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New Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story trailer from the inside, out

by Ben Gilbert { Jul 31st 2009 at 8:15PM }

We're just about as excited as we could be for the next iteration in the long-running Mario & Luigi RPG series, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. It's been so long since we last got to try our hand at timing-centric, turn-based combat in the Mushroom Kingdom and, well, we really enjoyed our time with the game at E3. The newest trailer shows off a good deal of what we described from E3, with the ill-fated plumbers working with Bowser from the inside to solve problems in the outside world. Now all we need is a bit more of a solid release date than "this fall" -- how about it, Nintendo?

Gallery: Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (DS)

Bowser gets starring role in Mario & Luigi 3

by Chris Greenhough { Jan 13th 2009 at 3:30PM }

Mario & Luigi 3 won't just limit you to playing as the titular plumbers -- you'll also spend part of the game in control of arch-nemesis Bowser.

Typically for the series, this turn of events comes about in wacky fashion, with Mario and Luigi finding themselves trapped inside Bowser (after he inhales them, à la Lord Jabu-Jabu), and able to affect the Koopa King's actions directly by the work they carry out within him. Excellently, Bowser (who is controlled with X and Y, as opposed to A and B) has a special attack that sees a small army of Goombas charge enemies.

These delightful details featured in the latest Nintendo Power, along with a basic synopsis of the story. Apparently, Mario and Luigi are searching for a cure to a disease that has swept through the Mushroom Kingdom, causing its denizens to balloon in size -- which explains those obese Toads.

Don't forget to check out the ten new screens we've added to our gallery, and make some time to coo at the stylish Japanese boxart!

Source: Nintendo Power details
Source: Screens

Gallery: Mario & Luigi 3

A brief history of Club Nintendo Awesomeness

by Chris Greenhough { Oct 7th 2008 at 11:18AM }

By now, you've no doubt heard: Nintendo is rolling out Club Nintendo in the U.S. by the end of 2008. Wahey! Yeah, we know that Japan (generally speaking) gets the most excellent items when compared to elsewhere, but listen here, bub: it's free stuff. We're not about to complain, and nor should you (if you want to feel sorry for somebody, Australia's Club Nintendo scheme has gone AWOL, and check out South Africa's piss-poor Stars Catalogue).

Anyway, as these are happy times for North Americans, we thought we'd reflect on some of the bestest Club Nintendo gifts and trinkets from both Japan and Europe to date -- some of which could end up in the U.S.! Hit the gray button to start DS Fanboy's whirlwind Club Nintendo Tour of Wonders!

NEXT >>

It's-a Mario World: Final Bosses

by Kenneth Caldwell { Sep 19th 2008 at 5:18PM }

The workweek is nearly over, which means it's time again to rehash the delightful, if discontinuous, mythology of the Mushroom Kingdom and its many colorful characters. Last week we had you grinding the gears of mini-boss semantics while ogling the usual gallery-candy, and today we want to continue in a similar vein. But let's up the ante, shall we? Who are the real bosses Mario has battled? No more of this egg-spitting mediocrity and three-hit nonsense. Half-assed baddies, step aside.

The road has been long for Mario, and each of his victories have been marked with the defeat of a substantial villain, restoring order to various kingdoms and rescuing their fair and easily kidnapped damsels. The extended Koopa Troop family has long been a threat to the 'stache, but who are these other punitive powers that precede the credit screens? Let's take a gander at final bosses in a new gallery rife with heavyweight evildoing.

It's-a Mario World is a weekly feature in which the ubiquity of Nintendo's flagship character is celebrated: We'll incessantly ruminate about mustache wax, debate the curious whereabouts of the princess and covet the luminous power stars strewn about the galaxy. Check back here every Friday to find out what strange and wonderful thing has got us tipping our caps.

It's-a Mario World: Mini-Boss Mayhem

by Kenneth Caldwell { Sep 12th 2008 at 8:05PM }

Last week we prompted some rich scholarly debate about Bowser's kids, as literally hundreds of comments (precise statistics unverified) argued back and forth as to whether the Koopaling characters are worth a damn. Today we return to pose another question: What are mini-bosses, exactly? Are they, like, regular Koopas after chomping down a few mini-mushrooms? Are they the less-popular bosses who have shrunken from our memories? What is so miniature about a mini-boss? Size? Reputation?

Well, neither, really. A mini-boss might be defined as an antagonist too powerful to be categorized as a standard henchman, yet too weak to provoke any controller-throwing frustration. Much like their more difficult counterparts--area and final bosses--mini-bosses are usually faced in an enclosed, 1-on-1 setting, albeit with considerably less fanfare. With some exceptions, no trumpets sound as they enter, and no medals are award when they are defeated. Mini-bosses occupy a liminal position in villainy as the halfway hurdles of an overarching challenge. Mario has encountered dozens of these types, a few of which have continued their careers as playable characters in sports and party titles. But do you recall the most famous ~~reindeer~~ mini-bosses of all? We hope so, because we've stuffed a piping hot new gallery full of 'em.

It's-a Mario World: Koopa Kids

by Kenneth Caldwell { Sep 5th 2008 at 12:47PM }

Lately we have found ourselves pondering the Koopa family lineage in all of its complexity. Bowser seems to have outdone himself in the procreation department, but no one seems to know who mothered his children. It seems likely that Princess Peach did at least some of the laboring, given the amount of time she has spent in captivity with Bowser, but Bowletta or Kammy Koopa could have just as easily nursed a Koopaling or two. Details of intimacy between King Koopa and females in the Mushroom Kingdom remain relatively obscured. Regardless, we know that at least 8 children were born to him and his anonymous bedmate(s), with dozens more probably carrying the Koopa genes.

Of course, the Koopa kids first appeared in the famed Super Mario Bros. 3. After two subsequent SNES games they vanished for ten years (excluding games like Hotel Mario, which no one really played anyway) until resurfacing in 2003's Game Boy Advance RPG, Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga, albeit without any dialogue or consequence to the main plot. We are left wondering how they dropped from the radar so abrupty, and why they have recently been condensed into the new Koopaling on the block, Bowser Jr. While such questions might be attributed to ~~marketing and sales~~ the phases of the moon, we can still pay homage to the classic Koopa kids in our new gallery.

It's-a Mario World: Underrated Foes

by Kenneth Caldwell { Aug 8th 2008 at 10:59AM }

In our last issue, we spent a lot of time rambling about the recurring foes you know and love (or hate) of Mario games. Popular baddies like Goombas, Piranhas and Koopas have carved out quite a place for themselves in the franchise, such that we've come to expect them anywhere we see Mario himself. Many of these regulars have become playable characters and allies in sports games and spin-offs, which calls into question their allegiances. Some have even started to complain about Bowser and his inadequate coordinating skills. Can you blame them?

Shadowed by these persistent characters, though, are all of the enemies who never went on to become superstars in the latest, greatest Mario titles. All of the foes Mario dashed by without breaking stride, arms out and cape rippling in the wind. The unappreciated foes quickly tail-flicked and never thought of again. Let's give a little limelight to these underrated and overlooked enemies in our newest gallery. Do you remember them? Of course you do...

It's-a Mario World is a weekly feature in which the ubiquity of Nintendo's flagship character is celebrated. We'll incessantly ruminate about mustache wax, debate the curious whereabouts of the princess and covet the luminous power stars strewn about the galaxy. Check back here every week to find out what strange and wonderful thing has got us tipping our caps. If you're looking for more on Mario, then check out the latest edition of Virtually Overlooked.

Bowser's minions vent their frustrations

by David Hinkle { Jul 30th 2008 at 10:30PM }

It isn't easy being one of Bowser's minions. Aside from the constant defeat at the hands of the Mario brothers, apparently there are some severe restrictions each class of baddie must adhere to in their roles as Bowser's employees. It's a tough life, we imagine, and a job we would certainly not enjoy. They must get amazing health benefits, because, in all honesty, why would you put up with it over and over again?

We've embedded the video past the break, due to some possibly-NSFW action. So, check it out, if you so please.

Continued →

CollegeHumor reveals Bowser minion coup d'etat

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 30th 2008 at 4:45PM }

It was bound to happen. One day, the minions of Bowser would stand up and ask, "Why won't you let us kill The Mario?" That day has come, my friends. The minions of Bowser have revolted against their king and are ready to take the issue of killing The Mario into their own hands, paws, mouths and assorted tools, once and for all. Witness CollegeHumor's astounding footage after the break. There will be blood!

Continued →

If you've been waiting for a Blooper hoodie, today's your lucky day

by Chris Greenhough { May 1st 2008 at 10:30PM }

We've seen enough clothing branded with 1-up mushrooms to last us several lifetimes (which is sort of ironic), but other items in lastactioncowboy's new line-up of Nintendo clothing feature characters that haven't been so drastically overused. We've not seen too many Blooper hoodies, for example, while Bob-omb underwear is a new one to us.

Admittedly, probably none of this stuff is as effortlessly cool or obscure as those Sega-themed t-shirts from The King of Games, but then it's also not as horrendously pricey -- just $40 for a hoodie, or $18 per piece of underwear.

Gallery: lastactioncowboy's Nintendo garments

[Via That Girl's Site]

Real Bowser stalks our nightmares

by Chris Greenhough { Apr 29th 2008 at 10:30PM }

Back in March, this realistic depiction of Mario made us hide beneath our beds, though that was nothing compared with the horrors of what followed.

Now, some twisted internet japester has reinvented Bowser in a similar fashion. Gone is the happy-go-lucky Bowser, the ultimately lovable, pantomime-esque villain with an addiction to kidnapping royalty. And in his place? Teeth. Scales. Leathery flesh. Claws that could rip through a plumber's torso like a warm knife through butter. Please, won't somebody think of the children us?

Creep apprehensively past the break for the full image.

Continued →

Wii Fanboy takes Super Smash Bros. Brawl Wi-Fi for a test drive

by David Hinkle { Mar 6th 2008 at 5:00PM }

When I ripped open the FedEx package today in a whirling dervish of nails and teeth, I found what I had been expecting: a copy of Smash Bros. Brawl. Nintendo, the wonderful and kind souls they are, decided this crummy little blog was good enough to get a copy of the game along with the press. A single tear poured down my cheek, kind of like that recycling commercial. It was a magical moment.

I then realized I had to work today and couldn't get my game on. As the day progressed and I tapped away at my keyboard, putting up news items and other stories that all 12 of you readers care about, the game sat there in front of my monitor, mocking me. It was almost like some kind of evil temptation, as I thought about just ducking away from my responsibilities to play. I then realized that it is my responsibility to play! I've got to review the damn thing, don't I?

And when I heard that Joystiq's own Kyle Orland got a copy of the game too, I decided a few mutliplayer matches were in order. And in the interest of those who don't want anything spoiled for them, stop reading here. The rest of you can head past the break where the real action is.

Gallery: Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Continued →

What would Super Mario Bros. look like on the Sega Genesis?

by David Hinkle { Feb 28th 2008 at 12:00PM }

We've been loving these fake Super Mario videos that have become all the rage with the kids on the net. It's like someone was reading our diary, reaching into our brain and sifting through the garbled mess of fanboyish dreams that we think about on a daily basis. It may be kind of violating to have someone so accurately recreate our inner-most desires, but it's a small price to pay for the minutes of joy we got out of the video above.

See also:

Take a bath with Mario

by Chris Greenhough { Feb 27th 2008 at 6:00PM }

With our two ~~cruel, merciless~~ lovely, thoughtful, and charismatic leads ~~cracking the whip~~ gently encouraging us to blog, we barely find time nowadays to recline in a long, hot bath. Next time an opportunity arises, however, we plan to share our tub with one of these Super Mario Brothers Bath Bombs.

Available at ThinkGeek for $5.99, these release a yellowish, fragrant foam into your bath, before dissolving to leave you with a cute Mario, Luigi, Fire Mario, Bowser Jr., Goomba, or Power Mushroom figurine. DS Fanboy: your one-stop source for Nintendo-themed toiletries.

[Via Hawty McBloggy]

Dojo update: More on Bowser and Meteor Smashes

by Chris Greenhough { Feb 21st 2008 at 11:15AM }

We're lifting our spoiler barrier for today's dojo update, simply because there's a complete lack of stuff to spoil. Bowser's special moves -- the Flying Slam and the Bowser Bomb -- have long been available on his dojo character profile.

The former replaces Koopa Klaw from Melee, and sees Bowser grab his opponents (either on the ground or in mid-air) and slam them back down to earth, providing the victim doesn't reverse the move and clamber on top of Bowser (damage will play a part in how strong any resistance is). The Bowser Bomb, meanwhile, is much the same as it was in Melee.

Elsewhere, Sakurai discusses Meteor Smashes, maneuvers that let you spike already stricken opponents, sometimes with devastating effect.

Read: Bowser: Special Moves
Read: Meteor Smash