Let’s Talk about Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

Ah the Wii U. Whatever can be said of the failure of the worst selling Nintendo home console, one thing that cannot be attributed to it is that it had no games worth playing on it. While third party support may have been lacklustre, first party support was truly stellar. From Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze to Bayonetta 2, Nintendo’s first party line up for the Wii U was some of the best work the company had put out in the decade.

Which is why Nintendo has spent most of the Switch’s life cycle porting every game worth owning the system for to its far more successful handheld successor. Not that we shall blame them for that. The Wii U was an abject failure, so it makes sense to port these games to a system people are actually in danger of playing them on. Thus, with most of Mario’s Wii U output being ported over, it’s now Super Mario 3D World’s time to be given the Switch treatment.

But this isn’t a case of the game being brought over with some minor tweaks and additions. For this isn’t just Super Mario 3D World, this is Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury. We not only have the entire original game, but also a brand-new mode to play around with. And so, this review will answer the following questions. Does Super Mario 3D World still hold up in 2021? and, is Bowser’s Fury a worthy addition for those looking to double dip? Let's not waffle on any further and get straight into this shall we.

Let’s start with the main attraction, 3D World. For those unaware, Super Mario 3D World is a sequel to the Nintendo 3DS title, Super Mario 3D Land. The basic idea for these two games is to make a 3D Mario game that plays like a 2D Mario game. You have the expanded move set and full 360 degrees movement of the 3D games combined with the linear obstacle course like level design of the 2D games. Sounds like an odd combination but it’s one that ended up working.

3D Land was an enjoyable little game despite its short length and lack of difficulty, so I was excited to see how 3D World would expand on it. To be honest, for as much fun as 3D Land was at the time, going back to it more recently I was frankly underwhelmed by it. While it had some decent new ideas, it leaned a little too heavily on tropes and ideas from past Mario titles. Similar to the New Super Mario Bros series it simply played things a little bit too safe.

Super Mario 3D World is a vast improvement I that regard. While it does still pay reverence to the classic Mario titles, it’s also not afraid to experiment with new concepts themes and ideas. You still have your typical grasslands, desert, jungle and underwater themed levels, but you also have a good mix of new themes as well. From a level set in a ninja house, to a top-down shooter themed level and levels where you ride on a giant dinosaur named Plessie, 3D World has new ideas in spades.

One such new idea peppered throughout the game are the Clear Pipes. These are like the classic Warp Pipes only see through, like the Crystal Pepsi version. The big difference, aside from the visual design, is that you can still control Mario while he’s travelling through it. This can lead to some interesting level design where you have to carefully navigate these tricky tubes while avoiding hazards. You can also throw a fireball through them and they’ll pop out the other side for a sneak attack. The Clear Pipes are an excellent addition and show how 3D World can do something new with an old concept.

These new ideas not only help 3D World stand out from Mario’s impressive catalogue, they also help improve the games variety. Every new level brings something new to the table. One moment you’re trekking across the savannah, the next you’re in a single, self-contained room with a strict time limit. Variety is strong in Super Mario 3D World, making the game consistently engaging throughout. Granted there is some repetition in the post-game content, but they shake things up just enough to not make it like a complete re-tread.

3D World is what 3D Land and the New series always should have been, a game that offers new and creative ideas while also paying homage to what came before it. And pay homage, it most certainly does. However, unlike more recent Mario offerings which seem to only care about Super Mario Bros 3 and Super Mario World, 3D World instead pays homage to the wider lexicon of Mario’s history, from 64, to Galaxy, to even the legendary Mario Kart, 3D World is a tribute to the plumbers gaming past while also forging new paths of its own.

But there’s one particular game that 3D World takes a large amount of inspiration from, the criminally underrepresented Super Mario Bros 2. I am of course referring to the 4 different playable characters first introduced in that game: Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad, all with their signature abilities in tow. Mario is the all-rounder, Luigi can jump higher but is slipperier to control, Princess Peach is slow but can float in the air briefly and Toad can’t jump for shit but man that boy can dash. The characters not only add different ways to approach each level, thereby increasing the already impressive variety, it also adds an extra layer to the games multiplayer.

I’m going be straight with you folks, I don’t like multiplayer co-op in my platformers. While the concept has its own chaotic appeal, it just doesn’t appeal specifically to me. That being said, I would be lying if I said if I didn’t have some fun with the co-op in this game when I played it with my nephew back in the day. And at least the different playable character varying playstyles help make each player feel unique rather than the one style to rule them all syndrome the New Super Mario Bros series suffers from. And if you don’t have people to play with, don’t fret because the Switch version has you covered with online multiplayer. I didn’t try it out myself because playing with rando’s with no proper communication is not my idea of fun but from what I can gather it’s something of a mixed bag. Still the option is there if you want to have a crack at it.

Part of the reason I didn’t want to play online though was my worry that it would affect the control. As I've discussed in my reviews for Super Mario 3D All-Stars, control is vitally important in a platformer. You'll also recall I said that 3D platformers often have far more robust move-sets than their 2D counterparts. Since 3D World is ostensibly a 3D game that plays like a 2D game it would be fair to assume that the control wouldn’t be as freeform as a traditional 3D outing. And you would be correct. There are plenty of moves here, long jumping, side somersaulting, backflipping and the like, but the control is a bit more rigid to match with the more restrictive level design. The fact that there is a dedicated run button should clue you into that fact right away.

That isn’t to say the controls are terrible because they are not. For what the game is, the controls work. Would I have liked a more freeform control style? Yes, but it wouldn’t have fit the game's structure. The controls are very responsive, and I never had any issues with them throughout my playthrough. The camera is also not as controllable as it was before. It's fixed though you do have some slight control over the angle though I never felt the need to do this as the default angle was usually fine as it was.

But, while we’re on the subject of controls, I think it’s time to address one of the changes made to the Switch port. Those that played this back on the Wii U will know that the game took advantage of the consoles unique controller. It had sections the required the use of the touchscreen and microphone on the Game Pad in order to play them. Since the Switch doesn’t have touchscreen support while docked and has no microphone to speak of, these features had to be tweaked. The microphone features were removed entirely and the touchscreen controls while docked are done via a pointer controlled with the controller's gyro functionality. It's similar to how the 3D All-Stars version of Galaxy handled things though it worked a little better here since you don’t have to use them constantly. It sounds awkward but I found they worked surprisingly well, though in handheld mode you can use the touchscreen if you don’t like the way it is in docked mode.

About the only control issues I have with this game only happen in multiplayer. Remember that Plessie character I mentioned earlier. Well, her levels play out like the sliding sections from Super Mario 64, they even have a remix of the sliding song from that game. In single player this controls just fine, in multiplayer it’s a goddamn mess. This is because everyone is controlling Plessie at the same time which results in you slipping and sliding all over the place. This is the one part I recommend not playing with others.

Ah, but what is a Mario game without power-ups. You have a decent selection here. There's the tried and tested Super Mushroom, Fire Flower and Invincibility Star, and if you need me to tell you what they do then, what the hell are you even doing here? Returning from 3D Land we have the Tanooki Suit which lets you float in the air and the Boomerang Bros Suit which lets you throw a boomerang to damage enemies and collect things at a distance.

But 3D World itself has some new toys for Mario to play with, well new for when this first came out any way. There's the Double Cherry that, when picked up, will create a clone of your character that mirrors your characters action. It’s basically like controlling 2 characters at once. It can be a little confusing at times, especially since you can have up to 5 clones at once, but it is a fun and unique power-up in Mario's arsenal.

And then there’s the Cat Suit, the games signature power-up. Aside from having some unique and very adorable animations, the Cat Suit is one of the more versatile power-ups in the game. You can do a claw swipe attack that can be used to activate certain switches, you can perform a dive attack that can go surprisingly far and you can use it to climb up walls for a short time. It's a great new addition to the pantheon of portly plumber power-ups. The character even meow when you beat a level with it, how can you not love that.

The Cat Suit is the one you will see the most, but the other power-ups do get their chances to shine. The power-up selection is decently varied, and they are balanced enough so as not to interfere with the characters unique traits. For example, Peach can float in the air by default but the Tanooki Suit goes a bit farther. However, the Tanooki Suit can be lost while Peach always keeps her glide ability. You can also store extra power-ups away should you need them. This becomes useful in co-op since it guarantees everyone is guaranteed at least one power-up. So tough shit to those who like to hog them all to themselves.

You’ll be using these power-ups a lot. Not just because they make the adventure a lot easier, but because you’ll need them to find all the various secrets and collectables. Every level has 2 types of collectables. The first are the stamps. In the original release these were used in the now defunct Miiverse platform. For the Switch port, they’ve been reworked for use in the new photo mode. I never bother with this kind of thing myself, but I am glad they found a new use for these things.

The more important collectable are the green Power Stars. If you’re wondering why they’re green, it’s because the original version released in 2013, which was the Year of Luigi. 3D World tied into this by painting the Power Stars green and hiding little 8-bit Luigis all over the place. It even came with a reworking of the original Mario Bros arcade game but with Luigi, which is still here thankfully.

But back on topic. You'll want to be on the lookout for these Power Stars because, following cues from Super Mario 64, these Power Stars are used to unlock certain levels. Some of these are optional but others will be required for progression so make sure you get as many as you can. Don’t worry about not having enough. Every level has 3 Power Stars and most aren’t too difficult to find. Plus, the threshold for unlocking these levels is often low enough that, so long as you’re diligent enough with exploring each level, you should have more than enough.

But let’s say you aren’t the explorative type and don’t have enough, not to worry, there are other ways of getting them. There are the Challenge Boxes which offer Power Stars by completing a series of quick-fire challenges and the Captain Toad missions. Captain Toad was a character introduced in Super Mario Galaxy, but it was 3D World where he finally broke out. The good Captain Toad has his own diorama inspired levels that can award you with extra Power Stars. These are more puzzle oriented since Captain Toad cannot jump, weird for a Mario character to be unable to jump but he does have a heavy backpack. These levels became quite popular, to the point that Captain Toad got his own spin-off game that expanded on the idea, Captain Toads Treasure Trackers. That game is already on Switch, so if you like what you see here make sure to give that game a try as well.

You will have plenty of ways to get the Stars you need to unlock later levels. Of course, if you’re like me and have the desire to find absolutely everything in a level you’ll have more than enough. That being said, do not 100% this game. Trust me it ain’t worth it. The only thing you get out of it is an ultra-hard final level that’s more frustrating than fun. I don’t understand this trend of Mario games to “reward” 100% completion with supremely difficult challenges. It just makes it feel like a slap in the face. I could go about this, but I’ll save that rant for another day. You get off easy today 3D World, but I will be back.

It's a shame too because the game up until that point is fantastic. the level design is varied, the different characters add some replay value, there’s plenty of secrets to find and the presentation is excellent. The graphics are bright and colourful and, while it lacks the sheer spectacle of the Galaxy games, it has some nice visual details. The animations in the Cat Suit are adorable and the rain effects splattering on the screen is a neat touch. But it's the music that’s the true highlight for the presentation. This is a very Jazzy soundtrack with plenty of upbeat and catchy tunes that fit each level perfectly. The new tracks are solid, but it also features several excellent remixes of classic Mario songs as well. It doesn’t quite reach the level of the god like Galaxy score, it’s still very good in its own right. Definitely a top tier Mario soundtrack.

So to go back to the question I asked at the beginning, does Super Mario 3D World still hold up n 2021? Yes. Super Mario 3D World is a solid little platformer and one of Mario’s best. Really my only complaint with the game, aside from 100% not being worth it, is that it’s a little bit too easy. It does increase in challenge near the end but a little too late for my liking. That, and the bosses aren’t that great. Granted Mario games aren’t known for their boss fights and the ones here are slightly better than usual, the final boss in particular is great. This is a solid game to add to your library and the Switch version is even better.

Improved resolution, the Captain Toad levels can be played in co-op and it’s significantly faster and I'm not just talking about the load times. Even characters walk speed has been improved dramatically. I haven’t played this game since it first came out in 2013 and even I noticed the speed increase almost instantly. Everything moves at such a faster pace that going back to the original is going to be hard. If I was reviewing this based solely on Super Mario 3D World, then it would still be worth a recommendation. Ah, but it isn’t just that, is it. We have an entire other mode to talk about. Let's switch gears and talk about Bowser’s Fury.

So what exactly is Bowsers Fury? The best way to describe it would be if you took 3D World’s mechanics and put them in a more open-ended gameplay structure. To be more precise, it’s what happens when Super Mario 3D World decides it wants to be Super Mario Odyssey. The basic premise of the mode is that Bowser has become infected with a strange black substance and become the monstrous Fury Bowser, or as the fans have lovingly dubbed him, God-slayer Bowser. So now Mario must find these things called Cat Shines to activate these giant Giga Bells to transforms into a giant version of Cat Mario with Super Sayain hair to take Bowser down. This mode is basically what happens when Nintendo looks up epic Mario fan-art and thinks “I can do that”.

This mode is much more akin to a traditional 3D platformer. The whole thing takes place on Lake Lapcat which contains several islands that each contain five Cat Shines each, with several additional Shines dotted around the Lake itself. You collect enough Shines, the Giga Bell activates, you turn into Super Sayain Cat Mario to have a big fight with Kaiju Bowser, beat Kaiju Bowser and unlock more of the lake to explore and repeat the process.

Because Bowser’s Fury is a lot more open ended you now have full control of the camera though the controls stay the same. It does feel a little less rigid than the main game though I can’t tell if that’s just me. All the power-ups from the base game return and work as they did their though you can now store up to 5 of each power-up, you even get a spare when you collect 100 coins.

Mario is the only playable character in this mode, but he isn’t alone on his adventure. Bowser Jr will aid Mario as an AI companion, though he can also be controlled by a second player for some co-op action. You can set how much Jr will help you in the options so if you want no help at all you can do that. You do have some control over Jr as you can use your pointer to send him to attack enemies, though you’ll mainly use this to uncover secrets.

The highlight of this mode is whenever Bowser shows up. Every few minutes Bowser will wake up and go on a rampage. It's pretty awe inspiring seeing him in his Kaiju state. You'll know when Bowser is about to show up when the weather starts to change and when he shows up the level design will become slightly altered as well. Certain Cat Shines also require Bowser to show up which can be annoying when you have to wait for him to show up. If you have a Bowser Amiibo you can summon him right away but, I don’t have one of those so I had to wait. The only way to get Bowser to go away is to either wait him out or collect a Cat Shine, the latter of which will damage Bowser a little to make the eventual fight with him a bit easier.

And if a Giga Bell is available, it’s on! The fights with Fury Bowser are amazing. We've controlled a giant Mario before but not on this level. You feel like a giant in these moments and every hit on Bowser is super satisfying. Everything has so much more weight to it and seeing the islands you traversed be little more than dioramas beneath you is a serious power high. This, this is the selling point right here. If they don’t bring this back in future games, I'm going to be furious.

Bowser’s Fury is a great little extra mode, and make no mistake, it is an extra. Though the mode has 100 Cat Shines to collect it isn’t particularly long. It only took me about 7 hours to fully complete it. For context, 3D World took me over 30 hours to fully complete. So it’s less than a third of the length of the main game. It also lacks in variety. While the islands themselves are varied enough there is some repetition in the Cat Shine missions themselves. I know repetition is to be expected in a 3D collectathon but Bowser’s Fury has very few totally unique missions.

It is a bonus, but it’s still a great bonus. It also looks and runs great too, though full disclaimer I was unable to test the game I handheld mode so I’m uncertain as to how it runs there. The only thing that bugs me is that they went a little overboard with the cat theme. Everything, and I do mean everything, has cat ears. There are cat ears on the trees, on the architecture, on the enemies, on the birds, this lake has more things with cat ears than an otaku’s bedroom.

So, is Bowsers Fury a worthwhile addition? Yes. Is it worth a double dip for those who’ve already played 3D World? I think it is. It might be short, but it had more content than I was expecting. And at least it’s more than most other Wii U ports got. Some of those got nothing new at all and when they did get something it was usually something unspectacular like Funky mode. So, this the best of the Wii U ports, at least when it comes to extra content.

Super Mario World 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is an excellent game to add to your Switch library. The game was already fantastic to begin, but the improvements to the gameplay, not to mention the addition of Bowser’s Fury, make this the definitive version. You're also getting your money’s worth when it comes to content. Super Mario 3D World should take you 10 hours to finish the main story but there’s some great post game content that should easily triple that time and when you add Bowser’s Fury to the mix you get even more. This is one of Mario’s best adventures and while I still prefer the spectacle of Galaxy and the freedom of Odyssey, this is still a game brimming with its own unique charm. It's an odd combination of 2D and 3D, but it’s a combination that leads to a great result.

And with that, every game worth owning a Wii U for is now on Switch. Except for Yoshi's Woolly World which is on 3DS. I mean, what else is there? Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush? I guess you could port that but that’s about it. Maybe the Zelda remakes but those were already ports to begin with, so they would be a port of a port. You got to feel bad for the Wii U, it was a console that had so much to give but because they bungled it up it went mostly ignored. I am at least glad that people can appreciate what the Wii U brought to the table because it had some truly great games worth appreciating. And Devils Third. Until next time, remember to stay safe, and have fun.