Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

 DS
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Image
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 58 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 451 Ratings

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  • Summary: In his evil plot to take over the Mushroom Kingdom, Fawful tricks Bowser into eating a magic mushroom. The mushroom causes Bowser to begin inhaling everything around him, including Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach! Do the Mario Bros. have the guts to rescue Peach and escape? Players are inIn his evil plot to take over the Mushroom Kingdom, Fawful tricks Bowser into eating a magic mushroom. The mushroom causes Bowser to begin inhaling everything around him, including Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach! Do the Mario Bros. have the guts to rescue Peach and escape? Players are in control of two separate storylines. One features Bowser and his efforts to stop an arch-villain from taking over his castle. Meanwhile, inside Bowser, the microbe-sized Mario & Luigi must muscle their way through challenges and keep their nerve if they want to find a way out. They take action to control Bowser from the inside - but without his knowledge. Players can switch between storylines at will. What happens inside Bowser affects what he’s doing on the outside. Sometimes Mario & Luigi must solve puzzles and challenges behind the scenes to help Bowser overcome various obstacles and advance the plot. Players must make well-timed button presses to enhance their performance during battles and challenges. In some battles, Bowser grows so large that players must turn their Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi system sideways, blow into the microphone or tap on the touch screen with the stylus to keep up with the action. The game features the same hilarious dialogue that has been the hallmark of the Mario & Luigi series. [Nintendo]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 58 out of 58
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 58
  3. Negative: 0 out of 58
  1. Thunderbolt
    100
    The adventure is lengthy, the characters are entertaining, and this is truly a game that you’ll want to keep in your pocket for any free minute you find yourself with. DS owners should not miss out on what could certainly be the best handheld RPG of 2009.
  2. Gamer Limit
    95
    Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is a truly remarkable experience, and should not be passed up by anyone who's interested in Mario, RPGs, or the Nintendo DS in general.
  3. RPG Fan
    92
    Once again, Mario and Luigi star in one of the most ingenious and well-polished titles on the DS. Their Fawfulized adventure through the bowels of the Mushroom Kingdom and its number one bad guy is one no one is likely to forget, especially Bowser.
  4. Destructoid
    90
    Inside Story is also incredibly beautiful, possibly among the best looking DS games ever made.
  5. Edge Magazine
    90
    A game that's more than the sum of its parts. [Dec 2009, p.98]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Games Master UK
    90
    Bowser proves a brilliant distraction from traditional Mario play in 2009's silliest RPG. [Winter 2009, p.81]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. VideoGamer
    80
    Its greatest achievement is its pacing: it never loses focus over the course of its 20 hours.

See all 58 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 95 out of 106
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 106
  3. Negative: 4 out of 106
  1. GamerOfGames
    Jun 1, 2011
    10
    Bowser's Inside Story, to put it quite simply, is an AMAZING game. The plot is great, the concept is great, and the battles are great. AndBowser's Inside Story, to put it quite simply, is an AMAZING game. The plot is great, the concept is great, and the battles are great. And don't forget about Fawful. Fawful and his "I HAVE FURY!" quote are just hilarious. But what I feel is best about Bowser's Inside Story is the ability to play as Bowser! Half of the game is dedicated to his side of the story, and Mario and Luigi can help Bowser accomplish his goals from inside his own body! Then...he grows HUGE. That is EPIC. Controls are better than ever too. I love this game, and recommend it to anyone and everyone.… Expand
  2. Maor_NYC
    Apr 16, 2023
    10
    Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is a fantastic game that is sure to please both casual and hardcore gamers alike. The game is a perfectMario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is a fantastic game that is sure to please both casual and hardcore gamers alike. The game is a perfect mix of classic Mario platforming, role-playing, and puzzle-solving that results in a truly unique and engaging experience.

    The gameplay itself is top-notch, The battle system is intuitive and engaging between all 3 of our main characters.
    The game's presentation is simply outstanding. The graphics are bright and colorful, capturing the whimsical spirit of the Mario franchise perfectly. The music similarly excellent, providing a delightful audio backdrop to the game as a whole. As a longtime fan of Mario and Luigi games, I can confidently say that Bowser's Inside Story on the Nintendo DS is one of the best in the series. And what makes this game even better?

    BOWSER.

    Playing as Bowser in a Mario game is a refreshing change of pace. In previous games, he was always the big baddie to defeat. But here? you play as him and experience his perspective, thoughts, and abilities which overshadow the brothers.
    His personality and humor make him a standout char, with his constant grumbling and the hilarious dialogue between him and the world.

    The Story of the game is fantastic, it's got "Story" in its name for a reason, any game where you have such a unique scenario of the hero's and villain teaming up to defeat a greater evil is gonna be flames.

    Bowser's Inside Story is an excellent game that showcases why Bowser is such a beloved character in the Mario universe. His unique abilities and humorous personality add a new dimension to the game, and the game as a whole from top to bottom is top notch for the DS.
    PLAY THE GAME, SHOWTIME!    … Expand
  4. BV-Swifty
    Apr 7, 2015
    10
    This is one of the first RPGs I've ever played and this is easily my favorite of them all. With this being the third instalment in the Mario &This is one of the first RPGs I've ever played and this is easily my favorite of them all. With this being the third instalment in the Mario & Luigi series this does not disappoint. The dialogue is hilarious as ever with plenty of memorable characters. The gameplay is fantastic too and it's very different from your usual RPG. Most of these games have teams take turns in battles with each side dealing damage automatically with random effects. In this series you have to time your button presses for dealing maximum damage and taking minimal damage. This really changes the gameplay with relying on raw skill instead of the random elements in usual RPGs. Also, no random encounters. THANK GOD. My personal favorite part about this game is how they present Bowser. His combat system is very intuitive and fun, his pixel art is very smooth, and he becomes an overpowered tyrant of destruction! He does a lot of crazy stuff in this game too, like pulling an island with a single strand of rope, pushing a boat by friggin' sneezing, and growing to sizes that Godzilla would be jealous of. His dialogue is pure comedy gold and can even compete with Fawful's quirky personality. This game is absolutely fantastic! If you love the Mario franchise as a hole and just getting into RPGs, I would highly recommend this game!… Expand
  5. StathisTsasakos
    Jul 17, 2017
    10
    When i first heard about Bowser Inside Story coming out...i believed that surely the villain would be Elder Princess Shroob or somethingWhen i first heard about Bowser Inside Story coming out...i believed that surely the villain would be Elder Princess Shroob or something related to Shroobs cause in the finale of Mario and Luigi 2 Elder Princess Shroob afraid of her death made a time hole and put in it Shroob Ufos...but no...in Mario and Luigi 3 Fawful makes his final come back thirsty for revenge and ruling and hungry for the mustard of Bowser's doom!Its really amazing...probably the BEST one of the Five parts!… Expand
  6. fettuccine
    Jul 18, 2017
    9
    From the amazingly cheesy humor that is familiar to the Mario franchise to the enticing storyline, Bowser's Inside Story is an amazing editionFrom the amazingly cheesy humor that is familiar to the Mario franchise to the enticing storyline, Bowser's Inside Story is an amazing edition to the Mario and Luigi game series. If you are a long time fan of Nintendo RPG's or want to try one, I highly recommend you try this game!… Expand
  7. OnBeat
    Dec 15, 2022
    9
    It is a very good but sometimes drags on but it’s really good for the time.
  8. jake17
    Nov 9, 2020
    0
    It's a great game that go's on far too long. I enjoyed my time with it but within 8 hours I was losing it for a 20 hour game which made meIt's a great game that go's on far too long. I enjoyed my time with it but within 8 hours I was losing it for a 20 hour game which made me start to lose interest.… Expand

See all 106 User Reviews

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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