Super Mario 3D World

Super Mario 3D Land introduced a new branch in the Mario franchise that combines the structure of the titular plumber's linear two-dimensional quests with the mechanics of his exploration-based 3D adventures. 3D World seemingly perfects that formula with bigger, more involved levels, new playable characters, and multiplayer, amongst a host of other improvements. Notably, the bigger screen means a bigger field of view, which gave the developers room to make the worlds and their levels grander than those in 3D Land. Together with a soundtrack arguably better than that of Super Mario Galaxy, 3D World managed to stun me the whole way through.

As I alluded to before, anyone with experience playing a modern Mario title will probably be able to dive into 3D World pretty easily. The controls and the goal feel both familiar and intuitive, making this an incredibly easy game to pick up. For most of the adventure, you'll find Mario's traditional running-and-jumping-to-the-flagpole gameplay holding everything together. That alone can make a great game, as we have seen time and time again. However, 3D World also introduces fun new level types to add variety and keep the game's twelve worlds interesting. Amongst the regular levels, you'll occasionally be challenged with riding Mario's swimming dinosaur friend, Plessie, over a river-like course, calling to mind Galaxy's manta ray segments (minus the frustrating motion controls). Riding Plessie is not a common occurrence, but it happens enough to be a delightful intermission between the normal gameplay. The same goes for Captain Toad levels. These are clearly marked in the overworld and offer you a chance to explore interactive, mini-diorama style levels as the over-encumbered explorer. As he can't jump, you'll have to rely on smart thinking more than quick reflexes, which dominate much of the rest of the game. This combination of regular levels, Plessie challenges, and Captain Toad dioramas makes for a fantastic and balanced gameplay experience. Luckily, the aesthetics manage to match this quality from start to finish.

From little things like the new cat suit (my vote for the best power-up in Mario history) being triggered by a bell to big things like World Bowser being themed after a neon amusement park, Super Mario 3D World oozes charm. The soundtrack doesn't offer a new song for each level, leading to lots of repeated tracks, but each of the songs still manages to fit perfectly, no matter their placement. For example, Double Cherry Pass encourages the kind of frenzied bounciness necessary to finish its levels with five identical Mario's in tow, and World Bowser somehow manages to feel jazzy, dark, and peppy at the same time, matching beautifully with levels themed around the villain's amusement park. 3D World also excels in terms of visuals. Working in tandem with the music, the look of each stage manages to build a unique little world that begs to be explored. I can mentally map out levels like the samurai castle and the beach for precisely this reason.

As it first came out on the Wii U, Super Mario 3D World didn't get the attention it deserved. Of the few people that owned the system, it seems like most were looking for a more traditional 3D Mario game, and weren't too excited by a follow-up to a handheld title. At least, that's how I felt. However, now that it's on Switch, there's no better time for people like me to realize their mistake in letting this game pass them by. Everything from the power-ups to the boss fights proved to me that 3D World is stunning, and I can't recommend it enough.

The game is available for WiiU here (as of 5/31/21): https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/super-mario-3d-world-wii-u/
The game is available for Switch here (as of 5/31/21): https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/super-mario-3d-world-plus-bowsers-fury-switch/

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