Back in 2013,Super Mario 3D Worldreleased on the Wii U and was critically acclaimed. Eight years later, the game was brought to the Switch, along with a new game in the franchise,Bowser’s Fury. These two titles are quite different, withSuper Mario 3D Worldbeing more similar to theSuper Mario Galaxygames whileBowser’s Furytakes a lot of inspiration fromSuper Mario Odyssey.
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Comparing this new release to the other installments in the series, there are many ways that this game is the best. However, not everything about it is superior to the otherSuper Mariogames. Here are it’sstrengths and weaknesses.
10It’s The Best: A Great Mix Between 2D And 3D
Despite being calledSuper Mario 3D World, this game also has a lot in common with the 2DMariogames such as theNew Super Mario Bros.titles. There are some levels that can beviewed through many different angles, similar to the camera in the 3D games, though there are other levels that mostly show the characters moving left or right, in a 2D environment. Also like the 2D games, the main goal of each level is to get to the flag at the end of the stage. Because of the different elements that it has,Super Mario 3D Worldis a great mix between the two types of platformers fans enjoy.
9It’s Not: There Isn’t Much Of A Story
Though theSuper Mariogames don’t have much of a plot, there are some with better storylines than others. InSuper Mario Sunshine, Mario went on a vacation with Princess Peach to Isle Delfino. There, he was believed to be a criminal and went on an adventure to clear his name and stop Bowser Jr. InSuper Mario Odyssey, Mario teamed up with Cappy to travel around the world and crash Bowser’s wedding. Though the story doesn’t really matter in these games, they add to the charm. Sadly,Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Furybarely has a plot.
8It’s The Best: The Playable Characters
In manySuper Mariogames, the titular character is the only playable one. However, Nintendo’s superstar isn’t the only playable character. InSuper Mario 3D World, he is joined by Luigi, Toad, and Princess Peach. Players cancontrol them from the very beginning of the game, giving them as much as spotlight as Mario himself.
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Due to the game having multiplayer, these characters can even work together. In some levels, players can also control Captain Toad. Later on in the title, Rosalina can be unlocked. As forBowser’s Fury, two players can team up with one controlling Mario while the other plays as Bowser Jr.
7It’s Not: The Bosses Don’t Provide A Challenge
TheSuper Mariogames can be enjoyed by anyone. Whether they are playing a video game for the first time or are a hardcore gamer,Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Furywill surely be fun for all. However, as games progress, theyusually provide more of a challengeso the players don’t get bored. While the actual stages do a great job at this, the bosses are easy to beat. There may be one or two that some have a tough time with, but for the most part, these fights lacked in difficulty.
6It’s The Best: The Closest Thing To An Open World Mario Game
For the past few years, fans of the franchise have wondered what it would be like ifan open world gamewas made. Though the world isn’t as big as the settings of games such asThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,HorizonZero Dawn, orRed Dead Redemption 2,Bowser’s Furydoes have a pretty big environment for fans to explore. The setting of this game is basically a big version of the kingdoms inSuper Mario Odyssey. This hopefully means that Nintendo has been listening to what the fans want and the next major release in the series will take place in an open world.
5It’s Not: The Worlds Aren’t Memorable
WhileBowser’s Furyhas a memorable and (possibly) revolutionary setting, the world ofSuper Mario 3D Worldis quite generic. It has a lot in common with theNew Super Mario Bros.games, which tend to be the same in every installment with only the actual stages being different.
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Even so, the courses inSuper Mario 3D Worldare forgettable compared to places like Bob-Omb Battlefield fromSuper Mario 64and any of the kingdoms inSuper Mario Odyssey.
4It’s The Best: Playing With Plessie
In some ofSuper Mario 3D World’s levels, Mario, Peach, and the other playable characters ride on a dinosaur named Plessie. These levels are really fun and allow the players to speed through them. Plessie also appeared inBowser’s Furyto allow Mario to travel around the world in seconds. There are some Cat Shrines that players can only get by using Plessie, requiring players to go from one area of the world to another in a short period of time. Plessie’s inclusion in these titles make them even better.
3It’s Not: The Music Is Repetitive
Like the other games,Super Mario 3D World’s soundtrack is fun to listen to and can make the experience more enjoyable. However, a lot of the songs in this title sound the same, with only a few changes being made. Even the best songs feel repetitive after listening to the third version of the same composition. The new songs that do sound completely different aren’t heard for long as they are only within specific levels, which can be slightly disappointing if there is one piece that players particularly enjoy.
2It’s The Best: The Impact It Made On Other Games
Despite the few flaws it has,Super Mario 3D Worldis one of the most important games in the series. As mentioned earlier, this is a rerelease of the 2013 Wii U game. In 2014, a game inspired by theCaptain Toadlevels released.Captain Toad: Treasure Trackeris a puzzle game that has released on the Wii U, 3DS, and Switch.Super Mario Maker 2also has a theme inspired bySuper Mario 3D World, allowing players to make their own levels in the game’s style. Now that the game is being played by newcomers, maybe Nintendo will be even more inspired by it.
1It’s Not: Everything Needed To 100% The Game
ManySuperMariogames give players a lot to do upon beating them. As not every star was needed to defeat Bowser and save Peach, players can collect all the ones that they didn’t inSuper Mario 64. After the credits roll inSuper Mario Odyssey, there are hundreds of Power Moons to get. While the content after beating these games can be fun, what is needed to fully finishSuper Mario 3D Worldis not. From having to play as every character to completing Champion’s Road, the last and hardest level in the game, few fans have done everything this title has to offer, giving up before they can. Only the most dedicated players have gotten to the point where there is no more they can do.
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