The fall release season begins with the next installment in the successful Mario & Luigi series for Nintendo DS. How does this entry in the series stack up? Is it worth your time, and, more importantly, your money? Read the review and find out Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story is the third installment in the very popular series co-developed by Nintendo and Alpha Dream. This time out the action takes place both outside and inside of Bowser. The story this time sees Mario and Luigi summoned to Princess Peach’s Castle after several residents of the Mushroom Kingdom come down with a mysterious condition known as “the Blorbs”, which has caused them to balloon in size and become immobile. Mario and Luigi are charged with helping the After a quick tutorial battle in which the brothers again defeat Bowser, the game begins in earnest with Bowser in the forest where he has landed. When the nefarious Koopa King eats a none too healthy mushroom, given to him by a mysterious stranger he gains the ability to inhale everything in his path. The stranger reveals himself to be FAWFUL, the hilarious, grammatically challenged villain of previous installments.  Unfortunately, Bowser can’t control his new ability and he winds up inhaling Mario, Luigi, Peach and the Toads.  And from there, the silliness begins.

Throughout the game, you will control Mario & Luigi, as a pair, as the navigate the insides of Bowser. In addition, you will control Bowser, as he navigates the Mushroom Kingdom, attempting to recapture his Castle from Fawful. Movement is controlled using the d-pad. Mario and Luigi’s attacks and Special Moves are controlled with the A and B buttons on the DS and Bowser’s attacks and Special Moves are controlled using the X and Y buttons. Mario and Luigi begin the game with only a “Jump” command, but they soon discover the Hammer. Bowser begins with just a punch, but soon regains the ability to breathe fire. Most of Bowser’s new abilities are unlocked by actions taken by Mario and Luigi on the inside. Mario and Luigi’s new abilities are unlocked by finding all the attack pieces in an area. One of this game’s biggest strengths comes from the fact that it ties the two storylines together so well, with actions taken by Mario and Luigi on the inside affecting Bowser on the outside and vice-verse. For example, when Bowser drinks water, his insides fill up and Mario and Luigi can swim. The game also make good use of the DS’ unique features, with the touch screen and microphone used sparingly and sensibly. They are mostly used in the very entertaining scenes where Bowser grows to the size of the full screen and you tilt the DS vertically to battle equally gargantuan foes. During these battles, you execute a Punch attack by sliding the stylus across the touch screen and breathe fire by blowing into the microphone. The controls in this game are tight and work very well. None of the touch screen control feels forced in any way. Graphics are superb, bright and colorful and extremely sharp for the DS. The music is good, when character voices kept to short clips, growls from Bowser and Italian sounding gibberish from Mario and Luigi.

The biggest strength of this game though, is the writing. The story is hilarious, with much of Fawful’s dialog being laugh-out-loud funny. I played the entire game with a smile on my face and now, as I am reliving it, the smile returns. Watching and listening to Mario and Luigi argue in gibberish Italian is unbelievably funny. And, Fawful’s dialogue sounds, yet again, as if it were written by bad game manual translators. The infamous “All your base are belong to us” kept springing to mind. Ultimately, there are only two gripes I have with the game. One, Mario and Luigi MUST be controlled together, which means that if you want to jump to a platform to move on, BOTH brothers must jump successfully. Mario jumps with the A button, Luigi with B. So, you must press both buttons at the same time to get both brothers to jump. Secondly, some of the Special aatcks require almost inhuman timing and reflexes to pull off. However neither of those gripes should be enough to deter from experiencing this truly enjoyable playing experience. It’s another home run for Nintendo.The game is in stores now, go out and get it.

As you will hear the villain Fawful say numerous times: “I HAVE CHORTLES!”

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story gets a 4 out of 5.

Check out these screenshots. Click on a thumbnail to enlarge.