Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Nintendo EAD

Release Date: 02/12/2021

Available On

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There was never a time when a mainstream Mario platformer was bad—2D or 3D. In the early 2010s, Nintendo was dialing back the more open 3D Mario adventures in favor of more linear 2.5D platforming titles. This shift was sparked by the popularity of the New Super Mario Bros. series, which then spun off two 3D Mario games that were kind of in between that and Super Mario Galaxy. Super Mario 3D Land, which was exclusive to the 3DS, was a lot of fun; however, it was too easy and seemed more suitable for children. The levels were super short; they could be completed in a matter of a couple of minutes, and overall, the game was a perfect weekend rental. Mario games are not typically ones that require 100% completion, since the only reward is personal satisfaction; however, Nintendo attempted to change this with Super Mario Galaxy. The reward is the challenge.

3D World is 3D Land’s bigger console cousin. Released for the Wii U two years after 3D Land, and being the only mainstream 3D Mario title on the system, it was a giant success. Implementing a four-player couch co-op mode and introducing new power-ups while maintaining the short levels from 3D Land seemed to be a perfect match for most people. The game exceeded the capabilities of the Wii U and boasted a stunning visual aesthetic, which it continues to maintain on the Switch today. Bright, colorful visuals similar to Mario Galaxy were a winning combination. The game’s world map has the same standard Mario layout we’ve seen since the beginning. You navigate a map in 3D that has each stage you can enter. There are some small things to do on the map, like enter slot machines to win power-ups and coins, bonus stages, Toad houses with presents, etc. These are neat but don’t really add anything to the game overall. The 3D map functions effectively and fulfills its purpose.

Mario can store one power-up while also using one in this game. Power-ups are suits with something old and something new, like the Cat power-up, which allows you to sprint faster, swipe at enemies, and run up walls, which not only opens up new gameplay possibilities but can also make levels and challenging spots easier. Each stage flows like a typical Mario game. There are constant obstacles to jump across, pits to avoid, enemy patterns to learn, and coins to collect. Coins are simply used to provide you lives. 100 coins equals one life, so don’t feel obligated to hit every single question mark block. Some of the later stages can be really tough, but nothing that can’t be managed if you are careful. What makes Mario games so beloved is how well balanced everything is, and there’s always something new coming at you. No two levels are the same. While many obstacles and hazards are the same, they are always used in unique ways. This is just the Mario design language that has been unable to be replicated to this day. It’s literally perfect. You also get to ride a water Plessie, which has his levels and areas. While he can be somewhat challenging to master in terms of riding and steering, the exhilarating sense of speed is truly remarkable.

There is a giant variety of levels ranging from lava, ice, clouds, mountain peaks, and many other types of terrain. There are expansive cities, shadowy mansions, eerie caverns, and underwater caves. I can’t think of a single type of level that isn’t in this game. Most levels flow similarly, though. You get a couple of sections that show you what to expect in the stage. Is there a lot of platforming, enemy stomping, running, and dashing? Each level has three hidden green stars to collect and a stamp. This is your completionist objective: to get them all. You do have to get some extra stars, as later boss stages require unlocking them with stars. Some of the stars are very well hidden or incredibly tricky to get without dying. If you die, you keep everything you found and can restart at either the checkpoint or the beginning of the stage; however, since the stages are so short, this isn’t a huge deal. Occasionally, there are levels that can be incredibly frustrating. Either a group of enemies is just in the wrong place, or something just isn’t designed well within the level.

Mario can stomp enemies, but with a power-up, he can attack from afar or swipe. The Fire Flower can throw fireballs, the Koopa suit can throw boomerangs, and the Tanooki suit allows you to jump farther; additionally, if you die at least five times, you will receive the white Tanooki suit, which grants invincibility. This optional box is located at the checkpoint. This item is great to use if you just want to power through a level and get the stars and stamp. Just remember, if you get a single hit, you lose the power-up, and another hit makes you tiny. Three hits and you’re done. The boss fights are really disappointing, incredibly easy, and repeated often, which seems to be a trend with 3D Mario games at this time. I keep saying Mario, but there are other characters, and they all feel different to play. Luigi jumps higher, Peach jumps farther, and Toad is faster. Some secret areas require specific or multiple characters to activate. In single-player, you can pick up the new cherry power-up to multiply yourself for these puzzles. However, controlling a number of characters at once is tricky.

Bowser’s Fury

If you don’t 100% the game, you can blow through the entire thing in less than 6 hours. It’s a very short game. Thankfully, the Bowser’s Fury DLC was included, and the game is like a whole new mini Mario adventure on its own. You break away from the classic linear levels and are dumped into a small 3D map that has islands that play out similar to the 3D World levels. You can explore the areas surrounding these islands for small mini-games that award Cat Shrines, which are the new stars in this DLC. You need 40 to fight the final Bowser boss, but there are 100 in total. It’s a massive DLC that’s another game all on its own. There’s no new focus on new power-ups. They just took the 3D World stuff and threw it into an open-world design, and it works.

A gate marks the start of each “stage,” showing the Cat Shrine goal name and how many are left. Each island has five Cat Cards you can find, which will award a Cat Shrine. Each new run in the level allows for a new way to navigate it. One run might focus on platforming, while the next run provides a helicopter box that allows you to fly around the small island in search of a key to open the cage containing the Cat Shrine. The levels are just as well designed as the main game, and the final few stages are tough but fun. The new element here is that Bowser is a massive Kaiju monster, and every few minutes a rainstorm starts, and Bowser will start throwing stuff at you, and this also opens up gameplay opportunities. There are Bowser blocks hidden around some islands, and if you stand by them while Bowser is out, he will breathe fire on them and break them, usually revealing a Cat Shrine. The number of shrines hidden throughout this DLC is massive, and it can easily take a player 6 hours just to find all of them with a guide.

Once you get enough Cat Shrines, you can fight Bowser in a new Giga fight. There’s a massive Cat Bell at the center of each of the three islands, and when Bowser comes out, this will light up and ring. Grab the massive Cat Bell, and you will transform into Kaiju Mario, allowing you to brawl with Bowser. Here you need to dodge his attacks, swipe at him in any of the power-up suits, and power stomp him when he’s belly up. Throughout the storms, if you clear a lighthouse while he’s out, it will take some health away so he’s easier when you fight him. This innovative approach to gameplay is unparalleled in previous Mario games.

Of course, the same old bosses from the main game are found throughout the DLC, which sucks, but you get Bowser Jr. to tag along with you, and he can assist in combat, or you can tap on giant question mark graffiti icons to get a power-up. A second player can control Bowser Jr. too, so this is obviously a more single-player-focused DLC. In this DLC, you can hold as many of these powers as you want. Since you are on a giant set of islands, the entire game takes place in the ocean, so to get across large distances, you can use a Plessie, who also has his own sprinting mini-games to get Cat Shrines.

Overall, Super Mario 3D World feels excellent to play and is a lot of fun, especially with four players. My biggest gripe is that the game is far too easy and the stages are too short. After Mario Galaxy, I feel like the series hadn’t quite hit that stride until Odyssey came out. The physics of the game also feel a bit off. I often had some perspective issues where I fell off ledges and misjudged jumps because of the camera angle. The level design overlooked or couldn’t help these quirks. I also find the boss fights monotonous and simplistic. Upon reaching the 6th world, I began to feel a sense of exhaustion with the game, and the remaining areas became somewhat tedious. Bowser’s Fury, a fantastic DLC, effectively bridges the gap between 3D World and Odyssey. Overall, the result is a solid game packed with content.

Reviewed On

Switch 2 Pro Controller
Docked

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