Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

[Zool]

Is it a an rpg? Well it's reviewed here and it got the second highest score, level with Zelda PH, so it's an rpg.

I bought it on launch day. I had to go to four shops before I found a copy.  Asda (walmart) Tesco (k-mart equivalent), The Game (video game store) and The Gamestation (another games store). The Gamestation had just 3 copies. None of these outlets had even one poster advertising the game, let alone any type of display.

It seems Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story has been dumped it favour of Professor Layton and Scribblenauts. Even Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days has got a lot of shelf space.

I don't know what it's like in the US but here it seems bad for Mario. Or is it that Mario and rpg's don't make a good combination?

[Eusis]

Just as a quick response: Yes, of course it's an RPG, it's even sold as Mario & Luigi RPG 3 in Japan, likely Scribblenauts and Professor Layton are just that popular and interesting right now, and if Mario and RPGs weren't a good combination they wouldn't have made 7 Mario RPGs thus far. You can further prove that with Metacritic if you need the validation, though this is considered the best of the M&L games by many.

[Gen Eric Gui]

Yeah, this game is awesome.  Even Prof. Layton can't hold a candle to it, and that's saying something.  It's just a popularity thing, games like Scribblenauts and Prof. Layton more easily appeal to the coveted "casual" gamer market, so they get the attention.  Mario & Luigi is actually a pretty hardcore-focused game, despite it's "kiddy" exterior.

[Sagacious-T]

I haven't played it, but I've heard nothing but good things. It seems to put a really good spin on the Mario RPG handheld series that has gotten a bit stale for some people.

[sandiny0ursh0es]

Finally starting this game up! I picked it up last week during the Toys R Us sale (and 5 other games).

Anyway, surprised to see barely any input on this game despite the great reviews. It's currently my fav RPG series nowadays...

[mizuki_no_beatdown]

I always feel kinda embarassed to admit this, but I've never really played any Mario game. I messed around with Mario 64 a bit, but never got very far.

  What I'm wondering is, do I have to have played one of the main series' games to enjoy a Mario RPG or are they pretty much their own thing? I like the looks of this one, and I've been looking for a new DS game.

[Gen Eric Gui]

Um...no?  You won't know who Fawful is if you didn't play Superstar Saga, but Mario games aren't really about the story.  As long as you know who Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser are you're prettymuch set.

You should play other Mario games anyway though, they're pretty much all amazingly fun.

[Eusis]

Fawful's previous appearance doesn't even seem to matter much, it's more like they used him because he was a funny, memorable villain and not because of what history he has with the first game (and to a very limited extent the second). In that regard you won't have to worry either, unless you just want to see his rise from lackey to main villain or whatever.

[mizuki_no_beatdown]

So, Superstar Saga is a good start, but not necessary. Is that one a GBA title? Not that it matters, I have a DS Lite. Anyway, thanks!

[Sagacious-T]

I always feel kinda embarassed to admit this, but I've never really played any Mario game. I messed around with Mario 64 a bit, but never got very far.

  What I'm wondering is, do I have to have played one of the main series' games to enjoy a Mario RPG or are they pretty much their own thing? I like the looks of this one, and I've been looking for a new DS game.

Geez what's wrong with you girl! Go start from the NES and work your way up :P

[mizuki_no_beatdown]

Like I said, it's embarassing! Even my non-gamer friends have played Mario. Really, though, the first Nintendo system I owned was a GBA. It introduced me to Zelda with LttP, but I never got around to Mario. I'll hafta get started on em.

 So, anyway, I didn't know there've been Mario RPGs since the SNES. That's crazy. I've ordered Superstar Saga & Inside Story from Amazon, and my friend loaned me their SNES copy of Super Mario World. I'm set! 

[Lard]

Super Mario Bros. 2 is my favourite.

[Aeolus]

SMW was my favorite but I also have soft spots for B3, W2, L2, and G1.