Didn't want to get this but the reviews are all AAA and glowing.
Mario and Luigi 3 NL review "Reminds you why you love playing video games in the first place and is easily one of the best DS releases to date" 
Kotaku review Mario and Luigi 3 "Inside Story may be the best entry yet in the portable role-playing game series."
"Mario & Luigi is quite simply the best Mario RPG to date -- and I say this as an ardent fan of Paper Mario"
Mario and Luigi 3 NL review "Reminds you why you love playing video games in the first place and is easily one of the best DS releases to date" Kotaku review Mario and Luigi 3 "Inside Story may be the best entry yet in the portable role-playing game series."
I knew it would be a tough week for portable gamers with two great games to pick up.
ASK_Story said:But what makes this game so great is the Mario & Luigi portions of the game. Mario & Luigi's part is played like the classic Super Mario Bros. which is all side-scrolling platforming. There are secrets, pipes, blocks, etc. all inside Bowser's body. And the map layout of Bowser's body is like a Metroidvania game, which makes things like a RPG map.
What?
This I did not know. Purchase confirmed.
Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday this will be mine.
Someone find videos quick!
EDIT:
IGN vids
GG i think it's not quite right to say that the sections inside bowser are like Mario platformers. while it's true that they are in 2D the movement is still very slow and though there aren't any actual hazards. the enemies are still handled in RPG fashion. so by all means get it because it's a top class game but don't get it expecting anything like a mario platformer or you'll be very disappointed. the sections inside bowser are perhaps my least favourite bits because of how they look. it reminds me of how all the levels in trauma centre look samey because they are all inside the body.
oh and the controls are a lot less convoluted than partners in time (even though i didn't really have a problem with that game either). the only weird thing is having to use x & y when controlling bowser rather than a & b whilst playing as mario and luigi. but you never have to do it all at once so you shouldn't have any trouble with that gg. so far the battles are very easy and i never came close to dying
the dialogue is extremely well written and there are hilarious fawful bits which i won't spoil by giving away
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Listen to Wu-Tang and watch Kung-Fu
Purchase UNCONFIRMED
Aw man. So its not even like Super Paper mario?
I saw the video you are 2-d you go to jump on something and you go into the battle screen. Damnit.
gamingeek said:Purchase UNCONFIRMED
Aw man. So its not even like Super Paper mario?
I saw the video you are 2-d you go to jump on something and you go into the battle screen. Damnit.
Well, it's still a must-buy and I think Nintendo/Alpha Dream did a great job in mixing both classic Super Mario and M&L RPG styles together.
It's also cool because Bowser and Mario/Luigi helps each other out.
I think the game is still a confirmed purchase, right? 
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Now Playing: Golden Sun Dark Dawn, God of War Ghost of Sparta, and DKC Returns
I'm waitint as well. Definitely getting it, but I'm gonna wait till LKS and Metroid are done.
ASK_Story said:gamingeek said:Purchase UNCONFIRMED
Aw man. So its not even like Super Paper mario?
I saw the video you are 2-d you go to jump on something and you go into the battle screen. Damnit.
Well, it's still a must-buy and I think Nintendo/Alpha Dream did a great job in mixing both classic Super Mario and M&L RPG styles together.
It's also cool because Bowser and Mario/Luigi helps each other out.
I think the game is still a confirmed purchase, right?
It's not.
Although its reviews are off the chart so at some point I may get it. I'm getting a low franchise tolerance at the moment. I'm not even interested in ODST and I bought the other 3 games like a rabbid dog. Same for POP and Splinter cell etc.
Nintendo power
Pros
-“the best RPG-style Mario adventure ever made”
-“it’s very likely that we’re looking at the 2009 Game of the Year for the Nintendo DS system”
-“one of the most interactive role-playing games available”
-unique minigames
-battle system stays fun and fresh
-plenty of engrossing stat management, exploration and storytelling
-keeps the player engaged
-compelling puzzle solving
-fantastic dialogue
Cons
-the mazelike structure of the world can be a little confusing to navigate especially if you were to try and come back to the game after having not played it for a while.
9.5
The battle system is so creative in this game, it's fun instead of being tedious like Partners in Time.
The 1up editor who reviewed this said that he'd never thought a Mario & Luigi game could top Paper Mario or Super Mario RPG. He said he was proven wrong with Bowser's Inside Story. That's how good it is!
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Now Playing: Golden Sun Dark Dawn, God of War Ghost of Sparta, and DKC Returns
Sounds like fun. If it was out middle of next year I would buy. I'm in a Boom Blox like situation here, I feel like I'm not ready for the next one yet.
BTW, add Boom Blox to your wii list ASK. And HOTD Overkill.
gamingeek said:Sounds like fun. If it was out middle of next year I would buy. I'm in a Boom Blox like situation here, I feel like I'm not ready for the next one yet.
BTW, add Boom Blox to your wii list ASK. And HOTD Overkill.
my problem with mario RPGs is the exact opposite. having played super mario RPG on the VC earlier this year (the only one i hadn't played before) it frightens me to think how long i may have to wait after i finish bowser's inside story for a new mario & luigi or a new paper mario.
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Listen to Wu-Tang and watch Kung-Fu
bugsonglass said:gamingeek said:Sounds like fun. If it was out middle of next year I would buy. I'm in a Boom Blox like situation here, I feel like I'm not ready for the next one yet.
BTW, add Boom Blox to your wii list ASK. And HOTD Overkill.
my problem with mario RPGs is the exact opposite. having played super mario RPG on the VC earlier this year (the only one i hadn't played before) it frightens me to think how long i may have to wait after i finish bowser's inside story for a new mario & luigi or a new paper mario.
I am playing MRPG now so I feel the same way.
gamingeek said:My fear is that the next console Paper mario will be like Super Paper mario less like Thousand Year door.
i would hate that. i really hope they do paper mario 3 or whatever subtitle they choose to give it
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Listen to Wu-Tang and watch Kung-Fu
If you love everything Mario, you'll absolutely love this game! It's very apparent that the developers who made this game made it because they love the material. It has everything you'd want in a Mario adventure. With platforming gameplay like Super Mario mixed with RPG elements: this is the best Mario & Luigi game to date!
Basically, you control Mario & Luigi on the bottom screen and Bowser on the top. Like past Mario & Luigi games, you use each button for the characters. But this time, Bowser is controlled with the X & Y buttons.
Playing Bowser is like playing the past Mario & Luigi games where you control him from a top down view. But what makes this game so great is the Mario & Luigi portions of the game. Mario & Luigi's part is played like the classic Super Mario Bros. which is all side-scrolling platforming. There are secrets, pipes, blocks, etc. all inside Bowser's body. And the map layout of Bowser's body is like a Metroidvania game, which makes things like a RPG map.
I won't give away any story but that's basically the gameplay. And all the battles play out like past M&L games of course, with button-timed attacks, shells, mushrooms for healing, etc.
So far, I only played the first few hours and it's a blast! The developers really fine-tuned everything. The controls feel smooth and the battles are so polished that it's fun to play unlike Partners in Time, where it was a bit tedious. Timing is a lot easier this time and just as clever.
And finally, the game is paced extremely well. There is never a boring moment.
That's it for my impressions.
Here are the reviews so far:
- IGN: 9.5
- 1up: A-
- Nintendo Power: 9.5
- Gamespy: 4.5/5
- Game Daily: 10/10
- Nintendo Life: 10/10
- Gamepro: 9/10
Forget Scribblenauts (sorry guys for saying that) but Mario & Luigi RPG 3 is the best handheld game of the year!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now Playing: Golden Sun Dark Dawn, God of War Ghost of Sparta, and DKC Returns