Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury on Nintendo Switch
I’ll admit it. Super Mario 3D World never really got its claws into me when I played it on the Wii U back in 2013. I got a handful of worlds into Mario’s quest to save the Sprixie Kingdom before I moved onto other, more exciting things.
Having now revisited the game in 2021 on the Nintendo Switch, I can only assume that my experience the first time round was marred by my general dissatisfaction with the Wii U.
After 20+ hours across both Super Mario 3D World and the all-new Bowser’s Fury title packed in, I can safely say this is another first-party Nintendo title absolutely worth your time.
As I eluded to above, there are essentially two games in one here, so for the purpose of keeping things simple, I’ll be tackling one game at a time, before giving my overall thoughts to round things off. So, let’s dive into the familiar part of this dynamic duo, Super Mario 3D World.
Super Mario 3D World
Super Mario 3D World is the 2013 Wii U title all polished up for its debut on the Nintendo Switch. The story sees Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad stumbling upon a mysterious broken glass pipe. Upon fixing it, a Sprixie pops out and tells them Bowser’s been imprisoning their kind in glass bottles.
Of course, Mario and co. come to the rescue and dive down the pipe into the Sprixie Kingdom. From there on out, the story is largely forgotten about as you push through eight distinct worlds, catching green stars and seeking out the various stamps in each level along the way.
And immediately, you’re whisked through worlds of whimsy. Energetic orchestral scores and jazzy numbers accompany the vibrant colors on-screen, the iconic Goombas and Koopas standing tall in your way. Each level takes the classic toolbox of Mushroom Kingdom assets and finds a new and exciting way to use them in a 3D space.
Rather than being a true 3D adventure like Super Mario Odyssey, however, Super Mario 3D World is all about reaching the flagpole ‘Goal’ at the end of the level. But dispersed throughout the levels are three Green Stars you’ll need to collect to unlock later worlds and levels. There’s also a Stamp hiding in each level that can be used in the game’s Snapshot Mode (read: photo mode).
These stars and stamps aren’t just littered randomly throughout a level. A significant amount of thought has clearly gone into using each level’s unique design and traits to hide these collectibles.
It’s this level design that really stands out in Super Mario 3D World. And when it leans into that added dimension is when the game really shines. Bouncing between the foreground and background of a level, or spotting the shadow of a collectible, only to realize you have to walk towards the camera to actually find it.
It’s basic stuff, but things you’d often overlook when pressing towards that finish line under time constraints. Going back to track these stars down became almost a compulsory action for me as I reached the later levels, and I had an absolute blast doing so.
The ingenuity in level design doesn’t stop there, though. Each of Super Mario 3D World’s four characters — Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad — have their own unique ability. Mario is your all-rounder, Luigi can jump higher and further, Peach can glide, and Toad is faster on-foot.
It makes replaying these levels even more of a blast than they already are. Alternatively, you can play through levels with a friend (or three) in local and online co-op multiplayer, which has worked a treat in our experience with the game.
Each player controlling a different character means you’ll be screaming and shouting at one another to “jump on that Luigi switch” or “get that Goomba while I grab the star.”
Super Mario 3D World doesn’t just stick to the one level ‘type’ though. There are Captain Toad levels that take the 3D Diorama-style gameplay from the standalone title Treasure Trove and offer up a nice break from the typical Mario platforming to be had.
There are levels comprised of ten, 10-second stages you need to complete in quick succession. Others have you riding atop Plessie, the dino-like creature with a penchant for water, gliding your way atop waves, avoiding obstacles, and pulling off massive jumps to nab that collectible.
To help vary up the gameplay further are the new power-ups that grant Mario new abilities. The bell that transforms the plumber into Cat Mario is front and center in Super Mario 3D World, allowing players to scratch their enemies to shreds and climb their way up walls to reach new platforms and areas.
Levels that particularly stand out are those which used the Double Cherry power-up, duplicating Mario each time you grabbed one. Some required you split your clones into two groups to activate pressure switches, others you just needed to try and get them all through unscathed to get green stars on the way.
This leads me to another slight grievance with Super Mario 3D World. With beautifully-detailed environments to traverse, I often found myself wanting to have free movement of the camera.
A quick peek around a corner to see if there was a star hiding, or just swinging the camera around to get a better angle during intense platforming sections. Sadly, the Switch port remains faithful to the Wii U’s semi-fixed camera angles.
It’s the QOL updates that really let Super Mario 3D World down, especially given how excellent the Wii U version already was. While playing 3D World in handheld mode manages to retain 60fps, the visuals take a significant downgrade from playing in docked. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does feel like another missed opportunity to give the game the polish it deserves.
Ultimately, Super Mario 3D World is still an excellent game. Despite not receiving the QOL improvements I’d hoped for after eight years, the gameplay is still fantastic whether playing solo or with friends, and the level design is inspired. It’s a satisfactory remaster of another of the Wii U’s lost treasures.
Bowser’s Fury
Where Super Mario 3D World plays it safe with its ‘traditional’ overworlds each with its own separate levels, Bowser’s Fury cuts up the blueprints and angrily launches them into the trash can. This is easily the most enjoyable part of this package, but it’s a real shame that it’s on the short side.