Mario and Luigi: Dream Team -- Part 26: Inside the Villain's Mind

The bros have reached the third floor of Neo Bowser Castle, but can't reach Bowser and Antasma due to some flames coming from the dream world. There are Bowser head statues here that spew flames. Side Drill past them. Go south, northeast, north using the Ball Hop, then west to reach two Dreampoints. Activate the switch so you can return freely. In the dream world of the southern Dreampoint, enter the Luiginary Work, and then hit the ! Block. Another will appear. Break the stones and cross the gap before the lava rises too high to hit the other ! Block. In the next area, you'll find the flames. Drop all the way down and walk to the right to find a constellation Work. Spring Jump up to destroy the pipes spewing flames. The flames will disappear in the real world. Take the pipe on the right to return to the portal. In the dream world of the northern Dreampoint, use the Drill Work to climb up, dodging the spiked metal plates spinning around the drill bit. In the next area, form the cone to spin the nuts and bolts, stopping some small flames. This will give you access to the pipe below. In the room with the large flames, go through the pipe on the right to reach the constellation. Spring Jump up, then spin the nuts and bolts down to destroy the pipes below. The pipe on the right will return you to the portal.

From the Dreampoint, go to the southwest. Go northwest, then east to reach the next Dreampoint, which is a Clown Car. Hit the switch to lower the gate. In the dream world, go through the pipe on the left, then use the anti-gravity Work to reach a Red Coin block. Launch from the wall and chains to collect them efficiently. This will make a ! Block appear that opens the door. Go through the pipe on the left. This will take you to the flames. Hookshot in ball form to cross the other flames. Use the Ball Hammer to smash the pipes. Go through the pipe on the left to return to the portal. Now we can reach Bowser and Antasma for the final battle. Heal and save.

Up ahead, Bowser is sleeping in a dome, with Antasma as his pillow. Starlow says they should attack while he's asleep, but the barrier deflects Luigi. Dreambert says that Antasma is absorbing the power of Bowser's dream, converting it into energy that pulses through the castle via the vines. If Antasma's link to Bowser is severed, the energy will cease to flow through the vines. Luigi suggests going into Bowser's dream world and wake him up. Dreambert will attach himself to the vines to merge Luigi's dream with Bowser's. The portal opens up.

The doorway leads to a shop Broque Monsieur runs. Walk to the left to find Bowser. He's not thrilled to see the bros in his dreams. He summons a giant steel ball to chase the bros. As they run, Bowser's face will appear, like a Luiginary Work that just laughs. Go through the pipe on the left. There's a constellation here. Form the tower and ground pound through the rocks, past the flames. Drop down and go right. Walk down the ramps to the lower right exit. There's a giant steel ball ahead. Smash it repeatedly with the Ball Hammer, then go right. Walk up the ramps and go to the left. Hover Jump to the left, hovering while waiting for the flames from the ceiling to stop. Go through the door. Hover Jump carefully, as Bowser heads will cover the platforms over the spikes. Use the tornado to clear the Bowser heads away. Smash the bricks with the Ball Hammer and go right. Hookshot up, then Spring Jump up. Go left. This will take you to a door and a Save Block. The exit to the left will take you to the portal. Fully heal and save, then open the door.

Through the door, cannons fire at the bros. Dodge the cannonballs, then Spring Jump up, through them. Drop into the cannon on the right. Up ahead, Bowser is preparing to feast. He inhales the meat and grows. He wants more, but the Paratroopa sees Mario and Luigi appear. Bowser jumps away and asks for more meat. He keeps eating until there is no more. He wants to get bigger, so he inhales everything nearby. He jumps off the wall in search of more meat. It's a pretty large fall no one thinks he'll survive, so Dreambert says to return to the real world. Antasma's power should have weakened. Or, so we thought. Bowser reappears, larger than ever. He tells the bros to give up as he fears nothing in his dreams. Kamek appears, saying he'll use his magic to make Bowser greater. Mario and Luigi shake hands, ready to team up for this fight. Luigi pulls his cap over his face and the "L" is shining again. He seems more confident. Hold the "L" to summon the Luiginoids.

Bowser says he invented transforming into a giant. His minions are ready to fight. It's showtime! The minions destroy part of the platform so there's no where to run. Start with a Hammer Uppercut. The minions will destroy more of the platform. Bowser will push Luigi to the edge. Draw scribbles to shake him off, then push him back. Bowser will charge at Luigi, so dodge to the opposite side so Bowser will fall into the lava. Watch which elbow he leads with, then dodge to the opposite side. Do not use the Hammer Chop, as the minions will destroy the platform Luigi stands on, dunking him into the lava. The minions will pull walls out of the lava. Dreambert says the grate flooring is unstable. Drill Stomp or jump to break the grate and toss Bowser into the lava. After this, Bowser will hide behind a fortress wall. Bowser will summon Magikoopas to fire an energy ball at Luigi. Counter with the hammer. He'll then send out Spear Guys. Tap them off Luigi quickly. Airships will fire rounds at Luigi. Counter with the hammer. You must dodge the attacks as you have no time to heal. The minions will bring out meat to heal Bowser. Slam the floor with good timing, when the meat starts falling, to prevent him from eating it. Bowser will slam Luigi. Slide to dodge. Luigi will grab him and spin him around into the lava. Slide in circles to boost the attack. At this point, Bowser's running out of platform, so he jumps to another. Luigi follows. Slide up to dodge Bowser's fire, then tap when Luigi swings towards Bowser to stomp him. Deal with the barrage of attacks, then throw Bowser into the lava again. He’ll look for another platform and find a circular one. Bowser will go into his shell and start spinning. Luigi will spin with his hammer. Tilt the 3DS to hit him into the lava. You may experience glitches with the 3DS's gyroscope, so keep trying. I experienced some issues, but it worked some of the time. Mushrooms will appear. Keep hitting Bowser into the lava, until he’s fallen in three times. It will then be time for the last Finishing Bros.

The battle doesn’t quite finish the way the bros thought it would. Bowser lies on the ground and Kamek asks how this could have happened. He says there is still hope as he will give Bowser tremendous power with one last spell. Other Magikoopas appear so they can give Bowser their power. Bowser becomes even larger and is fully healed. He’ll send out a giant fireball at Luigi. Tap the moving strike zone repeatedly to hammer it back. This will knock Bowser into the lava, making him dizzy. It’s time for a new finishing move: Star Driver. Launch into the air and Dreambert will help by enlarging the star. Tilt the 3DS to dodge the fireballs. If you miss, Bowser will try to stomp Luigi. Slide up repeatedly to flip Bowser back into the lava and try again. When Star Driver connects, Dreamy Bowser is done for. Luigi returns to normal size.

Dreambert congratulates the bros, saying they are one with greatness. It’s time to battle Antasma, so they must return to the real world. The pipe to the right will take you to Broque Monsieur’s Shop. Go through the door to reach the portal. Bowser’s awake and Antasma is no longer a pillow. Bowser is enraged that the bros entered his dreams. They’re going upstairs. Antasma says this is the end for Dreambert and he’ll never get the Dream Stone. The energy in the vines ceases to flow and the vines turn gray. The camera block is to the north of the castle’s entrance, on the southwest island. Make any final preparations, stock up on items, and optimize your gear. Take the elevator up and save.