Letting the cat out of the backlog.
When Nintendo misses the mark with a game, it usually still turns out to be pretty well-received. However, when they nail it, it becomes a classic. Super Mario 3D World is an example where they absolutely nailed it, and sadly not a ton of people were able to experience it due to the lacking sales of the Wii U. Like all things Wii U though the game is getting a second life on the Nintendo Switch alongside an expansion that takes the Mario series into new territory. Needless to say this package is one that nobody should miss out on.
Let’s start with the original game. Super Mario 3D World is a wonderful mix of the New Super Mario games and the 3D titles we have come to know. It combines co-op play with multiple playable characters in an overworld that reminds me of Super Mario Bros. 3. It truly is the melding of everything great the series has ever been. The levels are inventive and fun, and the new power-ups such as the cat suit really introduced new ways to enhance the platforming.
MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: Switch
Price I’d Pay: $59.99
As per usual the game plays like a dream, and there is so much content that it would have been worth checking out the original as-is. Nintendo made some tweaks though that really help bring it forward. The movement speed has been increased making it feel more streamlined. While this helps most of the characters, it almost makes Toad unplayable at times since he was already the speedy character on the roster. The touch screen portions have also been tweaked to use the motion and controller method for anyone playing in docked mode.As a whole 3D World remains one of the best 3D games in the series, and it is awesome that people who missed it on Wii U finally get a chance to check it out.
While the core game is more than worth the price of admission, the Mario team took this opportunity to add an expansion of sorts to the mix. Bowser’s Fury feels like the team taking some of their ideas for future Mario games and seeing how they might pan out. The entire game is an open world that allows players to tackle levels and challenges in any order they want. There are no levels or overworlds. Instead Mario traverses the land either on foot or on the back of Plessie, the water dinosaur.
Each area is themed with unique challenges and new ideas aplenty. I love the polish when it comes to Nintendo’s take on open worlds. Plessie is always within reach and traversing the world is always fun. Never is it a chore, which is good considering there really isn’t any form of fast travel. Mario also has a sort of inventory system which allows him to store power-ups and Bowser Jr. is along for the ride, either controlled by AI or a second player in co-op mode.
The adventure runs about six hours and definitely feels like the team working out ideas that expand on Mario Odyssey and perhaps give a hint at what the next Mario game might look like. It is a bucket of ideas that come together with that Nintendo polish to create one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had in a long time with a platformer. I completed the main story in one sitting and went back to collect all the cat shines afterwards. Truly a fun romp.
The Bowser mechanic is also unique. Every once in a while a massive Bowser will appear, wreaking havoc upon the world. Mario can either use one of the massive bells as a power-up to transform into large cat Mario and fight him toe-to-toe, or if it is not unlocked yet, grabbing a shine will force him away. It is a neat mechanic, but also one that can hinder progress at times. Bowser would sometimes appear when I was amidst a difficult platforming section and force me out of place. I like the idea, but some of its execution could be frustrating from time to time.
Performance wise the game runs great. Both 3D World and Bowser’s Fury run at 60 fps in docked mode. There are some drops here and there, but nothing that ruins the experience. Bowser’s Fury though runs at 30 fps in handheld mode and is a striking contrast. This is one game I would not want to play in handheld mode after experiencing the smooth play in docked. The music is also fantastic. The various areas in Bowser’s Fury are accompanied by some of the most beautiful arrangements in a Mario game to date. 3D World is no slouch either. The game just screams quality.
Super Mario 3D World was already one of the best 3D Mario games to date. Toss in some tweaks and a decent-sized expansion with new ideas and this package is a no-brainer. There is little to complain about with this latest Mario title on Switch. It is yet another must-own game for the platform. I am excited to see where Mario goes next and this is a perfect end to the 35th anniversary celebration of gaming’s first and oldest icon.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
