Not got a lot to say then Az?
By Az Elias 10.02.2021
19
Has it really been over seven years since the original Super Mario 3D World released on Wii U? Perhaps the contrasting performances of the Switch and the previous Nintendo system have meant the last few years have seemingly flown by quicker than usual. After all, there has been a non-stop stream of high-quality software on the hugely successful Switch, and that has thankfully given an opportunity for Nintendo to bring its biggest Wii U titles to the current console, where they deservedly get their chance to shine. It took longer than expected, but timing this port with the Super Mario Bros. 35th anniversary was probably on Nintendo's mind in bringing this one over, and the developer has gone the extra mile to provide an additional quest for good measure, culminating in the twin-adventure package of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury.
Taking the start-to-finish gameplay style of 2D Mario and then doubling down on the 3D design seen in Super Mario 3D Land on Nintendo 3DS, Super Mario 3D World is most certainly the evolution one might have expected a classic Mario title to be in the post-2D gaming world. The Switch has already had its open world Mario game in the form of Super Mario Odyssey, and for even more of a fix, fans can always pick up Super Mario 3D All-Stars for as long as it is available (still a ridiculous decision to make it a timed release). Anyone pining for core platforming in quickfire levels, complete with time limits and power-ups that hark back to the 8- and 16-bit days, however, will find this is the game they want to invest in.
Borrowing a leaf out of the Super Mario Bros. 2 book, four characters in the form of Mario, Luigi, Peach and Toad can all be chosen to play as prior to beginning any stage and come complete with their own unique traits that determine how they perform in gameplay. Luigi has that long, floaty jump; Peach can hover in the air for a moment; Toad is the fastest sprinter of the crew; and good old Mario is the all-rounder. Given this is a multiplayer game, too, the inexperienced amongst the group may feel more comfortable playing as Peach, for her lengthy air time can mean making it across pits and dodging enemies becomes that little bit easier.
Even forgetting the multiplayer element, having the ability to play as any of these iconic characters in a Mario platformer is wonderful, yet despite being able to unlock one other character, which bumps the roster up to five, dare it be said, it would have been truly satisfying to see a couple more faces that didn't appear in the original Wii U version. Unless this reviewer simply hasn't met the full requirements yet, it is a shame that Yoshi or the oft overlooked Daisy don't make playable appearances at the very least. More playable females are never a bad thing, after all, especially in Mario games that quite evidently appeal to more than just hardcore male gamers. *Sigh* Maybe next time, desert princess.
Whether Super Mario 3D World functions best as a solo or multiplayer game, however… That is another matter. There are certainly pros and cons to both setups. In truth, single-player is probably the optimal way to go if looking for a great side-scrolling Mario experience that reflects the old classics, as well as for the completionists out there looking to collect every optional green star and stamp. Two players at a time can be fine, too, but, for sure, with four characters all running around on the same screen, things can take a drastic turn.
No doubt about it, four-player co-op is fun. Treating multiplayer more casually if playing with the family or those less familiar with Mario games, however, is advised, because while some aspects to gameplay become easier the more characters there are (e.g. collecting red coins before they disappear), not all stages are designed perfectly for four people - at least, not without expecting numerous accidents and failures occurring.
Generally, levels are spacious enough that four characters can run around without getting in each other's way, but the moment sections get tighter and precise platforming comes into play, it becomes clear not every part of 3D World is designed for multiple players. This is obvious when everyone needs to try to squeeze onto moving lifts that require characters to stand on one side to get it to move in a particular direction. With characters bumping into one another and the bizarre decision to force the "run" and "pick up" functions onto the same button, players will accidentally knock off, pick up, and even throw others into pits or enemies without even realising it.
A lack of optional permanent and bolder display names above each character further makes things harder to keep track of, particularly once characters turn into their cat forms, where Mario loses his distinguishable red colour scheme and becomes yellow instead. Usernames appear in small text when idle, but it can be difficult to determine who is who during play at times, which is why less players at once can make this better for those concentrated on completing each stage to its fullest with as few distractions as possible outside of each level's own hazards.
That isn't to say there is no fun to be had in large groups, though! Nothing is impossible with more players, and as mentioned, certain parts become easier and can be completed faster this way. Plus, the more eyes the better when searching for points of interest that may hide those green stars and stamps. It would be wise to treat the game in a more casual way if playing with youngsters and other family members, though, because although this is co-op oriented, the game nudges a competitive element to try to get one over one another.
As mentioned, players can pick each other up, and while this can be incredibly useful as a help tool to get someone to reach a high ledge or power-up, or even just because they don't want to handle a tricky platforming segment, those with a dark side can use this to purposely lob someone off a cliff or into an enemy. If you wanted to be extra mean, you could grab all the power-ups before others pick one up for themselves, and even try to raise the flag on the pole first to bag those extra points at the end.
There are plenty of ways to hinder others, which may or may not be the cause of rage quits, family arguments, relationship breakups, or broken controllers. The rankings at the end of each stage that display the total points accumulated by each player awards a crown that the current top performer wears in the next stage, too. It is all a bit worthless in the end; there aren't any bonuses for coming out on top aside from boosting the ego and upsetting younger players that can't quite do as well as their siblings or parents.
Scores (and lives) are certainly a dated element in Mario games, and despite the effort to add some competition on that front here, it does fall flat when it is quickly discovered there are no real benefits to fighting for top spot. The option to hide scores and rankings would have been preferred, which would perhaps divert the attention away from the worry of failure and onto working together to complete each level. Competition can be fun, but it does lose its appeal rather rapidly here.
Online setup is a simple process, with one person being the designated host. With a simple R button press from anywhere on the map screen, local or online multiplayer can be initiated, and mutual Switch friends can see and join others hosting a room. Invites are not possible, so contacting each other through other means will be necessary to get a session going. Additionally, only two people playing from the same Switch will be able to join the room, so that needs to be kept in mind if three local players are hoping to hop online with one more faraway buddy.
Now for the real kicker. Like one of the big controversies that surrounded Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition's release last year, only the host will have progress saved to their file. For some, this won't be a major issue. For others, it is going to cause a bit of a headache. No question about it, there are going to be friends of four that live in distant places around the world - or, heck, maybe in the same town, but, due to current world events, are unable to visit each other - that are planning to play through this adventure together online.
There are understandable reasons why things have been designed this way. Nintendo doesn't want someone that hasn't progressed as far as their friend to be able to jump into their room, play through levels that they haven't gained access to themselves yet, and then have that saved onto their file once the session is over. It could be that the way multiplayer was designed to begin with just cannot account for this type of online setup. It cannot be helped but to feel disappointed by this, however. Perhaps Nintendo tried to get something in place but couldn't. It would be great to hear a proper response from the developers in that regard, because, like Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, for such a multiplayer-driven game, to push playing together so much and then not have your progress retained after journeying through portions of the game, however large or small, it has the potential to put some players off from bothering at all.
Again, many may not feel heavily aggrieved by this, and people may be more than happy to replay some stages on their own or with friends later so that they have that data saved, too, but it cannot help but be wondered whether options could have been implemented. Perhaps a system that looks at all players' files and forces them to only be able to access the stages of the user that has made the least progress? From there, everyone can continue together to unlock the next stages. Failing that, what if data was still saved for non-hosting players that haven't reached a world on their own file yet, so that when they do get there when offline, those levels have been completed? The option, at least, would have been nice.
Otherwise, online play that was experienced in the preview event that Nintendo kindly demonstrated and invited Cubed3 to be a part of was a pleasant ordeal. Some lag crept in at times, with a little slowdown and characters popping around, but in general, gameplay was smooth and enjoyable. How that will fare with those across continents remains to be seen, as only folks in the UK were a part of this online demo. To a continue a positive note, at least online play has indeed made its way in here. Far too many Nintendo games don't have this ability, so whatever setbacks, it is still refreshing to have this feature at last.
Super Mario 3D World is certainly an evolution of the Super Mario Bros. formula that the more open world titles can't quite deliver. Despite having "3D" in the title, it has far more in common with those classic 2D games than the likes of Super Mario 64 or Super Mario Odyssey. Mario's moveset is more limited than in the latter games, and levels are rather brief, fixed with a time limit that pushes players to move forward, instead of exploring and gazing at the background. As a result, though, it makes for an extremely focused game where each stage is almost entirely different from any other.
Super Mario 3D World's focused approach to levels works wonders. Essentially every stage has its own gimmick or core mechanic to overcome or learn, whether it be activating all panels on floors to advance to the next area; dodging gusts of wind being blown from giant puffy clouds; riding aback Plessie the dinosaur through on-rails water courses; flinging characters from trapezes; or avoiding searchlights that will trigger a barrage of Bullet Bills to home in on you.
Whilst certain design themes return over the course of the game, not one stage feels like one that was played before, and there aren't many platformers that are able to pull off such feats. This is in such stark contrast to New Super Mario Bros. games that it isn't funny - although Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is still in a league of its own on that front.
Those three green stars in each level are usually not terribly tricky to find, although they are a requirement for gaining access to certain stages. There are more than enough to go around, so players shouldn't have any real trouble having enough to progress, but it is an odd idea to halt progression when surely the reward for reaching a stage should be…to be able to play the stage you reached. Fair enough for secret worlds or postgame content, but throughout normal worlds? It likely won't faze those that don't actively try to avoid green stars, but some players may have to replay a few stages here and there.
It is the stamps that are a tad more difficult to find. One of these is hidden in each stage, and they reward with a nice piece of 2D artwork of a character or item from the game. These can be used during the snapshot mode, activated any time with a button press, whereby creative pictures can be produced by moving, rotating, and resizing the icons and placing them in the level being played in. This is a preferable way to utilising these unlockables than limiting them to messages in the now-defunct Miiverse on Wii U. With the addition of filters, some amusing snapshots will undoubtedly be created, and although it might only get a few minutes of attention amongst most players, it's hard to argue against including the feature. Most welcome.
Super Mario 3D World is a delicious soup of platforming ideas that Nintendo did excellently to cook together, proving the developer really can push Mario into positive new directions - and at a time they were failing to do just do that with each subsequent New Super Mario Bros. game holding the plumber back more and more. Not every stage's core idea can be viewed as massively original or pushing the genre forward in unique ways, and it is a generally easy game until much later, but its focus delivers a consistent level of out-and-out fun from beginning to end. Whether solo or with friends, online or offline, Switch owners can't go wrong.
Those that have played the original game on Wii U will be extremely pleased to hear Nintendo has gone the extra mile and bundled a totally original adventure into this release. Bowser's Fury is an entirely separate game from Super Mario 3D World that can be played instantly. It focuses solely on Mario, where his stumbling into the serene Lake Lapcat turns out to be a bit of a nightmare. Going all in on the cat theme introduced in 3D World, this region is feline heaven, where just about everything, from Koopa Troopas to Goombas to seagulls to the very architecture of the areas themselves, embrace the unmistakable look of the fluffy creatures.
Striking up an unlikely partnership with Bowser Jr, Mario comes face to face with possibly the coolest looking Bowser yet seen in the franchise. Fury Bowser is the result of the big, bad King of the Koopas getting caught up in some sort of icky paint-like goop and failing to control his anger issues. Having grown to monstrous proportions, the red-maned lizard is out of control, hence Junior's reluctant desire to ask for the father and son's adversary to provide his services and get Papa back to normal.
On the lake's isles, lighthouses covered in the same substance that coats Bowser need lighting back up. By travelling to each one and completing objectives to collect Cat Shines, the area can slowly begin to recover from the terror that Fury Bowser has unleashed on the place. Such objectives range from defeating enemies, reaching heights, completing platforming segments, and even steering Plessie through rings on the water's surface, for the trusty steed makes a welcome return to make getting around the lake that much easier (hence the Wind Waker similarities!).
Every few minutes, the peaceful and beautiful atmosphere of the lake turns apocalyptic, with rocks and fireballs falling from the sky, and Bowser unleashing the most incredible stream of post-curry fire breath from his jaws. Given that most tasks aren't that much trouble to complete, this switch-up changes gameplay for the better, completely altering the emotions and increasing the tension in the moment.
Some platforming sections can be totally butchered by Bowser's influence, necessitating trying again, except with the intention to do things a little quicker and before the Koopa King emerges once more. Although it may sound bothersome (and in plenty of cases, Bowser's fury might feel contagious!), this mechanic is a welcome spin on Mario platforming, making accomplishments feel even more rewarding. For the most part, it isn't so much that the game has many tough moments, but Bowser's appearances add that required degree of challenge to what seem like simple exercises. The choice is to either dodge the attacks, wait out the rage and let Bowser tire himself out, or quickly grab that Cat Shine to light up the nearest lighthouse, blinding the King and getting him to retreat. Mario platforming has never been so fear-inducing!
As a minor, but certainly welcome, inclusion, a second local player may take control of Bowser Jr. in this adventure, completely movable as he flies around in his mini clown-copter. Sort of functioning like the co-op ability in Super Mario Galaxy, player two can use Junior to bop enemies, collect coins, and find hidden secrets about the islands. While a solo player can use pointer controls to move a cursor and ask him to examine a spot of interest for a power-up or the like, a second player can freely move there whilst the Mario player goes about their business. With no repercussions for Bowser Jr. getting hurt, and since he cannot fall into pits, the co-op mode offered here is ideal for younger children or siblings to make them feel like they're helping out.
No one can really argue against Nintendo going well out of its way to create Bowser's Fury. Its biggest crime, though, may just be that it makes you want more. The timed occurrences of Fury Bowser don't overstay their welcome, because this quest is a short-lived one that can be done in a few hours - perhaps topping out around six or so if wanting to find everything. Before things get too annoying, the game ends, but the problem is that it still feels like a taster of something greater.
The answer here is, sadly, probably not. If you're only interested in this package for Bowser's Fury, this is going to be an expensive game. The quality is undeniable, but it is extremely difficult to justify this being the same price as Super Mario Odyssey if ignoring the 3D World content. Hopefully, Nintendo will release Bowser's Fury as a standalone purchase soon, because it is going to be a shame for those that aren't interested in 3D World to miss out on the former. Everyone knows Nintendo only knocks a third off its games during sales, too, and that still may not be enough.
Oh, and Nintendo, please start adding sound options to your games! Bowser's Fury is another example of audio mixing not being done brilliantly. Fury Bowser's appearances bring with him an awesome heavy metal theme, yet it is way too quiet to appreciate, getting drowned out by the sound effects being hammered out around Mario. The more options players have over their experiences, the more enjoyment they will have. Whether it is audio, separating functions on the same buttons, displaying usernames - there are still some basics Nintendo needs to get sorted.
Super Mario 3D World may not have had much added to it aside from an online function that is limited to only saving progress for the host, but it didn't necessarily need much else. Nintendo successfully found a way to evolve the 2D classics without going open world, and the result is one of the most consistently fresh and enjoyable games around, which, despite lacking the challenge of the NES games, has something for just about everyone. The bonus Bowser's Fury solo adventure is an absolute delight with a brilliant core idea that adds a crazy tension to Mario platforming, but it is hard to present a case for purchasing this pack just to play it. Whilst full of great content, it is too short-lived to feel worth the asking price, and really needs a standalone purchase option. When taking both games into account for those that have not played the original Wii U title, though, this is a cracking bundle of Mario goodness that encapsulates what everyone knows and still loves about the moustachioed hero after an enduring thirty-five years.
8/10
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(0 Votes)
Not got a lot to say then Az?
Flynnie said:
Not got a lot to say then Az?
I really am excited to give this game a try! I didn't have this game for Wii U, so the fact that Nintendo is bringing this out for the Switch (thankfully not for a limited time!) is great.
I like being able to play this game with friends too. Nintendo has always been pretty good at making multiplayer family friendly. It sounds like I'll have a lot of laughs with this one! At the same time, I understand the points made when it comes to wanting something a bit more competitive. I remember tossing the snes controller to my niece, unplugged, so she felt part of the action. The problem was when they became aware they weren't controlling everything. I feel Bowser Jr. makes it a big game changer, especially with him just FLOATING around. I remember my niece screwing up EVERYTHING while I played Sonic. Sure, Tails is invincible, but when my niece (or the AI) went running ahead of a falling platform, it just screwed it all up.
I feel Mario games are very simple and don't offer much of a challenge nowadays. I get why, but they're still fun. Bowser's Fury seems like a great add on if that's what you're looking for. Shame that it's short though! I want to be able to struggle getting to a platform other than it being super simple. You're right, there is more of a reward with something like that.
Finally someone talks about Sound Controls! I've always loved the option to turn down background music and raise the voice for characters. Nintendo doesn't really do that! It's terrible! It's stuck on one option! At least for the majority of games I've played on Nintendo. I'm rambling now, but great review! Very in-depth and a lot of good points were made.
( Edited 10.02.2021 15:39 by Pixel Zomblina )
Pixel Zomblina said:
I remember tossing the snes controller to my niece, unplugged, so she felt part of the action. The problem was when they became aware they weren't controlling everything. I feel Bowser Jr. makes it a big game changer, especially with him just FLOATING around. I remember my niece screwing up EVERYTHING while I played Sonic. Sure, Tails is invincible, but when my niece (or the AI) went running ahead of a falling platform, it just screwed it all up.
I feel Mario games are very simple and don't offer much of a challenge nowadays. I get why, but they're still fun. Bowser's Fury seems like a great add on if that's what you're looking for. Shame that it's short though! I want to be able to struggle getting to a platform other than it being super simple. You're right, there is more of a reward with something like that.
Finally someone talks about Sound Controls! I've always loved the option to turn down background music and raise the voice for characters. Nintendo doesn't really do that! It's terrible! It's stuck on one option! At least for the majority of games I've played on Nintendo. I'm rambling now, but great review! Very in-depth and a lot of good points were made.
Thank you for reading and commenting!
( Edited 10.02.2021 16:11 by Azuardo )
For me, being able to control Bowser Jr with a simple tap of a button and then motion him to wherever you want, is absolutely brilliant and saves those hair-pulling moments of trying to get that final collectible for the umpteenth time. Getting too stuck? Just send him on his merry way to clear out enemies and grab that elusive 'cat medallion thingy'! (official term )
jesusraz said:
For me, being able to control Bowser Jr with a simple tap of a button and then motion him to wherever you want, is absolutely brilliant and saves those hair-pulling moments of trying to get that final collectible for the umpteenth time. Getting too stuck? Just send him on his merry way to clear out enemies and grab that elusive 'cat medallion thingy'! (official term)
Worried that the boost pad will make Mario fall off the tiny cloud before killing all enemies to trigger the Cat Shine? Just get Jr to do all the dirty work from a distance Loving the Sunshine touches throughout, as well.
I guess I did things the "harder" way haha. Although with the lack of challenge, I'm kinda glad I didn't abuse Jr's abilities too much haha. Great to know for next time though!
You like 3D World, Adam? Or did you already get your fill of it on Wii U? I beat it on Wii U, but never properly appreciated it at the time. This time, I gave it much more attention and can respect it for what it is and not for what I wanted at the time (which was an open world 3D Mario).
I hope this isn't the last we see of this style of game. It proves there is room for open world as well as this classic style on the same console.
Only tinkered with Bowser's Fury so far, completed it once and now having fun going back to collect any Shines missed on the first go
I've been enjoying Bowser's Fury more than the main game. Probably because of the freedom of movement and full camera control. It feels more like a traditional 3D Mario game and I prefer those, personally. It's just so much fun and so inventive in world design. Though, I don't like that there's a run button, I wish there was an option to have full analogue controls. Same goes for the main game. Also the cat-theming overload is amazing, I appreciate the length they've gone to, with cat versions of pretty much everything, even the seagulls!
Also! I love the soundtrack for Bowser's Fury. There's so many amazing tracks and the main game has a really great soundtrack, too! It all sound so jolly and upbeat. Such a feel-good soundtrack.
I'm enjoying the main game though. It's not in my top Mario games, but there's some great stuff in there. There's stages like the music-beat one, which is so fun and also, I love the throwback Mario Kart one. I just generally find it hard to control with the fixed-camera, I've fell off stages so many times from miss judging jumps. There's something about the controls that just feel off to me, as well. Just doesn't feel as snappy as other 3D Mario's and a sort of awkwardness to them. It maybe because of the run button or just something to do with having the fixed-camera. I have to say though, I really do find it a lot more fun in multiplayer. I got to try out the online last night and had a blast. Even if it can be chaotic.
After enjoying Bowser's Fury so much, I actually am struggling to go back to 3D World's style. It just seems too different, and the timer is bugging me - I've become used to gently wandering around and enjoying everything at leisure (well, until Bowser kicks off again!).
The run button is more of a pain than it's worth, although I can see why they added it - to give that classic 2D Mario feel. I wouldn't so much mind except for the fact it far too often causes you to pick up other players/items and even just toss them overboard without realising it. Thankfully, the nature of the game in that you can quickly rejoin and there are relatively few repercussions for "killing" someone means it doesn't get me too angry, but the fact it happens too often in multiplayer starts to get frustrating!
I refuse to set up the Wii U to try the original game out, but I feel like there is smoother analogue control in that the characters don't seem to run in only 8 directions now. It feels far more 360 than it used to, perhaps to keep it in line with Bowser's Fury controls. An improvement for the better for sure, including the walking/running speed.
There is something off with the depth perception in 3D World for sure. Too often you feel like you lose track of the height of the character and it can be hard to land where you want on a platform. The casue of a lot of deaths for sure. The fixed perspective and lack of full camera control is a problem here, and then in online multi, you can't move the camera at all, which causes more problems. The default view is not always the best one!
Agree about the timer too! I wanna explore more in 3D World, taking my time, but I just can't get behind the timer in side scrollers. I feel like there are definitely too many relics from the past that Nintendo thinks it needs to cling onto in games like Mario. It's nice to see them moving away from certain things, but 3D World does retain stuff that could have done with being optional or removed.
Still, overall I have had a lot of fun with 3DW, despite the niggles!
Just to clarify too - it seems online multi does show display names over characters in a very small white text if you become idle. That isn't good enough I'm afraid, and so the option for bolder usernames even while moving (just like Smash Bros) is much needed.
I've gone back to Mario 3D World now, after playing some other games in the meantime, so the taste of Bowser's Fury is totally out of my mouth... and, lo and behold, I'm thoroughly enjoying it FAR more now. I really appreciate the fact that you can collect a star or stamp, die, and not lose what you've collected! That makes life so much easier... and going back through stages to 100% them less of a chore.
I also really love how you can wander around the level select map. Small touch, but a brilliant one. I quite enjoy finding hidden coins, blocks, pipes, etc... Oh, and at first it was a pain to find P switches that were character-specific, but it forced me to try someone other than Mario, and now I've not gone back to using Mario at all Luigi and Peach are the best for reaching the top of the flag pole, definitely
Being able to die and still keep your stamp/green stars changes everything. Now, you can kinda sacrifice yourself to get them, and if you have to replay the stage again, you only need to run straight through without having to worry about picking them up once more
You may find that if you stick with the game long enough, beating stages with each character pays off... Peach all the way! Although Toad is one super quick dude, and if you can keep good control of him, he is perfect for blasting through levels.
Definitely! It's a bit like using the cursor in Bowser's Fury to grab harder to reach collectibles. For someone like myself who can't be bothered spending hour after hour (anymore) trying to get every last item, it makes life much easier and enjoyable. It's encouraged me to go back and actually fully complete stages, whereas in other games I might no longer bother.
Toad...seriously, that little guy is a speed demon
You guys are making me want a game I already own....grrrr! I don't want to double dip on this but I feel I might have to do so
Well, you know Nintendo will only reduce their games by 30-35%, so that will be the time to get it really. It's definitely a more fun game for the small adjustments they've made, but if you didn't get to do it in multiplayer last time, I'd recommend trying so here. It does change things and becomes more fun as a result
I haven't touched multiplayer, mainly because the missus doesn't like gaming... but when I've tried in the past, it's always been with people that aren't the best, so it quickly grew frustrating. Have you been in that situation? Made me never want to play local multiplayer again
Yea, I seldom find people who I know that I like playing local-co-op with. Especially as not many of my friends game anymore!
I think the lowest it'll get is £35-£40, so its probably already at lowest it'll get physically anyway.
I might just have to bite the bullet!