go here.

</shameless plug>
Click to expand...

maybe i'm missing it, but is there any footage of the battle system in this video? lots of interesting minigame footage, but very little battle system that i can tell. . .
 
The fuck?

I had basically just gotten through all of the annoying tutorial stuff where the star guy talks your ear off constantly, and the game froze. Froze! I've never seen ANY ds game freeze!
 
SpacePirate Ridley said:
One more thing, the game is VERY easy, much easier than SSS, but the enemies take TOO MUCH life, so they kill you for stupid things and not because its hard (good bless the continue clocks). If I rember correctly, the SSS enemies were much harder to avoid (bosses taking the cake, the last boss of that game was fustrating but fun) but you didnt take a lot of damage from enemies. Maybe 15 points max. Here the norm is 30 or above.
Click to expand...

I think I prefer harder hitting enemies than enemies with inflated HP. Keeps you on your toes and the battle experience doesn't get as tedious.
 
Does this game have a point of no return? I remember seeing a save block placed in between boss fights, with no way to get back to the main map. Or does the game give you a way to keep playing after finishing?
 
RocketDarkness said:
Does this game have a point of no return? I remember seeing a save block placed in between boss fights, with no way to get back to the main map. Or does the game give you a way to keep playing after finishing?
Click to expand...
Nope, there is none that I can remember. There is a save block on the final screen that once you walk past though the final boss battle starts, but you can just turn around, and go back to toad town and do what every you like.
 
Drkirby said:
Nope, there is none that I can remember. There is a save block on the final screen that once you walk past though the final boss battle starts, but you can just turn around, and go back to toad town and do what every you like.
Click to expand...
Oh, okay. Maybe I just couldn't find the way back down, or something. Didn't try too hard. Anyways, thanks for the heads up. I'll have to finish it sometime this week, then.
 
Got the game last week and I'm having a blast. It's so much fun and some of the jokes got me so hard :D

But as you mentioned it. I had a point of no return: After getting to Toad Town I was not able (yet?) to get back to the tunnels :( How should I do this? I haven't seen everything down there :(

the massage minigame sucks so much. I cannot beat the record because my left hand is blocking my sight all the way. Played upside down but this did not help it that much. After 20 tries I got a B-rank though.
 
Finished the game, loved every single part of it (MUCH more than previous M&L).

One of the best DS games so far. I'm even trying to complete it! I never do that with RPGs!

This is what I'm searching for:

- the last "gatiblock" - cat block - burocat (I don't know how it's called in English), which is hidden around Peach Castle
- the way to reach the hidden rank

Oh, and localization is excellent in Spanish. So many :D ,:lol moments!
 
SpacePirate Ridley said:
One more thing, the game is VERY easy, much easier than SSS, but the enemies take TOO MUCH life, so they kill you for stupid things and not because its hard (good bless the continue clocks). If I rember correctly, the SSS enemies were much harder to avoid (bosses taking the cake, the last boss of that game was fustrating but fun) but you didnt take a lot of damage from enemies. Maybe 15 points max. Here the norm is 30 or above.
Click to expand...

So it's not really easier...harder hitting enemies is a better way to deal with difficulty that the absurd HP wells that the enemies in the first game were. It was ridiculous how long battles lasted simply because the enemies had tons of HP. This game deals with it better by emphasizing the tells of the enemy which is really what separates this from other RPGs. The fact that finding out the hint the enemy gives before an attack and being punished for not is a better way to instill challenge than tons of HP where you're basically repeating the same actions for long periods of time to the point that it becomes somewhat repetitive. I will say SSS had better characters though
 
Damn I still haven't got A rank on Koopa Shell, Cannons and Magic Window mini-games. Though I haven't felt like trying either, haven't played the game for weeks.

CaVaYeRo said:
This is what I'm searching for:

- the last "gatiblock" - cat block - burocat (I don't know how it's called in English), which is hidden around Peach Castle
- the way to reach the hidden rank
Click to expand...

Just do the inhale attack on every enemy
Level 40
 
Allan Holdsworth said:
Damn I still haven't got A rank on Koopa Shell, Cannons and Magic Window mini-games. Though I haven't felt like trying either, haven't played the game for weeks.



Just do the inhale attack on every enemy
Level 40
Click to expand...

- thanks. Hmmm I think I've tried on everyone on the Castle...
- wow, that's difficult at this rate! :lol
 
Gamefly just shipped this to me. I'm very excited! :D

I have one question though...I've heard that Mario and Luigi get somewhat overshadowed by Bowser in this title. I was kind of disappointed to hear this because the idea of playing as the Mario Brothers working together to pull off crazy combo-based feats (as in Superstar Saga) has always really appealed to me. There aren't a lot of games that really showcase Mario and Luigi as a team. Then Partners In Time came out and the babies kind of destroyed that whole "partnership" idea. And now it seems once again that Bowser will get in the way of the "character" of the Mario Brothers.

So what should I expect here? Do Mario and Luigi get a decent amount of time in the spotlight, or is it mostly a Bowser game?
 
CaVaYeRo said:
- thanks. Hmmm I think I've tried on everyone on the Castle...
- wow, that's difficult at this rate! :lol
Click to expand...

Did you try the Mechawfuls on the outside of the castle? I ran around the castle for an hour like a doofus before I realized I had done everything inside, but I hadn't beaten one of those green ones on the outside as Bowser.

I just finished the game today, by the way, at about 28 hours. Just absolutely awesome. It stayed fresh all the way to the end. Too bad I have no reason whatsoever to play it again.
 
autobzooty said:
Gamefly just shipped this to me. I'm very excited! :D

I have one question though...I've heard that Mario and Luigi get somewhat overshadowed by Bowser in this title. I was kind of disappointed to hear this because the idea of playing as the Mario Brothers working together to pull off crazy combo-based feats (as in Superstar Saga) has always really appealed to me. There aren't a lot of games that really showcase Mario and Luigi as a team. Then Partners In Time came out and the babies kind of destroyed that whole "partnership" idea. And now it seems once again that Bowser will get in the way of the "character" of the Mario Brothers.

So what should I expect here? Do Mario and Luigi get a decent amount of time in the spotlight, or is it mostly a Bowser game?
Click to expand...

Bowser's character really shines here in comparison to other games where he shows up, but MnL get their share of gameplay time too.
 
Hmm, I'm at a section that I don't like...

The X-ray section. I don't like the labyrinth-style gameplay here, going back and forth :(
 
I don't get the experience points at times. When I kill one of those shooting flowers with M&L I get like 150XP each. But if I kill one of those seeds instead I get like 750XP? WTF?


I'm wandering around in the overworld with M&L atm. How many secrets are there? I found a lot of places so far where I could dig up some beans. I'm lvl 25 @ M&L and 21 @ Bowser.

I really like the fact that enemies show you what they do next. But I don't like that I often fail :D the funny thing is. This is the best motivation for me.
 
udivision said:
<shameless plug>
If you guys are fans of the Mario RPG's you might be a fan of this... fan... game.

Super Mario RPG: The Seven Sage Release Trailer


It's an 10-15 hour game, has a lot of references to other MRPGs including the original, M&L and the Paper Mario series, and overall is pretty good for an RPG Maker 2003 game.

For more info go here.

</shameless plug>
Click to expand...
wow, I can't even imagine how much time this must have taken. well done.
 
Wahaha. I'm about 8 hours in just at
Peach's Castle
. I played the original M&L.. loved it. Skipped Partners in Time, and now I'm back with this title. The dialogue in the game is great, even better than Paper Mario:TTYD, which I laughed my ass of to.

Can't believe I picked up Scribblenauts over this when it came out. Oh regrets. :lol
 
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