The Finer Details: Music in Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story

One of the best things about Bowser’s Inside Story is the interplay between the duo of Mario & Luigi and Bowser. The two inside Bowser influence the outside world and, conversely, Bowser can influence his internal world. The two worlds are typically connected by Bowser standing somewhere, inhaling something or mini-games, like a music-timing based ping pong game (reminiscent of Rhythm Heaven) that charges Bowser’s muscles. But what really gels it together is the music. When you switch between the top screen (containing Bowser) and the bottom screen (containing Mario & Luigi) the music keeps the same melody but changes the instrumentation.

This sample, from the music in a dungeon, starts off with the music while being inside Bowser. It has a deep and more muffled tone, with a more constant bass rumbling. At thirty-seconds in, I change control to Bowser—he takes a few steps and the music changes. Now it sounds airy and open without the rumbling sounds.

Each arrangement of the song melds with the respective atmospheres: being inside of Bowser or being outside of Bowser; the low, resonant arrangement or the normal, airy one. This different take on the same music really helps to drive home this idea of not only controlling Bowser externally but also internally.

It may not be always as consistently themed, as this example of the music from the over world shows, but switching back and forth is so seamless. It becomes a little meta-game of making your own mixes that, like the rest of the game, is quite fun.


Ben