When it became clear that Nintendo was transferring many of its Wii U games to the Switch, many fans naturally hoped that Super Mario 3D World would be one of the games that would make the leap. It’s hard to believe it took almost four years, but we’re finally just a matter of weeks before this Mario Mario gem gets a second chance in the spotlight, and this time in the guise of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser Anger, it contains an extra mode to start.
For those who missed it for the first time, Super Mario 3D World is the sequel to the brilliant 3DS game Super Mario 3D Land and tries to build a kind of halfway between the linear 2D game of the New Super Mario Bros. games, and the more free-running 3D game from people like Galaxy and Odyssey.
That said, it does lean heavier towards the 2D games. Although each of the 100+ stages of the game is technically ‘open’ by allowing you to run around wherever you want, they still have a linear path with a flagpole at the end, rather than different stars or moons with different tasks assigned to them. they were assigned. Your character’s movement is also locked in eight directions to help emphasize that at its core it’s still a game about running straight, just like its 2D siblings.
If you’ve already played the Wii U version, you may notice that improvements have been made to this Switch port. Many of them are subtle; the user interface has been tweaked a bit, it looks like the original resolution has been increased and that some of the standard camera angles have apparently changed (although we should spend a bit more time comparing the game side by side with the Wii U) version before can determine how much time Nintendo spent on this). With the cat boot, you can also climb a little higher before it runs out, making it easier to reach higher ledges.
The most obvious difference, however, is the increased running speed. As brilliant as the Wii U version of 3D World was, the characters could have done it with a little boost, and that’s exactly what happened here. Granted, each character still has his or her own unique running speed (Toad is still the fastest and Peach is still the slowest), but they have all been raised accordingly to make the game feel a little nipper. This is especially welcome if you are visiting older stages to pick up any of the hidden green stars and seals you missed along the way.
Speaking of stamps, it is indeed still here, although it is being used for a different purpose. In the Wii U games, the stamps you found can be used in Miiverse (oh, do you remember Miiverse? The glory days), so you can add a little flair to your messages. Since Miiverse is tragically no longer with us, the stamps are now used in the shiny new Photo Mode. If you are familiar with the Photo Mode in Super Mario Odyssey, it’s the same here: you can rotate the camera, zoom in and out, add filters and so on, but this time you can also put your collected stamps directly on the game world (and they are also in color this time).
One of the major selling points of 3D World is its cooperative support for up to four players, and the Switch Gate has also received a number of improvements up front (the Captain Toad stages, for example, can now be played with four) players instead of just one). While the Wii U version insisted that everyone play on one system, you also have the option to play local wireless multiplayer with multiple switches, so that each gets its own screen.
There is also online multiplayer, but at this point we just thought about it a bit. We played a short four – player session with a few other publications, and while it was a fun time, it also emphasized the importance of a strong commitment. One of the other players in our group was playing in a barn with a weak Wi-Fi signal, which caused the action to freeze while catching up. However, when things went smoothly, the performance was quite good, so we want to spend a little more time online before considering our last thoughts.
So far, so good with the main game, but there’s also the not-so-small issue of its brand new finishing mode, Bowser’s Fury. From what we’ve been playing so far, this is the best way to describe it: you know how we said 3D World was a mix between the 3D global Mario games and the linear 2D games, but more on the 2D one? Bowser’s Fury is what you’d get if it tended to the 3D trends instead.
The short section we can talk about in this preview is a small area called Scamper Shores. It is an island on a larger map that acts like its own stage. If you come under a giant cat bow, the area is ‘activated’ and you can start collecting Cat Shines, the most important collectible for this mode. Essentially, there’s a giant bell called the Giga Bell that sits at the end of Scamper Shores. To activate the clock, you need to collect a number of Cat Shines: once you get enough of this, the clock jumps out alive and you can collect it, to make Mario the massive Giga Cat Mario and you to tackle the massive Fury Bowser .
The Cat Shines are collected by embarking on a series of missions, similar to Super Mario 64 or Sunshine. In Scamper Shores, for example, you can get a Shine by reaching the lighthouse on stage, and earn another by finding and defeating an evil Shadow Luigi. There are also five smaller Cat Shine Shards hidden in the area, which form a different sheen if you find them all.
While it does make the whole thing sound like a full-fledged 3D Mario game, it’s worth keeping in mind that, as we say, it’s still a cross between 2D and 3D. Although you can roam freely in Scamper Shores, and although Mario now has a full 360-degree directional movement instead of being locked in eight directions, there is still a fairly clear path through the island: if you can zoom out completely and looking at it from a distance would still look like a 3D world stage. Instead of aiming for a flagpole, you are collecting a series of appearances back and forth.
Bowser Jr., who accompanies you along with this adventure, can be controlled by a second player or the AI. You can not play without him on your side at all, because he has to discover some secrets with his paintbrush, but you can at least set how much the AI version decides to get involved: a lot, a little or not at all. At least choose help and Bowser Jr. will knock around and collect loose coins and captivate enemies to make things easier for you. He will also store and keep all the power generation you get in stock, which means you can build up a solid collection of backup activities and request them right away. No more looking for a Boomerang Bro suit if you already have a couple in the bank.
If you do not want Bowser Jr. things do not make it easier for you, you can turn off your help completely. This allows you to still summon him by pressing the R button to bring up a pointer that can be aimed with the gyro to point to areas you want him to explore. By the way, this is also how you activate some of the objects in the main 3D world game that previously required the Wii U GamePad’s touch screen (and yes, you can use the Switch’s touch screen in manual mode if you prefer).
At this early stage, it looks like Bowser’s Fury will at least offer something different for fans who may have already rinsed 3D World thoroughly when it was released seven (!) Years ago. While it remains to be seen how long this mode actually is, it is safe to say that it is an impressive package, regardless, especially for those who missed the Wii U game for the first time. Our final impressions will be closer next month, but so far things look promising.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury will be launched on February 12, 2021.
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