Inside Bowser

Mario and Luigi have been to some pretty bizarre places, but none as weird as where they end up in Mario and Luigi RPG 3. You see, a mysterious epidemic is raging through the Mushroom Kingdom, causing people to inflate many times their normal size. The residents of the kingdom unite to confront the disease, only to have their party crashed by a massive Bowser, who’s under the control by a mysterious new villain, Gerakowitz. Out of nowhere, Bowser sucks everyone up into his mighty belly.

Now lost inside the mighty Bowser, Mario and Luigi must work together to try and escape Bowser’s stomach. Along the way, the dynamic duo will have plenty of help available since Bowser not only sucks up Mario and Luigi, but also a wide array of citizens. When it’s all said and done, this could possibly be Mario and Luigi’s biggest adventure yet.

Gameplay

Much like Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time, Mario and Luigi RPG 3 is played using both screens. The top screen displays the Koopa King as he adventures throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, whereas the bottom screen plays home to Mario and Luigi as they try and work their way out of Bowser’s stomach.

The two different sides of the quest have effects on each other. For example, Mario and Luigi can pinch nerves inside Bowser’s body to send him into a frenzy or touch a muscle to power-up the Koopa King. Even though Bowser sucked Mario and Luigi up, as well as a bunch of other Mushroom Kingdom residents, Bowser has no idea he did!

Bowser’s gameplay can best be described as an action RPG. Players move Bowser around in an over-head perspective, using his trademark flame breathe to clear trees and punching blocks and other obstacles to open new paths.

Mario and Luigi, on the other hand, operate a little differently. For starters, the game switches to side scrolling as you control both characters simultaneously. Both characters will respond to your D-pad inputs, but Mario and Luigi each have their own unique attack button. Some of the commands at their disposal are jumping, which can be used to evade enemies and hit blocks to collect coins, and an attack that uses their hammers to smash obstacles.

Combat

Veterans of the Mario and Luigi series will find themselves right at home with the third installment when it comes to combat. Mario and Luigi fight much like how they did before. Players just select a command from the menu and then watch it be executed. Combos can also be performed by pressing the attack button at a certain time.

Since Bowser’s all alone on the top screen, he gets to take advantage of both attack buttons. When attacking enemies, they’re used to breathe flames at the enemy as well as punch them. While defending himself, the buttons make Bowser duck his shell to avoid projectiles from above whereas he’ll just punch enemies coming directly at him.

The game is also including touch screen controls this time around. On the bottom screen, Mario and Luigi will have to deflect certain attacks using the stylus. When Bowser fights on top, every so often the DS will be flipped sideways into "book mode," with Bowser on the touch screen and the enemy on the right. Be prepared to use the stylus to direct his flames and repel enemies. You might even judge the strength of Bowser's flame by how long you can blow into the microphone.

Outside of Battle

Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga was one of the best Game Boy Advance game released in North America. Its sequel, Partners in Time, claimed the same spot on the DS. Both titles raised the bar for portable RPGs and I’m positive that Mario and Luigi 3 will do exactly the same. It may not be the typical Mario platformer we all know and love, but hey, the game still offers plenty of fun. The game is already available in Japan and should be on store shelves in America and Europe by the end of the year.