Despite only enjoying its original release less than a decade ago for the Nintendo Wii U console, the gaming company decided that bringing Super Mario 3D World back to life should be a priority for owners of the Nintendo Switch. It’s perhaps for this reason that they’ve packaged the title with an all-new adventure, in the form of Bowser’s Fury.
I’m one of the few Super Mario fans who didn’t actually get to try out 3D World upon its original release. Whilst I did enjoy the Super Mario Bros. U title which was packaged with the console, I never branched out to check out this part of the jolly little plumber’s story. So, I was more excited than many when jumping in to try out something that, for me, was going to be completely unique.
Taking the 2D platformer and moving it into a 3D world was obviously something that the designers who worked on the game originally were excited to play around with, because they manage to implement a whole bunch of ideas that would have looked insane and frankly, impossible in the earliest stages of creation.
Almost every single level has a different twist to the traditional Super Mario gameplay, forcing you to stay on your toes whilst playing and never allowing you to settle back into one linear form of mechanics. It’s more of a challenge than the usual offerings and for that, it’s a game that has to be celebrated.
Each of the environments that you traverse are stunning both in scope and graphically. If there’s one thing Nintendo do impeccably well, it’s level design. They’re absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking and, when you combine all of that with the obvious passion which has gone into making each of them distinctly pop, then you know you’re onto a winner.
An array of different powers are available, allowing you to run faster, jump higher, climb walls and more. There's even one which pops a cannon on Mario’s head; what more can you ask for?
There are moments where camera control can become a bit of a pain. It’s something we noticed with the port of the Super Mario 3D All Stars collection to Switch late last year and unfortunately, it does rear its ugly head here once more; albeit not becoming quite as much of a problem as it did with the aforementioned trilogy.
Overall though? An incredible experience that any fan of the franchise should indulge in.
As if that wasn’t enough, the brand-new Bowser’s Fury brings an instantly-awesome short game to proceedings. It feels like another slice of brilliance that landed in our laps with Super Mario Odyssey and, when you reach its conclusion, you’ll be hoping it’s just the start of more to come from Nintendo with new narratives moving forward.
If the end of lockdown is feeling like a bit of a nightmare to get through and you need some distraction, you can’t go wrong here. This colourful and eccentric package is an essential experience for any gaming fan worth their salt.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is available now, exclusively for Nintendo Switch. A code for the game was given to Female First in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Tagged in Nintendo