Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (Mario & Luigi RPG 4: Dream Adventure in Japan and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Bros. in Europe & Australia) is a title for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the fourth installment in the Mario & Luigi series. The game was released in Europe on July 12th, 2013, Australia on July 13th and Japan on July 18th. It will be released in North America on August 11th. This game is part of "The Year of Luigi", celebrating of the 30th anniversary of Luigi's debut. As such, Luigi has a much bigger role in the game than in the previous Mario & Luigi games. A special edition Nintendo 3DS XL with a Luigi themed print was released in Japan as part of the event and includes a digital copy of Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, preinstalled on the SD card.

Story
Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toadsworth, and the Toads are invited to Pi'illo Island by Dr. Snoozemore through a message in his Broggy and travel to the island on a hot air balloon for sightseeing. During the flight there, Luigi falls asleep and dreams of Mario fighting Antasma. Afterwards, he dreams of the balloon they were in to fall and crash, but instead Luigi wakes up and falls to the ground out of confusion. Later on, they reach to Pi'illo Castle and re-unite with Starlow, where Peach and Toadsworth accidentally set off a test platform sending them to ancient Pi'illo ruins. Mario & Luigi follow upon pursuing the two through the ruins, find Peach and Toadsworth surrounded by a group of Smoldergeist which flee when the Bros. arrive. Here they find a Pi'illo, which later turns out to be Prince Dreambert. This action causes the Smoldergeist to come back and attack the Bros..

Upon beating the group and leaving the ruins the Bros. come to a collection room. Here Luigi takes a nap on the pillow. After everyone gathers in the collection room, a Dream Portal opens a portal to a place called the Dream World. This allows Antasma, unknown by anyone, to pull Princess Peach into the world against her will. After Mario chases after Peach into Dreamy Pi'illo Castle, he comes across Dreamy Luigi, Luigi's dream representation, who assists Mario through his treks in the Dream World.

Giving chase, the Bros. catch up to Antasma who creates Dreamy Mario to stop Mario, but upon Dreamy Mario's defeat, Antasma creates a portal to Dream's Deep and flees there, sealing it up afterwards to prevent the Bros. from giving chase. Mario and Luigi then find a Nightmare Chunk & break it, freeing Prince Dreambert. He then explains that there were two powers in the on Pi'illo island, the Dream Stone and the Dark Stone, both stones have the power to grant wishes. The Pi'illo folk were protecting the stones from misuse. Then the Bat King, Antasma, came to steal the Dark Stone to fulfill his desires. The Pi'illo could not defeat him, though managed to trap him in the Dream World, however Antasma was able to destroy the Dark Stone at the last second, thus causing the Pi'illos souls to be trapped in Nightmare chunks upon being hit by one, thus rendering them helpless. Prince Dreambert, in a haste to save his fellow people then runs out, the Bros. following him. After catching up to Dreambert and saving some Pi'illos they learn from one in particular that Eldream, a Pi'illo elder, knows how to reach Dream's Deep. The Bros. then set off to find him in Mushrise Park.

Upon arriving at Mushrise Park the Bros. learn that Brickle, the Manager of the park, has Eldream but will not give him up unless they catch him. After the Bros. chase him, gaining hammers during their attempts, they find him on top of a fountain, where he tries to flee but gets stuck in the fountain top. The Bros., going underground, turn up the water pressure causing the fountain to explode, and freeing Brickle. Meanwhile at Brickle's Maintenance hut, Grobot, the hydrozation robot, gets hit by a large peace of the fountain, damaging it and causing it to go haywire. Brickle thanks the Bros. and tells them they can use his bed in his hut. Upon arriving there, Grobot is incredibly unstable and attacks Brickle. It then attacks the Bros. After defeating Grobot, Brickle is heartbroken although quickly gets over it and allows the Bros. to use his bed to free Eldream.

In Dreamy Mushrise Park the Bros. encounter Dreambunny, Eldream's pet rabbit, who's carrying the nightmare chunk containing Eldream. Dreamy Brickle interrupts them though saying the rabbit is what will bring people to his park and competes with the Bros. for it. After Mario and Luigi corner Dreambunny, it gives up the Nightmare Chunk, allowing the Bros. to free Eldream. Eldream opens a portal to Dream's Deep with the use of Dreambunny and then goes to spend some time with his pet. The Bros. enter said portal and proceed to Dream's Deep.

The Bros. quickly corner Antasma but are held back by his obnoxious screeching. Meanwhile in the real world, Starlow is watching Luigi when Kamek appears along with Private Goomp, Corporal Paraplonk and Sergeant Guy, all three now promoted to royal guard. Bowser then enters, demanding the location of Peach, and upon catching the princess's scent, jumps into the Dream Portal. He arrives in Dream's Deep right where the Bros. are confronting Antasma. Upon being convinced by Antasma and his claims of new moves and such, Bowser fights with Antasma against the Bros. After being beaten by the Bros., Antasma increases Bowser's power and floors Mario, Luigi and Peach. Antasma then flees with Bowser, stating they will get Peach later as they have work to do. Eldream who arrives on the scene, helps get the Bros. and Peach back to the Real World.

Back in the Real World, the Bros. learn that Antasma is going after the Dream Stone, which resides in Dozing Sands. Upon reaching Dozing Sands, the Bros. meet Britta, a ruthless construction manager who says she can't help them as there is no more treasure in the already explored areas besides the path with the large sand slide. The Bros. learn that to get up the sand slide they have to find the four Pi'illo Keepers of the Dozites, special stones that fit into Zeekeeper statues, when all collected would allow them to proceed up the sand slide. After finding three of the Dozites, the drill monster, Torkscrew eats the fourth Pi'illo Keeper, resulting in a chase on the Drilldigger. Upon drilling it several times in a chase, it coughs up the Pi'illo Keeper, who, like the other Keepers, was trapped in a nightmare chunk.

After placing the last Dozite in the last statue, the sand slide becomes climbable and Britta races ahead of the Bros. to the newly accessible area in hopes of treasure. Upon reaching the new area Torkscrew attacks Britta and swallows her. After beating Torkscrew to the point of which it explodes, Britta is freed, however fades in and out of consciousness in a bad state and is carried off for medical attention. The Bros. approach the ruins that hold the Dream Stone to discover Antasma and Bowser had already stolen it. Prince Dreambert realizes that the Dream Stone's alter is a Dreampoint, a point where one can enter the Dream World easily. Dreambert suggests that the Bros. try to find the Dream Stone Soul who may be able to tell them where Antasma and Bowser went with the stone. Upon hearing this, Mario enters the Dream World as Luigi sleeps on Dreambert on the Dreampoint, into Dreamy Dozing Sands. After finding the Dream Stone's Soul, it tries to hide as it doesn't want to get involved but is pestered to the point it is consumed by fury, turning into massive Drilldigger to get rid of the Bros.. Dreamy Luigi, fusing with many Luiginoids, then becomes Giant Luigi to defeat Drilldigger. After doing so, the Dream Stone's Soul tells Luigi where the Dream Stone was taking, Mount Pajamaja.

To reach Mount Pajamaja, the Bros. need to take a tour there, signing up requiring them to go to Wakeport. At Wakeport, the Bros. run into Kylie Koopa, who doesn't remember them yet offers them some optional work at her office, and Popple who just robbed a building in broad daylight, who remembers but doesn't recognize the Bros. Upon signing up for the tour and arriving, everyone who signed up but the Bros. flee in fear before the tour even starts. Mario and Luigi learn from one of the two tour guides, Lil'Massif, that the tour can't start unless Big Massif, his older brother and the other tour guide, shows up.

During their search, the Bros. help a Hooskin make a proposal, gaining some items upon doing so and learning of a hint to Big Massif's location. The Bros. later find Big Massif voluntarily asleep on a Dreampoint. Luigi then falls asleep in an attempt to connect to Big Massif's dream to wake him up. The Bros. succeed in both that and in entering Dreamy Wakeport, but discover that to meet Dreamy Big Massif they have to beat his four apprentices with special conditions involved. After beating all four, it is revealed that Dreamy Big Massif was disguised as the Referee. Upon beating Dreamy Big Massif, Big Massif wakes up, notices he slept in and starts the tour to and up Mount Pajamaja.

After climbing up to the summit of Mount Pajamaja, the group comes across the mammoth guardian of the mountain, Mammoshka, who is currently sleeping. The Massif's get by unnoticed but Luigi sneezes, waking up Mammoshka, who gets enraged when it sees the Bros. After beating the Guardian, the Bros. proceed to the summit where they find Antasma, Bowser, Kamek, Private Goomp, Corporal Paraplonk and Sergent Guy with four large speakers. It is revealed that the Dream Stone needs to charge before it can grant wishes. Private Goomp then turns on the speakers and music known as the Dreambeats starts playing, making all who hear it fall asleep, except for Pi'illos, Starlow, Antasma and Bowser (who is covering his ears). The Bros. try to escape but Luigi falls asleep while Mario fights the drowsiness. Dreambert suggests going to the Dream World to escape the music until it's over upon stumbling upon one in their escape. Mario manages to escape the Dreambeats by diving through the Dream Portal of a nearby Dreampoint into Dreamy Mount Pajamaja, but the Dream Portal soon closes as the music has made Luigi so deep in his sleep that it can't remain stable.

Meanwhile, the entire island falls asleep and Dream Orbs, orbs created by those who sleep, are absorbed into the Dream Stone to power it. Mario suggests to cause a eruption in the Dream World's volcano to stir Luigi awake to re-open the Dream Portal. Upon reaching the summit, the Bros. discover the dream version of the mountain volcano, Mt. Pajamaja, is alive and anger it by popping a pimple on its nose. Mt. Pajamaja's reaction sends the Bros. running back to where the Dream Portal was but it hadn't re-appeared yet, leaving the Bros. to face Mt. Pajamaja, resulting in another Giant Luigi battle. After beating the Volcano, the Dream Portal reappears and Mario returns to the real world. Starlow and Dreambert discuss their next plan of action and decide to hide Princess Peach as that would be Bowser's prime target and head back to Pi'illo Castle.

At the crater of Mount Pajamaja the Dream Stone is finished charging and Antasma makes the first wish. Antasma wishes for a Castle for him and Bowser, one that is impenetrable and also one that is feared, and a large castle, a mix between Bowser's and Antasma's designs, comes out of the Dream Stone and floats into the sky. Antasma then tries out the castle and destroys several small islands around Pi'illo island with large lasers. Then a large impenetrable shield surrounds the castle. Bowser dubs this castle Neo Bowser Castle. Antasma then offers Bowser the next wish. When the Bros. arrive at Pi'illo Castle, they find everyone in panic and soon learn what the first wish was for. They decide to find Princess Peach and protect her and find out she's at Driftwood Shore.

When they arrive, they are told to go see Broque Madame who has disguised Peach and Toadsworth as Block folk. It is suggested that Peach should be hidden in the Dream World from Bowser. The Bros. meet Popple again who is on a tour but still can't find anything worth stealing. After that the Bros. find a Dreampoint and they meet Seadric, a Dream Genie that would be glad to help hide Peach. It is suggested though that Peach should be held deeper in this Dream World and Seadric suggests the use of Dream Eggs to expand the world. Seadric then tells the Bros. to go see his two brothers and one sister to get their three Dream Eggs. After doing so, Seadric expands the world and then tells the Bros. to meet him in the next area after finding the prizes he left for them. After meeting up, the Bros. asked why he left monsters, with Seadric replying that monsters shouldn't be here and that something bad got in. After the final expansion and hiding Peach in the deepest part. It is revealed that Peach was actually Kamek in disguise, along with the royal guard, Private Goomp, Corporal Paraplonk and Sergant Guy, and it's revealed they already had Peach. The royal guard then battles the Bros. and reveal they can only be beaten if all of them are KO'd at once. After doing so, they are demoted to janitors and teleported out by Kamek who then leaves.

The Bros. start looking for a way to get to Neo Bowser Castle when they discover Dr. Snoozemore has returned and go to see him. Upon finding him in the collection room of Pi'illo Castle, he is startled to see a living Pi'illo. He suggest trying to find the Zeekeeper to break the shield around the Castle. Dreambert remembers seeing a Zeekeeper statue in Dream's Deep in Pi'illo Castle. The statue would've allowed the Bros. to find the Zeekeeper's location but to their dismay, it is deactivated. Upon reactivating it, Mario and Luigi learn to summon the Zeekeeper, they must use the Ultibed, which in order to access, must first be built by a Bedsmith once they collect the five Zee Parts scattered across the island.

The Bros. have little trouble getting the parts, but upon finding the Jelly Sheets, a group of Fly Guy Rs steal it. The Bros. locate the group taking a break on the path towards the Blimport. Mario devices a plan to steal the sheets back. While the Bros. sneak by, Starlow and Dreambert have a loud conversation about a rumour of Bowser having a birthmark in a certain place in a certain shape. The Fly Guy Rs get interested and distracted allowing the Bros. to steal it back before having to fight the Fly Guy Rs.

After collecting the necessary parts the Bros. head to Wakeport and run into Popple again, who is trying to steal from Pi'illo-per's, a Pi'illo artifact collector, collection room. The Bros. follow Popple to a sealed-off area full of ruins. Popple mistakes Wiggly, a Wiggler, as a security guard. When the Bros. walk past Popple he pulls them to one side and still doesn't remember them. He then tricks the Bros. into helping him fight Wiggly, by talking first, and then after insulting Wiggly fighting him. Popple causes problems to the Bros. during the battle by enraging Wiggly, preventing a Bro from dodging or saving his own skin. After Wiggly is defeated he turns on the Bros. immediately but is beaten. Upon learning Wiggly wasn't a security guard he insults Wiggly again, getting chased, and claiming he's had enough of the island.

The Bros. then find Pi'ill-oper who is amazed at the Bros. Pi'illo artifacts and takes them to his prize possession, Bedsmith, who is trapped in a Nightmare Chunk. When the Bros. finally reach the Nightmare Chunk, Earth-Waker, the guardian holding the nightmare chunk in its head, activates and forms a robot made of buildings resulting in another Giant Luigi battle. After beating Earth-Waker and breaking the nightmare chunk, Bedsmith is more than happy to help, but needs to meet the Bros. at his workshop in Somnom Woods to build the Ultibed.

After arriving in Somnom Woods, Bedsmith makes the Ultibed, and then tells the Bros. to find the Zeekeeper they would have to sleep in the temple in Somnom Woods. To reach the temple, the Bros. have to free the Pi'illo Masters which hold the keys to reaching the temple. Mario and Luigi, however slightly slowed by the antics of the Nommons, manage to save all six of the Pi'illo Masters and are able to continue towards the temple. Unfortunately, upon reaching the ideal spot for the Ultibed to be slept on, the temple's defence system releases the guardian, Pi'illodium, who then attacks the Bros.

After defeating the guardian, the Bros. then place the Ultibed into position, and Mario enters Dreamy Somnom Woods to find the Zeekeeper. Climbing up the large tree towards where the Zeekeeper sleeps, Mario and Luigi survive several of the tree's confusing tricks and make it to the top, where they find a large rainbow egg (known as the Zee Egg) of which Mario smashes, releasing the Zeekeeper who instantly attacks the Bros., this soon triggering another Giant Luigi battle. After the Zeekeeper is defeated, he notices Dreambert with the Bros. and reverts to his usual casual demeanour, no longer hostile.

Upon hearing the dire situation, the Zeekeeper agrees to help after being promised (against Mario's will) that after Antasma's defeat he would get every single coin Mario has, takes Mario out of the Dream World and then proceeds to scope out Neo Bowser Castle, once doing so returns near the forest entrance, awaiting the Bros. to shatter the barrier. Once they board the Zeekeeper and he flies near the castle, he unleashes the Wakebeam upon the castle, shattering the barrier and causing the castle to plummet in an empty area slightly to the north of where the forest entrance is, right between Mt. Pajamaja and Somnom Woods. The Zeekeeper lands with the Bros., and then rests, allowing Mario and Luigi to then storm the castle once prepared after a shopkeeper rushes by to set up shop near the castle to reap much cash from desperate shoppers.

Upon infiltrating Neo Bowser Castle, Kamek casts a spell on the rooms and passages, making it harder for the Bros. to navigate the castle. Upon doing so, Kamek and Antasma flee into the Dream World through a platform behind a sturdy fence. Mario and Luigi soon figure out the tricky navigation, and eventually are able to chase after the duo into Dreamy Neo Bowser Castle. After hunting down Kamek, they do battle with him, however Kamek exits the battle midway in order to flee to another Dream World, releasing the spell on the areas in Neo Bowser Castle and leaving.

Mario and Luigi follow suit and re-enter Neo Bowser Castle, and proceed deeper. Meanwhile, upon Bowser stating his desire to conquer the world now, Antasma suggests Bowser sleeps due to his potential dream energy being raw and powerful. Bowser agrees to this line of logic, and goes along with the suggestion. Mario and Luigi after continuing through, find Kamek who casts a similar spell as before on to the nearby rooms, making navigation tricky. Antasma appears and once again opens the Dream Portal, the evil duo entering again from a similar fenced off platform.

Upon Mario and Luigi once again maneuvering the tricky corridors of this next area and setting the wind turbines to blow the huge rolling Bob-ombs over a gap in their track and on to the switch removing the gate fence, they return to the platform and re-enter the Dream World. After escaping the rising lava, the Bros. find Kamek disguised as Peach, however do not fall for it this time, causing Kamek to drop the act and engage battle with them yet again. Deep into battle, Kamek once again exits the duel along with the Dream World, heading deeper into the castle yet again, causing the Bros. to follow.

Mario and Luigi quickly catch up to Kamek, startling him as he was in the middle of muddling up the rooms. He flees through another Dream Portal, as like before. The Bros. adapt to this area's emphasis on large rolling Bob-ombs, and manage to lower the gate blocking the platform Luigi would then sleep on. Mario enters the Dream World, and eventually finds Kamek who takes the Bros. head-on this time. After a rough battle, Kamek is defeated soundly, and the magic departs from the Real World, allowing Mario and Luigi to continue upon their leave of the Dream World. The battered Kamek then decides to use the rest of his magic to assist Bowser, and disappears.

Mario and Luigi are once again stopped from their trek deeper into the castle quite soon by several intense flames being shot out of three Dream Worlds, and then realize they must enter each of the Dream Worlds and stop whatever is causing the flames. Upon succeeding in doing so, Mario and Luigi enter the doorway at the end to find Bowser sleeping on Antasma as a pillow with a barrier protecting him. Dreambert states that the strange purple vines they've seen everywhere throughout the castle are what powers the building, and that they originate from Antasma. Luigi suggests they enter Bowser's Dream World, Dreambert realizing they could try what they did with Big Massif with Bowser. Dreambert connects himself to the vines as pillow form, and Luigi sleeps on him, Mario entering the Dream World.

After traversing the Bowser-infested Dream World, the Bros. soon come across Bowser gulping down chunks of meat. Bowser spots Mario and Luigi, and orders to have more meat served to power him up, finishing all the meat, and entering a rage upon finding that out. He starts inhaling the area around him, growing in size just like when he ate the meat. Bowser then jumps off the ground and into a pit in what seems to be a fatal fall. Mario and Luigi run over to where Bowser jumped, and look down in the pit. They see no sign of Bowser, and assume he's been dealt with. Mario and Luigi try to move, but they are knocked back by a Giant Bowser wrecking the place up, clearly unharmed.

Luigi signals Mario that they're going to do what they normally do in this situation, a Giant Battle. The real Luigi confidently signals Starlow, and a Giant Battle commences. Upon Bowser getting struck by Finishing Bros., Mario and Luigi celebrate, only for Kamek and some Magikoopas to appear and power Bowser up, causing the Giant Battle to continue. When Luigi manages to make Bowser woozy and open to damage, the Bros. start up Star Driver, another version of Finishing Bros. where Dreambert powers up the star instead. With this attack being successful, the Bros. defeat Giant Bowser.

Mario and Luigi leave the Dream World and after pursuing the evil duo, discover that Bowser was planning to double-cross Antasma all along. Antasma reveals he had made a wish on the Dream Stone for the ability to create Dream Portals at some point, and flees from Bowser through one. Bowser, meanwhile, flees himself with a Paratroopa holding Princess Peach. Dreambert decides to fight Antasma just as he did centuries ago, and loses. Mario decides to avenge him and jumps into the Dream Portal himself. Dreamy Luigi and a barely conscious Dreambert join in the fight to assist him. After Mario defeats Antasma for good, they leave the Dream World, knowing they still have Bowser to take care of.

Narrowly avoiding Private Goomp, Sergeant Guy, and Corporal Paraplonk's Bob-omb attacks, Mario, Luigi, Starlow, and Dreambert make it to the castle balcony, where Bowser and Peach await. Bowser boasts about the power he now has, with the Dream Stone and Peach in hand. Suddenly, Peach and Starlow activate their wish power from the previous game and, at the request of Dreambert, destroy the Dream Stone. Bowser is initially shocked about this, but then screams in rage, "NOT YET!" as he inhales the Dream Stone's pieces and becomes a form known only as Dreamy Bowser. Mario and Luigi engage battle with him, and upon winning, knock him flying into the sky. Suddenly, without the Dream Stone to maintain it, the castle begins to crumble, but the Zeekeeper gives Mario and friends a lift back to Pi'illo Castle just in time.

Back at the castle, Toadsworth is so relieved to see the princess. Dreambert presents the Zeekeeper with the Dream Stone's essence extracted from Bowser's body, hoping to get it repaired. He does so, but it becomes the Dream Coin, which spouts infinite coins, instead. The Zeekeeper explains that he made it this way because simply having the power to grant all wishes is too risky, and it's more intuitive to "buy" one's wishes. Dreambert pouts at the sight of the concoction, but Broque Monsieur says it'd be a great attraction, and Mario, Luigi, and Peach agree. Meanwhile, Bowser and his minions are desperately trying to escape the island in the Koopa Clown Car, and Bowser announces he will come back for revenge, finally remembering Luigi's name. They are then showered in coins from the Dream Coin, Private Goomp and Sergeant Guy rock the Koopa clown car so much, trying to get coins, that it falls into the ocean. The group then start their vacation, shown during the end credits.

Gameplay
The gameplay seems to shift between Luigi's dream world, where Mario and Luigi move in a 2-D fashion and the regular world, where they freely roam the overworld, unlike the previous three titles. While Mario is playing inside Luigi's dreams, Starlow can move Luigi's face to affect the area, such as spinning platforms. The battles give the player coins directly from enemies in battle, like Paper Mario: Sticker Star. Due to the shift to 3D, the game also uses a new art style. Badges similar to those in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story seem to make an appearance in this game. Sometimes Gifts may also appear in between or after battles. Giant battles from Mario & Luigi's Bowser Inside Story return, this time with Luigi instead of Bowser. The games art style also changes in this installment. Unlike the previous games' basic sprite look, this installment uses a pre-rendered look that makes the sprites smoother with the backgrounds.

During an developer interview it was revealed the game has a Hard mode that is unlocked after completing the game. In this mode, the player can't start again after losing a battle and must instead go back to the title screen and continue from where they last saved. They can also only carry 10 of each item.

Also during battles if the player fails at Bro. moves a numerous amount of times in battle a slo-mo feature will activate allowing for easier hits. The game also has a added hint option which appears in battle if the player is struggling with an enemy, if chosen this gives information on the enemies weakness's and attacks.

The bottom screen of the 3DS displays the area map, unlike previous installments the map shows and follows the actual location of the Bros.

Battle system
The battle system in the overworld is similar to those in previous titles, but the system in Dream World is different, as Mario will fight in all battles with Luigi's dream form. There are now five categories of attack, as in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. They are Jump, Hammer, Item, Luigi's face (which are Special attacks in Dream World) or Red Shell (which are Special attacks in the overworld), and Flee. There can be more than five enemies in battle, as in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. The Rank feature returns again. One change is the lack of Lakitus from the level up system.

Status Effects
Effects can be caused by enemies, gear and more. Some increase/decrease Mario and Luigi's stats and some them from attacking. In this game, there is no Poison effect like the previous Mario and Luigi games. Enemy effects can't be combined but others can.

Luiginary Works
Luiginary Works are special abilities found in the Dream World. When Dreamy Luigi is near a Luiginary Work, both react to each other, causing them to be surrounded by a green light. Dreamy Luigi, then, can "possess" the object, creating a special object that can be controled by the sleepy Luigi, with Starlow's help. As said by Dreambert, the Luiginary Works are the objects of connection between the real world and the Dream World.

Giant Battles
Giant battles play similarly to the ones in the previous instalment, with the boss on one screen and Luigi on the other. The battles now offer a choice of left-handed or right-handed play. Attacks and counter-attacks, like in the prequel, are used by tapping repeatedly, sliding in correct shapes and sliding repeatedly. As the playable character being different in this game, Luigi is instead able to perform a variety of the moves he uses in normal battle, such as his jump and hammer attacks, the latter having two variations. He is also given the option to work together with Mario to perform both a useful healing technique and a spinning stomp attack, as well as a finishing attack involving Mario piercing through the boss in question's weak point while riding a Star thrown by Luigi, all of which listed below.

Badges
Badges are used in battles to help Mario and Luigi. They can each wear one badge out of the 12 badges. They are lots of combinations each having different effects when used. When Mario and Luigi perform a successful attack, the badge meter increases. When the badge meter is full players will receive an effect that can be used when it is their turn. The effects do not use up turns. Mario's badges are going across and Luigi's are going downwards.

Hard Mode
Upon completing the game, the player can choose to play a more difficult game called Hard Mode. In Hard Mode, enemies are stronger, and the maximum amount of items the bros can carry is 10. Like the previous games, should the brothers lose in a battle, they will be taken back to the point where the player last saved their game.

Ranks
Ranks works slightly differently to the way they did in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Instead of set rewards, such as extra gear slots and shopping privileges, the player is given limited choices of what one Rank-Up Bonus they wish to give to Mario and Luigi respectively upon reaching a new rank per rank, excluding Rainbow Rank where the player gets two Rank-up Bonuses, giving the player the limit of five slots for bonuses per character if the player reaches Level 40.


 * Mushroom Rank (default)
 * Shell Rank (Level 8)
 * Flower Rank (Level 16)
 * Star Rank (Level 26)
 * Rainbow Rank (Level 40)

The Rank-Up Bonuses are the following:

Bros. Attacks (Real World)
Bros. Attacks are powerful and complex team techniques that Mario and Luigi perform in unison in the Real World. These moves are unlocked by gathering the ten Attack Pieces in a particular area. Like in the prequel, the player is given the option to practice their unlocked Bros. Attacks in the menu. In this game however, certain Bros. Attacks are influenced damage-wise by either Mario's or Luigi's Boots POW stat, Mario's or Luigi's Hammer POW stat, or just Mario's or Luigi's normal POW stat, whose variable POW stat depends on who's performing the attack and how it involves them. Once again exclusive to this game, Mario and Luigi each have Bros. Attacks unique to themselves that only they can activate, excluding the 3D Red/Green Shell which they both share.

Luiginary Attacks (Dream World)
Luiginary Attacks, like Bros. Attacks, are powerful and complex team techniques that Mario and a group Luiginoids perform in unison in the Dream World. These moves are unlocked by gathering the ten Attack Pieces in a particular area. Like with Bros. Attacks, the player is given the option to practice their unlocked Luiginary Attacks in the menu. Much like Bros. Attacks, certain Luiginary Attacks are influenced damage-wise by either Mario and Luigi's Boots POW stat, Mario and Luigi's Hammer POW stat, or just Mario and Luigi's normal POW stat. As Mario battles solo (in a sense) in the Dream World, only he can activate these moves.

* - Mandatory Bros./Luiginary Attacks.

Playable

 * Mario
 * Luigi (Real World)
 * Dreamy Luigi (Dream World)
 * Starlow (Dream World)

Other

 * Princess Peach
 * Toadsworth
 * Toads
 * Bowser, the secondary antagonist who forms an alliance with Antasma
 * Yoshi
 * Starlow
 * Antasma, the antagonist, Also known as the "Bat King".
 * Pi'illos
 * Prince Dreambert, leader of the Pi'illo people
 * Eldream, a wise Pi'illo that knows lots about the Dream World.
 * Bedsmith, a Pi'llo who makes beds and helps the gang make the "Ultibed"
 * Dreambunny, presumably Eldream's pet rabbit.
 * Dr. Snoozemore (Dr Snoozemore in PAL versions), proprietor of Pi'illo island, who is mysteriously absent when the heroes arrive at the island.
 * Broque Monsieur
 * Broque Madame
 * Broggy
 * Brocks: Other members of Broque Monsieur's race.
 * Brickle, the build leader of Mushrise Park construction.
 * Britta, the build leader of Dozing Sand construction.
 * Zeekeeper
 * Smoldergeist
 * Shell Top
 * Beanish
 * Hooskis, citizens which resemble brown Hoohooligans.
 * Big Massif, One of the tour guides
 * Li'l Massif, One of the tour guides
 * Dream Stone Soul, Soul of the Dream Stone
 * Seadric, A Seadring
 * Seabell, Seadric's little sister
 * Seatoon, one of Seadric's brothers
 * Seabury, one of Seadric's brothers
 * Private Goomp
 * Corporal Paraplonk
 * Sergeant Guy
 * Kamek
 * Popple
 * Wiggly, a Wiggler on vacation
 * Kylie Koopa
 * Shroob image in Kylie's place.

Enemies

 * Real World


 * Dream World

Bosses
The following is a bestiary for all bosses encountered in the game Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. EXP values in parenthesis are those earned when a brother has their Quick Level upgrade.


 * Giant Bosses

Battle Ring Bosses

 * Pi'illodium X
 * Antasma X
 * Battle Medley (All above bosses in order + Bowser Jr.).

Battle Ring Giant Bosses

 * Robo-Drilldigger X
 * Mount Pajamaja X
 * Earthwake X
 * Zeekeeper X
 * Bowser X (Giant Form)
 * Giant Medley (All five bosses in a row).

Items

 * ? Blocks
 * Coin Blocks
 * Attack Piece Blocks
 * Coins
 * 5 Gold Coins
 * 10 Gold Coins
 * 50 Gold Coins

Locations

 * Real World (Pi'illo Island) will presumably take place in
 * Pi'illo Blimport
 * Pi'illo Castle
 * Mushrise Park
 * Dozing Sands
 * Wakeport
 * Mount Pajamaja
 * Driftwood Shore
 * Somnom Woods
 * Neo Bowser Castle
 * Dream World
 * Dreamy Pi'illo Castle
 * Dreamy Mushrise Park
 * Dreamy Dozing Sands
 * Dreamy Wakeport
 * Dreamy Mount Pajamaja
 * Dreamy Driftwood Shore
 * Dreamy Somnom Woods
 * Dreamy Neo Bowser Castle
 * Dream's Deep

Pi'illo Rewards
As the majority of the Pi'illo race ended up getting hit by nightmare chunks, many of them were trapped throughout Pi'illo Island. Upon freeing Eldream, he gifts the player whenever they save a certain amount of Pi'illos and visit him in Mushrise Park in the Maintainance Hut where he was saved. There are a total of 52 Pi'illos that can be freed in this game (with the exception of Prince Dreambert), the far majority of which are optional. The rewards recieved from Eldream are listed below, all the locations even further below.


 * Rewards
 * Bare Hammer (6 Pi'illos)
 * DoB Hammer (7 Pi'illos)
 * POW Gloves (12 Pi'illos)
 * Zee Egg (Bros. Attack) (52 Pi'illos)

Pi'illo Locations

 * Pi'illo Castle area (3) (1 Pi'illo, 2 Blue Pi'illos)
 * Mandatory to complete the game and the first Pi'illo saved and counted, this Pi'illo is found in the cave section under the bridge to Mushrise Park.
 * Mandatory to complete the game, this Blue Pi'illo is found in the cave section under the bridge to Mushrise Park, by some raised ground that cannot be reached without its aid.
 * Mandatory to complete the game, this Blue Pi'illo is found in the cave section under the bridge to Mushrise Park, where the exit pipe is that can only be reached with its aid.


 * Mushrise Park area (5)
 * Mandatory to complete the game, this Blue Pi'illo is found in the area with the bridge near the north-east exit, with its aid allowing Mario and Luigi to get up to higher ground in order to acquire hammers.
 * Mandatory to complete the game, Eldream is found by Brickle, whom the Bros. chase down through the park and at one point save, Brickle then letting them use Eldream on his bed in the Maintainence Hut.


 * Dozing Sands area (11)
 * Mandatory to complete the game, this Pi'illo Keeper is found on the larger side of the area with the red panel in the second Drilldigger section, to the slight east of the south-west reverse switch under a rock.
 * Mandatory to complete the game, this Pi'illo Keeper is found in the area with the square-shaped track, near the south-west corner under a rock.
 * Mandatory to complete the game, this Pi'illo Keeper is found automatically (to the point its Dream World is entered) in the entrance to the second Drilldigger section, under a rock beside the north-western reverse switch.
 * Mandatory to complete the game, this Pi'illo Keeper is found (after being dropped by Torkscrew) in the area to the east of the large sand flow, in the south-west by a block.
 * Optional, this Pi'illo is found on the larger side of the area with the red panel in the second Drilldigger section, to the far south-east.
 * Optional, this Pi'illo is found in the area to the west of the one with the red panel in the second Drilldigger section, in the far south-west.
 * Optional, this Pi'illo is found to the east of the entrance to the second Drilldigger section, in the far north-east.
 * Optional, this Pi'illo is found on the eastern half of the area with the Badge Shop, right in the south-east.


 * Wakeport area (6)
 * Optional, this Pi'illo is found at the left of the place where Wiggler wants to make a garden.
 * Optional, this Pi'llo is found at the right of the place where Wiggler and Popple is fought.


 * Mount Pajamaja area (11)


 * Driftwood Shore area (3)


 * Somnom Woods area (11)


 * Neo Bowser Castle area (1)(1 Pi'illo)
 * This Pi'illo is found right outside the castle, only available once Neo Bowser Castle falls.

Beans
Like in other Mario & Luigi games, beans are a collectible in this game, to the extent they were in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, where they boosted the brothers' stats upon eating and worsened level-up bonuses upon doing so. Beans are marked as Xs in the ground, and upon digging one up, gives the player a bean that boosts one of the brother's stats by one stat point. Beans are only dug up in the Real World. Stat DX Beans that increase the aforementioned stat by three points can also be obtained from Golden Beanies as a drop and from Kylie Koopa upon completing a Level 3 puzzle within the goal time for the first time. Beans can also be gained from equipping the Wellington Boots, which may turn coins into bean drops.

Bean Locations

 * Pi'illo Blimport area (6) (1 Heart Bean, 2 Bros. Beans, 0 Power Beans, 2 Defence Beans, 0 Speed Beans, 1 Stache Bean)


 * In the area to the west of the castle entrance, this Bros. Bean is found by the western exit.


 * In the area to the east of the castle entrance, this Heart Bean is found by the eastern exit.


 * In the area to the north of the castle entrance, this Bros. Bean is found in the north-west of the area, near where the beaten path turns.
 * In the area to the north of the castle entrance, this Defence Bean is found in a patch of dirt west of the path leading to Mt. Pajamaja.
 * In the area to the north of the castle entrance, this Defence Bean is found in a patch of dirt east of the path leading to Mt. Pajamaja.
 * In the area to the north of the castle entrance, this Stache Bean is found in the patch of dirt closest to the south-east exit.


 * Mushrise Park area (14/22) (2 Heart Beans, 4 Bros. Beans, 3 Power Beans, 2 Defence Beans, 1 Speed Bean, 2 Stache Bean)


 * In the area leading to Dozing Sands/Driftwood Shore, this Power Bean is found by the dark grass in the far south-east, just by the south exit.
 * In the area leading to Dozing Sands/Driftwood Shore, this Power Bean is found to the south of the Mushrise Management sign.
 * In the area leading to Dozing Sands/Driftwood Shore, this Bros. Bean is found in the north-east, near a rock.


 * In the area with the bridge, this Speed Bean is found on some higher ground in the north-west first accessed to the west of said area in the area with the lookout point.
 * In the area with the bridge, this Power Bean is found by a Red Yoshi in in the south-east.
 * In the area with the bridge, this Bros. Bean is found right next to the north-east exit.
 * In the area with the bridge, this Bros. Bean is found by the south-east exit.


 * In the area with the fountain, this Defence Bean is found in a patch of dirt in the south-east.
 * In the area with the fountain, this Heart Bean is found in the south-west on ground level.
 * In the area with the fountain, this Stache Bean is found on some grass in the center of a spiral pattern in the north.


 * In the area with the Maintainence Hut Warp Pipe and Brickle, this Heart Bean is found with three other Beans on a spot of light in the far east, being the southern of the four.
 * In the area with the Maintainence Hut Warp Pipe and Brickle, this Bros. Bean is found with three other Beans on a spot of light in the far east, being the western of the four.
 * In the area with the Maintainence Hut Warp Pipe and Brickle, this Defence Bean is found with three other Beans on a spot of light in the far east, being the northern of the four.
 * In the area with the Maintainence Hut Warp Pipe and Brickle, this Stache Bean is found with three other Beans on a spot of light in the far east, being the eastern of the four.




 * Dozing Sands area (28/32) (4 Heart Beans, 5 Bros. Beans, 4 Power Beans, 5 Defence Beans, 4 Speed Beans, 6 Stache Beans)


 * As the only Bean mandatory to complete the game, this Heart Bean is found by the workers who teach the Bros. the Mole Mario and Small Mario techniques.
 * In the area where the player learns the Mole Mario and Small Mario techniques, this Defence Bean is found to the slight south of the Days without a sand-flow accident.


 * In the area with the Badge Shop, this Speed Bean is found in the far north-east in a small pit.


 * In the area west of the area with the Badge Shop, this Stache Bean is found in a brown container of sand near the eastern exit.


 * In the area with the Item & Gear Shop and where a Warp Pipe is, this Power Bean is found to the direct south of the shop, surrounded by some darker grass.


 * In the area with the large sand-flow, this Heart Bean is found in the far south-east, first accessible by going around and entering the area from the east.


 * In the first Drilldigger section, this Bros. Bean is found to the west of the track.
 * In the first Drilldigger section, this Defence Bean is found to the east of the track.


 * In the bordered up half of the Drilldigger area with the red panel, this Defence Bean is found to the slight west of the nearby station.


 * In the area with a square-shaped track accessed through use of the red panel, this Power Bean is found to the very slight south-west of a Pi'illo Keeper.
 * In the area with a square-shaped track accessed through use of the red panel, this Bros. Bean is found to the very slight east of a Pi'illo Keeper.
 * In the area with a square-shaped track accessed through use of the red panel, this Defence Bean is found in the far southwest of the area, near some rubble.
 * In the area with a square-shaped track accessed through use of the red panel, this Stache Bean is found to the far east of the area, near some rubble.
 * In the area with a square-shaped track accessed through use of the red panel, this Stache Bean is found on a slightly higher platform to the far northwest.
 * In the area with a square-shaped track accessed through use of the red panel, this Bros. Bean is found on the inner side of the south-east corner of the track.


 * In the area with the L-shaped track accessed through use of the red panel, this Speed Bean is found near the south-eastern exit.
 * In the area with the L-shaped track accessed through use of the red panel, this Stache Bean is found obscured by some red rubble in the south-west of the area.


 * In the area to to the west of the one with the red panel, this Power Bean is found by the south-east exit.
 * In the area to to the west of the one with the red panel, this Speed Bean is found near the northern exit, close to a reverse switch.


 * In the area to the west of the main entrance to the second Drilldiggger area, this Bros. Bean is found in the far north-west on ground level.
 * In the area to the west of the main entrance to the second Drilldiggger area, this Heart Bean is found by a cactus near a reverse switch on some higher ground.
 * In the area to the west of the main entrance to the second Drilldiggger area, this Speed Bean is found near the north-east exit.
 * In the area to the west of the main entrance to the second Drilldiggger area, this Power Bean is found near the north-east exit.


 * In the entrance area of the second Drilldigger section where Britta usually is, this Stache Bean is found to the slight south of a Pi'illo near the north-west exit.
 * In the entrance area of the second Drilldigger section where Britta usually is, this Heart Bean is found near the southern reverse switch, on the side it isn't on, by some plants.
 * In the entrance area of the second Drilldigger section where Britta usually is, this Defence Bean is found by a Bros. Block in the north-east, on some raised ground.


 * In the area to the east of the main entrance to the second Drilldiggger area, this Bros. Bean is found in the far south-east.


 * In the area where the Dream Point is, this Stache Bean is found in the north, to the left of the structure.


 * Wakeport area (2/12) (1 Heart Bean, 0 Bros. Beans, 0 Power Beans, 0 Defence Beans, 0 Speed Beans, 1 Stache Bean)


 * In the first area of Wakeport when accessed from Mushrise Park, this Stache Bean is found in the center of the area on some raised ground, right in the middle of a spiral grass pattern.


 * In the first town-based area of Wakeport when accessed from Mushrise Park, this Heart Bean is found in the south-west of the area near an umbrella.




 * Mount Pajamaja area (0/24) (0 Heart Beans, 0 Bros. Beans, 0 Power Beans, 0 Defence Beans, 0 Speed Beans, 0 Stache Beans)


 * Driftwood Shore area (0/10) (0 Heart Beans, 0 Bros. Beans, 0 Power Beans, 0 Defence Beans, 0 Speed Beans, 0 Stache Beans)


 * Somnom Woods area (1/19) (0 Heart Beans, 0 Bros. Beans, 0 Power Beans, 0 Defence Beans, 0 Speed Beans, 1 Stache Bean)
 * In the entrance area of Somnom Woods, this Stache Bean is found in a patch of dirt by the west exit.


 * Neo Bowser Castle area (0/18) (0 Heart Beans, 0 Bros. Beans, 0 Power Beans, 0 Defence Beans, 0 Speed Beans, 0 Stache Beans)

Expert Challenges
See Expert Challenges for a full list of all the optional challenges, as well as a list of rewards gained from Mario and Luigi doing said challenges.

Sidequests

 * Hooskin Trading Quest

In Wakeport during Mario and Luigi's travels, the player may encounter a male Hooskin wanting to propose to nearby female, but is lacking the proper proposal gift. Upon Mario and Luigi agreeing to help, they are given a plush Zeekeeper to use in order to get something better to propose with, initiating a brief trading sidequest.

Mario and Luigi first trade the plush Zeekeeper for a rare fruit with a Shelltop in the nearby item shop, afterwards swapping it for a Yoshi egg with a Red Yoshi in the hotel district, which they then swap for a photo of Peach with a Toad by the tour centre, which they then swap for the Book of Ruins with a Brock researcher to the north of the Toad, which they then swap for a photo of Queen Bean with a Bean in the gear shop, which they then swap for a lost camera with a Bean in one of the buildings in the hotel district, which they then give to a Toad near the rooftops of the hotel district in exchange for info about a bird burying something between the nearby umbrella and fountain, which then turns out to be upon the Bros. digging it out, a Pi'illo ring which Mario and Luigi hand to the Hooskin for him to then propose with, the female accepting after a short cutscene which ends with the Bros. being rewarded greatly with a Sap Hammer, Heart Bean DX, some Rally Wear, and a 1-UP Mushroom, and if the player talks to him afterwards, he'll give the Bros. an idea of where to go next in Wakeport.

Additional information
For listings of Clothing, see the respective page.

Differences from other Mario & Luigi games

 * Unlike the other Mario & Luigi games, Mario and Luigi don't let out their battle cries of "Let's-a-go!" and "Okey-dokey!" respectively when starting a battle.
 * This is the first time in the series that Peach's Castle isn't the tutorial level.
 * This is the first time in the series that the tutorial battle does not feature Bowser.
 * This is the first time in the series that has Bowser as a main antagonist.
 * Unlike the first three installments, Lakitu does not appear in the Level Up system.
 * This is also the first game in the Mario & Luigi series to depict the letters on Mario and Luigi's caps as red and green, respectively, instead of black, and to have Luigi's pants reach his shoes, hiding his socks.
 * This is the first time in the series Bowser kidnaps Peach as the final boss.

References to other games

 * Super Mario Bros.: A remix of this game's main theme is heard while a tutorial is been displayed.
 * Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island: Part of Driftwood Shore's theme is a remix of this game's title screen music. Bandits originated from this game, too.
 * Super Mario 64: One counter-attack Giant Luigi uses against Giant Bowser involves Luigi grabbing him by the tail and spinning him around before launching him off the platform, much like in the Bowser battles of Super Mario 64.
 * Luigi's Mansion / Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon: One of the messages from Luigi displayed in Dream's Deep is "I fight ghosts!"
 * Super Mario Sunshine: Bowser Jr. uses his paintbrush as an attack.
 * Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga: Popple and other Beanish characters appear in this game. Part of Driftwood Shore's theme is a remix of Oho Oasis. The way the Mario Bros. get to Big Massif's Hooraws by having to go through their own puzzle-filled sections in Dreamy Wakeport is similar to how the the Koopalings in Bowser's Castle were reached in the first game. When fighting Bowser Jr., he may summon two Shy Guys to carry a fiery rope that the brothers have to jump over to dodge in the same manner as the Border Bros. in Superstar Saga.
 * Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time: The Bros. Ball attack from this game returns. Also, Bowser resembles Shrowser when possessed by Antasma. Kylie Koopa also reappears along with a picture of a Shroob.
 * Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story: The badges are similar to the ones from this game. Starlow, Broque Monsieur, Broque Madame, Broggy, Private Goomp, Corporal Paraplonk, and Sergeant Guy return as well. Bowser's theme is reused. The boss theme is a heavily remixed version of this game's. The boxart is also similar to the one from this game. The Banzai Bill Blaster re-appears as well as a prop during the battlle with Private Goomp, Corporal Paraplonk and Sergeant Guy. In the final battle, before Bowser becomes Dreamy Bowser, he inhales the fragments of the shattered Dream Stone using the inhaling power he received in this game. The Earth-Waker battle plays out the same as the Tower of Yikk battle. Bowser before his Giant Battle also states he invented transforming into a giant.
 * New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Kamek is disguised as Princess Peach again.
 * Super Mario 3D Land: Grand Tail Goombas (known in this game as Big Tail Goombas) appears in the Neo Bowser Castle dream world.
 * New Super Mario Bros. U: Bombs very similar to the ones used by Lemmy Koopa in this game appear in the Bomb Derby attack.

Reception
The game was positively received. Both Gamespot and IGN gave the game an 8 which is the lowest review in the series by both of them. The reasons for this were that IGN believed that the overworld was less apealing than Dream World and that the game's intro was sluggish and filled with too many tutorials.

Trivia

 * StreetPass Mii Plaza has released a Puzzle Swap based off the game.
 * Canadian`s who pre-order Mario & Luigi: Dream Team from certain retailers can receive exclusive decals.
 * This is the first Mario & Luigi game that Fawful does not make an appearance, presumably due to his death at the end of the prior game.