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. Fawful used the Mushroom to control Bowser. Bowser uses this ability to eat Peach, along with Mario, Luigi, Toadbert, and various other villains and enemies. Bowser is not aware of all the people he has swallowed. As seen in a screenshot, Mario and Luigi play throughout the game inside his body although it is unknown if they are in his body for the whole game. 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). In the meantime, Fawful has taken over Princess Peach's and Bowser's castle, and Bowser gets very mad about this.

Overworld
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. Not the entire gameplay will have Mario and Luigi being stuck in Bowser's body, as screenshots with Mario and Luigi fighting outside have already been revealed.

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.

Traditional Battle System
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. The battle system with both Bowser and 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 ' s five, or Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga ' s four.

Bros. Items make a return for the brothers. 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, however IGN mentioned that Mario & Luigi will find special "Attack Parts" in Bowser's body. These can be put together to new special abilities like "Sweet Basket". Sweet Basket will make Luigi eating much candy, which will fill him up. Mario can then toss the puffed up Luigi at enemies.

Bowser's Battle System
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. It is unknown whether these battles are turn-based or real-time.

Playable

 * Mario
 * Luigi
 * Bowser

NPCs

 * Princess Peach
 * Toadsworth
 * Toadbert
 * "Yellow Star"
 * Kamek
 * Toads
 * Fawful

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 normal spiky 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.
 * A bone-like Thwomp (in Bowser's Stomach)