The bright music, vibrant colors, and general tone all come together to form a game that’s just so happy to entertain without pretension.

Most of my deaths just came from impatiently running too far ahead as the screen moved at a snail’s pace behind me.Įven with those flaws, it’s hard not to be utterly charmed by Super Mario 3D World. The game also features some torturously slow auto-scrolling levels, which can kill the pace. Any time I did a backflip, it was entirely by accident. While Super Mario Odyssey lets players string together different jumps to make for some surprisingly complex movement, 3D World feels much more limited. The movement feels clumsy and slow compared to other 3D Mario games. It never once feels outdated despite being eight years old, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Image used with permission by copyright holder Every element is so lovingly crafted and nothing feels like superfluous filler. There’s even the diorama-set Captain Toad levels, which were so delightful that they spawned their own game. The overworld is full of secrets and minigames, making it fun to just explore the map between stages. Other items, like a cherry that can clone Mario or a giant ice skate, shine just as bright. There’s something so satisfying about being able to salvage a botched jump by clinging onto the side of a cage and clawing back to the top.īut Super Mario 3D World is so much more than just the cat suit. It’s both an ingenious design consideration that allows for more verticality in levels and a friendly tool that makes the platforming more forgiving. It’s not just a cute gimmick the cat suit is one of the franchise’s best power-ups. The most immediate feature is the cat suit, which turns Mario and his pals into full-fledged felines who can scramble up walls.

Each stage is overflowing with creative spirit, from a Super Mario Kart-style speed gauntlet to an underground level that mostly plays out in silhouettes. Nintendo quite literally has level design down to a science, and the 12 worlds present in this gameplay like a developer flex.

The game is a traditional 3D Mario title that focuses on clever level design and power-ups above all else. Those who never got to experience Super Mario 3D World on Wii U are in for a treat. The original Wii U platformer is still as vibrant and delightful as ever, and the new Bowser’s Fury mode iterates on some of the franchise’s best recent ideas to create a memorable adventure in its own right. Taken as a complete package, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is a must-own game for Nintendo Switch owners. Wonder: release date, trailers, gameplay, and more Wonder is getting a very red Nintendo Switch OLED

Super mario odyssey digital download