[DS] Mario and Luigi 3: No baby abuse this time (maybe)!

Originally Posted by 1up Guy

Nintendo presented a brief video demo of the game at today's Media Summit 2008 event to give fans a taste of what's in store for the next chapter in the series (tentatively entitled Mario & Luigi 3). For the most part, the third entry doesn't seem to stray far afield from the past two games -- it retains the rounded, cartoonish style that's been a series mainstay since Superstar Saga on GBA. As usual, both of the Mario Bros. are in action together, although the questionable dual-team splitscreen design of 2005 DS release Partners in Time appears to have been abandoned in favor of a more old-fashioned team-up. As in Super Mario RPG, the Mario Bros. look to be joining forces with their longtime nemesis Bowser.

"Joining forces" might be too generous a description, though. Based on the footage that's been shown of the game so far, Bowser doesn't look to be playing second fiddle but rather embarking on his own adventure (shades of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door .) He hasn't actually been shown in battle with the Bros., but instead is seen stomping about on his own (and he goes toe-to-toe with Mario in combat at least once). Rather than fight in tandem, he appears to command his loyal legions: One sequence showed him summoning a squad of Goombas to attack a foe -- and later, he apparently swallows Mario, Luigi, and the contents of Princess Peach's castle.

Mario & Luigi 3 is slated for 2009; by then, hopefully, it will have acquired an actual title...

Linky linky.



Toad heads off to fat camp.


Everyone's favorite incomprehensible villain now has his own minions bearing his likeness!

Preview Footage

(Disable the quote boxes in the YouTube video if you can. )

How exciting! I was slightly underwhelmed by the last Mario and Luigi adventure, but this seems to play more like the first Mario and Luigi. Hooray!

There also appears to be gameplay footage featuring Bowser. I haven't been able to play as Bowser in an RPG since, well, the last one (okay, Super Paper Mario was more of a platformer than an RPG). I look forward to Bowser's witty dialogue about how he's never able to defeat those pesky plumbers!

Jam it back in, in the dark.