Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey

MARIO & LUIGI: BOWSER'S INSIDE STORY + BOWSER JR.'S JOURNEY

Today, we cover the second Mario & Luigi remake and ultimate swan song of AlphaDream studios. Many criticized their decision to skip Partners in Time in favor of this, but if AlphaDream saw the writing on the wall, and decided this was the note they wanted to go out on, I can't fault them for it. The expertly crafted, heartfelt, character-driven side story they gave us was one of the single best surprises I've stumbled upon in the course of this blog series, and I certainly won't be forgetting AlphaDream any time soon because of it. To them, I say, rest in peace, and may your developers find work in greener projects.

The Bowser Jr.'s Journey add-on plays much the same as Bowser's Minions gameplay, with a team captain commanding a squad of minions against other batches of opponents. This time, however, Bowser Jr. acts as the protagonist, heading out to try and assist his dad against Fawful and his minions, learning valuable lessons about being a true leader after his behavior and attitude alienates everyone around him and even shatters his relationships with the Koopalings at one point. The depth and nuance this story added to Bowser Jr., all seven Koopalings, and Kamek and the relationships between them all is something I could gush about all day long . . . but it's not technically what I'm here for, so I guess I must move on. However, if you have not, I strongly recommend picking up the game or at least watching a Let's Play of it.

Bowser Jr. is the only captain, but he has ranged, melee, and aerial forms using hammers, his paintbrush, and his Klown Kar respectively. All seven Koopalings and Kamek can act as his first officer, using pretty standard attacks you'd expect from them. The four captains from the original game and the Backstabber Trio can join you as well, as can Bowser in the post game. After that, your army can consist of several types of Goomba, several types of Koopa, Buzzy Beetles, Para-Beetles, Spinies, and Spike Tops, Mechakoopas, Broozers, Pokeys, Chain Chomps, Chargin' Chucks, Ant Troopers, Bob-Ombs, Bullies, Dry Bones, Lakitus, several types of Boos, Biddybuds, Swoops, Shy Guys, Fly Guys, and Spear Guys, Ninjis, Hammer, Boomerang, Ice, and Fire Bros, Piranha Plants, Spikes, Bandits, Magikoopas, and Nabbit.

While many of the major players of the story (Mario, Luigi, Starlow, Fawful, and Midbus) appear in the odd cutscenes here and there, the core of Bowser Jr.'s Journey's conflict involves Bowser's Castle being taken over by three brand new original characters working for Fawful: The Best Fitness Friends. Dieter is the ranged character and leader, mostly flicking rubber bands as a projectile, but he can also throw malatone formula to boost his allies, and he can create doppelgangers of himself. Beef is the melee fighter, who mainly uses a fire punch, and can throw barrels as well. Kaley is the aerial fighter who can spin, divebomb, screech loudly, and call down lightning and flames. In the final battle, they use Malatone formula to combine into one giant monster, who can create evil clones, punch, fire off a laser beam, charge while boosted, create a cyclone with their breath, and summon a mystery box.

That's most of the important stuff! Let's see what we've got:

Characters:

Mario: handstand, jump, crouch, spin, spin on bar, hammer, spring, key, pick up and throw, giant, float, fly

Luigi: invisible

Wario: metal

Yoshi: fire breath, tongue

Donkey Kong: punch, barrel, stomp, jack, grow giant, throw enemies

Donkey Kong Jr.: hop, throw switches

Pauline

Birdo: Robirdo

Bowser Jr.: paintbrush, Klown Kar, hammer

All characters appearing in SMB2, SMW, SMW2, and SMB3

All characters appearing in the DKC series

All characters appearing in SM64

Diddy Kong

Dixie Kong

Tiny Kong

Wizpig

Taj

Timber and the other racers

Team Captains: deny, rally, bonus block, play dead, lightning, parry, bob-omb, thwomp, face off, backup, sneak attack, shell strike, aerial, melee, long range

Best Fitness Friends: rubber bands, malatone formula, doppelganger, fire punch, barrel, spin, divebomb, screech, fire, lightning, combine, laser beam, charge, cyclone, mystery box

Bosses:

King Bob-Omb

Goomboss

King Boo

Chief Chilly

Stages:

Construction Site

Big City

Forest

Ship

Jungle

Desert

Airplane

Iceberg

Rocky-Valley

All stages appearing in SMB2, SMW, SMW2, and SMB3

All stages appearing in DKC series

Palm Beach

Poison Swamp

Secret Factory

Ice Area

All locations in Diddy Kong Racing

Minions Battlefield

Thanks for reading! Next up, let's cover the Luigi's Mansion remake!