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{{Infobox|title=Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
{{italic title}}
|image=[[Image:Bowsersinsidestorycover.jpg|300px]] '''American & European Box Art (Temp)'''
{{about|the original game for the [[Nintendo DS]]|the remake of this game for the [[Nintendo 3DS]]|[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey]]}}
|developer=[[AlphaDream]]
{{game infobox
|image=[[File:Bowsersinsidestorycover.jpg|300px]]<br>North American box cover
|developer=[[AlphaDream]]<br>[[Nintendo SPD Group No.4]]
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|released={{releasedate|Japan|February 11, 2009<ref name="kotaku">[http://kotaku.com/5142576/nintens-2009-launch-schedule-looks-something-like-this Giant Reggie Face: Nintendo's 2009 Launch Schedule Looks Something Like this], Kotaku, accessed 2009/1/30.</ref>|USA|September 14, 2009<ref>http://ds.ign.com/objects/142/14286429.html</ref> |Europe|October 9, 2009|Australia|October 22, 2009}}
|release={{flag list|Japan|February 11, 2009|ROC|February 11, 2009|USA|September 15, 2009|Europe|October 9, 2009<ref>{{cite|language=en-gb|url=www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-DS/Mario-Luigi-Bowser-s-Inside-Story-271584.html|title=''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story''|publisher=Nintendo UK|accessdate=June 25, 2024}}</ref>|Australia|October 22, 2009|South Korea|July 21, 2011}}
|genre=RPG
|languages={{languages|en_us=y|en_gb=y|es_es=y|es_latam=y|fr_fr=y|fr_ca=y|de=y|it=y|jp=y|kr=y}}
|modes=Single player
|genre=[[Genre#Role-playing|RPG]]
|ratings=[[CERO]]: A<br />[[ESRB]]: E<ref>http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/TRSRYArlK4f2wpEB9icuziCm_A58y02l</ref>
|modes=Single-player
|ratings={{ratings|esrb=E|pegi=3|cero=A|acb=G|grac=all|usk=6}}
|platforms=[[Nintendo DS]]
|platforms=[[Nintendo DS]]
|media=Nintendo DS Game Card
|format={{format|ds=1}}
|input=Buttons, Stylus, Microphone<ref name=IGN/>
|input={{input|ds=1}}
|serials={{flag list|Japan|NTR-CLJJ-JPN|USA|NTR-CLJE-USA|Europe|NTR-CLJP-EUR|Australia|NTR-CLJE-AUS|South Korea|NTR-CLJK-KOR}}
}}
}}
'''''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story''''' (known in Japan as '''''Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!!''''') is the third title in the [[Mario & Luigi series|''Mario & Luigi'' series]], for the [[Nintendo DS]]<ref>  [http://www.gametrailers.com/player/40748.html Mario & Luigi 3 Debut Trailer - Gametrailers.com], showing the game being played with a DS lite.</ref>. It was confirmed on October 2 at the Fall 2008 Nintendo Conference, and was released on February 11, 2009 in Japan<ref>[http://www.inside-games.jp/news/321/32169.html クッパの体内で冒険!?『マリオ&amp;ルイージRPG 3!!!』発売日決定 - iNSIDE] - [http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.inside-games.jp/news/321/32169.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%25E3%2580%258E%25E3%2583%259E%25E3%2583%25AA%25E3%2582%25AA%25EF%25BC%2586%25E3%2583%25AB%25E3%2582%25A4%25E3%2583%25BC%25E3%2582%25B8RPG3!!!%25E3%2580%258F%2B%25E7%2599%25BA%25E5%25A3%25B2%25E6%2597%25A5%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG Translation] Accessed November 13, 2008.</ref>. The game's North American release date is September 14, 2009. Unlike ''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]'' for the Nintendo DS, this game makes greater use of the DS's touch controls and microphone. This is also the sequel to ''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]''.
'''''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story''''' is a [[Nintendo DS]] game developed by [[AlphaDream]] and published by [[Nintendo]]. It was released worldwide in 2009 and in South Korea in 2011. It is the third title in the [[Mario & Luigi (series)|''Mario & Luigi'' series]], preceded by ''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]'' for the Nintendo DS in 2005 and succeeded by ''[[Mario & Luigi: Dream Team]]'' for the [[Nintendo 3DS]] in 2013. The title of the game is a parody on the term "inside story", meaning the "true" tale of an event from the perspective of an insider who participated in the action, as opposed to an outsider who only hears about the event later on. In this case, the game is a literal inside story, as Mario and Luigi have to adventure through Bowser's insides. The game's European Spanish, European French, and Italian name is a parody on the famous novel ''{{wp|Journey to the Center of the Earth}}''. The original French name is ''Voyage au centre de la Terre'', the Spanish name is ''Viaje al centro de la Tierra'', and the Italian name is ''Viaggio al centro della Terra''.


This is the only non-3DS installment in the ''Mario & Luigi'' series not to be released on the [[Virtual Console#Wii U|Virtual Console]] for the [[Wii U]].
A Nintendo 3DS [[Reissue#Remakes|remake]] of the game, titled ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey]]'', was released in Japan on December 27, 2018 and elsewhere in January 2019. Outside Japan, the release year marks the 10th anniversary of this game. This is the second game in the ''Mario & Luigi'' series after ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'' to have a remake. This game also marks the debut of [[Starlow]], who would become a recurring character in the series.
==Story==
==Story==
{{construction}}
[[File:Bowser's Inside Story ToadBlorbs.png|thumb|The blorbs being discussed.]]
[[Image:MandL3TitleJapanese.png|thumb|left|The title screen for the Japanese version.]]
After the [[Mushroom Kingdom]]'s citizens start contracting the [[blorbs]], a disease that swells [[Toad (species)|Toads]], [[Princess Peach]] holds an emergency conference meeting at [[Peach's Castle|her castle]], which includes [[Mario]], [[Luigi]], [[Toadbert]], [[Toadsworth]], and a Star Sprite named [[Starlow]]. [[Bowser]] crashes in and is sent flying out of Peach's Castle after easily being defeated by Mario, eventually landing in [[Dimble Wood]], and after regaining consciousness, he comes across a cloaked merchant (who is [[Fawful]] in disguise). The merchant gives him a "[[Vacuum Shroom|Lucky Mushroom]]" that causes Bowser to inhale his surroundings. He returns to Peach's Castle and uses this ability to suck in everyone who attended the conference.
{{spoiler}}
After the [[Mushroom Kingdom]]'s citizens begin to fall victim to the mysterious "[[blorbs]]," [[Princess Peach]] calls a meeting, which is attended by [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]].  A new character, [[Starlow]], has discovered the cause of the disease. As Peach is giving a meeting on its effects, Bowser breaks into the meeting.  He is quickly defeated by Mario. Peach and Starlow use their powers to send him to [[Ekubon's Forest]], and the meeting continues. Meanwhile, [[Bowser]] gets an item called a "Lucky Mushroom". In realty though, it is actually a "[[Vacuum Mushroom]]", which is a trap set by [[Fawful]]. It allows him to control Bowser's actions<ref name="IGN">[http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/944/944900p1.html IGN: Mario & Luigi 3 Battle Systems Detailed], accessed 2009-01-15</ref>, and gives Bowser the ability to inhale everything. Bowser goes to Peach's meeting and inhales everyone there. While gloating about his victory, he mysteriously falls unconscious, and Fawful appears.


Mario reawakens alone inside [[Bowser's Body]]. Nearby, he finds Luigi and Starlow. The three of them set out to reawaken Bowser. They come across an exposed nerve, and attack it, which rouses Bowser. He discovers that he has somehow come to [[Gepū Cape]]. He sets out north, towards [[Bowser's Castle|his castle]]. As he is leaving Gepū Cape for [[Musshība Beach]], he is confronted by a mysterious voice explaining the concept of [[Chakra]]s to him. A Chakra is a portal that allows him to quickly traverse the Mushroom Kingdom.
Mario, Luigi, and Starlow reawaken inside the [[Trash Pit]] area of [[Bowser's body]], where they acquire hammers and use them to hit an [[Funny Bone|exposed nerve]] and rouse Bowser, who had been dumped in [[Cavi Cape Cave]]. Starlow, who talks to Bowser throughout the game, withholds information surrounding the Mario Bros.' whereabouts and assists him in remembering the past events. Bowser then encounters Fawful, who explains that the blorbs and the Vacuum Shroom he gave him were all part of a plan to conquer both the Mushroom Kingdom and [[Bowser's Castle]]. He sends out his minion, [[Midbus]], whose speech irritates the Koopa King so much that he decides to pick a fight with him. Bowser loses to Midbus, and he and Fawful abandon him.


At Musshība Beach, Bowser hears a voice calling to him from a small island. He sees the famous block collector, [[Broque]].  Initially reluctant to help, Bowser is convinced when Broque offers him the [[Vacuum Block]], an object that gives its user the capacity to use a powerful suction attack. After rescuing Broque, Bowser must fight his missing pet, [[Broggy]].  At the north end of the Beach, Bowser comes across the [[Marine Pipe's Statue]]. Because it is dedicated to an ancient hero, Bowser begins to vandalize it. Unbeknown to to Bowser, Fawful's cronies have imbued it with the power of self defense, and it attacks him. After Bowser deactivates it, a stream of water flows from the statue. Drinking from it, Bowser inadvertently opens a path allowing the Mario Brothers to reactivate his fire breath, which is being blocked by the parasite [[Betarīno]].  He uses this rediscovered skill to continue northward, back to Ekubon's Forest.
Bowser helps a stranded [[Broque Monsieur]] get back on [[Plack Beach]], where the sentient block rewards him a [[Vacuum Block]], allowing him to control his sucking abilities. After defeating the [[Sea Pipe Statue]], Bowser drinks water which allows Mario and Luigi to enter the [[Pump Works]] and defeat the [[Scutlet (boss)|Scutlet]] bug that was blocking his fire breath at the [[Flame Pipe]]. Starlow starts using the alias "Chippy" to Bowser. After subduing Broque's pet dog [[Broggy]], Bowser enters Dimble Wood, where he eventually comes across three of his minions: [[Sergeant Guy]], [[Corporal Paraplonk]], and [[Private Goomp]]. They plan to retake Bowser's castle with a [[Bomber Bill|Banzai Bill]] launcher, where Bowser is required to find ammunition. Bowser procures a giant carrot as a makeshift missile, but the owner, a Wiggler, makes him eat it and then attacks him. After he obtains the Banzai Bill from the Wiggler, Bowser is then overcome with stomach pain caused by consuming a parasitic [[Durmite]] along with the carrot; Mario and Luigi defeat it in battle.


In the forest, Bowser runs across some of his old troops. Fawful has trapped an army of still loyal [[Goomba]]s in a cage.  When Bowser frees them, they accompany him for the remainder of his time as a leader-in-exile, allowing him to use the attack [[Bokosuka Goomba]]. He also meets up with [[Heifā]], [[Patabon]], and [[Kurikkī]], three former troops from his army. They are attempting to retake the castle using a [[Banzai Bill]] cannon, but they don't have any ammunition. Bowser heads to a garden maintained by a [[Wiggler]] clan. Bowser finds a huge carrot, which he thinks may make a suitable replacement, but a local wiggler is infuriated when he removes it. The wiggler demands that he eat the carrot and battle him. Afterwards, it turns out that the wiggler happened to have a Banzai Bill at home.  Bowser takes this and returns to the clearing where his troops are setting up the cannon.  On the way, he is stricken with a horrible pain. The Mario Bros discover that the source of this pain is the hornworm-like [[Imounu]], who is running rampant inside Bowser. After Imounu is defeated, she shrinks down to the size of Mario's foot and scuttles off. Exploring their current location, the Marios find [[Toadbert]] and unlock the [[Sliding Punch]].
After his stomach issue is resolved, Bowser proceeds to launch the Banzai Bill towards Bowser Castle. However, Midbus dodges his Banzai Bill by launching the castle and landing it on him. The Mario Bros. revive Bowser from the [[Rump Command]], which unintentionally turns him as giant as the castle. After Bowser defeats the castle, it flies away with him in pursuit, traveling through [[Bumpsy Plains]] and [[Bowser Path]] to reach the destination. Bowser deflects Midbus's iron ball, which knocks the castle down. Entering his castle, Bowser discovers that Fawful has turned it into a theater and brainwashed most of [[Bowser's Minions]] into a pack of his own adoring fans. Fawful himself arrives and tricks Bowser, forcing him to perform a cage match with Midbus on stage. When Bowser wins, his prize is being forcibly fed fattening foods cooked by Fawful, gaining so much weight that he breaks through the floor and becomes trapped.


Bowser returns to the Banzai Bill cannon and fires his newly acquired ammo at his castle. [[Midbus]], a minion of Fawful who has been put in charge of the castle, is none too pleased with this. He lifts the entire castle up on rockets and flies it to Ekubon's Forest. He sets it down directly on top of Bowser, who is thoroughly unprepared for having a castle land on his head. The Marios travel to his Adrenal glands, and there cause a spike in Bowser's hormones. This causes Bowser to grow to almost the size of the castle itself. He engages it in battle, and is able to damage it significantly enough to force Midbus into retreat. Bowser then returns to his normal size, and discovers that a path has been cleared through the forest during the fight. He continues north to the castle.
[[File:PeachDarkStar.png|left|thumb|Peach tells the story about the Dark Star.]]
Exploring the newly opened [[Flab Zone]] and defeating some [[Kretin]] enemies, Mario and Luigi are reunited with Princess Peach, who explains that Fawful is actually after the [[Dark Star]], an evil entity locked away under Toad Town that can only be revived using Peach herself. Fawful then uses a laser to extract Peach from Bowser and he and Midbus leave with her, while Bowser falls the rest of the way through the floor onto a treadmill they placed beneath him in the basement. He literally burns off all the excess fat, igniting a crate of Bob-ombs in the process which sends him blasting off back to Cavi Cape, falling into the [[Tunnel]]. He meets up with some [[Monty Bros.|Monty Mole minions]] and helps them drill all the way to Toad Town, but when Bowser wanders into the corridor leading to the Dark Star, the security system activates and electrocutes him, rendering him unconscious.


At the castle, he discovers that his subjects have been brainwashed by Fawful, who is hosting some kind of theater event in the castle later that day. When he arrives at the theater, he's informed that there is a special reserved seat for him. As the event goes on Fawful announces that they have a very special guest. Bowser's chair suddenly goes flying towards the stage, where he lands in a heap. Fawful tells the crowd that there's going to be a fight to the death between Bowser and Midbus. A cage lowers, and they begin battling. After Bowser wins, a group of [[Boo]]s escorts him to the winner's feast. Here, at the insistence of the boos, Bowser eats so much that he breaks through the floor with his weight.  
Mario and Luigi gain access to the [[Pipe Yard]] in Bowser's body, which allows them to use warp pipes to return to the outside world. They emerge in the [[Toad Town Caves]] themselves and try to head off and stop [[Fawful]], but arrive too late. Fawful takes the Dark Star to Peach's Castle and uses its power to create a barrier preventing the Mario Bros. from following him. With no other option, they head to [[Dr. Toadley]] to try and do something about the blorbs problem instead, but Bowser arrives at the clinic as well and the three battle, with Bowser losing. Dr. Toadley then tells Mario and Luigi that they need to collect three [[Star Cure]]s to cure the blorbs and possibly find a way into the castle. Bowser awakens, hears this, and rushes off, determined to find the cures before the Bros. Dr. Toadley then reveals to Mario and Luigi that the first cure is held by Durmite inside Bowser's body, and they head back in to get it. They locate Durmite immediately, but it flees through an impassable, [[Boo]]-like barrier, stopping the Mario Bros. in their tracks.


While attempting to find a solution, the Mario Bros. discover Princess Peach.  However, she is kidnapped almost immediately by [[Arukaroten]]. The Marios chase it to a dead end and rescue Peach. Peach informs them of Fawful's plan to steal the [[Dark Star]], an ancient artifact held beneath [[Toad Town]]. However, Fawful uses an unknown machine to kidnap Peach. After using a treadmill and (literally) burning off some calories, Bowser sees a [[Bob-omb]]. He attacks it with his fire, but it quickly walks over to a much larger group of Bob-ombs and expodes, setting off a chain reaction that catapults Bowser to an [[Underground Tunnel]] beneath Gepū Cape.
[[File:M&LBIS Boo-Ray Machine screenshot.png|thumb|Yikk presents the Boo-Ray Machine.]]
Meanwhile, Bowser heads to the shores of [[Blubble Lake]], where his sneezes raise the propeller-topped [[Tower of Yikk]] out of the water and straight onto him. The Mario Bros. supersize Bowser again and he defeats the moving tower, venturing inside once he shrinks back to his regular size and meeting the ghost of [[Yikk]], who shines his invention, the [[Boo-ray Machine]], on Bowser's gut. The light from the machine causes the Boo-like barrier to disappear and help Mario and Luigi navigate [[Energy Hold|the maze beyond them]], allowing them to track down Durmite, who reveals herself to be a sage named [[Wisdurm]]. She battles them, turning to a butterfly after her defeat, dropping the Star Cure, and flying off.


Here, Bowser meets a clan of [[Monty Mole]]s, who are digging a connecting tunnel to the Toast Town underground. When Bowser arrives there, however, he activates a trap and is knocked unconscious. The shock of the trap has knocked something loose inside Bowser, and the Mario Bros. discover a warp pipe out of their ally. They end up somewhere in the Toad Town underground, and begin looking for the Dark Star in hopes of securing it against Fawful. However, they are too late.  Fawful takes it and heads for Peach's castle.  Chasing after him, they are stopped at the castle gates by the Dark Star's power. They go to the local clinic to see how [[Doctor Kokino]]'s research on the blorbs is going.  However, while talking in Kokino's office, Bowser barges in and engages the Marios. After Bowser is defeated, Kokino tells the Marios that the three [[Star Vaccine]]s are the cure for the blorbs. He explains that the first is held by Imounu, of Ekubon's Forest. However, Mario remembers that Imounu is no longer at Ekubon's Forest, so the heroes set off in search of Imounu.
Bowser leaves the tower and meets up with Private Goomp, who tells him that he already had one of the Star Cures locked away in his treasure chamber, having recently stolen it from an old Koopa named [[Kuzzle]]. Bowser returns to his castle, regaining access to his treasure vault by pushing a statue of Fawful through the barricades in the floor, only to find that the Monty Bros. are now under Fawful's control and have built a railway straight through the vault. They use the [[Fawful Express]] to ram him out of the castle and into a boulder, resulting in another emergency revival and a giant battle between Bowser and the train. Returning to his vault after destroying the train, Bowser realizes that he has forgotten the combination to the safe that the Star Cure is stored in and asks "Chippy" to retrieve it for him. In the [[Memory Banks]], Mario and Luigi have to defeat [[Bowser Memory M and Bowser Memory L|blocky doppelgangers]] of themselves, crafted from Bowser's own memories of them. After that, they reassemble a puzzle representing the memory and Bowser opens his safe, only to be pushed in by Private Goomp, Sergeant Guy, and Corporal Paraplonk, who had turned to Fawful's side. With nothing else to do in the cramped safe, Bowser eats the Star Cure, and it is retrieved from his [[Gut Check (location)|gut]] by the Mario Bros.


As soon as the Marios re-enter Bowser, they spot Imounu and begin to chase her. However, they are stopped when she runs behind a mysterious wall of green [[Boo Block]]s. Meanwhile, Bowser is headed to Imounu's last known location, Ekubon's Forest. On the way, however, [[Ibikki Tower|a large mechanized tower]] attacks Bowser. As earlier, Bowser grows to the size of the tower to fight it. After defeating it, Bowser enters the now-docile tower and climbs to its summit. Here he meets the ghost of [[Ibikki]], the deceased owner of the tower. Ibikki explains the [[Boo Light Machine]], a device he designed that can have various effects on [[Boo]]s. By shining this light at Bowser's body, the Mario Bros are able to resume their chase of Imounu. When the catch up to her, she engages them in battle, revealing her true form as [[Sage Imounu]]. After her defeat, she gives the second Star Vaccine to the Marios.
Mario and Luigi return to Toad Town and are sent after the final Star Cure by Dr. Toadley. Guided by the doctor's messenger bird, [[Birdley]], they meet the sage known as [[Chakron]] at the top of a cliff over Plack Beach, but he will only give them the Star Cure if they can knock him out of the pose he has held for a thousand years. After a cryptic hint from Chakron, the Bros. head for Dimble Wood to collect Attack Pieces for the ground-shaking [[Snack Basket]] move, but Mario is kidnapped by a [[Sockop]] and has to be rescued by Luigi, who wears a [[giant Sockop|knocked-out Sockop]] like a [[Goomba's Shoe]] to sneak into the enemies' territory. Reunited and having gathered all the pieces, the brothers return to Chakron and knock him over, so true to his word, he gives them the final Star Cure.


Bowser meets up with Kurikkī, who reminds him that there's something like a Star Vaccine in the Bowser's Castle vaults. Heading there, Bowser is shocked to find that a railroad has been installed in the vault, and that Fawful's [[Gera Express]] is removing all the treasure within the vault. In an attempt to stop this, Bowser is crushed by the train. Thinking quickly, the Marios once again journey to Bowser's adrenal glands. The now-giant Koopa King quickly takes revenge on the train that stole all his treasure. Returning to the vaults, he discovers the safe that the Star Vaccine is stored in. However, he can't remember the combination for the safe. The Marios journey to his memory to search for the missing information. There, a strange creature scans the Mario Bros and creates [[Bowser's Memory ML|doubles]] to battle them. After the Marios defeat their counterparts, the blue creature reveals that it is the guardian of the second Star Vaccine. It shows the Marios that the memory of the safe's combination has been damaged. After the Marios repair it, Bowser abruptly remembers the combination as a short poem. When he opens the safe, however, Kurikkī, Heifā, and Patabon shove him inside and lock the safe, stating that Bowser's reign is over, and that Fawful has placed a price on his head. Starlow advises Bowser to swallow the Star Vaccine, which he does. The Marios take it from his stomach and escape through the pipe to Toad Town.
[[File:M&LBIS Miracle Cure screenshot.png|thumb|left|The Miracle Cure curing the blorb-infected Toads.]]
Back at the clinic, Dr. Toadley creates the [[Miracle Cure]] from the three Star Cures, which flies around ridding all the Toads of the blorbs and then allows Mario and Luigi to blast their way through the barriers to get to Peach's Castle. They search the gardens for a way in and are attacked by Midbus, who uses the remote-control [[Junker]] robot to fight them. The Mario Bros. win the battle, and the robot goes haywire, throwing the safe containing Bowser into a pile of garbage, breaking it open. Bowser's back seized up from being in the cramped safe for so long, so Mario and Luigi go back inside him to fix it, allowing him to break into Peach's Castle for them.


Doctor Kokino tells the Marios that the third Star Vaccine is hidden somewhere at Musshība Beach. Journeying there, they discover a new area of the beach that they had never visited before. There they meet [[Chakran]], the owner of the Chakras that Bowser uses to travel. He tells them that he is the third Star Vaccine's guardian, and that if they can defeat him, they can have it. They engage him in battle, but they can't do any damage. Running away, they go to Ekubon's Forest, where they search for the [[Attack Parts]] for [[Sweet Basket]]. After they find six of them, Mario is kidnapped by a [[Shokuchu]]. Luigi gives chase, and in a scene reminiscent of ''Super Mario Bros 3'', Luigi is trapped inside a Shokuchu and must use it to traverse a field of thorns to rescue Mario. In the process, Luigi collects the remaining Attack Parts and completes Sweets Basket. Heading back to Chakran, the Marios use this new move to knock him over, and receive the third Star Vaccine for their efforts.
Bowser fights his way to Fawful and Midbus as they are slowly awakening the Dark Star. Fawful supercharges his minion into [[Blizzard Midbus]], but Bowser wins the ensuing fight and Midbus's new ice powers end up freezing him solid. Bowser punches out Fawful as he tries to absorb the Dark Star's powers and he only gets a portion of it, with the rest of the revived evil entity forcing its way inside Bowser. Mario and Luigi chase the Dark Star [[Airway (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story)|around]] as it absorbs Bowser's DNA and takes on his characteristics, eventually emerging as an incomplete copy of Bowser, which sucks up Peach and floats off in search of the rest of its power. Bowser goes after it but is sidetracked by a final giant battle against Peach's Castle, which had been transformed into [[Super Peach's Castle of Fury|a giant robot]] by Fawful. He then battles Fawful himself, now souped-up by the Dark Star's powers into [[Dark Fawful]]. Bowser wins the fight and Fawful turns into a small ball of dark energy and tries to flee, but he gets absorbed by the Dark Star, allowing it to fully transform into [[Dark Bowser]].


Mario and Luigi return to Doctor Kokino at the clinic. Taking the three star vaccines in hand, the doctor creates the [[Miracle Vaccine]], the cure for the blorbs. It instantly takes on a life of its own, flying around the city and curing all those who are ill. Once it is finished, Mario and Luigi take it to the gates of Peach's Castle, where it destroys the barriers put up by the Dark Star.  
The real Bowser goes after his copy, chasing it to the tallest tower where it deposits the unconscious Peach before being confronted by Bowser, who aims to capture Peach, both castles and the Dark Star's powers. The final battle is waged on two fronts, starting off with Bowser fighting his clone, before punching it in the gut and forcing it to spit up Fawful. Bowser sucks up the little ball of energy and Mario and Luigi take over the fight, defeating both Fawful and the Dark Star Core inside Bowser. This leaves Dark Bowser unstable, and the real Bowser punches it until it explodes, freeing the Mushroom Kingdom from the Dark Star’s influence for good.


After wandering the castle gardens for a while, the heroes come upon a huge mound of garbage. As Starlow wonders why it was left there, Midbus comes in and activates a switch, causing the garbage to come to life and form the robotic [[Garakuta Monster]]. After being dealt enough damage by the Mario Bros, it begins to malfunction, running around wildly and freeing Bowser in the process. However, Bowser's long stay in the safe has caused him to fall unconscious, so the Marios set about waking him up. Heading through a nearby pipe, the Marios find themselves once more within the Koopa King. After a bit of searching, they come across [[Toadsworth]] inside Bowser's shell. He explains that from the shell, another latent ability of Bowser's can be activated. The shock of this is enough to rouse Bowser from his stupor, and he sets off in search of Fawful and the Dark Star.
Inside Bowser, a battered and unstable Fawful appears in front of the Mario Bros., seemingly accepting defeat to them and saying that he will go away permanently, but he is actually faking it as he uses this opportunity to try and take the Mario Bros. with him in a final explosion of his own while sporting a large, dying grin on his face. All this accomplishes though is making Bowser eject everyone he had inhaled. The liberated Toads and the now-conscious Peach move to congratulate Mario and Luigi on a job well done, and Bowser, confused and angry, realizes that the brothers had been inside his body the whole time. Starlow dismissively tells Bowser to not worry about what's in the past but discovering that she was his supposedly loyal minion "Chippy" throws him into a complete rage. The Toads and the Princess flee from the scene, and the [[List of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story staff|credits]] show a montage of still images showing that Bowser loses the ensuing fight.


Bowser finds Fawful and Midbus watching a machine in which Peach and the Dark Star have been restrained. Fawful quickly grants Midbus an ice-based powerup, sending him to attack Bowser. Midbus' defeat causes his entire body to freeze, with cold air slowly being exhaled through his nose. Fawful absorbs the power of the Dark Star and escapes, while the Dark Star itself invades Bowser's Body. Mario and Luigi head to the only remaining unexplored sector of the body to find Dark Star. They catch up to it several times to find it absorbing Bowser's DNA. When it finally reaches a dead end, it confronts the Marios in battle. Although they win, the Dark Star reveals that the DNA it absorbed has allowed it to recreate Bowser's body and power for itself. It escapes from Bowser and from the room  he's trapped in, which also gives the real Bowser the opportunity to escape.
[[File:EndCake MLRPG3.png|thumb|Bowser's cake.]]
Afterward, the heavily-injured Bowser is seen lying in bed at his castle while Private Goomp, Sergeant Guy, and Corporal Paraplonk beg him for forgiveness over their treason. Birdley arrives with a package from Peach, but when Starlow pops out of it to check in on him, Bowser angrily tells her to leave, as he is too busy fixing his castle to attack again anytime soon. He then lets the trio rejoin the rest of his army in helping with the repairs, and only once he is sure he is alone does Bowser open the package, revealing a thank-you cake with his face, Mario, Luigi, and Peach on it.  


Bowser finds Fawful in the conference room where he fought Mario earlier. The shadow power absorbed from Dark Star has caused Fawful to transform into [[Dark Fawful]]. Bowser fights Dark Fawful and destroys his body, but he survives as a ball of shadow energy. Dark Fawful escapes, but is absorbed by Dark Star. With Fawful's power, Dark Star becomes [[Dark Bowser]] and escapes through a hidden door.
As in the other ''Mario & Luigi'' games, there is no "Endless Play" feature. As such, if the player plays the game after it is beaten and the ending is done, the game just starts from the last save point, before the final battle.
{{br|right}}


Bowser finds Dark Bowser on a platform high above Peach's Castle, a knocked out princess at his side. Dark Bowser states his intent to rule the Mushroom Kingdom with an age of darkness, but Bowser replies that the Mushroom Kingdom is ''his'' country, and that Dark Bowser can't have it. They begin battling, and Bowser defeats Dark Bowser with ease. However, Dark Fawful revives Dark Bowser, fully healing him and powering him up. Bowser attacks Dark Bowser's Stomach, causing Dark Fawful to be ejected. Bowser quickly inhales Dark Fawful, and a battle begins in his stomach. In a battle somewhat reminiscent of that that they had with his old mistress, the Marios are forced to defeat the individual parts of Fawful's body before attacking his weak point, the Dark Star Core. After a difficult battle, Fawful is defeated, causing Dark Bowser to become unstable. Mocking him all the while, Bowser punches Dark Bowser until he can't take it any more and explodes, freeing the Mushroom Kingdom from the Dark Star's influence forever.
==Battle system==
The battle system of ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' is similar to that of its predecessors. There are some new additions to the system. In this installment, all [[Action Command]]s are evaluated based on how well they are performed. There are five evaluation levels. Ranging from the worst to the best, these levels are: Nothing, OK, Good, Great, and Excellent. The better an Action Command is performed, the more damage an attack does. Receiving a Nothing is equivalent to not performing an Action Command at all. This is carried into all the later installments of the series.
===Stats===
Each brother and Bowser have their own [[Heart Point|HP]], [[Special Point|SP]], POW, DEF, and [[Speed|SPEED]], as well as [[Stache|STACHE]] points for the brothers, and HORN points for Bowser. When they finish a battle, they each gain [[Experience Point|EXP Points]] and [[coin]]s. With enough Experience Points, they can level-up and increase each respective statistic.
{|class=wikitable width=100% class=wikitable
|-
!Stat
!Description
|-
|align="center"|[[File:StatHPMLBIS.png|link=HP]]
|HP, or '''H'''eart '''P'''oints, indicate the amount of remaining health a character has. When an enemy hits a character, they lose HP. When their HP reaches zero, they pass out, but can be revived with a [[1-Up Mushroom]] or a [[1-Up Mushroom#Mario & Luigi series|1-Up Deluxe]]. HP can be replenished with a [[Mushroom]], a [[Nut]] or a [[Hot Drumstick|Drumstick]] (Bowser only).
|-
|align="center"|[[File:StatSPMLBIS.png|link=SP]]
|SP, or '''S'''pecial '''P'''oints, indicates how many times Mario, Luigi, or Bowser can use a Special Move. Each attack uses up a certain amount of SP, draining the total. SP can only be restored by ingesting [[Syrup Jar]]s.
|-
|align="center"|[[File:StatPOWMLBIS.png|link=Power]]
|POW, or '''Pow'''er, is how strong the fighter is. POW determines how much damage they can inflict.
|-
|align="center"|[[File:StatDEFMLBIS.png|link=Defense]]
|DEF, or '''Def'''ense, is how much damage the character can block from an enemy hit. A higher DEF stat means less damage is taken.
|-
|align="center"|[[File:StatSPEEDMLBIS.png|link=Speed]]
|SPEED is how fast the character is. In any given battle, the fighter with the most SPEED gets to attack first. The turn then continues, allowing fighters with subsequently lower SPEED to attack until the fighter with the lowest SPEED has attacked. The fighter with the most SPEED then gets to attack again, and the cycle continues until a fight is over.
|-
|align="center"|[[File:StatSTACHEMLBIS.png|link=Stache]]
|STACHE, a Mario and Luigi exclusive stat, is the luck stat of this game. The higher their STACHE stats are, the greater there is a chance of a Critical or Lucky Hit, which doubles POW. A higher STACHE stat makes the player more likely to receive a hit on a [[Scratch Card]].
|-
|align="center"|[[File:StatHORNMLBIS.png|link=Horn]]
|HORN, a Bowser exclusive stat, functions exactly the same as STACHE does.
|}


Within Bowser's belly, Fawful speaks to the Mario Bros. and Starlow. The Marios are shocked that he has somehow survived, but without a body or the power of Dark Star to sustain him, Fawful soon is no more, exploding in a cloud of black smoke. Without Fawful, however, the Vacuum Mushroom also ceases to be, meaning the inside of Bowser ceases to be the ridiculously cavernous space that it has been for most of the game. Almost immediately, all the various things Bowser had inhaled throughout the adventure come flying out, including Mario and Luigi. The now-conscious Peach, along with various toads, move to congratulate the Marios on a job well done. Bowser is angered to receive no credit for his part in the adventure, and begins raging at Mario. As they begin what promises to be another epic battle, the credits roll.
===Mario and Luigi's battle system===
[[File:MLBIS Green Shell screenshot.png|200px|thumb|Mario and Luigi battling.]]
The battle system with Mario and Luigi is similar to the battles from the previous games. There are now six categories of attack during battle, as opposed to ''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]''{{'}}s five, or ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]''{{'}}s four. These are Jump, Hammer, [[Attack Pieces]] ([[Bros. Items]]), Items, [[Bros. Badges]], and Escape. The Bros. can defend with their jump and their hammers. The Jump makes Mario and/or Luigi jump to dodge an attack or to counter-attack. The Hammer is used to counter-attack. The music played while battling is the same as the music played during the debut trailer, as seen in the Japanese site.


[[Image:EndCake MLRPG3.png|thumb|right|Bowser's cake.]]
A new element has been added to battles, a gauge at the bottom of the screen with Mario and Luigi's heads on either end. When Mario or Luigi pull off an action command, that brother's end of the bar fills slightly. When they meet in the middle, it is possible to use a Bros. Badge move. The effect varies with the equipped badge. The normal effect is to restore 20% of both brothers' HP. Badges can be bought in one of the shops in [[Toad Town]]. Some of the badges require that the Action Commands be pulled off perfectly (EXCELLENT is displayed), and some only need GOOD!. An extra block that appears in the battles can be used to swap the badges that brothers use.
Afterwards, Bowser is seen lying in bed at his castle, nursing injuries apparently given to him by Mario and Luigi. Kurikkī, Heifā, and Patabon are there, apologizing for their treason and asking to rejoin the Koopa Troop. Before Bowser can answer, a messenger from Peach's Castle comes in, delivering a wrapped gift. Out pops Starlow, who flies off to help out with repairs. Seeing that the three former members of his army are still there, Bowser angrily asks why they aren't helping as well. The three are almost speechless, as this means they're back in the Koopa Troop. They run off, shouting their thanks back to their king. Looking inside Peach's present, Bowser finds it to be a cake with himself, Mario, Luigi, and Peach on it.
{{endspoiler}}


==Gameplay==
===Bowser's battle system===
===Overworld===
[[File:MLBIS Bowser inhale.png|200px|thumb|Bowser battling.]]
While Mario and Luigi adventure through [[Bowser's Body]], Bowser is walking around the overworld. Mario and Luigi can have influence on Bowser. They can pinch nerves to make Bowser panic. They can also touch Bowser's muscles to give him a power-up. Equally, Bowser can change the course of the Marios' adventure. For example, he can flood them by drinking from a fountain. After a certain point in the game, Mario and Luigi can use [[Warp Pipes]] to exit Bowser's body and explore the overworld, and then use the pipes to enter Bowser's body again.
Bowser has almost the same battle system as Mario and Luigi's, but with a few differences. He has different options: Punch replaces Jump, [[Fire Breath]] replaces Hammer and [[Special Attack (Bowser)|Enemy Attacks]] replace Special Attacks. However, he does not have Bros. Badges. Instead, Bowser gains a vacuum ability after the player advances further through the game. He can swallow enemies with this new ability to make [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]] fight them in his belly. He can also swallow parts of enemies that can restore his HP, raise defense or attack power, or rescue a [[Blitty]]. Bowser's defenses are the Punch and the Shell. Bowser's Punch can counter-attack an enemy, while his spiky shell can hit enemies that try to jump on his head or protect him from attacks.


Overworld icons have slightly changed. They now display the health of the character. Bowser uses two buttons in the overworld, X to punch, and Y for firebreath. Mario uses A to jump, use his hammer or do a Spin Jump. Luigi uses B to jump, use the hammer or hiting Mario with his hammer, making Mario flat and little. While Bowser explores a 3-D overworld, Mario and Luigi explore a 2-D world inside Bowser's  body, much like a traditional platformer.
Enemy Attacks are special attacks that use mostly members of Bowser's army, which are [[Goomba]]s, [[Koopa Troopa]]s, [[Shy Guy]]s, [[Bob-omb]]s, [[Magikoopas]], and [[Broggy]]. These attacks require the stylus to perform. These characters need to be liberated to unlock these attacks.


===Mario and Luigi's Battle System===
===Special Attacks===
The battle system with Mario & Luigi is similar to the battles from previous titles. There are now six categories of attack during battle, as opposed to ''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s five, or ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s four. These are Jump, Hammer, [[Attack Parts]] ([[Bros. Items]]), [[Bros. Badges]] and Escape. The Bros can defend with their jump and their hammers. The Jump makes Mario and/or Luigi jump to dodge an attack or to counter-attack. The Hammer is used to counter-attack. The music played while battling is the same as the music played during the debut trailer, as seen in the Japanese site.
====Bowser Specials====
[[Bowser]] has six [[Brawl Attack|Special Attack]]s, five of which are obtained via destroying cages contained Bowser's trapped minions.
{|style="text-align:center;width:85%;margin:0 auto" class=wikitable
!width="20%"|Special Attack
!width="1%"|Illustration
!width="25%"|Description
!width="15%"|SP
!width="20%"|Location
|-
|style="background-color: #bfd3e3"|[[File:MLBISGoombaStorm.png]]<br>[[Goomba Storm]]*
|[[File:Goomba storm.png|200x120px]]
|''Touch each Goomba to fire him up! Flaming Goombas cause more damage!<br>Target: <font color=blue>One enemy</font color>. Effect: [[Burn|<font color=blue>BURN</font color>]].''
|6
|[[Dimble Wood]] (after rescuing the [[Goomba|Goomba corps]])
|-
|style="background-color: #bfd3e3"|[[File:MLBISShyGuySquad.png]]<br>[[Shy Guy Squad]]
|[[File:Shy Guy Squad.PNG|200x120px]]
|''←Quickly slide the stylus repeatedly left. Roll Bowser far back for more damage!<br>Target: <font color=blue>One enemy</font color>. Effect: <font color=blue>None</font color>.''
|8
|[[Bowser Path]] (after rescuing the [[Shy Guy|Shy Guy corps]])
|-
|style="background-color: #bfd3e3"|[[File:MLBISKoopaCorps.png]]<br>[[Koopa Corps]]
|[[File:Koopa Corps.PNG|200x120px]]
|''Slide the stylus to move Bowser up and down and repel the Koopa Shells!<br>Target: <font color=blue>Random</font color>. Effect: <font color=blue>None</font color>.''
|10
|[[Blubble Lake]] (after rescuing the [[Koopa Troopa|Koopa unit]])
|-
|style="background-color: #bfd3e3"|[[File:MLBISBobOmbBlitz.png]]<br>[[Bob-omb Blitz]]
|[[File:Bob-omb Blitz.PNG|200x120px]]
|''Slide the Bob-ombs into place fast! Line up with your foe and charge!<br>Target: <font color=blue>Adjustable</font color> Effect: [[Dizzy|<font color=blue>DIZZY</font color>]].''
|12
|[[Bowser's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Bowser Castle]] (after rescuing the [[Bob-omb|Bob-omb squad]])
|-
|style="background-color: #bfd3e3"|[[File:MLBISMagikoopaMob.png]]<br>[[Magikoopa Mob]]
|[[File:Magikoopa Mob.PNG|200x120px]]
|''Quickly trace the Magikoopa's formation! Bowser's power boosts your magic!<br>Target: <font color=blue>Random</font color>. Effect: [[Burn|<font color=blue>BURN</font color>]].''
|15
|[[Peach's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Peach's Castle]] (after rescuing the [[Magikoopa|Magikoopa corps]])
|-
|style="background-color: #bfd3e3"|[[File:MLBISBroggyBonker.png]]<br>[[Broggy Bonker]]
|[[File:Broggy Bonker.PNG|200x120px]]
|''Scrub all the dirt off that filthy Broggy! Scrub him until he's clean!<br>Target: <font color=blue>One enemy</font color>. Effect: [[Dizzy|<font color=blue>DIZZY</font color>]].''
|20
|[[Broque Monsieur's Shop]] (after collecting all fifteen [[Blitty|Blitties]])
|}
<small>* - Required</small>


A new element has been added to battles, a gauge at the bottom of the screen with Mario and Luigi's heads on either end. When Mario or Luigi pulls off an action command, that brother's end of the bar fills slightly. When they meet in the middle, it's possible to use a Bros. Badge move. The effect varies with the equipped badge. The normal effect is to restore 20% of both brothers' HP. Badges can be bought in one of the shops in [[Toad Town]]. Some of the badges require that the action commands be pulled off perfectly (EXCELLENT is displayed), and some only need GOOD!. An extra block that appears in the battles can be used to swap the badges that brothers use.
====Mario & Luigi Specials====
[[Mario]] and [[Luigi]] obtain these [[Bros. Attack|special attacks]] via [[Attack Piece]]s found by hitting a [[Attack Piece Block]] and numerous other ways.
{|style="text-align:center;width:85%;margin:0 auto"class=wikitable
!width="10%"|Bros. Attack
!width="1%"|Illustration
!width="15%"|Description
!width="15%"|SP
!width="15%"|Location
|-
|style="background-color: #bfd3e3"|[[File:Green Shell Sprite M&L3.png]]<br>[[Green Shell]]*
|[[File:MLBiS Green Shell.png|200x120px]]
|''Mario kicks with {{button|ds|A}}; Luigi with {{button|ds|B}}! Keep on kicking the shell!<br>Target: <font color=blue>One enemy</font color>. Effect: <font color=blue>None</font color>.''
|3
|[[Trash Pit]]
|-
|style="background-color: #bfd3e3"|[[File:Fire Flower Sprite M&L3.png]]<br>[[Fire Flower]]
|[[File:MLBiS Fire Flower.png|200x120px]]
|''Repeatedly press the button of whoever's holding the big fireball!<br>Target: <font color=blue>Random</font color>. Effect: <font color=blue>BURN</font color>.''
|4
|[[Pump Works]]
|-
|style="background-color: #bfd3e3"|[[File:Jump Helmet Sprite.png]]<br>[[Jump Helmet]]
|[[File:JumpHelmet BiS.png|200x120px]]
|''Land on the helmet and jump with {{button|ds|A}}! Dash to the landing spots with {{button|Padleft}} {{button|Padright}}</font color>!<br>Target: <font color=blue>One enemy</font color>. Effect: <font color=blue>None</font color>.''
|6
|[[Flab Zone]]
|-
|style="background-color: #bfd3e3"|[[File:Yoo Who Cannon Sprite.png]]<br>[[Yoo Who Cannon]]*
|[[File:Yoo who cannon.png|200x120px]]
|''Remember which barrels the bros are in! {{button|ds|A}} launches Mario; {{button|ds|B}} launches Luigi!<br>Target: <font color=blue>Random</font color>. Effect: <font color=blue>None</font color>.''
|7
|[[Toad Town]] (after mastering the [[Shell Mario]] technique)
|-
|style="background-color: #bfd3e3"|[[File:Super Bouncer Sprite.png]]<br>[[Super Bouncer]]
|[[File:Super bouncer.png|200x120px]]
|''Launch HIGH with {{button|ds|A}}. Move Luigi to the ball's top with {{button|Padleft}} {{button|Padright}}. Use {{button|ds|B}} to squash.<br>Target: <font color=blue>Random</font color>. Effect: <font color=blue>DIZZY</font color>.''
|7
|[[Energy Hold]]
|-
|style="background-color: #bfd3e3"|[[File:Mighty Meteor Sprite.png]]<br>[[Mighty Meteor]]
|[[File:Mighty meteor.png|200x120px]]
|''Dash with {{button|Padleft}} {{button|Padright}}! Press and hold {{button|ds|A}} or {{button|ds|B}} to build power, and release to swing!<br>Target: <font color=blue>Random</font color>. Effect: <font color=blue>POW down</font color>.''
|8
|[[Toadley Clinic]] (from the intern after obtaining the [[Miracle Cure]])
|-
|style="background-color: #bfd3e3"|[[File:Spin Pipe Sprite.png]]<br>[[Spin Pipe]]
|[[File:Spin pipe.png|200x120px]]
|''Memorize how the bros stack up! Mario stomps with {{button|ds|A}}; Luigi with {{button|ds|B}}!<br>Target: <font color=blue>One enemy</font color>. Effect: <font color=blue>DIZZY</font color>.''
|10
|[[Plack Beach]] (after completing [[Kuzzle]]'s first puzzle)
|-
|style="background-color: #bfd3e3"|[[File:Snack Basket Sprite.png]]<br>[[Snack Basket]]*
|[[File:Snack basket.png|200x120px]]
|''Use {{button|Padleft}} {{button|Padright}} to eat, then repeatedly press {{button|ds|A}} to throw Luigi. Slam down with {{button|ds|B}}!<br>Target: <font color=blue>All ground-based enemies</font color>. Effect: <font color=blue>None</font color>.''
|14
|[[Dimble Wood]]
|-
|style="background-color: #bfd3e3"|[[File:Magic Window Sprite.png]]<br>[[Magic Window]]
|[[File:Magic window.png|200x120px]]
|''Mario stomps with {{button|ds|A}}; Luigi with {{button|ds|B}}. Both stomp together with {{button|ds|A}} and {{button|ds|B}}!<br>Target: <font color=blue>Random</font color>. Effect: <font color=blue>DIZZY</font color>.''
|18
|[[Bowser's Castle]] (after defeating the [[Shroob]]s)
|-
|style="background-color: #bfd3e3"|[[File:Falling Star Sprite.png]]<br>[[Falling Star]]
|[[File:Falling star.png|200x120px]]
|''Aim with {{button|ds|Pad}}. Throw at the star with {{button|ds|A}} if the light is red, {{button|ds|B}} if it's green!<br>Target: <font color=blue>One enemy</font color>. Effect: <font color=blue>DEF down</font color>.''
|20
|[[Peach's Castle Garden]]
|}
<small>* - Required</small>


===Bowser's Battle System===
===Giant Bowser battle system===
Bowser has almost the same battle system as Mario and Luigi's, but with a few differences. He has different options: Punch replaces Jump, Fire Breath replaces Hammer and [[Enemy Attacks]] replaces Attacks Parts. He doesn't have Bros. Badges. Instead, Bowser will get the vacuum ability only after the player advances further through the game. He can then swallow enemies to make [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]] fight them in his belly, or sometimes he can swallow parts of enemies that can restore his HP, raise defense or attack power, or rescue a [[Blitten]]. Bowser's defenses are the Punch and the Shell. Bowser's Punch can counter-attack an enemy. His spiky Shell can hit enemies that try to jump on his head.
[[File:Giant Bowser Battle.png|thumb|200px|left|Giant Bowser battling [[Bowser's Castle|Bowser Castle]]]]
At certain points in the game, Bowser gets crushed by a large object such as [[Bowser's Castle]], which leaves him in a dying state. In order to revive Bowser, the Bros. must play a 2D shooter-like minigame in the [[Rump Command]]. When revived, Bowser grows to a giant state. In order to complete these battles, the player must rotate their DS sideways to play. In these battles, Bowser only has three options of attack. Punching requires quickly sliding the stylus across the screen to execute. Fire requires the player to blow into the [[Nintendo DS#Microphone|DS microphone]]. The last option, Healing, requires Mushrooms found within the battle itself. Defending includes an event where the player must tap the touch screen in certain areas to counter-attack, punching to deflect blows, and blowing huge flames at the enemy. After each giant battle, Bowser returns to normal. There are four such battles in the game.
{{br}}


Enemy Attacks are special attacks that use members of Bowser' army, which are [[Goomba]]s, [[Koopa]]s, [[Shy Guy]]s, [[Bob-omb]]s,  or [[Magikoopas]]. These use the stylus. These characters need to be liberated to unlock these attacks.
==Ranks==
{{main|Rank}}
When leveling up Mario and Luigi, and Bowser occasionally reach a [[rank]]. When this happens new criteria is added to the game such as being able to equip more clothing or being able to shop at certain places. Here is a list of the ranks:


[[Bowser]] will also have his very own battle system when he fights alone against equally-sized enemies. During these battles, the player holds the DS sideways like a book, and can perform moves with the touch screen and microphone. Sweeping the touch pen across the touch screen will make Bowser execute a Mega Punch against his enemy, while breathing into the microphone will make him breath fire. These battles are turn-based battles.
'''Mario & Luigi'''
{|style="text-align:center;margin-auto"class=wikitable
!width=15%|Name
!width=10%|Achieved at level
!width=65% colspan=2|Benefit
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[File:MushroomRankBIS.png]]Mushroom Rank
|Default
|Allows up to one accessory to be equipped.
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[File:ShellRankBIS.png]]Shell Rank
|6
|Allows up to two accessories to be equipped.
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[File:FlowerRankBIS.png]]Flower Rank
|12
|Allows up to three accessories to be equipped.
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[File:ShineRankBIS.png]]Shine Rank
|18
|Allows the bros to shop at the [[Toadles Boutique]] in [[Toad Town#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Toad Town]].
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[File:StarRankBIS.png]]Star Rank
|25
|Allows the bros to shop at the [[Star Shop]] in [[Toad Town#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Toad Town]].
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[File:RainbowRankBIS.png]]Rainbow Rank
|40
|When both brothers reach this rank, gives the [[Badge#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Excellent!! Bros Badge]].
|}
'''Bowser'''
{|style="text-align:center;margin-auto" class=wikitable
!width=15%|Name
!width=10%|Achieved at level
!width=65% colspan=2|Benefit
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[File:BronzeBossRankBIS.png]]Bronze Boss Rank
|Default
|Allows up to one accessory to be equipped.
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[File:SilverBossRankBIS.png]]Silver Boss Rank
|10
|Allows up to two accessories to be equipped.
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[File:GoldBossRankBIS.png]]Gold Boss Rank
|20
||Allows up to three accessories to be equipped.
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[File:FinalBossRankBIS.png]]Final Boss Rank
|40
|Gives the Intruder Fangs equipment to Bowser.
|}


== Characters ==
==Items==
===Key items===
There are many items that appear in the game that the heroes must obtain in order to advance in the game. Most of these items require the players to go through some trial, whether it be a challenge, facing a boss, or through other means.
{|width=100% class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|-
!Image
!Name
!In-game description
!Location
!storyline/<br>required?
|-
|[[File:VacuumMushroom.png|16px]]
|[[Vacuum Shroom]]
|align="left"|A strange Mushroom that gives Bowser the ability to inhale anything.
|[[Dimble Wood]]
|✓
|-
|[[File:MLBIS Hammer icon.png|16px]]
|[[Hammer]]s
|align="left"|''Hammers found in the Trash Pit. Use 'em to whack and break stuff!''
|[[Trash Pit]]
|✓
|-
|[[File:Vacuum Block.png|16px]]
|[[Vacuum Block]]
|align="left"|''A rare block from Broque Monsieur. In battle, Bowser inhales stuff!''
|[[Plack Beach]]
|✓
|-
|[[File:MLBIS Stingler screenshot.png|16px]]
|[[Stingler]]
|align="left"|''An item that might shock something. Where should you use it?''
|[[Pump Works]]
|✓
|-
|[[File:MLBIS Banzai Bill.png|16px]]
|[[Bomber Bill|Banzai Bill]]
|align="left"|''An enormous, black, shiny weapon. If it's launched at you, you're toast!''
|[[Dimble Wood]]
|✓
|-
|[[File:Star Panel sample sprite.png|40px]] etc.
|[[Star Panel]]
|align="left"|''An item created in the Energy Hold. It takes on various shapes.''
|[[Energy Hold]]
|✓
|-
|[[File:Red Star Cure.png|16px]]
|[[Star Cure|Red Cure]]
|align="left"|''A curative held by the wise Wisdurm. It took a while to find this thing...''
|Energy Hold
|✓
|-
|[[File:Yellow Star Cure.png|16px]]
|[[Star Cure|Yellow Cure]]
|align="left"|''The curative found at Bowser Castle. Bowser swallowed it, so it's all sticky.''
|[[Treasure Chamber]]
|✓
|-
|[[File:Green Star Cure.png|16px]]
|[[Star Cure|Green Cure]]
|align="left"|''A 1,000-year-old curative held by Chakron above Plack Beach.''
|Plack Beach cliff
|✓
|-
|[[File:MiracleCure.png|16px]]
|[[Miracle Cure]]
|align="left"|''A true miracle cure made by combining the three curatives. It works incredibly!''
|[[Toadley Clinic]]
|✓
|-
|[[File:Birdley.png]]
|[[Birdley]]
|align="left"|''Dr. Toadley's pet bird. It guides Mario and friends around.''
|Toadley Clinic
|✓
|-
|[[File:Puzzle Sack.png]]
|[[Puzzle Sack]]
|align="left"|''A puzzle in a sack. Give it to [[Kuzzle]].''
|Plack Beach
|
|-
|[[File:BlittyMLBiS alt.png|16px]]
|[[Blitty]]
|align="left"|''A Blitty from [enemy].''
|various enemies
|
|-
|[[File:Mushroom Ball.png]]
|[[Mushroom Ball]]
|align="left"|''An item for the [[PR Toad]] in Toad Town. He'll give you what's inside!''
|[[Toad Town Mall]]
|
|-
|[[File:MLBIS Blue Key.png]]
|[[Blue Key (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story)|Blue Key]]
|align="left"|''A key that opens the blue door on the second floor of Peach's Castle.''
|[[Peach's Castle]] 2F
|✓
|-
|[[File:MLBIS Red Key.png]]
|[[Red Key (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story)|Red Key]]
|align="left"|''A key that opens the red door on the second floor of Peach's Castle.''
|Peach's Castle 2F
|
|-
|[[File:MLBIS Green Key.png]]
|[[Green Key]]
|align="left"|''A key that opens the green door on the second floor of Peach's Castle.''
|Peach's Castle 2F
|
|}


===Consumable items===
These are the items that appear in ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story''. Please note that some of the items used in this game have appeared in the previous installments.
{{content description
|image1=[[File:Mushroom BiS.png]]
|name1=[[Mushroom]]
|description1=Restores 30 HP to one of the bros.
|image2=[[File:Mushroom BiS.png]]
|name2=[[Super Mushroom]]
|description2=Restores 60 HP to one of the bros.
|image3=[[File:Mushroom BiS.png]]
|name3=[[Ultra Mushroom]]
|description3=Restores 120 HP to one of the bros.
|image4=[[File:Mushroom BiS.png]]
|name4=[[Max Mushroom]]
|description4=Restores 240 HP to one of the bros.
|image5=[[File:Mushroom One Up BiS.png]]
|name5=[[1-Up Mushroom]]
|description5=Revives a fallen bro with half HP.
|image6=[[File:Mushroom One Up BiS.png]]
|name6=[[1-Up Deluxe]]
|description6=Revives a fallen bro with full HP.
|image7=[[File:Drumstick.png]]
|name7=[[Hot Drumstick]]
|description7=Restores 80 HP to Bowser.
|image8=[[File:Drumstick.png]]
|name8=[[Fiery Drumstick]]
|description8=Restores 150 HP to Bowser.
|image9=[[File:Drumstick.png]]
|name9=[[TNT Drumstick]]
|description9=Restores 280 HP to Bowser.
|image10=[[File:Nut.png]]
|name10=[[Nut]]
|description10=Restores 20 HP to both bros.
|image11=[[File:Nut.png]]
|name11=[[Super Nut]]
|description11=Restores 40 HP to both bros.
|image12=[[File:Nut.png]]
|name12=[[Ultra Nut]]
|description12=Restores 80 HP to both bros.
|image13=[[File:Nut.png]]
|name13=[[Max Nut]]
|description13=Restores 160 HP to both bros.
|image14=[[File:Syrup BiS.png]]
|name14=[[Syrup Jar]]
|description14=Restores 10 SP.
|image15=[[File:Syrup BiS.png]]
|name15=[[Supersyrup Jar]]
|description15=Restores 20 SP.
|image16=[[File:Syrup BiS.png]]
|name16=[[Ultrasyrup Jar]]
|description16=Restores 30 SP.
|image17=[[File:Syrup BiS.png]]
|name17=[[Max Syrup Jar]]
|description17=Restores 40 SP.
|image18=[[File:StarCandy.png]]
|name18=[[Star Candy]]
|description18=Restores all HP & SP and cures status ailments.
|image19=[[File:Herb Refresh BIS.png]]
|name19=[[Refreshing Herb]]
|description19=Cures status effects.
|image20=[[File:Bean M&LBIS sprite.png]]
|name20=[[Bean|Heart Bean]]
|description20=Increases HP to the selected character by 1 Point.
|image21=[[File:Bean M&LBIS sprite.png]]
|name21=[[Bean|Special Bean]]
|description21=Increases SP to the selected character by 1 Point.
|image22=[[File:Bean M&LBIS sprite.png]]
|name22=[[Bean|Power Bean]]
|description22=Increases POW to the selected character by 1 Point.
|image23=[[File:Retry Clock.png]]
|name23=[[Retry Clock]]
|description23=Allows the player to restart a battle if defeated.
}}
===Equipment===
====Clothing====
{{main|List of clothing in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story}}
''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' differs from its predecessors by including a more varied clothing system. In addition to overalls, Mario and Luigi can wear socks, gloves, boots, and accessories while Bowser can wear shells, arm bands, rings, and fangs. Mario, Luigi, and Bowser can wear additional clothing types if they [[rank]] up from repeated battles.
====Badges====
Badges in ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' are used exclusively by Mario and Luigi, and they work differently from its predecessors. Mario and Luigi must successfully perform Action Commands to fill the badge gauge. Once the gauge is filled, players can tap it to receive an effect that benefits them in a variety of ways, which can be changed depending on the type of badge both brothers wear.
In the table, the left side of the badge (Luigi's badge) decides how good the action command must be to fill the bar, and how big the effect will be. The right side (Mario's badge) decides what the effect will be.
{|style="text-align:center;width:100%"class=wikitable
!width="5%"|Name of Badge
!width="1%"|Icon
!width="3%"|Price (coins)
!width="20%"|Located
!width="20%"|Effect
|-
|Mushroom Badge{{anchor|Mushroom Badge}}
|[[File:MushroomBadge.png]]
|N/A
|Obtained from Princess Lipid
|Restores HP.
|-
|Powerful Badge{{anchor|Powerful Badge}}
|[[File:PowerFuryBadge.png]]
|2000
|Bought from Toad Town's Badge Shop
|Increases both brothers' POW in the next attack.
|-
|Bonus Badge{{anchor|Bonus Badge}}
|[[File:BonusBadge.png]]
|500
|Bought from Toad Town's Badge Shop
|Increases amount of EXP and Coins brothers get in the battle it was used.
|-
|Bro Badge{{anchor|Bro Badge}}
|[[File:BrotherBadge.png]]
|1000
|Bought from Toad Town's Badge Shop
|Restores SP.
|-
|Good Badge{{anchor|Good Badge}}
|[[File:GoodBadge.png]]
|N/A
|Obtained from Princess Lipid
|Mario or Luigi must achieve at least a "good" rating to fill the meter.
|-
|Great Badge{{anchor|Great Badge}}
|[[File:GreatBadge.png]]
|500
|Bought from Toad Town's Badge Shop
|Mario or Luigi must achieve at least a "great" rating to fill the meter.
|-
|Excellent! Badge{{anchor|Excellent! Badge}}
|[[File:ExcellentBadge1.png]]
|1000
|Bought from Toad Town's Badge Shop
|Mario or Luigi must achieve at least an "excellent" rating to fill the meter.
|-
|Excellent!! Badge{{anchor|Excellent!! Badge}}
|[[File:ExcellentBadge2.png]]
|N/A
|Obtained after Mario and Luigi become Rainbow-Ranked (Level 40)
|Mario or Luigi must achieve at least an "excellent" rating to fill the meter. If the attacker gets lower than that, his side of the bar empties. If an excellent is not possible at the time, the meter will not break.
|}
=====Combined effects=====
{|style="text-align:center;width:100%"class=wikitable
!Badge
!width="25%"|[[File:MushroomBadge.png]]
!width="25%"|[[File:PowerFuryBadge.png]]
!width="25%"|[[File:BonusBadge.png]]
!width="25%"|[[File:BrotherBadge.png]]
|-
![[File:GoodBadge.png]]
|Restores 20% of HP
|Increases Attack Power by 1.2x
|Increases Coins by 1.2x
|Restores 20% of SP
|-
![[File:GreatBadge.png]]
|Restores 30% of HP
|Increases Attack Power by 1.5x
|Increases Coins by 1.4x
|Restores 30% of SP
|-
![[File:ExcellentBadge1.png]]
|Restores 50% of HP & Cures Status Effects
|Increases Attack Power by 2x
|Increases EXP by 1.2x, and Coins by 1.6x
|Restores 50% of SP
|-
![[File:ExcellentBadge2.png]]
|Restores 100% HP & Cures Status Effects
|Increases Attack Power by 4x
|Increases EXP by 1.5x, and Coins by 2x
|Restores 100% SP
|}
==Status ailments==
Many status ailments appear in ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story''. Each type affects the heroes and enemies with their own variables. Many enemies can inflict the diseases, as well as some attacks that the three heroes can learn. To relieve the effects, the player can use a [[Refreshing Herb]] or - depending on the type - can wait for it to run out of their systems.
{|width=100% class=wikitable
|-
!Image
!Name
!Description
!Affects
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowsers Inside Story Burn.png]]
|align="center"|[[Burn]]
|align="center"|Player has fire on them; prevents them from attacking/dodging; loses partial HP every turn.
|Mario; Luigi; Enemies
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowsers Inside Story Defense Down.png]]
|align="center"|[[DEF-Down]]
|align="center"|Defense stat is lowered; affected player takes more damage.
|Mario; Luigi; Bowser; Enemies
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowsers Inside Story Def-up Bowser.png]]
|align="center"|[[DEF-Up]]
|align="center"|Defense stat is boosted; affected character takes less damage.
|Mario; Luigi; Bowser; Enemies
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowsers Inside Story Dizzy.png]]
|align="center"|[[Dizzy]]
|align="center"|Player cannot move from confusion and is unable to attack/dodge.
|Mario; Luigi; Bowser; Enemies
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowsers Inside Story Fury.png]]
|align="center"|[[Fury]]
|align="center"|Player grows furious and increases damage dealt and received.
|Bowser
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowsers Inside Story Poison.png]]
|align="center"|[[Poison (status effect)|Poison]]
|align="center"|Player turns purple and loses partial HP every turn.
|Mario; Luigi
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowsers Inside Story Pow Down.png|80px]]
|align="center"|[[POW-Down]]
|align="center"|Attack Power is lowered; affected player deals less damage.
|Mario; Luigi; Bowser; Enemies
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowsers Inside Story Pow Up.png]]
|align="center"|[[POW-Up]]
|align="center"|Attack Power is boosted; affected player deals more damage.
|Mario; Luigi; Bowser; Enemies
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowsers Inside Story Speed Down.png]]
|align="center"|[[SPD-Down]]
|align="center"|Speed stat is lowered; affected player gets fewer turns.
|Mario; Luigi; Bowser; Enemies
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowsers Inside Story Speed Down.png]]
|align="center"|[[SPD-Up]]
|align="center"|Speed stat is increased; affected player gets more turns.
|Mario; Luigi; Bowser; Enemies
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowsers Inside Story Sick.png]]
|align="center"|[[Sick]]
|align="center"|Player gets a runny nose and loses partial HP every turn.
|Bowser; [[Sniffle Thwomp]] (starts battle sick)
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowsers Inside Story Super Strike.png]]
|align="center"|[[KO|Super Strike]]
|align="center"|Player charges up and may deal greater damage than normal on their immediate next hit.
|Mario; Luigi
|-
|
|align="center"|[[Trip]]
|align="center"|The character cannot attack on the turn he tripped. If an enemy hits from behind in the overworld, the character starts out on this state until his turn, or takes damage from the enemy.
|Mario; Luigi; Bowser
|}
==Characters==
===Playable===
===Playable===
[[Image:MLRPG3MarioAndLuigi.png|frame|right|Sprites of Mario and Luigi from the game.]]
<gallery widths=88px heights=88px>
[[Image:Bowserrpg3.png|frame|right|A sprite of Bowser from the game.]]
MALBIS Mario.png|[[Mario]]
*[[Mario]]
MALBIS Luigi.png|[[Luigi]]
*[[Luigi]]
BowserMLBiS.png|[[Bowser]]
*[[Bowser]]
</gallery>
 
===Villains===
<gallery widths=88px heights=88px>
Fawful sprite.PNG|[[Fawful]]
Midbus sprite-1.png|[[Midbus]]
Dark Star MLBIS sprite.png|[[Dark Star]]
</gallery>


===Friends===
===Supporting===
*[[Princess Peach]]
<gallery widths=88px heights=88px>
*[[Toadsworth]]
Peach MLBIS.png|[[Princess Peach]]
*[[Toadbert]]
Toadsworth-MLBIS.png|[[Toadsworth]]
*[[Starlow]]
ToadbertBIS.png|[[Toadbert]]
*[[Kamek]]
MLBISStarlow.png|[[Starlow]]
*[[Toad (species)|Toad]]s
MandL 3 kamek.PNG|[[Kamek|Magikoopa]]
*[[Broque]]<ref name="IGN"/>, a bipedal creature who seems to be made from [[? Block]]s.
ToadBIS.PNG|[[Toad (species)|Toad]]s
*[[Broggy]], Broque's pet.
MLBISBroqueMonseiurBattle.png|[[Broque Monsieur]], a bipedal creature who seems to be made from [[? Block]]s.
*[[Brirose]], another bipedal creature made out of [[? Block]]s.  
Broggy.gif|[[Broggy]], Broque's pet.
*[[Blitten]]s
Broque Madame MLBIS Artwork.png|[[Broque Madame]], another bipedal creature made out of ? Blocks.
*Three members of Bowser's army:
BlittyMLBiS.png|[[Blitty|Blitties]], cat creatures that seem to also be made out of ? Blocks.
**[[Heifā]], a green [[Shy Guy]] with a bag on his back containing a gray pipe and a [[Magikoopa]]'s wand.
M&LBIS Sergeant Guy.png|[[Sergeant Guy]], a green [[Shy Guy]] with a bag on his back containing a gray pipe and a [[Magikoopa]]'s wand.
**[[Patabon]], a red [[Paratroopa]] wearing a red bucket on its head and green shoes.
M&LBIS Corporal Paraplonk.png|[[Corporal Paraplonk]], a red [[Koopa Paratroopa|Paratroopa]] wearing a red bucket on its head and green shoes.
**[[Kurikkī]], a [[Goomba]] that wears blue clothes and seems to look sad.
M&LBIS Private Goomp.png|[[Private Goomp]], a [[Goomba]] that wears blue clothes and seems to look sad.
*[[Hemoglobin]], a species of block-like creatures inside Bowser that give hints and help with minigames.
Emoglobinsprite.png|[[Emoglobin]], a species of block-like creatures inside Bowser that give hints and help with minigames.
*Princess Mucus, who explains [[Bros. Badges]].
ML3princesslipid.png|[[Princess Lipid]], who explains [[Bros. Badges]].
*[[Ibikki]], the creator of [[Ibikki Tower]] and the [[Boo Light Machine]].
Yikktowerbis.png|[[Yikk]], the creator of [[Tower of Yikk]] and the [[Boo-ray Machine]].
Kuzzle.PNG|[[Kuzzle]], the guardian of the second [[Star Cure]].
Blueparatroopas icon.png|The [[Koopa Paratroopa Trio]], friendly blue-shelled [[Koopa Paratroopa|Paratroopas]].
Dr Toadley MLBiS sprite.png|[[Dr. Toadley]], the Toad with a Miracle Cure.
Chakron.gif|[[Chakron]], the guardian of the third Star Cure.
</gallery>


===Enemies===
==Bestiary==
{{main|Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story bestiary}}
Stats listed here are from the North American version of the game. Stats with the Challenge Medal and other versions may vary.
*<sup>i</sup> Indicates they can be inhaled by Bowser and then fought by Mario and Luigi.
*<sup>m</sup> Indicates only Mario can battle them.
*<sup>m&l</sup> Indicates only Mario and Luigi can battle them.
*<sup>b</sup> Indicates only Bowser can battle them.
====Mushroom Kingdom====
====Mushroom Kingdom====
*[[Torejan]], a Treasure Chest with [[Banjo]]-[[Kazooie]] like eyes. It also has a dark version. It attacks by throwing items at the character. Bowser can counter the items back with his punch. He can also throw mushrooms at the character that can recover HP.
{|width=100% class=wikitable
*[[Magatsurī]], a tree with eyes. They attack by throwing logs at the character. Some of them hold fruits that Bowser can inhale.
|-
*[[Kurishinbō]], an obese red-brown Goomba with a lollipop. It is the first normal enemy Bowser fights in the game. It attacks by tackling the character. Bowser can inhale its lollipop which will make the Kurishinbō run away crying.
!Image
*[[Getagator]], a dinosaur with Fawful's face. Bowser can suck out its teeth in battle. It can recover itself with beans and throw stuff to make himself attack in different ways.
!Name
*[[Geranko]], a Fawful-like ant with a drill for an abdomen.
![[Heart Point|HP]]
*[[Hanamūcho]], Snifit flowers. As seeds they are [[Seed-Yan]]. They spit seeds at the character.
![[Experience Point|EXP]]
*[[Gerawanwan]], a parasitic green [[Sworm]] with Fawful's face possessing a [[Chain-Chomp]]. It can hide in the Chain-Chomp when it gets hurt.
!Coins
*[[Zuttsun]] (ヅッツン), A [[Thwomp]] with some kind of cold. If Bowser inhales his ice pack, Thwomp will take some damage after every move he does.
!Location
*[[Jailrun]], a living cage with a Bowser Minion inside. They contain either a Bob-omb or a Goomba. When one of the characters defeat the enemy, the trapped minion will throw a mushroom to the character as thanks.
|-
*[[Kikanbō]], a train Goomba. Coal Ants can jump into it and make the Kikanbō attack more than usual.
|align="center"data-sort-value="1"|[[File:MLBISChuboomba.png]]
*[[Hagasanbon]], a [[Pokey]] made entirely out of teeth. Bowser can punch it making all of the parts of the Pokey fly out of the field except for it's head.
![[Chuboomba]]
*[[Celebrity Lakitu]], A Kingly [[Lakitu]]. This enemy rarely appears.
|align="center"|50
*[[Gerapato]], a UFO resembling Fawful that summons enemies. It is also seen in the story at points. Bowser can inhale it and let the brothers fight it.
|align="center"|15
*[[Coal Ant]]s, bugs made out of coal. They help out Kikanbō in battle.
|align="center"|4
*[[Nooose]], a round, tan, bird-like creature with mustache-like wings. There are two versions of this enemy. One with a green hat and one with a red hat. They can sing and recover one of their fallen allies. [[Image:Nooose.png|frame|right]]
|[[Cavi Cape]]/[[Plack Beach]]
*[[Beehouse]], a Walking Honeycomb/tree mix enemy that releases honey and bees. Bowser can inhale it's honey to recover HP.
|-
*[[Geppu Weed]], A purple bush-like creature with yellow flowers and red lips that shoots poison. Bowser can automatically kill this enemy in the overworld.
|align="center"data-sort-value="2"|[[File:BorpBIS.png]]
*[[Gerahō]], a Shy Guy with an orange robe and a Fawful mask. It also has a dark version. It can be killed by Bowser in one shot in the overworld.
![[Borp]]<sup>m&l</sup>
*[[Gerakamek]], Fawful [[Magikoopas]]. They can summon shapes to crush the characters fighting it. Bowser can kill this enemy by just touching it.
|align="center"|102
*A giant dark Bob-omb that bears a similarity to the [[Shroob-omb]] from ''Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time'' and is filled with black stars. They are summoned at random points.
|align="center"|220
*[[Gerasuhoppā]], a grasshopper-like creature that resembles Fawful. Bowser can kill these in the overworld. They can jump attempting to crush the character. [[Image:Fawful Gasshopper.PNG|frame|right]]
|align="center"|40
*[[Gerapū]], a [[Monty Mole]]-like creature with a resemblance to Fawful. It also has a dark version. They attack by throwing boulders at the characters fighting it. If it has dirt on it's face, it will throw the boulder upwards instead of straight.
|[[Cavi Cape]]
*[[Metal Gerapū]], a metal version of the Gerapū. It attacks the same way as it's nonmetal counterparts.
|-
*[[Uruhei]], a clocked Bob-omb. They can be stopped by a sleeping Gōnemu.
|align="center"data-sort-value="3"|[[File:MLBISToothyBattle.png]]
*[[Doripen]], some type of [[Bumpty]] with a drill instead of a beak. It tries stabbing the character with it's beak.
![[Toothy]]
*[[Gōnemu]], a pig Golem that is found sleeping, and once awoke, they can spit brick blocks. They also shoot bubbles at the character while asleep.
|align="center"|27
*[[Dark Gerahō]], a dark purple [[Fly Guy]] with a blue Fawful mask. They carry giant dark Bob-ombs. Bowser can inhale them as well. If he doesn't, they will drop the bomb on Bowser.
|align="center"|18
*[[Shokuchu]], some type of bag-like enemies. If the Mario Bros. try jumping on them, they will be sucked into their hole on the top of their heads. They attack by tackling into the brothers.
|align="center"|5
*[[Petarīno]], they are similar to the boss [[Betarīno]], but a lot smaller than Betarīno and are in groups.
|[[Plack Beach]]
*[[Hermit Crab Drill]], a Hermit Crab enemy. Like their name says, they have a drill-like shell that they can attack with. Mario and Luigi can't jump on it due to the shell.
|-
*[[Mekakobittsu]], a Fawful-themed android. Once they are defeated, a little Fawful robot flies out of it. It usually flies away from battle.
|align="center" data-sort-value="4"|[[File:MLBISDrillbitCrab.png]]
**[[Dark Mekakobittsu]]
![[Drillbit Crab]]<sup>m&l</sup>
**[[Dark Mekakobittsu V2]]
|align="center"|115
*Shadow enemies summoned by Dark Bowser. The enemies are Goomba, Koopa Shell, Thwomp, Spikeballs, Bullet Bill, and Bob-omb
|align="center"|240
|align="center"|45
|[[Plack Beach]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="5"|[[File:MLBISPendril.png]]
![[Pendril]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|157
|align="center"|260
|align="center"|55
|[[Plack Beach]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="6"|[[File:MLBISTreevilNoBerry.png]][[File:MLBISTreevilWithBerry.png]]
![[Treevil]]
|align="center"|95
|align="center"|30; 35 (berry)
|align="center"|8; 10 (berry)
|[[Dimble Wood]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="8"|[[File:MLBISTrashure.png]]
![[Trashure]]
|align="center"|147
|align="center"|40
|align="center"|15
|[[Dimble Wood]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="9"|[[File:MLBISScutletenemy.png]]
![[Scutlet (species)|Scutlet]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|72
|align="center"|100
|align="center"|25
|[[Dimble Wood]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="10"|[[File:MLBISSockop.png]]
![[Sockop]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|110
|align="center"|240
|align="center"|55
|[[Dimble Wood]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="11"|[[File:MLBISFlifit.png]]
![[Flifit]]
|align="center"|108
|align="center"|50
|align="center"|20
|[[Bumpsy Plains]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="12"|[[File:MLBISSneed.png]]
![[Sneed]]<sup>i</sup>{{footnote|main|1}}
|align="center"|74
|align="center"|200
|align="center"|50
|[[Bumpsy Plains]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="13"|[[File:MLBISLakituKing.png]]
![[Lakitu King]]<sup>i</sup> <sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|90
|align="center"|35
|align="center"|20
|[[Bumpsy Plains]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="14"|[[File:MLBISChainChawful2.png]]
![[Chain Chawful]]
|align="center"|165
|align="center"|75
|align="center"|30
|[[Bowser Path]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="15"|[[File:MLBISFawfulcopter.png]]
![[Fawfulcopter]]<sup>i</sup> <sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|32
|align="center"|40
|align="center"|20
|[[Bowser Path]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="16"|[[File:MLBISFawfulGuy.png]]
![[Fawful Guy]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|172
|align="center"|240
|align="center"|60
|[[Bowser Path]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="17"|[[File:MLBISChoomba.png]]
![[Choomba]]<sup>b</sup>
|align="center"|248
|align="center"|120
|align="center"|31
|[[Tunnel]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="18"|[[File:MLBISCoalbit.png]]
![[Coalbit]]<sup>i</sup>
|align="center"|34
|align="center"|40
|align="center"|15
|[[Tunnel]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="19"|[[File:MLBISRedNooz.png]][[File:MLBISGreenNooz.png]]
![[Nooz]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|55
|align="center"|50
|align="center"|25
|[[Toad Town Caves]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="21"|[[File:MLBISFawflant.png]]
![[Fawflant]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|100
|align="center"|70
|align="center"|30
|[[Toad Town Caves]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="22"|[[File:MLBISBeehoss.png]]
![[Beehoss]]
|align="center"|200
|align="center"|150
|align="center"|40
|[[Blubble Lake]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="23"|[[File:MLBISCrawful.png]]
![[Crawful]]
|align="center"|173
|align="center"|170
|align="center"|45
|[[Blubble Lake]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="26"|[[File:MLBISGlamLakitu.png]]
![[Glam Lakitu]]<sup>i</sup> <sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|208
|align="center"|47
|align="center"|60
|[[Blubble Lake]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="24"|[[File:MLBISFawflopper.png]]
![[Fawflopper]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|96
|align="center"|200
|align="center"|40
|[[Blubble Lake]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="25"|[[File:MLBISMawfulMole.png]]
![[Mawful Mole]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|154
|align="center"|230
|align="center"|45
|[[Blubble Lake]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="27"|[[File:MLBISJailgoon.png]]
![[Jailgoon]]
|align="center"|183
|align="center"|340
|align="center"|55
|[[Bowser's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Bowser Castle]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="28"|[[File:MLBISSniffleThwomp.png]]
![[Sniffle Thwomp]]
|align="center"|256
|align="center"|400
|align="center"|60
|[[Bowser's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Bowser Castle]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="29"|[[File:MLBISMagifoofa.png]]
![[Magifoofa]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|124
|align="center"|260
|align="center"|50
|[[Bowser's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Bowser Castle]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="30"|[[File:MLBISMechawful.png]]
![[Mechawful]]
|align="center"|277
|align="center"|300{{footnote|main|2}}
|align="center"|70
|[[Peach's Castle Garden]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="31"|[[File:MLBISMechawfulHead.png]]
![[Mechawful|Mechawful Head]]<sup>i</sup>
|align="center"|98
|align="center"|150
|align="center"|20
|[[Peach's Castle Garden]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="32"|[[File:MLBISMetalMawfulMole.png]]
![[Metal Mawful Mole]]{{footnote|main|1}}
|align="center"|140
|align="center"|350
|align="center"|60
|[[Peach's Castle Garden]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="33"|[[File:MLBISNaplockAwake.png]]
![[Naplock]]<sup>b</sup>
|align="center"|183
|align="center"|580
|align="center"|80
|[[Peach's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Peach's Castle]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="34"|[[File:MLBISAlarmBobomb.png]]
![[Alarm Bob-omb]]<sup>i</sup>
|align="center"|123
|align="center"|170
|align="center"|50
|[[Peach's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Peach's Castle]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="38"|[[File:MLBISDarkTrashure.png]]
![[Dark Trashure]]<sup>b</sup>
|align="center"|360
|align="center"|640
|align="center"|100
|[[Peach's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Peach's Castle]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="39"|[[File:MLBISDarkFawfulGuy.png]]
![[Dark Fawful Guy]]<sup>i</sup> <sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|128
|align="center"|200
|align="center"|65
|[[Peach's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Peach's Castle]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="40"|[[File:MLBISDarkFawfulBomb.png]]
![[Dark Fawful Bomb]]<sup>b</sup>
|align="center"|316
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|[[Peach's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Peach's Castle]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="35"|[[File:MLBISDarkMechawful.png]]
![[Dark Mechawful]]<sup>b</sup>
|align="center"|280
|align="center"|800
|align="center"|80
|[[Peach's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Peach's Castle]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="36"|[[File:MLBISDarkMechawfulHead.png]]
![[Dark Mechawful|Dark Mechawful Head]]<sup>i</sup> <sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|200
|align="center"|200
|align="center"|40
|[[Peach's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Peach's Castle]]
|-
|align="center"data-sort-value="37"|[[File:Mechawful 5 Dark.png]]
![[Dark Mechawful.5]]<sup>b</sup>
|align="center"|280
|align="center"|800{{footnote|main|2}}
|align="center"|80
|[[Peach's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Peach's Castle]]
|}
{{footnote|note|1|Though they are instantly defeated by Bowser in overworld, Bowser can meet them by battling against other enemies.}}
{{footnote|note|2|Defeating the summoned bodies will not grant extra experience and coins.}}


====Inside Bowser====
====Inside Bowser====
*[[Goombule]], a new [[Goomba]]-like species that is clear with black eyes and houses an orange object inside itself (in Bowser's Stomach). It appears to be based off a cell. These are the first normal enemies that Mario and Luigi face. They attack by attempting to tackle into the brothers.
All enemies here can be battled with Mario and Luigi.
*[[Katabō]], a Goomba-like creature with a [[Buzzy Beetle]]-like shell. It is purple with black eyes and houses a yellow object inside. They also have black shells instead of blue and appear in Bowser's Stomach. It can't be killed with the Jump attack however can be by the hammer.
{|width=100% class=wikitable
*[[Spike Blop]], [[Spinies]] with a normal spiky shell but goop-like body with blue-green color (in Bowser's Stomach). They can only be attacked by the Hammer move. Jumping on them will hurt the character due to it's sharp shell. [[Image:Togēba.PNG|frame|right]]
!Image
*[[Thwomp]]-like bones (in Bowser's Stomach), it appears to be more of an obstacle rather than an enemy. There are three versions of this enemy.
!Name
*[[Karakara Gessō]], a wafer thin Blooper. It attacks by floating down from the sky trying to attack the character.  When wet it becomes [[Mineral Gessō]], a floating, stuffed, balloon-like Blooper.
![[Heart Point|HP]]
*[[Tampa-Kun]] (「タンパくん」), a round dumpy creature that looks like a [[Flurry]] and holds a club (in Bowser's Stomach). It grows whenever Mario and Luigi attack it. It also makes shockwaves with it's club.
![[Experience Point|EXP]]
*[[Jūshī]], a living piece of [[meat]] (in Bowser's Stomach). It tries to roll into the character.
!Coins
*[[Karorin]], a Flame Monster holding two small logs. It can eat Jūshī and turn them into Karorin. They try rolling and hitting the brothers with their flames.
!Location
*[[Shinapun]], a red and yellow spherical creature. It throws  red and green energy balls at the characters. It can also split into two enemies that are generally weaker.
|-
*[[Dokkun Flower]], a [[Piranha Plant]] that resembles a vein (in Bowser's Stomach). They spit poison at Mario and Luigi.
|align="center"|[[File:Goombule Cell Thing.png]]
*[[Energy]], a ball of energy that can switch between POW, DEF, and SPEED forms. POW form Energies try to punch the brothers, DEF forms can jump into a character to give it more defense and SPEED forms can attempt to tackle into the brother a couple of times.
![[Goombule]]
*[[Porippū]], a blue palette swap of Tampa-Kun.
|align="center"|8
*[[Air Puku]], a fish that has been influenced by the [[Dark Star]].
|align="center"|3
*[[Nioinī]], a cloud that has been influenced by the [[Dark Star]].
|align="center"|2
*[[Air Pun]], a palette swap of Shinapun. It attacks the same way as it's counterpart.
|[[Trash Pit]]/[[Pump Works]]
*[[Air Gun]], a cannon manned by an egg shaped creature. Once the cannon gets destroyed, the egg character will run away.
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Goombule Elite.png]]
![[Elite Goombule]]
|align="center"|16
|align="center"|4
|align="center"|2
|[[Trash Pit]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Spike blop.png]]
![[Spike Blop]]
|align="center"|12
|align="center"|5
|align="center"|3
|[[Trash Pit]]/[[Pump Works]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISBubbleBlooper.png]][[File:MLBISDriedBlooper.png]]
![[Bubble Blooper]] / [[Dried Blooper]]
|align="center"|23
|align="center"|15
|align="center"|5
|[[Pump Works]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Protobattle Blis.png]]
![[Protobatter]]
|align="center"|36
|align="center"|15
|align="center"|5
|[[Pump Works]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Tenderloin.png]]
![[Tenderling]]
|align="center"|45
|align="center"|30
|align="center"|12
|[[Flab Zone]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Calorite Bis.png]]
![[Calorite]]
|align="center"|85
|align="center"|40
|align="center"|20
|[[Flab Zone]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Napse Napse.png]]
![[Napse]]
|align="center"|68
|align="center"|100
|align="center"|35
|[[Energy Hold]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISPowPep.png]][[File:MLBISDefPep.png]][[File:MLBISSpeedPep.png]]
![[Pep|POW/DEF/SPEED Pep]]
|align="center"|105
|align="center"|120
|align="center"|40
|[[Energy Hold]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISPiranhaPlorp.png]]
![[Piranha Plorp]]
|align="center"|165
|align="center"|140
|align="center"|55
|[[Energy Hold]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Protobattler Blue.png]]
![[Pwallop]]
|align="center"|130
|align="center"|150
|align="center"|45
|[[Energy Hold]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISAirCheep.png]]
![[Air Cheep]]
|align="center"|236
|align="center"|600
|align="center"|75
|[[Airway (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story)|Airway]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISStonk.png]]
![[Stonk]]
|align="center"|198
|align="center"|630
|align="center"|85
|[[Airway (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story)|Airway]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Airnapse.png]]
![[Airnapse]]
|align="center"|150
|align="center"|610
|align="center"|70
|[[Airway (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story)|Airway]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISAirCannon.png]]
![[Air Cannon]]
|align="center"|254
|align="center"|670
|align="center"|100
|[[Airway (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story)|Airway]]
|}


===Bosses===
===Bosses===
*Dark Fawful
The following is a bestiary for all bosses encountered in the game ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story''. Some of the bosses are optional, such as the X bosses; and some require Bowser to become giant to fight them.
*[[Broque]], a block-like character. He fights Bowser, showing him how to use the Vacuum command.
*<sup>e</sup> Indicates the battle automatically ends after several turns.
*[[Broggy]], Broque's guard dog. He fights Bowser thinking he's an intruder.
====Normal Bosses====
*[[Bowser]], the first boss in the game. He is fought by just Mario. The bros. fight him again later in the game.
{|width=100% class=wikitable
*[[Betarīno]], a Bug-like creature that doesn't allow Bowser to breath fire
!Image
*[[Bowser's Castle]], Giant Bowser fights it.
!Name
*[[Peach's Castle]],Giant Bowser fight this one as well.
![[Heart Point|HP]]
*[[Midbus]] (two times)
![[Experience Point|EXP]]
*[[Gera Express]], a giant train with Fawful's face. Giant Bowser battles it.
![[Coin]]s
*[[Marine Pipe's Statue]]
!Location
**[[Blooper's Statue]]
|-
*[[Imounu]] (a [[Birdo]]-[[Wiggler]] Mix)
|align="center"|[[File:Bowser-BIS-enemy.png]]
**[[Bifīzu Person]], three creatures that assist Imounu
![[Bowser#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Bowser]] (1)<sup>m</sup>
**[[Straw]], a heart-shaped device that Imounu uses to steal Bowser's HP.
|align="center"|20{{footnote|main|3}}
*[[Wiggler]]
|align="center"|0
**[[Leaf Shy Guy]], a [[Fly Guy]] with a seed for a propeller.
|align="center"|0
*[[Arukaroten]] & [[Betakaroten]], who kidnap Peach.
|[[Peach's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Peach's Castle]]
*[[Sage Imounu]]
|-
*[[Ibikki Tower]] - A clockwork tower that resembles [[Ibikki]]Bowser must become a giant to fight it.
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISMidbusBattle.png]]
*[[Bowser's Memory ML]]
![[Midbus]] (1)<sup>b</sup> <sup>e</sup>
*[[Chakuran]] - the guardian of the third [[Star Vaccine]]
|align="center"|95
*[[Garakuta Monster]] - A monster made from a trashcan.
|align="center"|0
**[[Garakuta Henchman]]
|align="center"|0
*Blizzard Midbus - Midbus powered up by Fawful.
|[[Cavi Cape]]
**[[Snowbittsu]] - A snowman assistant to Midbus
|-
*[[Dark Star]]
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISBroqueMonseiurBattle.png]]
**[[Dark Satellite]]
![[Broque Monsieur]]<sup>i</sup>
*[[Super Peach Castle]], a piece of Princess Peach's castle that Fawful made animate. Giant Bowser fights it.
|align="center"|158
*[[Dark Bowser]] and the [[Dark Fawful Bug]].
|align="center"|30
*[[Shroob#Mario_.26_Luigi:_Bowser.27s_Inside_Story|Shroob]]s (optional)
|align="center"|0
|[[Plack Beach]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Sea Pipe Statue.png]][[File:Stone Blooper.png]]
![[Sea Pipe Statue]]<sup>i</sup>
|align="center"|320
|align="center"|150
|align="center"|50
|[[Plack Beach]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:BossScutletBIS.png]]
![[Scutlet (boss)|Scutlet]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|280
|align="center"|200
|align="center"|50
|[[Flame Pipe]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISBroggyBattle.png]]
![[Broggy]]<sup>b</sup>
|align="center"|198
|align="center"|60
|align="center"|0
|[[Plack Beach]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:WigglerSprite.png]]
![[Wiggler#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Wiggler]]<sup>b</sup>
|align="center"|540
|align="center"|340
|align="center"|150
|[[Dimble Wood]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISDurmite.png]]
![[Durmite]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|Durmite - 326<br>Straw - 16
|align="center"|300
|align="center"|120
|[[Nerve Cluster]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISMidbusBattle.png]]
![[Midbus]] (2)<sup>b</sup>
|align="center"|950
|align="center"|550
|align="center"|350
|[[Fawful Theater]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISAlphaKretin.png]][[File:Alpha Kretin 2.png]][[File:MLBISBetaKretin.png]]
![[Kretin]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|Alpha - 20 (each ball)<br>Beta - 385
|align="center"|700
|align="center"|200
|[[Flab Zone]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowser-BIS-enemy.png]]
![[Bowser#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Bowser]] (2)<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|1,215
|align="center"|1,000
|align="center"|500
|[[Toadley Clinic]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISWisdurmSmall.png]][[File:MLBISWisdurm.png]]
![[Wisdurm]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|1,610
|align="center"|2,800
|align="center"|600
|[[Energy Hold]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowser Memory M.png]][[File:Bowser Memory L.png]]
![[Bowser Memory M and Bowser Memory L]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|M - 730<br>L - 845
|align="center"|3,000
|align="center"|700
|[[Memory Banks]]
|-
|align="center" |[[File:MLBISShroob.png]][[File:MLBISShroob.png]][[File:MLBISShroob.png]]
![[Shroob#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Shroobs]]<sup>m&l</sup> (×3){{footnote|main|4}}
|align="center"|500 each
|align="center"|900
|align="center"|300
|[[Bowser's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Bowser Castle]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISChakron.png]]
![[Chakron]]<sup>m&l</sup> <sup>e</sup>{{footnote|main|5}}
|align="center"|9,999
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|[[Plack Beach]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:M&LBIS Junker.png]]
![[Junker]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|1,445
|align="center"|6,000
|align="center"|900
|[[Peach's Castle Garden]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISBlizzardMidbus.png]]
![[Blizzard Midbus]]<sup>b</sup><br>
|align="center"|2,041
|align="center"|6,500
|align="center"|1,200
|[[Peach's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Peach's Castle]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISDarkStar.png]]
![[Dark Star]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|1,248
|align="center"|9,999
|align="center"|2,000
|[[Airway (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story)|Airway]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISDarkFawfulNoVaccum.png]]
![[Dark Fawful]]<sup>b</sup>
|align="center"|1,736
|align="center"|7,500
|align="center"|1,600
|[[Peach's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Peach's Castle]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:DarkBowserBIS.png]]
![[Dark Bowser]]<sup>b</sup>
|align="center"|1,000
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|[[Peach's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Peach's Castle]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Fawful Darker.png]]
![[Dark Star Core]]<sup>i</sup> <sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|Main - 1,560<br>Glasses - 250<br>Appendages - 156
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|[[Peach's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Peach's Castle]]
|}
{{footnote|note|3|after the tutorial part, Bowser's HP will be set to 20.}}
{{footnote|note|4|this boss is entirely optional.}}
{{footnote|note|5|this battle will end after performing one EXCELLENT [[Snack Basket]].}}
;Boss Support
{|width=100% class=wikitable
!Image
!Enemy
!Battled with
![[Heart Point|HP]]
!EXP
!Location
|-
|align="center"|[[File:LeafGuyBIS.png]]
![[Leaf Guy]]<sup>i</sup> <sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|[[Wiggler#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Wiggler]]
|align="center"|56
|align="center"|20
|align="center"|[[Dimble Wood]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:M&LBIS Biffidus.png]]
![[Biffidus]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|[[Durmite]]
|align="center"|10
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|[[Nerve Cluster]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Junker Junk Trash.png]]
![[Junker Can]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|[[Junker]]
|align="center"|105
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|[[Peach's Castle Garden]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISSnawfulOverworld.png]]
![[Snawful]]<sup>i</sup>
|align="center"|[[Blizzard Midbus]]
|align="center"|105
|align="center"|220
|align="center"|[[Peach's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Peach's Castle]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Satelmite Dark.png]]
![[Dark Satellmite]]<sup>m&l</sup>
|align="center"|[[Dark Star]]
|align="center"|260
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|[[Airway (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story)|Airway]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISVaccumHelmet.png]]
![[Vacuum Helmet#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Vacuum Helmet]]<sup>i</sup>
|align="center"|[[Dark Fawful]]
|align="center"|1,200
|align="center"|220
|align="center"|[[Peach's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Peach's Castle]]
|}


===X Bosses===
====Giant Bosses====
All these bosses can only be battled with Giant Bowser.
{|width=100% class=wikitable
!Image
!Name
![[Heart Point|HP]]
![[Experience Point|EXP]]
![[Coin]]s
!Location
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowsercastlebis.PNG]]
![[Bowser's Castle#Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|Bowser's Castle]]
|align="center"|535
|align="center"|380
|align="center"|200
|[[Dimble Wood]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Yikktowerbis.png|60px]]
![[Tower of Yikk]]
|align="center"|508
|align="center"|1,800
|align="center"|800
|[[Blubble Lake]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Fawfulexpressbis.png|80px]]<br>[[File:Hill Monster.png|100px]]
![[Fawful Express]]<br>with [[Fawful Mountain]]
|align="center"|Express - 885<br>Mountain - 1,049
|align="center"|3,500
|align="center"|1,000
|[[Project K]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:SuperPeachCastleOfFury.png|120px]]
![[Super Peach's Castle of Fury]]
|align="center"|1,488
|align="center"|7,500
|align="center"|2,000
|[[Peach's Castle Garden]]
|}


The game also contains a Battle Colosseum that gives you an option to
====Gauntlet Bosses====
fight 7 optional bosses. They're tougher versions of bosses that Mario and Luigi already fought. This mode also requires brothers to finish the enemy in less than set number of turns. These bosses are:
Note that all X bosses only awards coins on their first defeat. All these bosses are fought by Mario & Luigi.
{|width=100% class=wikitable
!Image
!Name
![[Heart Point|HP]]
![[Coin]]s
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Durmite X.png]]
![[Durmite X]]
|align="center"|Durmite X - 575<br>Straw X - 40
|align="center"|1,000
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Alpha Kretin X.png]][[File:Beta Kretin X.png]]
![[Kretin X]]
|align="center"|Alpha - 135 (each ball)<br>Beta - 810
|align="center"|2,000
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISWisdurmXSmall.png]][[File:MLBISWisdurmX.png]]
![[Wisdurm X]]
|align="center"|2,380
|align="center"|4,000
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowser Memory MXP.png]][[File:Bowser Memory LXP.png]]
![[Bowser Memory MLX]]
|align="center"|MX - 2,500<br>LX - 3,000
|align="center"|6,000
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Junker X.png]]
![[Junker X]]
|align="center"|3,080
|align="center"|9,000
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISDarkStarX.png]]
![[Dark Star X]]
|align="center"|4,030
|align="center"|12,500
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Bowser Enemy Battle bis2.png]]
![[Bowser X]]{{footnote|main|6}}
|align="center"|7,155
|align="center"|25,000
|}
{{footnote|note|6|must fight 6 other X bosses consecutively before the battle.}}
;Boss Support
{|width=100% class=wikitable
!Image
!Enemy
!Battled with
![[Heart Point|HP]]
|-
|align="center"|[[File:MLBISBiffidusX.png]]
![[Biffidus X]]
|align="center"|[[Durmite X]]
|align="center"|32
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Can Junker X.png]]
![[Junker Can X]]
|align="center"|[[Junker X]]
|align="center"|134
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Satelmite Dark X.png]]
![[Dark Satellmite X]]
|align="center"|[[Dark Star X]]
|align="center"|416
|}
{{br}}


*Imounu X
==Overworld==
*Arukaroten X
While Mario and Luigi adventure through [[Bowser's body]], Bowser is walking around the overworld. Mario and Luigi can influence Bowser. They can pinch nerves to make Bowser panic. They can also touch Bowser's muscles to give him a power-up. Equally, Bowser can change the course of the Mario Bros.' adventure. For example, he can flood them by drinking from a fountain. After a certain point in the game, Mario and Luigi can go to the [[Pipe Yard]] and use [[Warp Pipe]]s to exit Bowser's body and explore the overworld, and then use the pipes to enter Bowser's body again. Bowser can use [[Chakroad]]s to warp between different locations of the Mushroom Kingdom.
*Sage Imounu X
**Magical Rod
*Bowser's Memory ML X
*Garakuta Monster X
**Garakuta Kobun X
*Dark Star X
**Dark Satellite X
*All other bosses from Challenge Hall in a row + Bowser X


==Locations==
Overworld icons have slightly changed. They now display the health of the character. Bowser uses two buttons in the overworld, X to punch, and Y for firebreath. Later in the game, Bowser learns new moves such as a dashing punch, ground-pounding, and curling up into a spikeball (much like the way he attacked Mario in ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]''). Mario and Luigi use A and B respectively to jump. At one point they gain hammers. Mario can destroy rocks and crates, while Luigi can hit Mario to make him mini so as to reach previously inaccessible areas. Later in the game, the Marios learn new moves such as the [[Spin Jump]] and the Drill Bros. They also encounter items in the overworld that help them perform moves to reach a goal or an item. The items include a gas pump that seems to be shooting out helium. Mario can fill himself up with helium and float into the air like a balloon. If Luigi is to grab his legs at that time, they are able to perform a floating high jump, somewhat similar to the move found in the first installment of the series. They can also find a Blue Koopa shell that Mario can put on. Luigi can whack him with his hammer to shoot Mario over previously inaccessible areas to hit switches. This move is very similar to the move the Koopa companions use in the ''[[Paper Mario (series)|Paper Mario]]'' series.
[[Image:BowserMap.png|thumb|right]]
 
*[[Bowser's Body]]
While Bowser explores a 3-D overworld, Mario and Luigi explore a 2-D world inside his body, much like a traditional platformer, though they can go into the 3-D overworld at any time once the Pipe Yard is available. The actual overworld is connected just as it was in ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'', unlike ''Partners in Time''{{'}}s linear levels. The overworld is up to 4-5 times larger than ''Superstar Saga''{{'}}s overworld. The map in this game consists of a beach, a forest, a cape, the road to Bowser's Castle, Toad Town, Bowser's Castle, Peach's Castle, Grasslands, a railroad, underground, and a lake. In the Nintendo Power review, it was stated that there are tons of sidequests, much to explore, and plenty to do in the free roam overworld.
**[[Junk Space]]
===Locations===
**[[Surprise Bone]]
{{M&LBIS map}}
**[[Toad Plaza]]
**[[Challenge Hall]]
**[[Power Space Arm]]
**[[Pump Space]]
**[[Fire Pipe]]
**[[Power Space Stomach]]
**[[Sensitive Spot]]
**[[Power Space Bottom]]
**[[Metaboru Space]]
**[[Power Space Leg]]
**[[Power Space Nose]]
**[[Energy Space]]
**[[Press Tower]]
**[[Memory Warehouse]]
**[[Lower Back's Tsubo]]
**[[Power Space Chest]]
**[[Air Space]]
**[[Pipe Plaza (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story)|Pipe Plaza]]
[[Image:MLRPG3 Map.png|thumb|right]]
*[[Mushroom Kingdom]]
*[[Mushroom Kingdom]]
**[[Peach's Castle]]
**[[Dimble Wood]]
**[[Cavi Cape]]
**[[Plack Beach]]
**[[Bumpsy Plains]]
**[[Bowser Path]]
**[[Bowser's Castle]]
**[[Bowser's Castle]]
**[[Ekubon's Forest]]
**[[Tunnel]]**
**[[Gepū Cape]]
**[[Toad Town Caves]]
**[[Ibikki Tower]]
**[[Musshība Beach]]
**[[Otapuku Meadows]]
**[[Peach's Castle]]
**[[Railroad]]
**[[Road to Bowser's Castle]]
**[[Toad Town]]
**[[Toad Town]]
**[[Underground Tunnel]]
**[[Blubble Lake]]
**[[Zutsūda Lake]]
**[[Tower of Yikk]]
**[[Project K]]**
**[[Peach's Castle Garden]]
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Only Mario & Luigi can access.<br>
<nowiki>**</nowiki>Only Bowser can access.
{{M&LBIS Bowser map}}
*[[Bowser's body]]
**[[Trash Pit]]
**[[Funny Bone]]
**[[Toad Square]]
**[[Challenge Node]]
**[[Arm Center]]
**[[Pump Works]]
**[[Flame Pipe]]
**[[Gut Check (location)|Gut Check]]
**[[Nerve Cluster]]
**[[Rump Command]]
**[[Flab Zone]]
**[[Pipe Yard]]
**[[Leg Outpost]]
**[[Nose Deck]]
**[[Energy Hold]]
**[[Joint Tower]]
**[[Memory Banks]]
**[[Lumbar Nook]]
**[[Chest Station]]
**[[Airway (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story)|Airway]]


==Differences==
===Shops===
''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' has some difference with the first two Mario & Luigi games.
{{Main|List of shops in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story}}
===Gameplay Differences===
Throughout the game, there are several shops where the player can purchase and sell items from several shops on their adventure. Shops available to Mario and Luigi are run by characters and all found in [[Toad Town Mall]] and [[Toad Square]]. Only two shops are available to Bowser: [[Broque Monsieur's Shop]] and [[Broggy's Shop]], both in [[Dimble Wood]]. However, there are [[Shop Block]]s around the Mushroom Kingdom that provides the same functionality to Bowser. There is a [[Scratch Card]] system where the player has a chance to get a part of their coins spent back. The amount of squares that give coins back depends on Mario and Luigi's stache level and Bowser's horn level.
*This is the first ''Mario & Luigi'' game to have optional bosses.
 
===Beans===
{{Main|List of beanholes in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story}}
After Mario and Luigi learn the [[Drill Bros.]] move, they can collect beans from beanholes by tunneling underground and then jumping. There are about 200 beanholes scattered around the world, both in the Mushroom Kingdom and inside Bowser's body. Mario and Luigi can also collect beans from characters like [[Kuzzle]] and the [[PR Toad]] of [[Toad Town Mall]].
 
==Differences from other ''Mario & Luigi'' games==
While a direct sequel in the ''Mario & Luigi'' series, ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' still has several differences compared to the [[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga|first]] [[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time|two]] ''Mario & Luigi'' games.
*This is the first game to feature more than one optional boss stronger than the final boss.
*This is the first game in the series not to feature [[Professor E. Gadd]].
*This is the only game in the series not to feature [[Yoshi (species)|Yoshi]]s.
*This is the only game in the series to feature Bowser as a main protagonist.
*This is the first game in the series where Mario and Luigi can double jump; in battle in the first game, they could not while in the second game, they needed the babies to do it.
*This is the only ''Mario & Luigi'' game to not have any traditional enemies as common enemies, besides derived species which only appear in this game.
*This is the first ''Mario & Luigi'' game to feature an "Excellent!!" rating when completing an attack.
*This is the first ''Mario & Luigi'' game where jump and hammer attacks receive a rating depending on how well timed the attack is.
*This is the only ''Mario & Luigi'' game to not have a purely snow-, desert-, mountain-, or temple-themed area.
**The [[Airway (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story)|Airway]] can be considered a snow- or ice-like area when it is frozen, and [[Plack Beach]] features a mountainous section.
===Gameplay differences===
[[File:Scatchcard.png|200px|thumb|The new scratch card mode, allowing Mario, Luigi, and Bowser to win money back.]]
*This is the first ''Mario & Luigi'' game to have optional bosses, with the exception of three of the four [[Popple]] fights and [[Jojora]] in ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'', who are not required to be defeated, but can be defeated for extra experience and items.
*Unlike ''Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time'' for the Nintendo DS, this game makes greater use of the DS's touch controls and microphone.
*Unlike ''Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time'' for the Nintendo DS, this game makes greater use of the DS's touch controls and microphone.
*This is the first game in the ''Mario & Luigi series'' to have a playable character that is not Mario, Luigi, or their baby forms, other than Toad very briefly during the opening of ''Superstar Saga''.  
*This is the first game in the ''Mario & Luigi'' series (as well as the fourth RPG overall) to have Bowser as a playable character.
*The player can equip Mario and Luigi with pants, gloves, shoes, socks, and accessories instead of just pants as in the first two ''Mario & Luigi'' games.
*The player can equip Mario and Luigi with pants, gloves, shoes, socks, and accessories instead of just pants as in the first two ''Mario & Luigi'' games.
*Badges have a different function. Bro. Badge moves can be preformed with them. This game contains eight badges, which is notably less then the previous ''Mario & Luigi games''.
*Badges have a different function. Bro. Badge moves can be performed with them. This game contains eight badges, which is notably less than the previous ''Mario & Luigi'' games.
*Some enemies (or variations) who appeared in the other two ''Mario & Luigi games'' are gone.
*This is the first of the series to have power-ups or other items in the overworld such as the blue [[Koopa Troopa]] shell.
*This is the first ''Mario & Luigi'' game to have a [[rank]] system. This means, if the player gets at a certain level, they go to a higher rank. Ranks for Mario and Luigi are the Mushroom Rank, Shell Rank, Flower Rank, Shine Rank, Star Rank, and the Rainbow Rank. Bowser's ranks are the Bronze Boss Rank, Silver Boss Rank, Gold Boss Rank, and the Final Boss Rank.
*Mario and Luigi get the [[hammer]]s earlier in ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' than in the other ''Mario & Luigi'' games. (An exception is ''Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam'', where they have hammers from the start.)
*The [[Scratch Card]] is introduced, allowing the main characters to earn back coins after spending them.
*This is also the first game where the hammerheads do not fall off in defense when held too long; the bro. just puts it down. Consequently, the hammer can also be held much longer.
*In the first two games of the series, Mario and Luigi use a [[suitcase]] to store anything they collect in their journey. In ''Bowser's Inside Story'', however, they use the [[star menu]], managed by [[Starlow]] in order to access their items.
*This is the first game to have a Boss-Refight or Skill Challenge.
*This is the first time in the ''Super Mario'' [[Genre#Role-playing|RPG]] series that a sequel has been released on the same system as its predecessor.
*This is the second game where the Mario Bros. battle inside Bowser's body, the first being ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'', where they battle [[Cackletta]]'s Soul inside Bowser. Fawful (who worked for Cackletta) is fought in a similar way to Cackletta. Also, before both battles take place, the player fights an affected form of Bowser. While Mario and Luigi are sucked into Bowser and Cackletta was inside him, for Fawful it is the reverse; Bowser inhales Dark Fawful, and he fights the Mario Bros. inside of Bowser.
*This is the first ''Mario & Luigi'' game where Bowser does not end up possessed by the main villain, as well as the first RPG game since ''Paper Mario'' where the main villain does not actually possess one of the main characters.
**However, [[Dark Bowser]] is a character who has copied Bowser lineaments by gathering his DNA, and is similar to previous Bowser possessions.
 
===Release differences===
*This is the first ''Mario & Luigi'' game to be released in Japan before any other country.
*This is the first ''Mario & Luigi'' game in which the American box art is the same as the Japanese box art. The European box art, while not exactly the same due to the ratings' graphics requiring the artwork to be rearranged, uses the same artwork (but with Luigi's and Bowser's eyelines changed to reflect their positions) and background as the Japanese box art.
*This is the first ''Mario & Luigi'' game to have multiple languages for its North American release. Both the French and Spanish translations are distinct from those of Europe.


===Other Differences===
==Staff==
*This is the first Mario & Luigi game that does not have a main female antagonist.
{{main|List of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story staff}}
*This is the first Mario & Luigi game that a normal Yoshi does not appear in. Also, Professor E. Gadd did not make an appearance.
The game's producers were Toshiharu Izuno, Akira Otani, and Yoshihiko Maekawa, with [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] and [[Takashi Tezuka]] acting as senior producers and [[Satoru Iwata]] and Tetsuo Mizuno acting as executive producers. The game's director was Hiroyuki Kubota and Makoto Aioi was the main programmer.
*Mario & Luigi do not have a suitcase, unlike the first two Mario & Luigi games.
*Unlike the first two Mario & Luigi games, ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' does not have the same ending music the first two games.
*Unlike the first two Mario & Luigi games, this is the first to have a save block instead of a save book.  
*The save-screen or load-file-screen no longer resembles a notebook.


===Release Differences===
==Reception==
*This is the first Mario & Luigi game to be released in Japan before any other country.
''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' has received critical acclaim, with a score of 91.01% based on 47 reviews on GameRankings<ref>{{cite|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/20090903025256/http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/954368-mario-and-luigi-bowsers-inside-story/index.html|title=''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' for DS|publisher=GameRankings|language=en|accessdate=June 25, 2024}}</ref> and a 90 based on 58 reviews on Metacritic,<ref>{{cite|url=www.metacritic.com/game/mario-and-luigi-bowsers-inside-story|title=''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story''|publisher=Metacritic|language=en|accessdate=June 25, 2024}}</ref> making it the highest-rated out of the ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' RPG games. Much of the game's praise was directed towards its gameplay, humor, storyline, integration of [[Bowser]] as one of the main protagonists, and innovative use of the [[Nintendo DS]]'s capabilities.
{|class="wikitable reviews"
!colspan="4"style="font-size:120%;text-align:center;background-color:silver;"|Reviews
|-style="background-color:#E6E6E6"
|Release
|Reviewer, Publication
|Score
|Verdict
|-
|Nintendo DS
|Phil Theobald, [http://ds.gamespy.com/nintendo-ds/mario-luigi-rpg-3/1024131p1.html Gamespy]
|4.5/5
|"''There's very little in Bowser's Inside Story to not like. It's great to look at, the interaction between the "inside" and "outside" worlds is well thought-out, the mini-games and interactive battles are always a treat to play, and it's probably the funniest Mario & Luigi game yet. The game is long, too. Expect to put in well over 20 hours before you're finished. It may not be a traditional RPG, but it's one of the more enjoyable ones out there.''"
|-
|Nintendo DS
|Christian Donlan, [https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/mario-and-luigi-bowsers-inside-story-review Eurogamer]
|9/10
|"''Superstar Saga was, very quietly, one of the best games of its generation, sadly appearing too late in the [[Game Boy Advance|GBA's]] lifespan to be much more than a cherished secret. Partners in Time was similarly smart but not quite so engaging, possibly because the inclusion of the Mario babies overburdened the controls while offering too little reward for the extra hassle. That's not the case here, however: the brother's old enemy is a triumph precisely because he provides such a contrast to them: he's a bullish idiot who allows you to enjoy your blunt powers with very few limitations. Inside Story is absolutely a return to form, in other words - and, in the end, you've got Bowser to thank for that.''"
|-
|Nintendo DS
|Craig Harris, [https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/09/10/mario-luigi-bowsers-inside-story-review IGN]
|9.5/10
|"''The Mario & Luigi series has already established itself as a fantastic RPG franchise, and the third game does not disappoint. I have no problem classifying it as the best of the bunch, thanks to an excellent and appropriately surreal script, epic oversized battles, and the fact that Bowser is a playable character and gets most of the gameplay time. Let's hope that this is a jumping-off point for Bowser; this guy really needed a top-billing production!''"
|-
!colspan="4"style="font-size:120%;text-align:center;background-color:silver;"|Aggregators
|-style="background-color:#E6E6E6"
|colspan=2|Compiler
|colspan=2|{{nw|Platform / Score}}
|-
|colspan=2|Metacritic
|colspan=2 style="background-color:LimeGreen"|[https://www.metacritic.com/game/ds/mario-luigi-bowsers-inside-story 90]
|-
|colspan=2|GameRankings
|colspan=2|[https://www.gamerankings.com/ds/954368-mario-and-luigi-bowsers-inside-story/index.html 91.01%]
|}
{{br}}
===Sales===
''Bowser's Inside Story'' has sold 4.13 million copies worldwide as of March 31, 2011,<ref>{{cite|format=PDF|page=5|url=www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2011/110426e.pdf#page=5|title=Consolidated Sales Units of "Wii" (FY3/2011)|publisher=Nintendo|language=en|accessdate=June 25, 2024}}</ref> making it the best-selling RPG in the ''Super Mario'' franchise.
 
==''Mushroom Kingdom Tribune''==
[[File:Mktribune.png|thumb|75px|The newspaper]]
The '''''Mushroom Kingdom Tribune''''' was a promotional newspaper sent by [[Nintendo]] via e-mail. This newspaper included information about the release of ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story''.
 
This newspaper included "Reviews from the [[Mushroom Kingdom]]," which features quotes from the game characters:
*"''I have chortles!''" – [[Fawful]]
*"''Did someone just page the King of Awesome?''" – [[Bowser]]
*"''SUPER ULTRA WONDER ULTIMATE RUTHLESS GREAT IRON BALL!''" – [[Midbus]]
{{br|right}}
 
==Quotes==
{{Main|List of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story quotes}}
===Bowser===
*"''Did somebody page the king of awesome?''"
*"''[[Mario|MAAARIO]]! Are you seriously trying to start with me again?! I hear about this big meeting, and I'm all ready to act nice... But man, the second I see your face, Mr. Nice Bowser is GONE. Yeah, forget your dumb meeting! I'll pummel you and grab [[Princess Peach|Peach]]!''"
*"''GWAHAHA! Great dark hurricane! Seriously, perfect backdrop for an awesome final battle! You really sweat the details! Listen up! You're saying the kingdom will vanish? NOT TODAY! THIS [[Mushroom Kingdom|KINGDOM]] IS ALL MINE! '''SO [[Dark Bowser|YOU]] VANISH'''!''"
*"''SHOWTIME!''"
 
===Fawful===
*"''All who resist will be beat like naughty little eggs!''"
*"''Beef? I am lacking in beef. Fawful is beefless.''"
*"''Fawful sings a song of bad!♪ The Mushroom Kingdom is so sad!♪ All of it is for Fawful!♪ And the...rhyme...with that!♪''"
*"''Here Fawful goes, the disappearing..forever disappearing... WITH YOU!''"
*''"I HAVE CHORTLES!"''
*''"It is I who added the nuts to that statue!"''
 
==Pre-release and unused content==
{{main|List of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story pre-release and unused content}}
Some enemies have an attack pattern for [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]], even if they do not face them in the game. There are also several unused voice clips for [[Yoshi]], coming from ''[[Yoshi's Story]]''; there is also unused music from ''Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time'', although it will not play correctly. Early screenshots also show [[Treevil]]s being battled at [[Plack Beach]].
 
==Glitches==
{{main|List of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story glitches}}
Before the fight with [[Scutlet (boss)|Scutlet]], if the players re-enter the [[Pump Works]] and hit the Save Block the message will say that Bowser can breathe fire again, even though the Flame Pipe is still blocked.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
===Artwork===
{{main-gallery|Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story}}
====Solo Pictures====
<center>
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:MarioLuigiML3.jpg|<center>[[Mario]] and [[Luigi]]
Mario Luigi Starlow Artwork - Mario and Luigi BiS.png|[[Mario]], [[Luigi]], and [[Starlow]]
Image:MarioLuigiStarlow.png|<center>Mario, Luigi and [[Starlow]]
MLBiS Bowser.png|[[Bowser]]
Image:ML3Bowser.jpg|<center>[[Bowser]]
Fawful artwork MLBiS.png|[[Fawful]]
Image:Yellow Star.jpg|<center>Starlow
Midbus Artwork - Mario and Luigi BiS.png|[[Midbus]]
Image:Kawaiistar.png|<center>Starlow
Dark Star MaLBIS.png|[[Dark Star]]
Image:Kawaiistar3.png|<center>Starlow
ML3drtoadley.png|[[Dr. Toadley]] and [[Birdley]]
Image:Brirock_ML3.jpg|<center>[[Broque]]
Image:Blodog.png|<center>[[Broggy]]
Image:NTR_MarioLuigi3_07char_E3.jpg|<center>[[Fawful]]
Image:MetabossML3.jpg|<center>[[Midbus]]
Image:Unknown_Shy_Guy.PNG|<center>[[Heifā]]
Image:Unknown_Goomba.PNG|<center>[[Kurikkī]]
Image:Crazy_Paratroopa.PNG|<center>[[Patabon]]
Image:Burirōzu.png|<center>[[Brirose]]
Image:Burokyatto.png|<center>[[Blitten]]s
Image:RedToadRPG3.png|<center>[[Toad (species)|Toad]]
</gallery>
</gallery>
</center>


NOTE: Solo artwork for this game which is not shown here was previously used in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]''.
==Media==
{{main-media}}
{{media table
|file1=M&LBIS On To the Next Adventure!.oga
|title1=On To the Next Adventure!
|description1=The music for the title screen
|length1=0:30
|file2=M&LBIS Doing It Right.oga
|title2=Doing It Right
|description2=The music that plays during tutorials
|length2=0:30
|file3=M&LBIS A Bit of Peace and Quiet.oga
|title3=A Bit of Peace and Quiet
|description3=The music that plays in Peach's Castle at the start
|length3=0:30
}}


====Group Pictures and Scene Art====
==References to other games==
<center>
*''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda (Game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'' - In [[Toad Town]], Mario and Luigi meet a Toad who teaches them how to dig up special beans. After finishing, he states, "Find all you can. They're a secret to everybody!", in reference to the saying in this game where the Secret Moblin would give Link free Rupees after saying, "It's a secret to everybody."
<gallery>
*''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'' - During Bowser's battle with the giant Wiggler, the Wiggler sometimes attacks by pulling out vegetables, which are the same ones that are seen in this game. Also, one of Bowser's brainwashed minions states that he forgot what Bowser's castle was originally called (before it was turned into "Fawful Theater"), and mistakenly referred to it as "[[Mouser]]'s Castle".
Image:Artwork of most characters.jpg|<center>Japanese size chart for the characters in this game
*''[[Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]'' - In addition to the storyline of Bowser attempting to reclaim his castle, Bowser claims [[Starlow|Chippy]] as one of his minions, saying she could "thank him later" (just like when Bowser rationalizes joining Mario's party). In addition, some notes of the [[Forest Maze]] track appear in the Toad Town and [[Peach's Castle]] themes.
Image:HereIcome.png|<center>[[Luigi]]'s new [[Sweet Basket]] move
*''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' - The starting section of the file select music is similar to the [[P Switch]] and [[Toad House]] theme. [[Sockop]]s are clearly meant to resemble the [[Goomba's Shoe|Kuribo's Shoe]], and at one point Luigi will even hop around inside an unconscious Sockop, allowing him to walk along spikes without taking damage, just as the Kuribo's Shoe does. In addition, one of the Sockops' names is, apparently, Kuribo.
Image:Bowserrules.png|<center> Bowser and his Goomba army
*''[[Dr. Mario (game)|Dr. Mario]]'' - Blue Viruses appear on a poster in Dr. Toadley's office, and in one of the [[Toothy]]'s attacks.
Image:NTR_MarioLuigi3_05illu_E3.jpg|<center>[[Mario]] and [[Luigi]] inside [[Bowser]]
*''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'' and ''[[Yoshi's Island DS]]'' - The [[Fawful Guy]] enemy can imitate the attack patterns of both the [[Woozy Guy]] and the [[Glide Guy]]. In addition, one of its attacks mirrors Yoshi's main form of offense in the game, egg throwing.
</gallery>
*''[[Super Mario 64]]'' - The music that plays within Peach's Castle when visiting it for the first time is a variation of its theme here.
</center>
*''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'' - One of the brother's ranks is called the Shine Rank.
*''[[Paper Mario]]'' - The Koopa Paratroopa Trio in the game wear sunglasses, similar to this game. The blue Koopa shell power-up in the overworld is similar to [[Kooper]]'s field ability. Also, Princess Peach using her combined powers with Starlow references [[Peach Beam]].
*''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'' - Fawful reappears as a villain. The way Bros. Attacks are used from this game is reused, and there is a slight remix of [[Cackletta]]'s theme song that played in the background after Fawful took over Peach's castle. Additionally, the statues of Fawful in Bowser's castle depict his outfit from his rematch in this game. Mario and Luigi battle Dark Fawful inside of Bowser's body, just as they did with Cackletta. The chair seen near the [[Conference Room]] has the same design (seen only briefly in the beginning of said game). Also, the [[Mini-Mario|Mini Mario]] and [[Spin Jump]] abilities return.
*''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]'' - In the instruction manual for this game, Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach's artwork was reused. When Mario and Luigi talk to Broque Madame, she tells them stories about the Shroob invasion that took place in the game. Several Shroobs are also seen at Bowser's castle, where they were kept frozen in a cryogenic chamber. If the player chooses to thaw them out, then an optional boss battle with them will commence. During the battle, several other Shroobs, including the [[Elder Princess Shroob]] can be seen in the background. After the battle, Mario and Luigi tell Starlow about their previous battle with the Shroobs, and how they defeated them while they were babies. While the audience is still in the theater in Bowser's castle, a Shroob can also be found sitting in the audience on the bottom right. Also, there is a boot called the Shroob Boots. Fawful Guys, which are fought by Mario and Luigi in [[Bowser Path]], have an attack in which they are pulled offscreen by a tongue (during which the same roar heard from [[Yoob]] is heard), and are thrown at either one of the bros. in the form of an egg, which highly resembles one of [[Sunnycide]]'s attacks.
*''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'' - [[Blue Shell]]s make a reappearance, as does [[Shell Mario]]. A Mega Mushroom also occasionally appears during one of Broque Monsieur's attacks in his tutorial. Additionally, a single [[Squiggler]] appears as an NPC in Dimble Wood.
*''[[Super Paper Mario]]'' - Bowser's battle animation resembles the one in this game.
*''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'' - Spike Ball, the ability where Bowser curls into a ball, heavily resembles an attack that Bowser uses during his fights against Mario/Luigi.


====Logos and Box Art====
==References in later games==
<center>
*''[[Mario & Luigi: Dream Team]]'' - [[Starlow]], [[Broque Monsieur]], [[Broque Madame]], [[Broggy]], [[Private Goomp]], [[Corporal Paraplonk]], and [[Sergeant Guy]] all return to this game. Bowser's appearance in this game makes multiple references to ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story''. He uses the Punch and Spike Ball moves in a battle, and can inhale in cutscenes. A cutscene prior to fighting giant Bowser has him say "SHOWTIME!" Also, Bowser's theme and the game's boxart style are reused.
<gallery>
*''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'' - The songs "Tough Guy Alert!" and "The Grand Finale" return in this game.
Image:ML3Jap.png|<center>Japanese Game logo
*''[[Nintendo Badge Arcade]]'' - One of the badges in the Pixel Collection set depicts the ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' game card.
Image:Japanaseboxrpg3.jpg|<center>Japanese Box Art
*''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' - The songs "Tough Guy Alert!" and "The Grand Finale" return in this game. Fawful, Starlow, and Broque Monsieur (using their respective artwork from this game) appear as [[Spirit (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)|spirits]]. [[Piranha Plorp]]s are mentioned in [[List of Palutena's Guidance conversations#Piranha Plant|Palutena's Guidance]] for [[Piranha Plant]].
Image:Logo_ML3.jpg|American Game Logo
*''[[Mario & Luigi: Brothership]]'' - The [[Jump Helmet]] and [[Yoo Who Cannon]] both return as [[Bros. Attack]]s for Luigi. Bowser calls Starlow "Chippy", the nickname originating from ''Bowser's Inside Story''. Additionally, the [[Treevil]] has a new wire variant, the [[Krode]].
Image:Bowsersinsidestorycover.jpg|<center>US and EU Box Art
</gallery>
</center>


===Screenshots===
==Names in other languages==
<center>
{{foreign names
<gallery>
|Jap=マリオ&ルイージRPG3!!!
Image:GiantToadThing.png|<center>The Father [[Toad (species)|Toad]] that was affected by the blorbs.
|JapR=Mario ando Ruīji Āru Pī Jī Surī!!!
Image:GreenBugThing.png|<center>Mario and Luigi fighting a Gerasuhoppā.
|JapM=Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!!
Image:TreeThings.png|<center>Bowser fighting two Magarrī.
|ChiT=瑪利歐&路易吉RPG3!!!<ref>{{cite|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/20130107235756/http://www.nintendo.tw/ds/ds_software.htm|language=zh-hant|title=Nintendo DS 遊戯軟體|accessdate=June 25, 2024|publisher=Nintendo of Taiwan}}</ref>
Image:BattleML3.Jpg|<center>Mario and Luigi fighting a Gerapū and a Gerasuhoppā.
|ChiTR=Mǎlìōu & Lùyìjí RPG3!!!
Image:ML3overworld.png|<center>Some infected Toads in a hospital resting.  The text box says "Mr. Mario, please help (us.)"
|ChiTM=Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!!
Image:ML3-Bowzer-'n-Mario's.png|<center>Top Screen: Bowser drinks in a fountain.<br>Bottom Screen: Mario and Luigi in Bowser's body, near a bone resembling a [[Thwomp]].
|FreA=Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Image:FawfulorPeasley.JPG|<center>Bowser chases Fawful.
|FreE=Mario & Luigi: Voyage au centre de Bowser
Image:GiantLollipopGoomba.png|Bowser about to punch a giant [[Goomba]] with a lollipop.
|FreEM=Mario & Luigi: Journey to the Center of Bowser<br>(A reference to {{iw|wikipedia|Jules Verne}}'s science fiction novel ''{{iw|wikipedia|Journey to the Center of the Earth}}'')
Image:MandL3PrincessPeach'sCastle.png|Mario and Luigi talking to an infected Toad inside Princess Peach's Castle.
|Ger=Mario & Luigi: Abenteuer Bowser
Image:MLRPG3pix1.jpg|The Mario Bros find Toadworth.
|GerM=Mario & Luigi: Bowser Adventure
Image:MLRPG3icon.png|The ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' icon.
|Ita=Mario & Luigi: Viaggio al Centro di Bowser
Image:Bowserrpg3.png|Bowser Sprite
|ItaM=Mario & Luigi: Journey to the Center of Bowser<br>(A reference to ''Journey to the Center of the Earth'')
Image:BowserMandLRPGSprite.png|Another Bowser sprite.
|Kor=마리오&루이지 RPG 3 쿠파 몸속 대모험
Image:Fawful_sprite.PNG|Fawful sprite
|KorR=Mario & Ruiji RPG 3 Kupa Momsok Daemoheom
Image:ss1.jpg|Bowser fighting against Midbus.
|KorM=Mario & Luigi RPG 3: A Great Adventure to Bowser's Body
Image:MandLBIS1.png|A group of Toads discussing about the disease.
|SpaA=Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Image:MandLBISss2.png|
|SpaE=Mario & Luigi: Viaje al centro de Bowser
Image:MandLBISss3.png|A shop located inside Bowser's Stomach.
|SpaEM=Mario & Luigi: Journey to the Center of Bowser<br>(A reference to ''Journey to the Center of the Earth'')
Image:MandLBISss4.png|
}}
Image:MandLBISss5.png|
</gallery>
</center>
 
==Trivia==
* ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' is the first game where [[Princess Peach]] has the power to levitate other people.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6j7p9CnCYI&feature=channel_page]</ref> Apparently, this is because she must pray in conjunction with Starlow's powers to do so.
* This is the first time in the Mario [[RPG]] series that a sequel has been released on the same system as its predecessor.


==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>


==Sources==
==External links==
*[http://www.gametrailers.com/player/40748.html Mario & Luigi 3 Debut Trailer - Gametrailers.com]
{{NIWA|NWiki=1|StrategyWiki=1}}
*[http://www.gamekult.com/video/9316801/ Full Screen Mode - www.gamekult.com (French)]
{{TCRF}}
*[http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30666&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=]
*[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/cljj/index.html Japanese Website for ''Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!!'']
*[http://blog.livedoor.jp/midiplex/archives/51471830.html]
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20140517060542/http://bowsersinsidestory.com/ Nintendo of America's Website for ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'']
*http://themushroomkingdom.net/games/upcoming
*[https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/TRSRYArlK4f2wpEB9icuziCm_A58y02l Nintendo of America's gamepage for ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'']
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjNAQvfPw4E&feature=channel_page]
*[https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-DS/Mario-Luigi-Bowser-s-Inside-Story-271584.html Nintendo of Europe's Website for ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'']
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy0FOaknUmo&feature=channel_page]
*[http://nintendo.co.kr/DS/soft/mario_luigi_rpg3/submain.php Korean Website for ''Mario & Luigi RPG 3'']
*[https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/gameslist/manuals/DS_Mario_Luigi_IS_ENG.pdf American English manual]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/gameslist/manuals/DS_Mario_Luigi_IS_FR.pdf Canadian French manual]


==Other Links==
{{M&LBIS}}
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyfYRkwSenY E3 2009 Official Trailer]
{{Super Mario games}}
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhj8gkRlOZc Official Boxart of the Game]
*[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/cljj/index.html Japanese Official Website of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story!!!]
*[http://e3.nintendo.com/ds/d4/index.html Nintendo:E3 2009 Mario & Luigi:Bowser's Inside Story]
<br clear=all>
{{RPG}}
{{DS}}
{{DS}}
 
[[de:Mario & Luigi: Abenteuer Bowser]]
[[it:Mario & Luigi: Viaggio al centro di Bowser]]
[[Category:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story|*]]
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Nintendo DS Games]]
[[Category:Nintendo DS games]]
[[Category:RPGs]]
[[Category:Role-playing games]]
[[Category:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story|*]]
[[Category:2009 games]]
[[Category:2011 games]]

Latest revision as of 13:57, November 26, 2024

This article is about the original game for the Nintendo DS. For the remake of this game for the Nintendo 3DS, see Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
The North American cover of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
North American box cover
For alternate box art, see the game's gallery.
Developer AlphaDream
Nintendo SPD Group No.4
Publisher Nintendo
Platform(s) Nintendo DS
Release date Japan February 11, 2009[?]
ROC February 11, 2009[?]
USA September 15, 2009[?]
Europe October 9, 2009[1]
Australia October 22, 2009[?]
South Korea July 21, 2011[?]
Language(s) English (United Kingdom)
English (United States)
French (France)
French (Canada)
German
Spanish (Spain)
Spanish (Latin America)
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Genre RPG
Rating(s)
ESRB:E - Everyone
PEGI:3 - Three years and older
CERO:A - All ages
ACB:G - General
USK:6 - Six years and older
GRAC:All - All ages
Mode(s) Single-player
Format
Nintendo DS:
Game Card
Input
Nintendo DS:
Serial code(s) Japan NTR-CLJJ-JPN
USA NTR-CLJE-USA
Europe NTR-CLJP-EUR
Australia NTR-CLJE-AUS
South Korea NTR-CLJK-KOR

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is a Nintendo DS game developed by AlphaDream and published by Nintendo. It was released worldwide in 2009 and in South Korea in 2011. It is the third title in the Mario & Luigi series, preceded by Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time for the Nintendo DS in 2005 and succeeded by Mario & Luigi: Dream Team for the Nintendo 3DS in 2013. The title of the game is a parody on the term "inside story", meaning the "true" tale of an event from the perspective of an insider who participated in the action, as opposed to an outsider who only hears about the event later on. In this case, the game is a literal inside story, as Mario and Luigi have to adventure through Bowser's insides. The game's European Spanish, European French, and Italian name is a parody on the famous novel Journey to the Center of the Earth. The original French name is Voyage au centre de la Terre, the Spanish name is Viaje al centro de la Tierra, and the Italian name is Viaggio al centro della Terra.

This is the only non-3DS installment in the Mario & Luigi series not to be released on the Virtual Console for the Wii U.

A Nintendo 3DS remake of the game, titled Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey, was released in Japan on December 27, 2018 and elsewhere in January 2019. Outside Japan, the release year marks the 10th anniversary of this game. This is the second game in the Mario & Luigi series after Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga to have a remake. This game also marks the debut of Starlow, who would become a recurring character in the series.

Story[edit]

The blorbs being discussed.

After the Mushroom Kingdom's citizens start contracting the blorbs, a disease that swells Toads, Princess Peach holds an emergency conference meeting at her castle, which includes Mario, Luigi, Toadbert, Toadsworth, and a Star Sprite named Starlow. Bowser crashes in and is sent flying out of Peach's Castle after easily being defeated by Mario, eventually landing in Dimble Wood, and after regaining consciousness, he comes across a cloaked merchant (who is Fawful in disguise). The merchant gives him a "Lucky Mushroom" that causes Bowser to inhale his surroundings. He returns to Peach's Castle and uses this ability to suck in everyone who attended the conference.

Mario, Luigi, and Starlow reawaken inside the Trash Pit area of Bowser's body, where they acquire hammers and use them to hit an exposed nerve and rouse Bowser, who had been dumped in Cavi Cape Cave. Starlow, who talks to Bowser throughout the game, withholds information surrounding the Mario Bros.' whereabouts and assists him in remembering the past events. Bowser then encounters Fawful, who explains that the blorbs and the Vacuum Shroom he gave him were all part of a plan to conquer both the Mushroom Kingdom and Bowser's Castle. He sends out his minion, Midbus, whose speech irritates the Koopa King so much that he decides to pick a fight with him. Bowser loses to Midbus, and he and Fawful abandon him.

Bowser helps a stranded Broque Monsieur get back on Plack Beach, where the sentient block rewards him a Vacuum Block, allowing him to control his sucking abilities. After defeating the Sea Pipe Statue, Bowser drinks water which allows Mario and Luigi to enter the Pump Works and defeat the Scutlet bug that was blocking his fire breath at the Flame Pipe. Starlow starts using the alias "Chippy" to Bowser. After subduing Broque's pet dog Broggy, Bowser enters Dimble Wood, where he eventually comes across three of his minions: Sergeant Guy, Corporal Paraplonk, and Private Goomp. They plan to retake Bowser's castle with a Banzai Bill launcher, where Bowser is required to find ammunition. Bowser procures a giant carrot as a makeshift missile, but the owner, a Wiggler, makes him eat it and then attacks him. After he obtains the Banzai Bill from the Wiggler, Bowser is then overcome with stomach pain caused by consuming a parasitic Durmite along with the carrot; Mario and Luigi defeat it in battle.

After his stomach issue is resolved, Bowser proceeds to launch the Banzai Bill towards Bowser Castle. However, Midbus dodges his Banzai Bill by launching the castle and landing it on him. The Mario Bros. revive Bowser from the Rump Command, which unintentionally turns him as giant as the castle. After Bowser defeats the castle, it flies away with him in pursuit, traveling through Bumpsy Plains and Bowser Path to reach the destination. Bowser deflects Midbus's iron ball, which knocks the castle down. Entering his castle, Bowser discovers that Fawful has turned it into a theater and brainwashed most of Bowser's Minions into a pack of his own adoring fans. Fawful himself arrives and tricks Bowser, forcing him to perform a cage match with Midbus on stage. When Bowser wins, his prize is being forcibly fed fattening foods cooked by Fawful, gaining so much weight that he breaks through the floor and becomes trapped.

Peach tells the story about the Dark Star.

Exploring the newly opened Flab Zone and defeating some Kretin enemies, Mario and Luigi are reunited with Princess Peach, who explains that Fawful is actually after the Dark Star, an evil entity locked away under Toad Town that can only be revived using Peach herself. Fawful then uses a laser to extract Peach from Bowser and he and Midbus leave with her, while Bowser falls the rest of the way through the floor onto a treadmill they placed beneath him in the basement. He literally burns off all the excess fat, igniting a crate of Bob-ombs in the process which sends him blasting off back to Cavi Cape, falling into the Tunnel. He meets up with some Monty Mole minions and helps them drill all the way to Toad Town, but when Bowser wanders into the corridor leading to the Dark Star, the security system activates and electrocutes him, rendering him unconscious.

Mario and Luigi gain access to the Pipe Yard in Bowser's body, which allows them to use warp pipes to return to the outside world. They emerge in the Toad Town Caves themselves and try to head off and stop Fawful, but arrive too late. Fawful takes the Dark Star to Peach's Castle and uses its power to create a barrier preventing the Mario Bros. from following him. With no other option, they head to Dr. Toadley to try and do something about the blorbs problem instead, but Bowser arrives at the clinic as well and the three battle, with Bowser losing. Dr. Toadley then tells Mario and Luigi that they need to collect three Star Cures to cure the blorbs and possibly find a way into the castle. Bowser awakens, hears this, and rushes off, determined to find the cures before the Bros. Dr. Toadley then reveals to Mario and Luigi that the first cure is held by Durmite inside Bowser's body, and they head back in to get it. They locate Durmite immediately, but it flees through an impassable, Boo-like barrier, stopping the Mario Bros. in their tracks.

The Boo Ray machine
Yikk presents the Boo-Ray Machine.

Meanwhile, Bowser heads to the shores of Blubble Lake, where his sneezes raise the propeller-topped Tower of Yikk out of the water and straight onto him. The Mario Bros. supersize Bowser again and he defeats the moving tower, venturing inside once he shrinks back to his regular size and meeting the ghost of Yikk, who shines his invention, the Boo-ray Machine, on Bowser's gut. The light from the machine causes the Boo-like barrier to disappear and help Mario and Luigi navigate the maze beyond them, allowing them to track down Durmite, who reveals herself to be a sage named Wisdurm. She battles them, turning to a butterfly after her defeat, dropping the Star Cure, and flying off.

Bowser leaves the tower and meets up with Private Goomp, who tells him that he already had one of the Star Cures locked away in his treasure chamber, having recently stolen it from an old Koopa named Kuzzle. Bowser returns to his castle, regaining access to his treasure vault by pushing a statue of Fawful through the barricades in the floor, only to find that the Monty Bros. are now under Fawful's control and have built a railway straight through the vault. They use the Fawful Express to ram him out of the castle and into a boulder, resulting in another emergency revival and a giant battle between Bowser and the train. Returning to his vault after destroying the train, Bowser realizes that he has forgotten the combination to the safe that the Star Cure is stored in and asks "Chippy" to retrieve it for him. In the Memory Banks, Mario and Luigi have to defeat blocky doppelgangers of themselves, crafted from Bowser's own memories of them. After that, they reassemble a puzzle representing the memory and Bowser opens his safe, only to be pushed in by Private Goomp, Sergeant Guy, and Corporal Paraplonk, who had turned to Fawful's side. With nothing else to do in the cramped safe, Bowser eats the Star Cure, and it is retrieved from his gut by the Mario Bros.

Mario and Luigi return to Toad Town and are sent after the final Star Cure by Dr. Toadley. Guided by the doctor's messenger bird, Birdley, they meet the sage known as Chakron at the top of a cliff over Plack Beach, but he will only give them the Star Cure if they can knock him out of the pose he has held for a thousand years. After a cryptic hint from Chakron, the Bros. head for Dimble Wood to collect Attack Pieces for the ground-shaking Snack Basket move, but Mario is kidnapped by a Sockop and has to be rescued by Luigi, who wears a knocked-out Sockop like a Goomba's Shoe to sneak into the enemies' territory. Reunited and having gathered all the pieces, the brothers return to Chakron and knock him over, so true to his word, he gives them the final Star Cure.

The Miracle Cure curing the blorb-infected Toads.

Back at the clinic, Dr. Toadley creates the Miracle Cure from the three Star Cures, which flies around ridding all the Toads of the blorbs and then allows Mario and Luigi to blast their way through the barriers to get to Peach's Castle. They search the gardens for a way in and are attacked by Midbus, who uses the remote-control Junker robot to fight them. The Mario Bros. win the battle, and the robot goes haywire, throwing the safe containing Bowser into a pile of garbage, breaking it open. Bowser's back seized up from being in the cramped safe for so long, so Mario and Luigi go back inside him to fix it, allowing him to break into Peach's Castle for them.

Bowser fights his way to Fawful and Midbus as they are slowly awakening the Dark Star. Fawful supercharges his minion into Blizzard Midbus, but Bowser wins the ensuing fight and Midbus's new ice powers end up freezing him solid. Bowser punches out Fawful as he tries to absorb the Dark Star's powers and he only gets a portion of it, with the rest of the revived evil entity forcing its way inside Bowser. Mario and Luigi chase the Dark Star around as it absorbs Bowser's DNA and takes on his characteristics, eventually emerging as an incomplete copy of Bowser, which sucks up Peach and floats off in search of the rest of its power. Bowser goes after it but is sidetracked by a final giant battle against Peach's Castle, which had been transformed into a giant robot by Fawful. He then battles Fawful himself, now souped-up by the Dark Star's powers into Dark Fawful. Bowser wins the fight and Fawful turns into a small ball of dark energy and tries to flee, but he gets absorbed by the Dark Star, allowing it to fully transform into Dark Bowser.

The real Bowser goes after his copy, chasing it to the tallest tower where it deposits the unconscious Peach before being confronted by Bowser, who aims to capture Peach, both castles and the Dark Star's powers. The final battle is waged on two fronts, starting off with Bowser fighting his clone, before punching it in the gut and forcing it to spit up Fawful. Bowser sucks up the little ball of energy and Mario and Luigi take over the fight, defeating both Fawful and the Dark Star Core inside Bowser. This leaves Dark Bowser unstable, and the real Bowser punches it until it explodes, freeing the Mushroom Kingdom from the Dark Star’s influence for good.

Inside Bowser, a battered and unstable Fawful appears in front of the Mario Bros., seemingly accepting defeat to them and saying that he will go away permanently, but he is actually faking it as he uses this opportunity to try and take the Mario Bros. with him in a final explosion of his own while sporting a large, dying grin on his face. All this accomplishes though is making Bowser eject everyone he had inhaled. The liberated Toads and the now-conscious Peach move to congratulate Mario and Luigi on a job well done, and Bowser, confused and angry, realizes that the brothers had been inside his body the whole time. Starlow dismissively tells Bowser to not worry about what's in the past but discovering that she was his supposedly loyal minion "Chippy" throws him into a complete rage. The Toads and the Princess flee from the scene, and the credits show a montage of still images showing that Bowser loses the ensuing fight.

The cake Princess Peach sends Bowser at the end of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
Bowser's cake.

Afterward, the heavily-injured Bowser is seen lying in bed at his castle while Private Goomp, Sergeant Guy, and Corporal Paraplonk beg him for forgiveness over their treason. Birdley arrives with a package from Peach, but when Starlow pops out of it to check in on him, Bowser angrily tells her to leave, as he is too busy fixing his castle to attack again anytime soon. He then lets the trio rejoin the rest of his army in helping with the repairs, and only once he is sure he is alone does Bowser open the package, revealing a thank-you cake with his face, Mario, Luigi, and Peach on it.

As in the other Mario & Luigi games, there is no "Endless Play" feature. As such, if the player plays the game after it is beaten and the ending is done, the game just starts from the last save point, before the final battle.

Battle system[edit]

The battle system of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is similar to that of its predecessors. There are some new additions to the system. In this installment, all Action Commands are evaluated based on how well they are performed. There are five evaluation levels. Ranging from the worst to the best, these levels are: Nothing, OK, Good, Great, and Excellent. The better an Action Command is performed, the more damage an attack does. Receiving a Nothing is equivalent to not performing an Action Command at all. This is carried into all the later installments of the series.

Stats[edit]

Each brother and Bowser have their own HP, SP, POW, DEF, and SPEED, as well as STACHE points for the brothers, and HORN points for Bowser. When they finish a battle, they each gain EXP Points and coins. With enough Experience Points, they can level-up and increase each respective statistic.

Stat Description
HP HP, or Heart Points, indicate the amount of remaining health a character has. When an enemy hits a character, they lose HP. When their HP reaches zero, they pass out, but can be revived with a 1-Up Mushroom or a 1-Up Deluxe. HP can be replenished with a Mushroom, a Nut or a Drumstick (Bowser only).
SP SP, or Special Points, indicates how many times Mario, Luigi, or Bowser can use a Special Move. Each attack uses up a certain amount of SP, draining the total. SP can only be restored by ingesting Syrup Jars.
Power POW, or Power, is how strong the fighter is. POW determines how much damage they can inflict.
Defense DEF, or Defense, is how much damage the character can block from an enemy hit. A higher DEF stat means less damage is taken.
Speed SPEED is how fast the character is. In any given battle, the fighter with the most SPEED gets to attack first. The turn then continues, allowing fighters with subsequently lower SPEED to attack until the fighter with the lowest SPEED has attacked. The fighter with the most SPEED then gets to attack again, and the cycle continues until a fight is over.
Stache STACHE, a Mario and Luigi exclusive stat, is the luck stat of this game. The higher their STACHE stats are, the greater there is a chance of a Critical or Lucky Hit, which doubles POW. A higher STACHE stat makes the player more likely to receive a hit on a Scratch Card.
Horn HORN, a Bowser exclusive stat, functions exactly the same as STACHE does.

Mario and Luigi's battle system[edit]

Mario and Luigi battling two Elite Goombules in Trash Pit, under Starlow's guidance
Mario and Luigi battling.

The battle system with Mario and Luigi is similar to the battles from the previous games. There are now six categories of attack during battle, as opposed to Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time's five, or Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga's four. These are Jump, Hammer, Attack Pieces (Bros. Items), Items, Bros. Badges, and Escape. The Bros. can defend with their jump and their hammers. The Jump makes Mario and/or Luigi jump to dodge an attack or to counter-attack. The Hammer is used to counter-attack. The music played while battling is the same as the music played during the debut trailer, as seen in the Japanese site.

A new element has been added to battles, a gauge at the bottom of the screen with Mario and Luigi's heads on either end. When Mario or Luigi pull off an action command, that brother's end of the bar fills slightly. When they meet in the middle, it is possible to use a Bros. Badge move. The effect varies with the equipped badge. The normal effect is to restore 20% of both brothers' HP. Badges can be bought in one of the shops in Toad Town. Some of the badges require that the Action Commands be pulled off perfectly (EXCELLENT is displayed), and some only need GOOD!. An extra block that appears in the battles can be used to swap the badges that brothers use.

Bowser's battle system[edit]

Bowser inhaling the petals of two Flifits in Bumpsy Plains
Bowser battling.

Bowser has almost the same battle system as Mario and Luigi's, but with a few differences. He has different options: Punch replaces Jump, Fire Breath replaces Hammer and Enemy Attacks replace Special Attacks. However, he does not have Bros. Badges. Instead, Bowser gains a vacuum ability after the player advances further through the game. He can swallow enemies with this new ability to make Mario and Luigi fight them in his belly. He can also swallow parts of enemies that can restore his HP, raise defense or attack power, or rescue a Blitty. Bowser's defenses are the Punch and the Shell. Bowser's Punch can counter-attack an enemy, while his spiky shell can hit enemies that try to jump on his head or protect him from attacks.

Enemy Attacks are special attacks that use mostly members of Bowser's army, which are Goombas, Koopa Troopas, Shy Guys, Bob-ombs, Magikoopas, and Broggy. These attacks require the stylus to perform. These characters need to be liberated to unlock these attacks.

Special Attacks[edit]

Bowser Specials[edit]

Bowser has six Special Attacks, five of which are obtained via destroying cages contained Bowser's trapped minions.

Special Attack Illustration Description SP Location
Sprite of the Goomba Storm pile in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Goomba Storm*
Goomba storm.png Touch each Goomba to fire him up! Flaming Goombas cause more damage!
Target: One enemy. Effect: BURN.
6 Dimble Wood (after rescuing the Goomba corps)
Sprite of the Shy Guy Squad pile in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Shy Guy Squad
Shy Guy Squad.PNG ←Quickly slide the stylus repeatedly left. Roll Bowser far back for more damage!
Target: One enemy. Effect: None.
8 Bowser Path (after rescuing the Shy Guy corps)
Sprite of the Koopa Corps pile in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Koopa Corps
Koopa Corps.PNG Slide the stylus to move Bowser up and down and repel the Koopa Shells!
Target: Random. Effect: None.
10 Blubble Lake (after rescuing the Koopa unit)
Sprite of the Bob-omb Blitz pile in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Bob-omb Blitz
Bob-omb Blitz.PNG Slide the Bob-ombs into place fast! Line up with your foe and charge!
Target: Adjustable Effect: DIZZY.
12 Bowser Castle (after rescuing the Bob-omb squad)
Sprite of the Magikoopa Mob pile in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Magikoopa Mob
Magikoopa Mob.PNG Quickly trace the Magikoopa's formation! Bowser's power boosts your magic!
Target: Random. Effect: BURN.
15 Peach's Castle (after rescuing the Magikoopa corps)
Sprite of Broggy as Bowser holds him for the Broggy Bonker Special Attack in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Broggy Bonker
Broggy Bonker.PNG Scrub all the dirt off that filthy Broggy! Scrub him until he's clean!
Target: One enemy. Effect: DIZZY.
20 Broque Monsieur's Shop (after collecting all fifteen Blitties)

* - Required

Mario & Luigi Specials[edit]

Mario and Luigi obtain these special attacks via Attack Pieces found by hitting a Attack Piece Block and numerous other ways.

Bros. Attack Illustration Description SP Location
Sprite of the Green Shell Special Attack from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
Green Shell*
MLBiS Green Shell.png Mario kicks with A Button; Luigi with B Button! Keep on kicking the shell!
Target: One enemy. Effect: None.
3 Trash Pit
Sprite of the Fire Flower Special Attack from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
Fire Flower
MLBiS Fire Flower.png Repeatedly press the button of whoever's holding the big fireball!
Target: Random. Effect: BURN.
4 Pump Works
Sprite of the Jump Helmet Special Attack from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
Jump Helmet
JumpHelmet BiS.png Land on the helmet and jump with A Button! Dash to the landing spots with +Control Pad left +Control Pad right!
Target: One enemy. Effect: None.
6 Flab Zone
Sprite of the Yoo Who Cannon Special Attack from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
Yoo Who Cannon*
Yoo who cannon.png Remember which barrels the bros are in! A Button launches Mario; B Button launches Luigi!
Target: Random. Effect: None.
7 Toad Town (after mastering the Shell Mario technique)
Sprite of the Super Bouncer Special Attack from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
Super Bouncer
Super bouncer.png Launch HIGH with A Button. Move Luigi to the ball's top with +Control Pad left +Control Pad right. Use B Button to squash.
Target: Random. Effect: DIZZY.
7 Energy Hold
Sprite of the Mighty Meteor Special Attack from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
Mighty Meteor
Mighty meteor.png Dash with +Control Pad left +Control Pad right! Press and hold A Button or B Button to build power, and release to swing!
Target: Random. Effect: POW down.
8 Toadley Clinic (from the intern after obtaining the Miracle Cure)
Sprite of the Spin Pipe Special Attack from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
Spin Pipe
Spin pipe.png Memorize how the bros stack up! Mario stomps with A Button; Luigi with B Button!
Target: One enemy. Effect: DIZZY.
10 Plack Beach (after completing Kuzzle's first puzzle)
Sprite of the Snack Basket Special Attack from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
Snack Basket*
Snack basket.png Use +Control Pad left +Control Pad right to eat, then repeatedly press A Button to throw Luigi. Slam down with B Button!
Target: All ground-based enemies. Effect: None.
14 Dimble Wood
The Magic Window Special Attack from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
Magic Window
Magic window.png Mario stomps with A Button; Luigi with B Button. Both stomp together with A Button and B Button!
Target: Random. Effect: DIZZY.
18 Bowser's Castle (after defeating the Shroobs)
Sprite of the Falling Star Special Attack from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Falling Star
Falling star.png Aim with +Control Pad. Throw at the star with A Button if the light is red, B Button if it's green!
Target: One enemy. Effect: DEF down.
20 Peach's Castle Garden

* - Required

Giant Bowser battle system[edit]

Super Bowser fighting Bowser's Castle
Giant Bowser battling Bowser Castle

At certain points in the game, Bowser gets crushed by a large object such as Bowser's Castle, which leaves him in a dying state. In order to revive Bowser, the Bros. must play a 2D shooter-like minigame in the Rump Command. When revived, Bowser grows to a giant state. In order to complete these battles, the player must rotate their DS sideways to play. In these battles, Bowser only has three options of attack. Punching requires quickly sliding the stylus across the screen to execute. Fire requires the player to blow into the DS microphone. The last option, Healing, requires Mushrooms found within the battle itself. Defending includes an event where the player must tap the touch screen in certain areas to counter-attack, punching to deflect blows, and blowing huge flames at the enemy. After each giant battle, Bowser returns to normal. There are four such battles in the game.

Ranks[edit]

Main article: Rank

When leveling up Mario and Luigi, and Bowser occasionally reach a rank. When this happens new criteria is added to the game such as being able to equip more clothing or being able to shop at certain places. Here is a list of the ranks:

Mario & Luigi

Name Achieved at level Benefit
Sprite of the Mushroom Rank in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside StoryMushroom Rank Default Allows up to one accessory to be equipped.
Sprite of the Shell Rank in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside StoryShell Rank 6 Allows up to two accessories to be equipped.
Sprite of the Flower Rank in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside StoryFlower Rank 12 Allows up to three accessories to be equipped.
Sprite of the Shine Rank in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside StoryShine Rank 18 Allows the bros to shop at the Toadles Boutique in Toad Town.
Sprite of the Star Rank in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside StoryStar Rank 25 Allows the bros to shop at the Star Shop in Toad Town.
Sprite of the Rainbow Rank in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside StoryRainbow Rank 40 When both brothers reach this rank, gives the Excellent!! Bros Badge.

Bowser

Name Achieved at level Benefit
Sprite of the Bronze Boss Rank in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside StoryBronze Boss Rank Default Allows up to one accessory to be equipped.
Sprite of the Silver Boss Rank in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside StorySilver Boss Rank 10 Allows up to two accessories to be equipped.
Sprite of the Gold Boss Rank in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside StoryGold Boss Rank 20 Allows up to three accessories to be equipped.
Sprite of the Final Boss Rank in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside StoryFinal Boss Rank 40 Gives the Intruder Fangs equipment to Bowser.

Items[edit]

Key items[edit]

There are many items that appear in the game that the heroes must obtain in order to advance in the game. Most of these items require the players to go through some trial, whether it be a challenge, facing a boss, or through other means.

Image Name In-game description Location storyline/
required?
VacuumMushroom.png Vacuum Shroom A strange Mushroom that gives Bowser the ability to inhale anything. Dimble Wood
The Hammer icon in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Hammers Hammers found in the Trash Pit. Use 'em to whack and break stuff! Trash Pit
The Vacuum Block Vacuum Block A rare block from Broque Monsieur. In battle, Bowser inhales stuff! Plack Beach
A Stingler from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Stingler An item that might shock something. Where should you use it? Pump Works
The Banzai Bill from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Banzai Bill An enormous, black, shiny weapon. If it's launched at you, you're toast! Dimble Wood
Sample sprites for the Star Panel in the star menu, shown here a star-shaped and an inverted triangle versions etc. Star Panel An item created in the Energy Hold. It takes on various shapes. Energy Hold
The red Star Cure Red Cure A curative held by the wise Wisdurm. It took a while to find this thing... Energy Hold
The yellow Star Cure Yellow Cure The curative found at Bowser Castle. Bowser swallowed it, so it's all sticky. Treasure Chamber
The green Star Cure Green Cure A 1,000-year-old curative held by Chakron above Plack Beach. Plack Beach cliff
Miracle Cure (from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.) Miracle Cure A true miracle cure made by combining the three curatives. It works incredibly! Toadley Clinic
Birdley.png Birdley Dr. Toadley's pet bird. It guides Mario and friends around. Toadley Clinic
Puzzle Sack.png Puzzle Sack A puzzle in a sack. Give it to Kuzzle. Plack Beach
Sprite of a Blitty used in the star menu Blitty A Blitty from [enemy]. various enemies
Mushroom Ball.png Mushroom Ball An item for the PR Toad in Toad Town. He'll give you what's inside! Toad Town Mall
The Blue Key from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Blue Key A key that opens the blue door on the second floor of Peach's Castle. Peach's Castle 2F
The Red Key from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Red Key A key that opens the red door on the second floor of Peach's Castle. Peach's Castle 2F
The Green Key from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Green Key A key that opens the green door on the second floor of Peach's Castle. Peach's Castle 2F

Consumable items[edit]

These are the items that appear in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Please note that some of the items used in this game have appeared in the previous installments.

Image Name Description

Icon of a Mushroom Mushroom Restores 30 HP to one of the bros.
Icon of a Mushroom Super Mushroom Restores 60 HP to one of the bros.
Icon of a Mushroom Ultra Mushroom Restores 120 HP to one of the bros.
Icon of a Mushroom Max Mushroom Restores 240 HP to one of the bros.
1-Up Mushroom 1-Up Mushroom Revives a fallen bro with half HP.
1-Up Mushroom 1-Up Deluxe Revives a fallen bro with full HP.
Drumstick.png Hot Drumstick Restores 80 HP to Bowser.
Drumstick.png Fiery Drumstick Restores 150 HP to Bowser.
Drumstick.png TNT Drumstick Restores 280 HP to Bowser.
Nut.png Nut Restores 20 HP to both bros.
Nut.png Super Nut Restores 40 HP to both bros.
Nut.png Ultra Nut Restores 80 HP to both bros.
Nut.png Max Nut Restores 160 HP to both bros.
Syrup BiS.png Syrup Jar Restores 10 SP.
Syrup BiS.png Supersyrup Jar Restores 20 SP.
Syrup BiS.png Ultrasyrup Jar Restores 30 SP.
Syrup BiS.png Max Syrup Jar Restores 40 SP.
Star Candy Star Candy Restores all HP & SP and cures status ailments.
Herb Refresh BIS.png Refreshing Herb Cures status effects.
Bean M&LBIS sprite.png Heart Bean Increases HP to the selected character by 1 Point.
Bean M&LBIS sprite.png Special Bean Increases SP to the selected character by 1 Point.
Bean M&LBIS sprite.png Power Bean Increases POW to the selected character by 1 Point.
Retry Clock.png Retry Clock Allows the player to restart a battle if defeated.

Equipment[edit]

Clothing[edit]

Main article: List of clothing in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story differs from its predecessors by including a more varied clothing system. In addition to overalls, Mario and Luigi can wear socks, gloves, boots, and accessories while Bowser can wear shells, arm bands, rings, and fangs. Mario, Luigi, and Bowser can wear additional clothing types if they rank up from repeated battles.

Badges[edit]

Badges in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story are used exclusively by Mario and Luigi, and they work differently from its predecessors. Mario and Luigi must successfully perform Action Commands to fill the badge gauge. Once the gauge is filled, players can tap it to receive an effect that benefits them in a variety of ways, which can be changed depending on the type of badge both brothers wear.

In the table, the left side of the badge (Luigi's badge) decides how good the action command must be to fill the bar, and how big the effect will be. The right side (Mario's badge) decides what the effect will be.

Name of Badge Icon Price (coins) Located Effect
Mushroom Badge One of Mario's Badges, the Mushroom Badge. N/A Obtained from Princess Lipid Restores HP.
Powerful Badge One of Mario's Badges, the Power Fury Badge. 2000 Bought from Toad Town's Badge Shop Increases both brothers' POW in the next attack.
Bonus Badge One of Mario's Badges, the Bonus Badge. 500 Bought from Toad Town's Badge Shop Increases amount of EXP and Coins brothers get in the battle it was used.
Bro Badge One of Mario's Badges, the Brother Badge. 1000 Bought from Toad Town's Badge Shop Restores SP.
Good Badge One of Luigi's Badges, the Good Badge. N/A Obtained from Princess Lipid Mario or Luigi must achieve at least a "good" rating to fill the meter.
Great Badge One of Luigi's Badges, the Great Badge. 500 Bought from Toad Town's Badge Shop Mario or Luigi must achieve at least a "great" rating to fill the meter.
Excellent! Badge One of Luigi's Badges, the Excellent! Badge. 1000 Bought from Toad Town's Badge Shop Mario or Luigi must achieve at least an "excellent" rating to fill the meter.
Excellent!! Badge One of Luigi's Badges, the Excellent!! Badge. N/A Obtained after Mario and Luigi become Rainbow-Ranked (Level 40) Mario or Luigi must achieve at least an "excellent" rating to fill the meter. If the attacker gets lower than that, his side of the bar empties. If an excellent is not possible at the time, the meter will not break.
Combined effects[edit]
Badge One of Mario's Badges, the Mushroom Badge. One of Mario's Badges, the Power Fury Badge. One of Mario's Badges, the Bonus Badge. One of Mario's Badges, the Brother Badge.
One of Luigi's Badges, the Good Badge. Restores 20% of HP Increases Attack Power by 1.2x Increases Coins by 1.2x Restores 20% of SP
One of Luigi's Badges, the Great Badge. Restores 30% of HP Increases Attack Power by 1.5x Increases Coins by 1.4x Restores 30% of SP
One of Luigi's Badges, the Excellent! Badge. Restores 50% of HP & Cures Status Effects Increases Attack Power by 2x Increases EXP by 1.2x, and Coins by 1.6x Restores 50% of SP
One of Luigi's Badges, the Excellent!! Badge. Restores 100% HP & Cures Status Effects Increases Attack Power by 4x Increases EXP by 1.5x, and Coins by 2x Restores 100% SP

Status ailments[edit]

Many status ailments appear in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Each type affects the heroes and enemies with their own variables. Many enemies can inflict the diseases, as well as some attacks that the three heroes can learn. To relieve the effects, the player can use a Refreshing Herb or - depending on the type - can wait for it to run out of their systems.

Image Name Description Affects
Mario under the "Burn" status effect. Burn Player has fire on them; prevents them from attacking/dodging; loses partial HP every turn. Mario; Luigi; Enemies
Luigi under the "DEF Down" status ailment. DEF-Down Defense stat is lowered; affected player takes more damage. Mario; Luigi; Bowser; Enemies
Bowser having his defense increased DEF-Up Defense stat is boosted; affected character takes less damage. Mario; Luigi; Bowser; Enemies
Luigi under the "Dizzy" status ailment. Dizzy Player cannot move from confusion and is unable to attack/dodge. Mario; Luigi; Bowser; Enemies
Bowser under the "Fury" status effect Fury Player grows furious and increases damage dealt and received. Bowser
Bowsers Inside Story Poison.png Poison Player turns purple and loses partial HP every turn. Mario; Luigi
Durmite X under the POW-Down status ailment in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. POW-Down Attack Power is lowered; affected player deals less damage. Mario; Luigi; Bowser; Enemies
Bowser under the "Pow Up" status effect POW-Up Attack Power is boosted; affected player deals more damage. Mario; Luigi; Bowser; Enemies
Luigi under the "Speed Down" status ailment in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. SPD-Down Speed stat is lowered; affected player gets fewer turns. Mario; Luigi; Bowser; Enemies
Luigi under the "Speed Down" status ailment in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. SPD-Up Speed stat is increased; affected player gets more turns. Mario; Luigi; Bowser; Enemies
The Sick status ailment in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Sick Player gets a runny nose and loses partial HP every turn. Bowser; Sniffle Thwomp (starts battle sick)
Mario under the "Super Strike" status effect Super Strike Player charges up and may deal greater damage than normal on their immediate next hit. Mario; Luigi
Trip The character cannot attack on the turn he tripped. If an enemy hits from behind in the overworld, the character starts out on this state until his turn, or takes damage from the enemy. Mario; Luigi; Bowser

Characters[edit]

Playable[edit]

Villains[edit]

Supporting[edit]

Bestiary[edit]

Main article: Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story bestiary

Stats listed here are from the North American version of the game. Stats with the Challenge Medal and other versions may vary.

  • i Indicates they can be inhaled by Bowser and then fought by Mario and Luigi.
  • m Indicates only Mario can battle them.
  • m&l Indicates only Mario and Luigi can battle them.
  • b Indicates only Bowser can battle them.

Mushroom Kingdom[edit]

Image Name HP EXP Coins Location
Chuboomba's battle sprite in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Chuboomba 50 15 4 Cavi Cape/Plack Beach
BorpBIS.png Borpm&l 102 220 40 Cavi Cape
Toothy battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Toothy 27 18 5 Plack Beach
Drillbit Crab's battle sprite from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Drillbit Crabm&l 115 240 45 Plack Beach
Pendril's battle sprite from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Pendrilm&l 157 260 55 Plack Beach
A Treevil without a berry, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.A Treevil with a berry, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Treevil 95 30; 35 (berry) 8; 10 (berry) Dimble Wood
Trashure's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Trashure 147 40 15 Dimble Wood
Scutlet's battle sprite from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Scutletm&l 72 100 25 Dimble Wood
Sockop's battle sprite from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Sockopm&l 110 240 55 Dimble Wood
Flifit's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Flifit 108 50 20 Bumpsy Plains
Sneed's battle sprite from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Sneedi1 74 200 50 Bumpsy Plains
Lakitu King's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Lakitu Kingi m&l 90 35 20 Bumpsy Plains
Chain Chawful with its Sworm sticking out, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Chain Chawful 165 75 30 Bowser Path
Fawfulcopter's battle sprite in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Fawfulcopteri m&l 32 40 20 Bowser Path
Fawful Guy's battle sprite from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Fawful Guym&l 172 240 60 Bowser Path
A Choomba from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Choombab 248 120 31 Tunnel
Coalbit's battle sprite from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Coalbiti 34 40 15 Tunnel
A red Nooz, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.A green Nooz, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Noozm&l 55 50 25 Toad Town Caves
Fawflant's battle sprite from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Fawflantm&l 100 70 30 Toad Town Caves
Beehoss's battle sprite from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Beehoss 200 150 40 Blubble Lake
Crawful's battle sprite from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Crawful 173 170 45 Blubble Lake
Glam Lakitu's battle sprite from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Glam Lakitui m&l 208 47 60 Blubble Lake
Fawflopper's battle sprite from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Fawflopperm&l 96 200 40 Blubble Lake
Mawful Mole's battle sprite from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Mawful Molem&l 154 230 45 Blubble Lake
A Jailgoon with a Goomba trapped, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Jailgoon 183 340 55 Bowser Castle
Sniffle Thwomp's battle sprite from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Sniffle Thwomp 256 400 60 Bowser Castle
Magifoofa's battle sprite from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Magifoofam&l 124 260 50 Bowser Castle
Mechawful's battle sprite in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Mechawful 277 3002 70 Peach's Castle Garden
A Mechawful without its body, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Mechawful Headi 98 150 20 Peach's Castle Garden
Metal Mawful Mole's battle sprite in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Metal Mawful Mole1 140 350 60 Peach's Castle Garden
A Naplock, after its Alarm Bob-omb exploded or taken damage, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Naplockb 183 580 80 Peach's Castle
Alarm Bob-omb's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Alarm Bob-ombi 123 170 50 Peach's Castle
Dark Trashure's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Dark Trashureb 360 640 100 Peach's Castle
Dark Fawful Guy's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Dark Fawful Guyi m&l 128 200 65 Peach's Castle
Two Dark Fawful Guys carrying a Dark Fawful Bomb, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Dark Fawful Bombb 316 0 0 Peach's Castle
Dark Mechawful's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Dark Mechawfulb 280 800 80 Peach's Castle
A Dark Mechawful without its body, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Dark Mechawful Headi m&l 200 200 40 Peach's Castle
Dark Mechawful.5, a new version of a Dark Mechawful Dark Mechawful.5b 280 8002 80 Peach's Castle

1 - Though they are instantly defeated by Bowser in overworld, Bowser can meet them by battling against other enemies.
2 - Defeating the summoned bodies will not grant extra experience and coins.

Inside Bowser[edit]

All enemies here can be battled with Mario and Luigi.

Image Name HP EXP Coins Location
Goombule Cell Thing.png Goombule 8 3 2 Trash Pit/Pump Works
Goombule Elite.png Elite Goombule 16 4 2 Trash Pit
Spike blop.png Spike Blop 12 5 3 Trash Pit/Pump Works
Bubble Blooper's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.Dried Blooper's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Bubble Blooper / Dried Blooper 23 15 5 Pump Works
Protobattle Blis.png Protobatter 36 15 5 Pump Works
Tenderloin.png Tenderling 45 30 12 Flab Zone
Calorite Calorite 85 40 20 Flab Zone
Napse Napse.png Napse 68 100 35 Energy Hold
A Pep in its POW form, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.A Pep in its DEF form, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.A Pep in its SPEED form, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. POW/DEF/SPEED Pep 105 120 40 Energy Hold
Piranha Plorp's battle sprite from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Piranha Plorp 165 140 55 Energy Hold
Protobattler Blue.png Pwallop 130 150 45 Energy Hold
Air Cheep's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Air Cheep 236 600 75 Airway
Stonk's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Stonk 198 630 85 Airway
An Airnapse from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Airnapse 150 610 70 Airway
Air Cannon's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Air Cannon 254 670 100 Airway

Bosses[edit]

The following is a bestiary for all bosses encountered in the game Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Some of the bosses are optional, such as the X bosses; and some require Bowser to become giant to fight them.

  • e Indicates the battle automatically ends after several turns.

Normal Bosses[edit]

Image Name HP EXP Coins Location
Bowser as an an enemy - first idle frame Bowser (1)m 203 0 0 Peach's Castle
Midbus's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Midbus (1)b e 95 0 0 Cavi Cape
Broque Monsieur's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Broque Monsieuri 158 30 0 Plack Beach
Sea Pipe Statue.pngStone Blooper.png Sea Pipe Statuei 320 150 50 Plack Beach
The Scutlet boss from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Scutletm&l 280 200 50 Flame Pipe
Broggy's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Broggyb 198 60 0 Plack Beach
WigglerSprite.png Wigglerb 540 340 150 Dimble Wood
Durmite's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Durmitem&l Durmite - 326
Straw - 16
300 120 Nerve Cluster
Midbus's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Midbus (2)b 950 550 350 Fawful Theater
Kretin's Alpha form, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.Alpha Kretin from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside StoryKretin's Beta form, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Kretinm&l Alpha - 20 (each ball)
Beta - 385
700 200 Flab Zone
Bowser as an an enemy - first idle frame Bowser (2)m&l 1,215 1,000 500 Toadley Clinic
Wisdurm in her small form, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.Wisdurm in her large cute form, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Wisdurmm&l 1,610 2,800 600 Energy Hold
Cropped from original picture in this site. Bowser Memory M?? Strange.Bowser Memory L Bowser Memory M and Bowser Memory Lm&l M - 730
L - 845
3,000 700 Memory Banks
One of the three survived Shroobs from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.One of the three survived Shroobs from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.One of the three survived Shroobs from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Shroobsm&l (×3)4 500 each 900 300 Bowser Castle
Chakron's battle sprite in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Chakronm&l e5 9,999 0 0 Plack Beach
Sprite of Junker for Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Junkerm&l 1,445 6,000 900 Peach's Castle Garden
Blizzard Midbus's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Blizzard Midbusb
2,041 6,500 1,200 Peach's Castle
Dark Star's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Dark Starm&l 1,248 9,999 2,000 Airway
Dark Fawful without his Vacuum Helmet, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Dark Fawfulb 1,736 7,500 1,600 Peach's Castle
DarkBowserBIS.png Dark Bowserb 1,000 0 0 Peach's Castle
The Dark Star Core's full body during its boss battle in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Dark Star Corei m&l Main - 1,560
Glasses - 250
Appendages - 156
0 0 Peach's Castle

3 - after the tutorial part, Bowser's HP will be set to 20.
4 - this boss is entirely optional.
5 - this battle will end after performing one EXCELLENT Snack Basket.

Boss Support
Image Enemy Battled with HP EXP Location
LeafGuyBIS.png Leaf Guyi m&l Wiggler 56 20 Dimble Wood
M&LBIS Biffidus.png Biffidusm&l Durmite 10 0 Nerve Cluster
Junker Junk Trash.png Junker Canm&l Junker 105 0 Peach's Castle Garden
A Snawful supporting Blizzard Midbus, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Snawfuli Blizzard Midbus 105 220 Peach's Castle
Satelmite Dark.png Dark Satellmitem&l Dark Star 260 0 Airway
Dark Fawful's Vacuum Helmet, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Vacuum Helmeti Dark Fawful 1,200 220 Peach's Castle

Giant Bosses[edit]

All these bosses can only be battled with Giant Bowser.

Image Name HP EXP Coins Location
Bowser's Castle: Sprite of the whole castle during battle mode position. From Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Bowser's Castle 535 380 200 Dimble Wood
Sprite of Yikk tower in battle in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Tower of Yikk 508 1,800 800 Blubble Lake
Fawful Express Battle Sprite
Fawful Mountain
Fawful Express
with Fawful Mountain
Express - 885
Mountain - 1,049
3,500 1,000 Project K
It's the Super Peach's Castle of Fury!!!(battle sprite) Super Peach's Castle of Fury 1,488 7,500 2,000 Peach's Castle Garden

Gauntlet Bosses[edit]

Note that all X bosses only awards coins on their first defeat. All these bosses are fought by Mario & Luigi.

Image Name HP Coins
Durmite X.png Durmite X Durmite X - 575
Straw X - 40
1,000
Alpha Kretin X spriteBeta Kretin X.png Kretin X Alpha - 135 (each ball)
Beta - 810
2,000
Wisdurm X in her small form, in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.Wisdurm X in her large cute form in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Wisdurm X 2,380 4,000
Bowser Memory MXP.pngBowser Memory LXP.png Bowser Memory MLX MX - 2,500
LX - 3,000
6,000
Junker X.png Junker X 3,080 9,000
Dark Star X's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Dark Star X 4,030 12,500
Bowser X from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Bowser X6 7,155 25,000

6 - must fight 6 other X bosses consecutively before the battle.

Boss Support
Image Enemy Battled with HP
Biffidus X's battle sprite, from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Biffidus X Durmite X 32
Can Junker X.png Junker Can X Junker X 134
Dark Satellmite X Dark Satellmite X Dark Star X 416

Overworld[edit]

While Mario and Luigi adventure through Bowser's body, Bowser is walking around the overworld. Mario and Luigi can influence Bowser. They can pinch nerves to make Bowser panic. They can also touch Bowser's muscles to give him a power-up. Equally, Bowser can change the course of the Mario Bros.' adventure. For example, he can flood them by drinking from a fountain. After a certain point in the game, Mario and Luigi can go to the Pipe Yard and use Warp Pipes to exit Bowser's body and explore the overworld, and then use the pipes to enter Bowser's body again. Bowser can use Chakroads to warp between different locations of the Mushroom Kingdom.

Overworld icons have slightly changed. They now display the health of the character. Bowser uses two buttons in the overworld, X to punch, and Y for firebreath. Later in the game, Bowser learns new moves such as a dashing punch, ground-pounding, and curling up into a spikeball (much like the way he attacked Mario in Super Mario Galaxy). Mario and Luigi use A and B respectively to jump. At one point they gain hammers. Mario can destroy rocks and crates, while Luigi can hit Mario to make him mini so as to reach previously inaccessible areas. Later in the game, the Marios learn new moves such as the Spin Jump and the Drill Bros. They also encounter items in the overworld that help them perform moves to reach a goal or an item. The items include a gas pump that seems to be shooting out helium. Mario can fill himself up with helium and float into the air like a balloon. If Luigi is to grab his legs at that time, they are able to perform a floating high jump, somewhat similar to the move found in the first installment of the series. They can also find a Blue Koopa shell that Mario can put on. Luigi can whack him with his hammer to shoot Mario over previously inaccessible areas to hit switches. This move is very similar to the move the Koopa companions use in the Paper Mario series.

While Bowser explores a 3-D overworld, Mario and Luigi explore a 2-D world inside his body, much like a traditional platformer, though they can go into the 3-D overworld at any time once the Pipe Yard is available. The actual overworld is connected just as it was in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, unlike Partners in Time's linear levels. The overworld is up to 4-5 times larger than Superstar Saga's overworld. The map in this game consists of a beach, a forest, a cape, the road to Bowser's Castle, Toad Town, Bowser's Castle, Peach's Castle, Grasslands, a railroad, underground, and a lake. In the Nintendo Power review, it was stated that there are tons of sidequests, much to explore, and plenty to do in the free roam overworld.

Locations[edit]

Peach's CastleDimble WoodCavi CapePlack BeachBowser PathBowser CastleTunnelTower of YikkBlubble LakeToad Town CavesBumpsy PlainsToad Town
Click an area to open the relevant article.

*Only Mario & Luigi can access.
**Only Bowser can access.

Memory BanksPipe YardNose DeckAirwayTrash PitToad SquareChallenge NodeArm CenterFunny BonePump WorksGut CheckRump CommandLeg OutpostEnergy HoldChest StationFlab ZoneFlame PipeLumbar NookJoint TowerNerve ClusterA map of Bowser's body
Click an area to open the relevant article.

Shops[edit]

Main article: List of shops in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

Throughout the game, there are several shops where the player can purchase and sell items from several shops on their adventure. Shops available to Mario and Luigi are run by characters and all found in Toad Town Mall and Toad Square. Only two shops are available to Bowser: Broque Monsieur's Shop and Broggy's Shop, both in Dimble Wood. However, there are Shop Blocks around the Mushroom Kingdom that provides the same functionality to Bowser. There is a Scratch Card system where the player has a chance to get a part of their coins spent back. The amount of squares that give coins back depends on Mario and Luigi's stache level and Bowser's horn level.

Beans[edit]

Main article: List of beanholes in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

After Mario and Luigi learn the Drill Bros. move, they can collect beans from beanholes by tunneling underground and then jumping. There are about 200 beanholes scattered around the world, both in the Mushroom Kingdom and inside Bowser's body. Mario and Luigi can also collect beans from characters like Kuzzle and the PR Toad of Toad Town Mall.

Differences from other Mario & Luigi games[edit]

While a direct sequel in the Mario & Luigi series, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story still has several differences compared to the first two Mario & Luigi games.

  • This is the first game to feature more than one optional boss stronger than the final boss.
  • This is the first game in the series not to feature Professor E. Gadd.
  • This is the only game in the series not to feature Yoshis.
  • This is the only game in the series to feature Bowser as a main protagonist.
  • This is the first game in the series where Mario and Luigi can double jump; in battle in the first game, they could not while in the second game, they needed the babies to do it.
  • This is the only Mario & Luigi game to not have any traditional enemies as common enemies, besides derived species which only appear in this game.
  • This is the first Mario & Luigi game to feature an "Excellent!!" rating when completing an attack.
  • This is the first Mario & Luigi game where jump and hammer attacks receive a rating depending on how well timed the attack is.
  • This is the only Mario & Luigi game to not have a purely snow-, desert-, mountain-, or temple-themed area.
    • The Airway can be considered a snow- or ice-like area when it is frozen, and Plack Beach features a mountainous section.

Gameplay differences[edit]

The new scratch card mode, allowing Mario, Luigi, and Bowser to win money back.
  • This is the first Mario & Luigi game to have optional bosses, with the exception of three of the four Popple fights and Jojora in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, who are not required to be defeated, but can be defeated for extra experience and items.
  • Unlike Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time for the Nintendo DS, this game makes greater use of the DS's touch controls and microphone.
  • This is the first game in the Mario & Luigi series (as well as the fourth RPG overall) to have Bowser as a playable character.
  • The player can equip Mario and Luigi with pants, gloves, shoes, socks, and accessories instead of just pants as in the first two Mario & Luigi games.
  • Badges have a different function. Bro. Badge moves can be performed with them. This game contains eight badges, which is notably less than the previous Mario & Luigi games.
  • This is the first of the series to have power-ups or other items in the overworld such as the blue Koopa Troopa shell.
  • This is the first Mario & Luigi game to have a rank system. This means, if the player gets at a certain level, they go to a higher rank. Ranks for Mario and Luigi are the Mushroom Rank, Shell Rank, Flower Rank, Shine Rank, Star Rank, and the Rainbow Rank. Bowser's ranks are the Bronze Boss Rank, Silver Boss Rank, Gold Boss Rank, and the Final Boss Rank.
  • Mario and Luigi get the hammers earlier in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story than in the other Mario & Luigi games. (An exception is Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, where they have hammers from the start.)
  • The Scratch Card is introduced, allowing the main characters to earn back coins after spending them.
  • This is also the first game where the hammerheads do not fall off in defense when held too long; the bro. just puts it down. Consequently, the hammer can also be held much longer.
  • In the first two games of the series, Mario and Luigi use a suitcase to store anything they collect in their journey. In Bowser's Inside Story, however, they use the star menu, managed by Starlow in order to access their items.
  • This is the first game to have a Boss-Refight or Skill Challenge.
  • This is the first time in the Super Mario RPG series that a sequel has been released on the same system as its predecessor.
  • This is the second game where the Mario Bros. battle inside Bowser's body, the first being Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, where they battle Cackletta's Soul inside Bowser. Fawful (who worked for Cackletta) is fought in a similar way to Cackletta. Also, before both battles take place, the player fights an affected form of Bowser. While Mario and Luigi are sucked into Bowser and Cackletta was inside him, for Fawful it is the reverse; Bowser inhales Dark Fawful, and he fights the Mario Bros. inside of Bowser.
  • This is the first Mario & Luigi game where Bowser does not end up possessed by the main villain, as well as the first RPG game since Paper Mario where the main villain does not actually possess one of the main characters.
    • However, Dark Bowser is a character who has copied Bowser lineaments by gathering his DNA, and is similar to previous Bowser possessions.

Release differences[edit]

  • This is the first Mario & Luigi game to be released in Japan before any other country.
  • This is the first Mario & Luigi game in which the American box art is the same as the Japanese box art. The European box art, while not exactly the same due to the ratings' graphics requiring the artwork to be rearranged, uses the same artwork (but with Luigi's and Bowser's eyelines changed to reflect their positions) and background as the Japanese box art.
  • This is the first Mario & Luigi game to have multiple languages for its North American release. Both the French and Spanish translations are distinct from those of Europe.

Staff[edit]

Main article: List of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story staff

The game's producers were Toshiharu Izuno, Akira Otani, and Yoshihiko Maekawa, with Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka acting as senior producers and Satoru Iwata and Tetsuo Mizuno acting as executive producers. The game's director was Hiroyuki Kubota and Makoto Aioi was the main programmer.

Reception[edit]

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story has received critical acclaim, with a score of 91.01% based on 47 reviews on GameRankings[2] and a 90 based on 58 reviews on Metacritic,[3] making it the highest-rated out of the Super Mario RPG games. Much of the game's praise was directed towards its gameplay, humor, storyline, integration of Bowser as one of the main protagonists, and innovative use of the Nintendo DS's capabilities.

Reviews
Release Reviewer, Publication Score Verdict
Nintendo DS Phil Theobald, Gamespy 4.5/5 "There's very little in Bowser's Inside Story to not like. It's great to look at, the interaction between the "inside" and "outside" worlds is well thought-out, the mini-games and interactive battles are always a treat to play, and it's probably the funniest Mario & Luigi game yet. The game is long, too. Expect to put in well over 20 hours before you're finished. It may not be a traditional RPG, but it's one of the more enjoyable ones out there."
Nintendo DS Christian Donlan, Eurogamer 9/10 "Superstar Saga was, very quietly, one of the best games of its generation, sadly appearing too late in the GBA's lifespan to be much more than a cherished secret. Partners in Time was similarly smart but not quite so engaging, possibly because the inclusion of the Mario babies overburdened the controls while offering too little reward for the extra hassle. That's not the case here, however: the brother's old enemy is a triumph precisely because he provides such a contrast to them: he's a bullish idiot who allows you to enjoy your blunt powers with very few limitations. Inside Story is absolutely a return to form, in other words - and, in the end, you've got Bowser to thank for that."
Nintendo DS Craig Harris, IGN 9.5/10 "The Mario & Luigi series has already established itself as a fantastic RPG franchise, and the third game does not disappoint. I have no problem classifying it as the best of the bunch, thanks to an excellent and appropriately surreal script, epic oversized battles, and the fact that Bowser is a playable character and gets most of the gameplay time. Let's hope that this is a jumping-off point for Bowser; this guy really needed a top-billing production!"
Aggregators
Compiler Platform / Score
Metacritic 90
GameRankings 91.01%

Sales[edit]

Bowser's Inside Story has sold 4.13 million copies worldwide as of March 31, 2011,[4] making it the best-selling RPG in the Super Mario franchise.

Mushroom Kingdom Tribune[edit]

Mushroom Kingdom Tribune.
The newspaper

The Mushroom Kingdom Tribune was a promotional newspaper sent by Nintendo via e-mail. This newspaper included information about the release of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.

This newspaper included "Reviews from the Mushroom Kingdom," which features quotes from the game characters:

  • "I have chortles!" – Fawful
  • "Did someone just page the King of Awesome?" – Bowser
  • "SUPER ULTRA WONDER ULTIMATE RUTHLESS GREAT IRON BALL!" – Midbus

Quotes[edit]

Main article: List of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story quotes

Bowser[edit]

  • "Did somebody page the king of awesome?"
  • "MAAARIO! Are you seriously trying to start with me again?! I hear about this big meeting, and I'm all ready to act nice... But man, the second I see your face, Mr. Nice Bowser is GONE. Yeah, forget your dumb meeting! I'll pummel you and grab Peach!"
  • "GWAHAHA! Great dark hurricane! Seriously, perfect backdrop for an awesome final battle! You really sweat the details! Listen up! You're saying the kingdom will vanish? NOT TODAY! THIS KINGDOM IS ALL MINE! SO YOU VANISH!"
  • "SHOWTIME!"

Fawful[edit]

  • "All who resist will be beat like naughty little eggs!"
  • "Beef? I am lacking in beef. Fawful is beefless."
  • "Fawful sings a song of bad!♪ The Mushroom Kingdom is so sad!♪ All of it is for Fawful!♪ And the...rhyme...with that!♪"
  • "Here Fawful goes, the disappearing..forever disappearing... WITH YOU!"
  • "I HAVE CHORTLES!"
  • "It is I who added the nuts to that statue!"

Pre-release and unused content[edit]

Main article: List of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story pre-release and unused content

Some enemies have an attack pattern for Mario and Luigi, even if they do not face them in the game. There are also several unused voice clips for Yoshi, coming from Yoshi's Story; there is also unused music from Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, although it will not play correctly. Early screenshots also show Treevils being battled at Plack Beach.

Glitches[edit]

Main article: List of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story glitches

Before the fight with Scutlet, if the players re-enter the Pump Works and hit the Save Block the message will say that Bowser can breathe fire again, even though the Flame Pipe is still blocked.

Gallery[edit]

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.

Media[edit]

For a complete list of media for this subject, see List of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story media.
Audio.svg On To the Next Adventure! - The music for the title screen
File infoMedia:M&LBIS On To the Next Adventure!.oga
0:30
Audio.svg Doing It Right - The music that plays during tutorials
File infoMedia:M&LBIS Doing It Right.oga
0:30
Audio.svg A Bit of Peace and Quiet - The music that plays in Peach's Castle at the start
File infoMedia:M&LBIS A Bit of Peace and Quiet.oga
0:30
Help:MediaHaving trouble playing?

References to other games[edit]

  • The Legend of Zelda - In Toad Town, Mario and Luigi meet a Toad who teaches them how to dig up special beans. After finishing, he states, "Find all you can. They're a secret to everybody!", in reference to the saying in this game where the Secret Moblin would give Link free Rupees after saying, "It's a secret to everybody."
  • Super Mario Bros. 2 - During Bowser's battle with the giant Wiggler, the Wiggler sometimes attacks by pulling out vegetables, which are the same ones that are seen in this game. Also, one of Bowser's brainwashed minions states that he forgot what Bowser's castle was originally called (before it was turned into "Fawful Theater"), and mistakenly referred to it as "Mouser's Castle".
  • Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars - In addition to the storyline of Bowser attempting to reclaim his castle, Bowser claims Chippy as one of his minions, saying she could "thank him later" (just like when Bowser rationalizes joining Mario's party). In addition, some notes of the Forest Maze track appear in the Toad Town and Peach's Castle themes.
  • Super Mario Bros. 3 - The starting section of the file select music is similar to the P Switch and Toad House theme. Sockops are clearly meant to resemble the Kuribo's Shoe, and at one point Luigi will even hop around inside an unconscious Sockop, allowing him to walk along spikes without taking damage, just as the Kuribo's Shoe does. In addition, one of the Sockops' names is, apparently, Kuribo.
  • Dr. Mario - Blue Viruses appear on a poster in Dr. Toadley's office, and in one of the Toothy's attacks.
  • Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Island DS - The Fawful Guy enemy can imitate the attack patterns of both the Woozy Guy and the Glide Guy. In addition, one of its attacks mirrors Yoshi's main form of offense in the game, egg throwing.
  • Super Mario 64 - The music that plays within Peach's Castle when visiting it for the first time is a variation of its theme here.
  • Super Mario Sunshine - One of the brother's ranks is called the Shine Rank.
  • Paper Mario - The Koopa Paratroopa Trio in the game wear sunglasses, similar to this game. The blue Koopa shell power-up in the overworld is similar to Kooper's field ability. Also, Princess Peach using her combined powers with Starlow references Peach Beam.
  • Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga - Fawful reappears as a villain. The way Bros. Attacks are used from this game is reused, and there is a slight remix of Cackletta's theme song that played in the background after Fawful took over Peach's castle. Additionally, the statues of Fawful in Bowser's castle depict his outfit from his rematch in this game. Mario and Luigi battle Dark Fawful inside of Bowser's body, just as they did with Cackletta. The chair seen near the Conference Room has the same design (seen only briefly in the beginning of said game). Also, the Mini Mario and Spin Jump abilities return.
  • Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time - In the instruction manual for this game, Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach's artwork was reused. When Mario and Luigi talk to Broque Madame, she tells them stories about the Shroob invasion that took place in the game. Several Shroobs are also seen at Bowser's castle, where they were kept frozen in a cryogenic chamber. If the player chooses to thaw them out, then an optional boss battle with them will commence. During the battle, several other Shroobs, including the Elder Princess Shroob can be seen in the background. After the battle, Mario and Luigi tell Starlow about their previous battle with the Shroobs, and how they defeated them while they were babies. While the audience is still in the theater in Bowser's castle, a Shroob can also be found sitting in the audience on the bottom right. Also, there is a boot called the Shroob Boots. Fawful Guys, which are fought by Mario and Luigi in Bowser Path, have an attack in which they are pulled offscreen by a tongue (during which the same roar heard from Yoob is heard), and are thrown at either one of the bros. in the form of an egg, which highly resembles one of Sunnycide's attacks.
  • New Super Mario Bros. - Blue Shells make a reappearance, as does Shell Mario. A Mega Mushroom also occasionally appears during one of Broque Monsieur's attacks in his tutorial. Additionally, a single Squiggler appears as an NPC in Dimble Wood.
  • Super Paper Mario - Bowser's battle animation resembles the one in this game.
  • Super Mario Galaxy - Spike Ball, the ability where Bowser curls into a ball, heavily resembles an attack that Bowser uses during his fights against Mario/Luigi.

References in later games[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese マリオ&ルイージRPG3!!![?]
Mario ando Ruīji Āru Pī Jī Surī!!!
Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!!
Chinese (traditional) 瑪利歐&路易吉RPG3!!![5]
Mǎlìōu & Lùyìjí RPG3!!!
Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!!
French (NOA) Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story[?] -
French (NOE) Mario & Luigi: Voyage au centre de Bowser[?] Mario & Luigi: Journey to the Center of Bowser
(A reference to Jules Verne's science fiction novel Journey to the Center of the Earth)
German Mario & Luigi: Abenteuer Bowser[?] Mario & Luigi: Bowser Adventure
Italian Mario & Luigi: Viaggio al Centro di Bowser[?] Mario & Luigi: Journey to the Center of Bowser
(A reference to Journey to the Center of the Earth)
Korean 마리오&루이지 RPG 3 쿠파 몸속 대모험[?]
Mario & Ruiji RPG 3 Kupa Momsok Daemoheom
Mario & Luigi RPG 3: A Great Adventure to Bowser's Body
Spanish (NOA) Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story[?] -
Spanish (NOE) Mario & Luigi: Viaje al centro de Bowser[?] Mario & Luigi: Journey to the Center of Bowser
(A reference to Journey to the Center of the Earth)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Nintendo UK (British English). Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  2. ^ Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story for DS. GameRankings (English). Archived September 3, 2009, 02:52:56 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  3. ^ Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Metacritic (English). Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  4. ^ Consolidated Sales Units of "Wii" (FY3/2011) (PDF). Nintendo (English). Page 5. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  5. ^ Nintendo DS 遊戯軟體. Nintendo of Taiwan (Traditional Chinese). Archived January 7, 2013, 23:57:56 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 25, 2024.

External links[edit]