Super Mario 3D World
Developer/publisher Nintendo (EPD) Format Switch Release Out now
The least beloved of the 3D Marios? It sure feels that way; certainly with 3D Land having been reappraised as a connoisseur’s choice. Sunshine
still has its supporters, though the recent remaster may have been sobering for those harbouring rosetinted memories of it being the pick of the bunch. The two Galaxy games, Odyssey and 64 remain the serious title contenders. But 3D World? Some say it’s the weakest – its run button and 12-way movement not ideally suited to 3D platforming, its course design compromised to accommodate four players – but it’s more about the hardware it was made for: debuting on Wii U, it barely stood a chance. On Switch, with the elongated title Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury,
it’s all but guaranteed to enjoy a new lease of life.
Indeed, Mario seems to have a real spring in his step here. The main game has had a tangible speed boost, which makes it worth revisiting even for those who conquered the infamous Champion’s Road. There’s online multiplayer now, too – all the more encouragement to play in a group, and indulge in a little (un)friendly competition as four of you fight over that coveted crown. But the real draw is Bowser’s Fury,a
surprising aside that will last you a good afternoon at least, certainly if you keep playing beyond the credits.
It’s an odd mix of flavours: its archipelago setting recalls Sunshine, while its free-roaming approach is more like Odyssey, but with 3D World’s controls. Its islands host bite-sized challenges that invite you to complete obstacle courses to reach the lighthouses at their peak, defeat groups of enemies or mini-bosses from the main game, or retrieve five scattered tokens. And for some reason everything has cat ears.
But it’s the headline act that makes the biggest difference. A mysterious black goop has turned Bowser into a kaiju-sized menace that pops up sporadically, heralded by storm clouds that encourage you to race for cover, or head towards the next Cat Shine – the light from which has him retreating back into the ooze. Snag enough of these and you’ll reveal a Giga Bell, a power-up that grows Cat Mario to Brobdingnagian proportions, so Bowser can pick on someone his own size. The ensuing fights are dramatic, particularly towards the end as the skies turn red and Bowser’s attack patterns shift, while a thrilling climactic pursuit brings aquatic friend Plessie into play. With a co-op mode that allows a second player to join in as unlikely ally Bowser Jr, it’s a bonus mode that feels anything but throwaway, a fine complement to a game that earns its second shot at becoming your new favourite Mario.