Line #67 VideoGame/BowserJrsJourney


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fbc155cd_dab9_4e3f_a116_135f206385d3.png]]
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3	''Bowser Jr.'s Journey'', [[MarketBasedTitle known in Japanese]] as ''Koopa Jr. RPG,''[[note]]"Koopa Jr." being Bowser Jr.'s name there[[/note]] is a strategy based side story for the VideoGameRemake of ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory'', starring (who else?) [[OverlordJr Bowser Jr]]. It is also a followup to ''VideoGame/MinionQuestTheSearchForBowser'', which was likewise a side story for the ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga'' remake. In this side story of ''Bowser's Inside Story'', Bowser rushes off to Peach's Castle to join a meeting about the recent Blorb epidemic that has overtaken the entire Mushroom Kingdom, with Junior acting as command until he returns. That is, until a group known as the "Best Fitness Friends" come knocking with a supposed cure for the Blorbs and offer the recipe for it. Expecting to be praised by his father for singlehandedly fixing everything before he gets back, Bowser Jr. rushes off to collect the ingredients he needs.
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5	What starts as a simple FetchQuest quickly goes sour when Bowser Jr.'s bratty personality chews away at the last straws of all the Koopalings but Morton, while panic rages on back home.
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7	The gameplay is mostly identical to ''Minion Quest''. The fights are a nine-on-nine frenzy with a simple TacticalRockPaperScissors dynamic with the three types of units, Melee, Ranged, and Flying. The major changes this time around are Group Special Attacks, where multiple units of the same type band together to really bring the pain, and First Officers, a special position for minions like the Koopalings that provide stat bonuses and additional commands.
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9	As with ''Minion Quest'', it is not a standalone game; it is instead part of the ''Bowser's Inside Story'' remake.
10	----
11	!!Tropes appearing to this mode:
12	* ADayInTheLimelight:
13	** Like last time, the Koopalings get a lot of focus, though the real spotlight is put on Bowser Jr. himself.
14	** Kamek also gets a lot of focus, being Junior's main follower as the game goes on and being one of the triggers for his CharacterDevelopment.
15	* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: Several skills from the previous game return such as Smack Back Attack and Spin To Win.
16	* AscendedExtra: [[spoiler:The Dark versions of the Koopalings are given a contextual appearance when the fused [=BFFs=] create them during the final battle]].
17	* ArmorPiercingQuestion: When Junior faces off with the [=BFF=] for the final time, Dieter hits him with one of these, rebuffing Junior's accusations of the [=BFF=] being evil for their actions by accusing them of the same since they're assisting Bowser in acts such as kidnapping the princess and conquering the Mushroom Kingdom. Junior suffers a brief crisis of morality, going as far as to ask Ludwig (who refuses to answer) and Roy (who misinterprets the question) if they're "the bad guys". Ultimately, Junior defies Dieter's accusation by proclaiming that [[AboveGoodAndEvil "good" and "evil" are relative and therefore irrelevant; as long as he's helping his dad with his goals, that's good enough for him]].
18	* AttentionDeficitOohShiny: Being a kid, Junior doesn't have much of an attention span when it comes to learning strategy.
19	* BraggingRightsReward: The reward for clearing all quests in the game is [[spoiler:a simple battle scene where Jr. and his current team celebrate for a few seconds they have cleared all quests. Collecting all medals does absolutely nothing.]]
20	* BigBad: The Best Fitness Friends, a trio of beauty supply salespeople and personal health fanatics known as Dieter, Kaley and Beef. In actuality, however, they work for Fawful [[spoiler:and their true name is the Brute Force Federation]].
21	* BlahBlahBlah: This is all Ludwig can say, according to Bowser Jr.
22	* BrainwashedAndCrazy:
23	** [[spoiler:Morton gets this after being forced to eat a corrupted version of Skeletone Formula:D called Malatone Formula:X.]]
24	** In addition to Fawful's brainwashing in the main game, [[spoiler:a number of Minions are also fed Malatone]].
25	* BrattyHalfPint: Bowser Jr. He's so obnoxious that even the ''Koopalings'', Bowser's most loyal minions, can't stand him.
26	* BrickJoke: At the start of the story, Skeletone Formula:D has a subtitle saying, "Results may vary. Not responsible for skeleton damage. Side effects include dizziness, fainting, and soggy bones." Come the epilogue, [[spoiler:Bowser ends up eating much more than what's prescribed and turns into [[TheCameo Dry Bowser]].]]
27	* CallBack: Captain Goomba and his squad from ''Minion Quest'' reappear in this game as supporting characters. In the level "The Trio Clash!", you get to play with all four captains. The music also changes to the regular battle theme from ''Minion Quest''.
28	* CantDropTheHero: Unlike ''Minion Quest'', Bowser Jr. is the only available captain. He can be changed into whichever unit type you need for the mission at hand.
29	* ChekhovsGun: An in-story equivalent happens with the Ever Ice. Bowser sent Kamek to get some for Junior to enjoy as a treat a long time ago only for Junior to never touch it. Cue the events of the game and now Bowser Jr needs it to make the Blorbs cure. Kamek even points out the irony of the situation.
30	* ChromaticRockPaperScissors: The game uses a "power triangle" to determine weaknesses. They are Melee (red) beats Ranged (yellow) beats Flying (blue) beats Melee.
31	* CombinationAttack:
32	** Multiple minions of the same type can team up for Group Special Attacks. Depending on the attack, they might hit a single enemy several times or the entire enemy team.
33	** Larry and Lemmy also have First Officer abilities that allow them to perform special attacks with Bowser Jr.: a variant of the Green Shell Bros. Attack from the main game and Junior kicking Lemmy's ball into enemies respectively.
34	* CompositeCharacter: Morton in this game is smarter than he looks, as in ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPaperJam'', while still speaking in a simple manner in ''Minion Quest'', as well as his Paper Counterpart in ''Color Splash''.
35	* ContinuityNod:
36	** The four captains from the [[VideoGame/MinionQuest previous game]] return as enemies in Bowser's Castle West [[spoiler:as the tutorial enemies]]. Both their bios and the Koopalings in-story mention their actions in saving Bowser. [[spoiler:They also pull off a BigDamnHeroes moment when Junior returns to the castle, and they join Junior as normal minions afterward.]]
37	** Bowser Jr. still has the paintbrush he used in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine'' and various games afterward. It allows him to become a Ranged unit.
38	* TheCuckoolanderWasRight: Iggy is the first one to bring up the possibility of some of the minions being brainwashed. Despite the Koopalings being victims of that exact tactic in ''Minion Quest'', Wendy doesn't believe him.
39	* CrutchCharacter: You start with most of the Koopalings in your party. However, by the end of the second map they've either abandoned Junior or gone back to defend the castle, aside from Morton ([[spoiler:who gets brainwashed by force]]) and Iggy ([[spoiler:who gets pushed off a cliff and suffers EasyAmnesia]]).
40	* DeathFromAbove: One of the new Captain Commands in the game is the Shy Guy Swarm, which summons 3 Shy Guy Airtubs to bombard any enemies (As well as allies) that are targeted if Bowser Jr. is a Flying Unit.
41	* DoubleTake: Bowser Jr. when he and Kamek meet the Mario Bros.
42	-->'''Bowser Jr.:''' Huh, it's Mario and Luigi.\
43	''[Mario greets him and the two duos walk past each other, before Jr. suddenly turns around and points at them.]''\
44	'''Bowser Jr.:''' Wait... '''MARIO AND LUIGI?!'''
45	* DwindlingParty: The Koopalings start leaving the party as the adventure goes on, both because of Junior's [[RoyalBrat terrible behaviour]] and the BFF's machinations, eventually leaving Kamek as Bowser Jr.'s only remaining First Officer. [[spoiler:The second half of the game is all about getting them back.]]
46	* EasyAmnesia: [[spoiler:Iggy forgets who he is after being pushed off a cliff into the ocean, and doesn't quite get it back after DefeatMeansFriendship.]]
47	* EvilKnockoff: The Dark versions of the Koopalings from ''Minion Quest'' which stood in for the ones you recruited return here. [[spoiler:''This time'', however, they also make a surprise appearance during the final battle. Additionally, during the bonus stages, Bowser gets one separate from [[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory Dark Bowser]].]]
48	* FakeDefector: [[spoiler:Ludwig disguises himself as Beef to get intel on the [=BFFs'=] true motives.]]
49	* FindTheCure: In a twist to this trope, Bowser Jr. knows what the cure to the Blorbs is. They just have to find the ingredients, and then find someone who can make the cure.
50	* FiveManBand: With the addition of [[EvilGenius Dieter]], Kaley and [[TheBrute Beef]] into his ranks (alongside [[TheDragon Midbus]]), [[BigBad Fawful]] becomes part of one, although he and Midbus act separately from the [=BFF=] trio as {{Greater Scope Villain}}s.
51	* FusionDance: [[spoiler:Dieter, Kaley, and Beef all fuse into a monster that basically gets all boosts and Malatone X effects.]]
52	* GentleGiant: Morton takes every insult Junior throws at him in stride, constantly sticks by his friends through all the trouble without ever getting angry, and never considers leaving or even firing back at Jr's constant insults. [[spoiler:When Dieter hits him with the Malatone, he says he's sorry and tells Jr. to run.]]
53	* GreaterScopeVillain: Fawful. Just like [[VideoGame/MinionQuestTheSearchForBowser Cackletta]] before him, his conquest of Bowser and Peach's realms are ongoing during the events of this game, but he doesn't confront Jr.'s forces directly, instead delegating responsibilities to the BFF trio who serve as the true antagonists.
54	* GuideDangIt: Getting [[spoiler:Nabbit]] as a minion requires [[spoiler:Ludwig]] to be your First Officer. Thankfully it's a postgame battle so you aren't forced to miss this.
55	* HairTriggerTemper: Kaley has a bad case of this, which is noted as her weakness by Ludwig.
56	* HealThyself: Aside from Mystery Box returning for a chance at this, Bowser Jr. learns Snack Time fairly early on which restores a lot of health to whichever ally/ies the player chooses to drop the snacks on.
57	* HeroOfAnotherStory:
58	** Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings themselves are this to the main story.
59	** Mario and Luigi also act more like this in their one scene compared to ''Minion Quest''; Bowser Jr. and Kamek encounter the bros and Starlow in Blubble Lake while they're searching for the Star Cure.
60	** Bowser Sr. is briefly seen at Cavi Cape where Bowser Jr.'s party narrowly misses him as he tries out the Chakroad. [[spoiler:They eventually see him fighting the Tower of Yikk.]]
61	* InterfaceSpoiler: The list of obscured recruitable minions contain several obvious surprise additions that aren't hard to tell apart.
62	* IgnoringBySinging: At one point, when Ludwig tries giving Bowser Jr. advice:
63	-->'''Bowser Jr.:''' LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU!
64	* JerkassHasAPoint: Roy leaving the team comes from Junior not treating his troops with any respect.
65	* JerkassRealization: Junior doesn't realize how self-centered he's been until he suffers a huge defeat with Kamek giving him a much-needed wakeup call about the Minions' importance afterwards.
66	* LaserGuidedKarma: [[spoiler:Private Goomp, Corporal Paraplonk, and Sergeant Guy may have been EasilyForgiven by Bowser, but their fellow Minions, not so much. Not only do the lowliest of Goombas disrespect the trio for their betrayal in the postgame, they're forced to be Bowser Jr.'s sparring partners [[ThrowTheDogABone as his last one looks on]].]]
67	-->'''[[spoiler:Captain Goomba]]:''' [[spoiler:Chin up, Private Goomp! It's [[BlatantLies an HONOR]] to be Lord Junior's punching ba--er, best friend...]]
68	* LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain: Kamek would rather not narrate what happened between Bowser Jr. and the Paratroopa Trio after the latter tried to battle the former.
69	* MacGuffinDeliveryService: The [=BFFs=] have Bowser Jr. go out to make more Skeletone Formula:D so they can steal it from him to make their brainwashing drug, Malatone Formula:X.
70	* {{Mentors}}: Ludwig initially handles this role at the beginning of the game before passing it off to Wendy. Kamek eventually ends up in this role and stays this way for the rest of the game.
71	* NeverSayDie: {{Averted}}. When Bowser Jr. risks his life to save Larry and Lemmy from being squished by a giant robot, Kamek tells him that he'll "be the death of [him]".
72	* OncePerEpisode: Just like the previous installment, this game has a scene where Bowser gets off his throne to chase the protagonist out of rage. However, unlike ''Minion Quest'', this doesn't occur after the true final battle.
73	* PlotHole: One occurs during Blubble Lake, where Jr. and Kamek stumble upon Mario, Luigi, and Starlow, who are busy trying to find the Star Cures. The discrepancy in this situation is the fact Jr. later encounters Bowser fighting the Tower of Yikk. At this point in time and before then, the bros. can't access Blubble Lake by themselves, as the path there is barricaded from Toad Town. Only Bowser is able to enter the lake.
74	* PoisonAndCureGambit: The Goombas are infected with the Blorbs. The [=BFF=] comes in with the cure, Skeletone Formula:D. The catch? They have only one dose of the cure, but are content to sell the recipe. This leads to Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings leaving the castle unattended to gather the ingredients, allowing the castle to be taken over and for the [=BFFs=] to steal the completed cure to make their brainwashing drug.
75	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Roy gives this to Junior on why he's selfish and disrespectful.
76	* TheReveal:
77	** The reason why Bowser was pissed about not getting invited to Peach's meeting about the Blorbs was because Fawful had infected some of his Goombas with Blorb Mushrooms. (As well as implied dialogue about not getting the [[DisproportionateRetribution continental breakfast]]).
78	** The Koopa Paratroopa Trio are [[ConnectedAllAlong revealed to have been part of the Koopa Troop all along]], as well as lackeys of Fawful, though they're technically ex-lackeys by the postgame since Fawful was already dead.
79	* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Jr.'s behavior slowly convinces almost every Koopaling to ditch him.
80	* TheStarscream: [[spoiler:The [=BFFs=]' true goal is to overthrow Fawful and take over the Mushroom Kingdom themselves.]]
81	* SuddenNameChange: The Captain Command Chance from the previous game is now "Mystery Box", Clash of Captains is now "Showdown", Pass the Bob-omb is now "Volleybomb".
82	* UndyingLoyalty: For all the crap Jr. throws at him, Morton stubbornly refuses to leave his side. This is even his main ability as a First Officer, having him shield Bowser Jr. from harm despite his protests.

Context VideoGame / BowserJrsJourney