One day... A blimp flies over the Mushroom Kingdom towards Peach's Castle. The blimp lowers to reveal that Broggy is aboard. He delivers an invitation to Pi'illo Island in style through the top tower of the castle. It reads, "-To Fair Princess Peach and Her Subjects- An island of luxury awaits: Pi'illo Island! Our staff wishes to wait on you! Come! Take a vacation with us! -From the Pi'illo Island Proprietor" Peach, Toadsworth, and some Toads take up the invitation, not knowing what awaits them there. Mario jumps aboard the blimp, but Luigi jumps as the gangplank retreats and falls, but manages to jump up and climb aboard.
While traveling, Toadsworth mentions he's never heard of Pi'illo Island and feels uneasy about the trip. Broggy gets upset at the idea that they might just return home. On his back, a screen appears. The man onscreen is the proprietor of Pi'illo Island, Dr. Snoozemore. He's researching the science of sleep. On Pi'illo Island is a special power that makes one sleep soundly. He asks that they enjoy their trip and relax. He mentions another passenger aboard who is very interesting. Once he logs off, something purple lands on deck. Purple gas spews from it. From the gas appear two hands, which knock everybody overboard, except Peach, Toadsworth, and Mario. The gas takes the shape of a caped figure. A battle starts.
Toadsworth provides battle instruction. The enemy will split up into several bats and attack Mario. Some will pass by or over him, but jump over the ones headed straight for him. All you need are a couple of solid jump attacks to finish the enemy. The enemy rises up and bursts the dirigible's balloon and it plummets. Broggy appears with Dr. Snoozemore onscreen to say that the next stop is Pi'illo Island. They crash into the blimp port.
Luigi flails about on deck once they land, then runs around, then off the ship. Everyone else is there. A Toad asks if Luigi was dreaming again. Soon, block people appear and greet them. The first stop on the tour is Pi'illo Castle. Toadsworth is upset that Dr. Snoozemore isn't there to greet them personally on arrival. A block person says he's away on a business errand, spreading word about the island to boost tourism. It will be a short while before he returns and can greet them in person. Another block person provides basic movement instruction: Circle Pad to move, (A) to jump, talk to people, and read signs. There is a Save Button in the upper right corner of the Touch Screen. The Toads say to go on ahead and let them wake Luigi up. Just east of the blimp port, a crowd is gathered and cheers Mario on. They welcome him and say the castle is just ahead. One block person explains that there are both Save Blocks to use, as well as the Save Button mentioned previously.
Ahead, Mario catches up with Peach, while a block person fires up the crowd mentioning visiting the castle and coins. It is Broque Monsieur, the MC and tour guide. He introduces the 612th Pi'illo Island Welcome Quiz. He welcomes Peach and her travel companions. He thinks he and Mario may have met before. The quiz rewards correct answers with coins, but there is no penalty for an incorrect answer. The first part is the Check-X quiz. If the answer to the question is true, talk to the Brock staff standing on the green checkmark on the floor. If it is false, talk to the Brock on the red X on the floor. The first question is "This island is named Pi'illo Island." True
Question 2: "Dr. Sneezemore is the island's leader." False
Each correct answer will get you 5 coins. After the brief quiz, the gates to the castle open.
Ahead are some Toads and some item blocks. Previously on the island was a prosperous kingdom led by the Zeekeeper guardian, the kingdom's deity. Broque Monsieur tells Mario to continue on to the castle. There are more item blocks ahead, just west of the castle. Mario catches up with the princess just ahead. Broque Monsieur is there, and glowing purple, with his upside-down angry face. He's impressed they came so far. He says they will be served as dinner to hungry monsters. Inside the cage behind him are two rock creatures. Mario jumps to protect Peach and the rock monsters jump on Broque Monsieur's head. They knock him away and another battle starts.
Toadsworth is here to help. He explains damage done and how to execute Excellent jump attacks. He also explains how to dodge attacks. The Gromba will throw a rock at Mario. The Gromba will take quite a few hits. After the battle, the experience gained makes a flag rise up a flagpole.
Afterwards, Peach and Toadsworth wonder what's going on. They and the Toads will stay behind while Mario checks things out ahead. To the east is Broque Monsieur with another cage. Things didn't go well initially, so he is angrier and has prepared something else. It's another Gromba, which he says is stronger and ravenous. When ordered to attack, the Gromba promptly falls asleep. Toadsworth says to stomp the Gromba to get the first strike.
In this battle, there are two Grombas. They will roll into you, allowing Toadsworth to explain counterattacks. After defeating an enemy, a present may appear with an item won in battle. After the battle, Broque Monsieur flips his head, saying mistakes were made, but it was quite a spectacle. Peach and company appear, asking if it was an act. Broque Monsieur says it was one of the events planned for their arrival. Broque Monsieur continues on. Peach thanks Mario for his help, but wonders what happened to Luigi. One of the Toads that was keeping an eye on him says he's still sleeping. He says they should go on ahead.
Ahead is another crowd to guide Mario to the southeast. The castle is ahead and Peach is waiting. Luigi runs up to the entrance to the castle. He took part in the Welcome Quiz and won some coins. In total, they won 50. Broque Monsieur offers another game to line the coffers. This game is Coin-Up Challenge. A pole drops down and Mario and Luigi step on the platforms. The bros must alternate hitting the blocks above them to raise the platform. You have 25 seconds to get as high as you can to increase the coin multiplier. It's a bit more difficult to reach the top than it sounds. Reaching the top multiplies the coins by three and coins rain down. As a prize for reaching the top, they get a 1-up Deluxe. They also get a Mushroom as a participation prize. The games are done and they enter the castle.
Starlow is in the castle already. She's representing the Star Sprites once again, as they received an invitation. She's happy to see everyone, but says Luigi looks a little ragged. Broque Monsieur says Luigi should heal with a Mushroom. [Start] opens the menu screen. The menu responds to touch. Broque Monsieur says they should check out the castle. Luigi joins up with Mario. There are people from all over here, including the Beanbean Kingdom. Yoshi is over by the gift shop. Due west is the staff break room with some item blocks. Once you're done checking things out, talk to Broque Monsieur. He says they've prepared a special event for Peach and her companions ahead.
The door opens and they walk into another room. The lights dim and Dr. Snoozemore appears on a projection screen. He is going to tell them of the island's lore. It was the Pi'illo Kingdom, home of the Pi'illo folk. It suddenly fell over a short time and disappeared. What happened to it is a mystery they're still trying to solve. Another mystery sleeps deep within Pi'illo Castle, perhaps a treasure hidden there since the time of the kingdom's existence. Deeper passages have been discovered. Peach is fascinated by this idea. She steps on the platform and the screen retracts, revealing rails into a deeper part of the castle. Toadsworth goes up and tells her to get off the platform, but its rockets appear and shuttle them off into the distance, leaving everyone else behind. Broque Monsieur says there's an ancient hidden area there. The platform was recently installed for exploring and is pressure-activated. He says whatever's back there protects the treasure. The platform returns and Starlow tells the bros to go after them.
Over the track are coins for Mario and Luigi to collect. Just jump when the coins approach. At the end of the line, the platform immediately stops and throws the bros on the wall. It's a little dark here, so torches are lit. A purple flame in a torch says, "Again they come... Poor fools... Look upon the ghost that haunts this castle... My name, whispered in horror, is Smoldergeist. Long have I wandered these dark passages... And long have I guarded these hidden ways... None may pass through to what lies within... You must suffer the fate of all intruders! Those who trespass meet... THIS!"
A Gromba appears when the torch flame returns to normal. A battle starts and Starlow appears so she can teach the bros about battling as a team. She's not worried about Mario, but has her doubts about Luigi. He can never catch a break. Mario uses the (A) button and Luigi uses (B). There are three Grombas here. Starlow tells the bros how the enemies signal their target. She also mentions using items in battle and fleeing. After the battle, the strange flame appears, saying this is not over and their doom awaits deeper within. It also says none may approach the revered one. The gate drops, revealing another passage. Despite saying the place is sketchy and she doesn't like it, Starlow says they should go deeper into the castle.
Up ahead, the purple flame appears, saying it would not let the bros pass so easily. The bros must suffer its ruthless challenge, the Test of Jumping. The first part is to jump up some stairs. Go up the stairs to reach the next torch, where small praise is due. Next, they have to jump across gaps. Have both bros jump at the same time. On the other side, the flame says to not expect things to get easier. The true test begins. There is a long item block ahead. Hit it and memorize the order of the blocks that appear above it. The flame says this will be their doom. Hit the blocks with the correct bro in the order of bottom to top. Just hit the lowest block with the correct bro each time. The blocks will not disappear until the challenge is complete. The flame says it failed again, after losing to someone in pink. He thinks the test stinks.
Keep going on to the next challenge. There are Grombas on the floor. Battle them for the experience, if you like. This challenge requires you to reach the gate at the end, then hit the orange ! Block. Six purple blocks will appear and the flame wants the bros to find the odd one out. The picture on the correct block will spin in the opposite direction of the others. Hit the correct one to lower the gate. The challenge is not yet over. Ahead are severeal Grombas that form a rotating X. The exit is in the lower left corner. You can either jump over the line, or battle them. Defeating an enemy in one of the lines will make that line disappear. Once all the lines are gone, a Gromba will drop in and follow the bros. Once you go to the lower left corner, there's another ! Block. Three blocks will appear and one will flash. It will stop flashing and the blocks will shuffle. Hit the correct one. The flame says the next room will bring true fear. Before the bros can leave, they hear Peach scream and call for help. Heal and save.
In the next room, Peach and Toadsworth are circled by four purple flames. The bros approach and the flames disappear. Peach and Toadsworth are thankful for the rescue. Starlow mentions the place looks mysterious. Ahead is an alter with something sparkling on it. Mario picks up the rectangular rock-looking thing. From it comes two round button-looking things. Starlow says those are badges. These badges will restore 30% of the bros' HP. She'll teach the bros about badges in their next battle, but doesn't know what the rectangular thing is. She thinks it looks a little like a pillow. Peach thinks it might be the treasure. They suggest finding an exit. Once the bros walk down the stairs, the floor shakes. The Zeekeeper statue at the altar starts moving, asking who touched things without his permission. He refers to the pillow-like rock as the revered one and no one may touch it. The purple flames surround the bros and attack.
Starlow appears to teach about the badges. The meter is almost full. The bros must attack successfully to fill the meter. Starlow summons a gust of wind to extinguish the flames so the bros can attack. Attack the Smoldergeist. The meter will fill and a button will appear on the Touch Screen. Each time the meter fills, the effects of the badge will be stored in a button, up to two, to be used at the bros' discretion. The bros can use the badges' effects only when command blocks are available. To change badges in battle, touch the button in the lower left corner, then use [R] and [L] to change the badges. The button with the ribbon is to tell the bros their progress on Expert Challenges. These challenges will give the bros rare gear once enough are completed. After a while, the Smoldergeist will reignite and attack. Some will send a ring of flames out above or at the bros. Some will throw fireballs at the bros. Either stomp them (and take damage) or dodge all their attacks to extinguish the flames. Once extinguished, they'll rock back and forth into the bros until the bros counterattack.
Once Smoldergeist is defeated, the Zeekeeper statue says it failed. A bridge will form to the south. Peach and Toadsworth as the bros to scout ahead. There's a Brock in the next room saying that the path ahead is impassible and wonder how the bros got through. Mario shows him the special rock and he thinks it might be the treasure. He says to go to the southeast to the collection room, where it can be displayed. Ahead is a Save Block. To the east is the collection room, filled with many artifacts. Broque Monsieur is there, congratulating the bros on retrieving the treasure. Everything the room dates back to the period of the Pi'illo Kingdom. Only VIPs are allowed in this room. In the center of the room is a large bed. Luigi puts the rock on the bed as a pillow and lies down. Broque Monsieur thinks the rock may be the pillow the prince was using. Luigi falls asleep instantly. Broque Monsieur lets Mario check out the collection room. The bed Luigi's napping on belonged to the prince. When you're done checking things out, try to go south. A couple of Toads appear, then Peach and Toadsworth enter the room. Peach thinks something's wrong with Luigi. Suddenly, a portal appears above Luigi's head. Toadsworth thinks it may be a vision of Luigi's dreams. Broque Monsieur says that people could enter others' dreams during the era of the Pi'illo Kingdom. Peach thinks the rock is responsible. Broque Monsieur thinks it might reflect the dream world. Starlow asks about Dr. Snoozemore and Broque Monsieur says they don't know when he will return. He says the promotional trips he takes usually last a few days. Peach gets closer to the portal, saying she feels like someone is calling her. Starlow says to stay back but Peach says her body won't move. Peach is lifted off the ground and drawn into the portal. Toadsworth gets close to the portal in a panic, but some Toads hold him back. Mario hops into the portal after her. Starlow says Mario will rescue the princess and wonders how Luigi can sleep through all of this.
An exciting start to the fourth entry in the Mario and Luigi series. This is shaping up to be quite the adventure. What will the bros find in Luigi's dreams? Who kidnapped Peach? Will Fawful make an appearance? All this and more in Mario and Luigi: Dream Team!
No comments:
Post a Comment