Mario's 3D entries have always been split between the more nonlinear entries like 64 and Odyssey, and the more linear entries like Galaxy and 3D Land. Personally, I've always preferred the linear Mario games, with 3D World being one of my absolute favorites in the series. However, for its long-awaited port, Nintendo tried to appease both sides of the debate. Did it work?
Super Mario 3D World: This is still one of the finest Mario games that Nintendo has ever crafted. Even without the addition of Bowser's Fury, this game is absolutely worth it on its own merits. The sheer creativity in every level continues to impress me no matter how many times I play it.
3D World's structure is simple. You play as Mario, Luigi, Peach, or Toad, and you have to get to the end of every level. Each level has three green stars, a stamp, and a flag pole to reach, but otherwise it's just a straight line to the finish. Despite the linear stage layout, Mario and his friends are still insanely fun to play as, especially after this port. The addition of the dive move and a faster running speed makes zooming around every level an absolute blast. I love how each character has their own strengths and weaknesses, fitting pretty much every kind of play style. My personal favorite is Rosalina, who's not super fast but she can jump high and has a spin attack move. There are also a ton of fun items, such as the Tanooki Suit that can help you glide and land jumps, the cat suit that lets you climb up walls, and the Boomerang Flower which lets you throw boomerangs.
The real star of the show in 3D World, however, is the level design. Each level in this game focuses around a gimmick, from something as simple as rolling hills, to platforms that appear to the beat of the music, to platforms that flip when you jump. Every one of these gimmicks are fleshed out and then tossed into the trash, keeping the game feeling fresh. If you've never played 3D World before, you're going to be constantly guessing at what the game throws at you next. There's also a ton of variety outside of the levels, including an explorable world map, rapid-fire challenge levels, Captain Toad's puzzle platformer stages, a casino mini game, and short enemy gauntlets, yet it all manages to seamlessly weave its way into the game. The post-game is also a ton of fun as well, with tough extra stages that range from difficult recreations of older levels, to homages to past Mario games, to one of the most notoriously tough final gauntlets in the series (Hot take: Champion's Road isn't that hard).
The additions made for Super Mario 3D World in this port aren't many, but it's just enough to help the game feel fresh. I already mentioned the new moves and increased running speed, and obviously the graphical fidelity has increased, but the game also manages to include online multiplayer. This is a first for a Mario game, and while it's not necessarily my thing, I'm very glad Nintendo finally included it. My personal favorite addition, however, is the Photo Mode, which packs in so many cute options and filters to take snapshots. With Miiverse gone, I was worried about what the Stamps would be used for, but this is a very fun alternative.
Bowser's Fury: However, one of the best Mario games ever made just isn't enough for Nintendo, as they managed to include an entirely new campaign called Bowser's Fury. Despite using the same game engine, this is a whole new beast, and while it's not long enough to qualify as a Mario game on par with games like 64 and Galaxy, it's surprisingly sizable for an addition to a port.
Unlike 3D World, Bowser's Fury goes full open-world, as you have to run around a large archipelago of islands searching for Cat Shines. While you explore, you also have to combat a giant ink-covered Fury Bowser, who appears every once in a while to ruin your day. The core gameplay loop of Bowser's Fury might be the best any Mario collectathon has been. Each island is a fairly linear path focused on a single gimmick like any 3D World level, but it's stuffed with a whole bunch of missions, hidden secrets, and secret shines. Even more, the archipelago as a whole has tons of secret shines scattered around. Unlike Odyssey which had so many moons that barely any of them had value, Bowser's Fury is fast-paced and packed with shines that require work and tough platforming. There's even a solid postgame, which a bunch of shines and islands that you can't unlock after the final boss. The biggest gripe is just that Bowser's Fury is short, far shorter than any 3D Mario game. It's just so damn fun, I really wish there was more of it.
Having Bowser appear every once in a while may seem annoying at first, but there are a whole ton of shines that you need him for, so it rarely feels like the pace of the game is being halted. Even more, the kaiju fights with him are insanely fun, and the final battle is probably one of the coolest in the whole series. The only issue with the Fury Bowser concept is that you can't control when Fury Bowser appears, but since there's a sizable amount of shines you need him for, getting everything in the game might require quite a bit of waiting. Despite my few gripes, however, Bowser's Fury is an outstanding experience that pretty much perfects the balance between linear and non-linear 3D Mario, and is packed with tons of unique ideas, inventive level design (especially in the second half), and a fast-pace where it never feels like there's a dull moment. Even if you've played 3D World, if you're a fan of 3D Mario Games, I highly recommend you give this one a shot.
Overall, 3D World and Bowser's Fury are both phenomenal games on their own, but together, they form one of the greatest packages Mario has ever seen.
5/5 Stars
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