Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

Mario & Luigi RPG 3 (tentative title, Japanese Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!!) is the upcoming third title in the Mario & Luigi series, for the Nintendo DS. It was confirmed on October 2 at the Fall 2008 Nintendo Conference and is currently slated for release Feb. 11, 2009 in Japan, and April 1, 2009 in America.

Plot
It is currently thought that the story takes Mario and Luigi across the Mushroom Kingdom to solve the mystery of and find the cure for the Metakoro disease, which causes its victims to swell to huge sizes. At one point, Bowser also tries to kidnap Princess Peach, but he fails. In a second attempt, he uses something called a "Lucky Mushroom" which gives him the ability to inhale everything. He uses this ability to eat Peach, along with Mario, Luigi, Toadbert, and a yellow Bob-omb-like character. As seen in a screenshot, Mario and Luigi must escape from his body. It seems that Bowser can be controlled as the same time as the Bros., so that when Bowser does something (like drinking in a fountain), there will be an effect inside his body (for example, when Bowser drinks, his body is flooded.)

It is also speculated that Fawful may be an antagonist in this game, since some enemies bear a resemblance to him. The Flying Saucers featured in the trailer have green domes (instead of the purple of Shroob Saucers,) and are speculated to belong to Fawful. Looking closely at these UFO-like devices will reveal what appears to be a pair of bluish spectacles, similar to the ones Fawful wears. Also, at one point in the trailer, Bowser is seen chasing a blurry green and red figure riding a flying device. However, it also speculated that the green and red figure could be Prince Peasley.

There are also some kind of iron walls visible on a screenshot with a map. Due to their purple black and red color scheme, it is speculated that the Shroobs could also return. However, in the prequel, it was thought that all Shroobs were destroyed by baby tears. Because the black part of the wall is star shaped, it could also be a Ztar-like wall.

Gameplay
The trailer shown at the conference did not reveal much of information, but one could see a giant spherical Toad rolling on the screen, Mario and Luigi using a Green Shell on a green bug-like enemy, and Bowser using Fire Breath on two tree-like enemies.

Battles seem to have changed little, with Bros. Items making a return. Bowser also has a system of attack items. A new element has been added to battles, a meter at the bottom of the screen with Mario and Luigi's heads on it. It is currently unknown what purpose this meter serves. Additionally, 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. No details about the sixth type of attack are known. It appears to be a brown sphere and a white sphere, but that is not certain.

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.

It is also possible that Bros. Items and Bros. moves have been merged, or that Bros. attacks will return, since in one image, below the HP number there is a second number next to a Green Shell icon. Also, Mario and Luigi use a Bro Flower in the trailer, and are seen to change into their fire suits.

The Japanese title of the game is Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!!, with a silhouette of Bowser's head behind the "3" in the title logo. It is possible that, like in the two preceding games, the title of the game will be related to the gameplay. It is currently speculated that the three exclamation points reference the three playable characters.

Playable

 * Mario
 * Luigi
 * Bowser

NPCs

 * Princess Peach
 * Toadsworth
 * Toadbert
 * A new yellow bomb-like character with a lit fuse on its head.
 * Kamek
 * Toads
 * There are speculations that Fawful or Prince Peasley will appear in the game, but they are unconfirmed.

Enemies

 * A new type of Shy Guy
 * Goombas (An enemy to Mario and Luigi. Bowser uses them in battle)
 * Koopas (An enemy to the Mario Bros. They obey Bowser)
 * A new Goomba-like species that is pink-orange with black eyes (in Bowser's Stomach)
 * A round dumpy creature that looks like a Flurry and holds a club (in Bowser's Stomach)
 * A Treasure Chest with Banjo-Kazooie like eyes
 * Two different types of trees with eyes.
 * Spinies with the same shell but goop-like body with blue-green color (in Bowser's Stomach)
 * An insect creature that resembles Fawful.
 * A Monty Mole-like creature with a resemblance to Fawful.
 * A living piece of meat (In Bowser's Stomach).
 * A blue Blooper.
 * A Giant Goomba.

Similarities with its predecessors

 * both games involve Toadbert and the Mario Bros. inside a villain's body (Yoob's Belly/Bowser's Stomach)
 * the second second Mario & Luigi have common enemies that have been altered by an antagonist