Mario and Luigi Bowser's Inside Story and Bowser Junior's Journey Review
Well, the remake of Mario and Luigi Bowser's Inside Story is released and still no remake of Partners in Time? Bullshit! Ah, well. Maybe later down the line if they can figure out what to do with such a dark game. Anyways, I liked the original Bowser's Inside Story for the DS, and it pretty much improved the visuals and gameplay here. For one thing, we actually have some new themes for Fawful and the Dark Star. Pretty cool.
If I were to review the original and this, it will be pretty much the same thing. So, instead, I'm going to review a side story along with this game. Bowser Jr's Journey. So, let's explore around the Mushroom Kingdom and find out what's really going on behind the scenes. Let's-a-go!
STORY
We all know the original story of Bowser's Inside Story, Fawful makes a comeback and conquers both Bowser and Peach's castles. From there, he searches for the Dark Star so he could harness it's power and rule the world. But what did happen really? Where did the Blorbs come from? Who made the virus? And where did Fawful find the Vacuum Shroom and the materials to do this?
Before the game begins, we go inside Bowser's Castle where the minions are infected with the Blorbs as well! Wait, what the hell? Them too? Not just the Toads? Everything's in a panic when Kamek informs Bowser that Peach and the others are having a conference about the Blorb situation, not inviting Bowser because, uh, enemies. But Bowser doesn't care and storms the castle, starting the game proper.
Meanwhile, Bowser Jr and the rest of the Koopalings are wondering how to reverse this unknown disease when they hear three mysterious voices. Enter three humanoid creatues. Dieter is the slim one garbed in yellow, Beef who is the pudgy red muscle, and Kaley who is some sort of bird creature.
They introduce themselves as the Best Fitness Friends, and have developed a cure for the Blorbs using Skeletone. However, they only had enough for a demonstration, Junior and the others have to find the ingredients and materials for the cure. So Junior, Kamek and the Koopalings set off, not realizing that it was a setup. Turns out, Fawful hired them to take over Bowser's castle while he's busy with Peach's.

They're actually known as the Brute Force Federation, a group of mercenaries and pharmaceutical experts who can create all manners of diseases and drugs. Junior in the beginning starts off very badly, disrespecting and not treating the minions and the Koopalings with the respect they deserve. It's begun to get so bad that they separate to find out the cure themselves, leaving Junior with just Kamek and Morton.
They journey through Bumpsy Plains and encounter Beef and Kayley who then infect Morton after he protects Junior from them. This special drug has the power to boost enemies stats and become hypnotized to be loyal to the Brute Force Federation. Junior and Kamek are sent flying by a strong attack and land in Plack Beach.
Kamek goes to search for food while Junior stays behind and brings out a drumstick that Morton gave him, he then thinks of all the mean things he's done and said to the Koopalings and minions and realized they were right. Bowser was a brute, yes. But he treated his minions like actual people. Junior just treated them as tools and he was ashamed of himself.
And if his father found out, he would be even more disappointed, finally realizing this, Junior cries as he eats the drumstick Morton gave him. Awww... He's slowly growing up. From there, Junior's attitude has changed as he's slowly treating Kamek and the others better. They encounter Iggy who gained amnesia when it turns out, that some of the Koopalings encountered Dieter and the other two and lost.
So Junior and Kamek fight Iggy so he could regain his memories, he does and joins back up once he see's Junior has changed. They then make it to Dimble Wood and encounter Kayley and Beef again. Kayley mocks Junior that the castle is they're and with the new drug, they can control anyone. She orders Beef to kill Junior and the other two when suddenly, it's Ludwig!
Turns out, Ludwig was on recon and decided to find out what Dieter, Kayley and Beef were up to. He fooled the real Beef into think he was dead and then knocked him out. Putting him deep in the basement in the meantime. Disguised, he knew all of their secrets and their real motive. They hold no loyalty to Fawful at all and want to conquer the world themselves.
Kayley thinks Ludwig's bluffing when he also reveals a secret to Kayley. Without Beef and Dieter, she's powerless and clueless. Plus, her youthful and innocent appearance is thanks to the drugs she's used as well. Basically making her a drug addict. her cute facade is broken as she reveals as the drug addicted sociopath she is.
They fight and defeat her, causing the bird creature to flee as Ludwig explains to Junior, Kamek and Iggy about why he left. Junior forgives him and orders to him to be close at all times. Translation: "Never leave us again, we missed you." Ludwig remarks on how Junior's grown and joins back up.
From there, they recruit Larry and Lemmy after almost being crushed by the struggle when Bowser went giant against the activated Tower of Yik. Realizing that Bowser is fine, they continue their own quest as they leave the Koopa King to his own quest. They also recruit Wendy O'Koopa and explains that Roy went to storm the castle alone, like the hotheaded meathead he is.
But before that, they encounter the hypnotized Morton and thanks to a lengthy and tearjerking battle, they were victorious and Morton is freed. Junior apologizes to everyone and Morton and wonders why he out of all the Koopalings, stuck around. Morton says he had to protect him and basically be his bodyguard. That, and he wanted Junior to mature and realize that he can't do things alone.
They then meet Roy who was heavily injured after battling the Brute Force Federation. After being healed and told Junior's changed, Roy remains unconvinced and demands some proof. So a one on one battle ensues with Junior being victorious. On one hand, Roy's pissed he lost to Bowser's son, but on the other, he's seen the change and sudden maturity and responsibility from the small Koopa.
Once they arrive inside the castle, Dieter asks Junior a question. Are Bowser and the rest of the Koopa Kingdom evil? They kidnapped Peach constantly and oppose the Mario Bros. Junior's confused and asks the others who either don't have the answer or let Junior decided for himself.
In the end, he just wants to be by his father's side and make him proud. Does that make them a villain in other people's eyes? Maybe. But they're just doing what they have to do, same as Mario and Luigi. Seeing this as a waste of time, the groups fight with the trio defeated. Unfortunately for Ludwig, they didn't reveal EVERYTHING about their plans. They had a plan X.
That plan X is using their own drugs and fuse into a horrible creature. The final battle begins, the same as Bowser is fighting Dark Bowser and the Dark Star and Fawful. After a long fight and making shadow clones of the Koopalings, the Best Fitness Friends are destroyed, never to be seen again.
At that time, they retrieve the Skeletone they had hidden and at the same time, Bowser kills Dark Bowser for good. Peace reigns in the two kingdoms as they celebrate. With Fawful and the Brute Force Federation gone, they can rebuild from the damage they caused and cure the Blorbed minions.
Junior visits his father after the ending battle with Mario and Luigi. He tells him about his journey and that he's grown up a little. But he leaves realizing that his father didn't hear. But Bowser wakes up after he heard his son and them goes back to sleep to recover. 
Time has passed and Junior gives Bowser the Skeletone to cure whatever Bowser had. However... he ingested too much and was reduced as Dry Bowser. It then ends as Bowser shouts after Junior with the Koopa Prince running away.
And that's Bowser Junior's Journey! This is a pretty good story and a new addition to fill in the blanks. I liked it!
GAMEPLAY
Gameplay is the same as the last remake. In Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga and Bowser's Minions, you watch as the armies fight each other as you give commands and upgrades. The same thing happens in Junior's Journey. But they've improved on some mechanics. Now, you have co-captain commands. Whoever you make co-captain will have different strategies and methods.
Also, certain positions raise stats of your troops. If you make a sword formation, it raises attack. If you make a ghost shape, it raises evasion and so forth.
SOUNDS
The sounds are very nice and decent. No annoyances here.
MUSIC
Yoko Shimomura once again revisits the soundtrack and remasters it while creating new ones. She gave Dark Fawful a dark version of Cackletta's theme, and the Dark Star his own battle theme. Bowser Junior has his own themes and battles, fitting into the sillyness bit also dark setting with the Brute Force Federation. Kudos to her! Thumbs up.
FINAL THOUGHTS AND SCORE
Overall, I liked this remake as it does expand more on the story. Plus, Junior and the Koopalings get some development. I liked that. They really needed it too and it shows how loyal they are to Bowser and that Junior can become a good ruler in the future.
My final score is...
10/10
Yes, yes. I'm being too generous. But it's so good! Yes, there are some problems just like in the original, with the giant segments and whatnot. But I focused more on the side story and it holds up. Much better than Bowser's Minions anyways. Newcomers will enjoy this experience.
And with that, I am done. See you next time!