The wait is finally over. In just a couple of days, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury will finally release on Nintendo’s Switch. Bringing one of Wii U’s best games to the portable system and even adding an entirely new game to the bundle got a lot of fans excited, but was it worth the wait? Let’s-a-Go!
Bowser’s Fury
First thing first, let’s start with the new content, what exactly is Bowser’s Fury? Prior to the release of this game, a lot of gamers were wondering what kind of content Bowser’s Fury actually is. Is it DLC? Is it part of Super Mario 3D World? Is it just a short extra? Well, in all honesty, it’s probably a lot better than everyone hoped for. Although you might consider this game as DLC, it’s closer to an entirely new Super Mario game. If it was a bit longer, this could have been easily released as a standalone Super Mario adventure as it’s clearly unlike anything you’ve played before.
At first glimpse, this looks and feels like a marriage of Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario Odyssey, combining the vast open-world level design of Odyssey with the crazy power-ups of Super Mario 3D World, Bowser’s Fury offers the best of both worlds. Unlike traditional Super Mario games, you don’t have to save the princess here, instead, you’ll need to help Bowser JR. defeat his father who transformed into Fury Bowser due to some mysterious black goo (hello there Super Mario Sunshine). If you want to defeat this ginormous version of Bowser, Mario has to transform into Giga Cat Mario with the power of the Giga Bell. Of course, you’ll have to collect smaller Cat Shines in order to do so.
This way of tackling your problems really feels familiar to Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Odyssey with the big difference being that Bowser’s Fury is set in one big open-world level. Right from the start, Mario is able to run around freely in the world, triggering the levels inside the world by simply running through cat-shaped arches. I really liked this approach as it feels like the next logical evolution of the franchise. Instead of jumping from one level to another, the main world serves as an interactive 3D map filled with secrets and extra power-ups. But, not everything is accessible right from the start.
The world of Bowser’s Fury is divided into smaller islands, which you’ll gradually unlock the more you advance. From time to time, you’ll need to face off with Fury Bowser in an epic battle. Remember the Godzilla Vs. Kong promotions? Well, fighting Fury Bowser as Giga Cat Mario really feels similar. I won’t spoil the battle mechanics themselves but rest assured, this is by far the most epic encounter with Bowser yet. Once you defeat Bowser, some of the black goo will disappear, revealing yet another little island and with it some extra levels. It doesn’t stop there just yet as you’ll need to repeat this procedure a couple of times before you reach the end of Bowser’s Fury. As you might already suspect, Fury Bowser won’t go down that easily.
Although fighting Fury Bowser himself will take some Cat Shines to unlock the Giga Bell, that doesn’t mean that Bowser will wait for your transformation. While playing, Fury Bowser often awakens, making it a lot harder to clear the level you’re currently in. Imagine jumping from one platform to another while Fury Bowser is constantly attacking you with his fire and dropping boulders. Needless to say, when Fury Bowser is awake and you don’t have enough Cat Shines to unlock the Giga Bell, the level of difficulty instantly goes up. Changing the way you clear the level is crucial in order to stay alive when the beast is awake.
Compared to other main 3D Super Mario adventures, it won’t take you that long to clear Bowser’s Fury, and even though it will take some time to collect all Cat Shines out there, don’t expect the same length as the main adventures. This isn’t something to really worry about as Bowser’s Fury is just one part of this incredible bundle and although it doesn’t take that long to finish, it’s extremely fun to play. Bowser’s Fury is filled with original ideas and level designs, which makes it a true joy to discover it from start to finish. Considering this is new content for everyone, Bowser’s Fury certainly is one of the biggest selling points for Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury.
Super Mario 3D World
The main portion of this game remains Super Mario 3D World, the Wii U classic that got ported over to Nintendo Switch. It’s not a public secret that the Wii U was one of Nintendo’s most underperforming consoles, meaning that a lot of Nintendo fans missed the Super Mario adventure on that console, which is a shame of course. Thanks to the Nintendo Switch port, gamers all over the world will finally enjoy Super Mario 3D World too and discover it’s one of the more unique and fun games in the franchise. Just like a lot of other Switch ports, the game stayed extremely true to its original version. If you want to read all about Super Mario 3D World, you can check out our original Wii U review to understand the hype a bit more. In this review, we’ll focus on the Switch version itself.
As stated in our original review, Super Mario 3D World is the best co-op Super Mario adventure out there, and finding a new home on Nintendo’s Switch only makes it better. Thanks to the Joy-Con, you can easily share your adventure with your family and friends, each controlling a different character with its own set of skills. Discovering the beautiful world of Super Mario 3D World together with some friends is just magical and still remains one of the better Super Mario experiences. The reason why it works so well is due to the game’s clever combination of classic Super Mario action and 3D-levels.
At its core, Super Mario 3D World is a lot more traditional than let’s say Super Mario Odyssey, as it stays true to the old formula. Jumping from one level to another while advancing on your world map is something the veteran Super Mario players will certainly remember while younger gamers will perfectly understand the layout of the 3D levels. This combination of Super Mario eras results in the perfect Super Mario game for all ages. It’s extremely fun to discover each and every little secret in this game and they are plenty. Compared to Bowser’s Fury, this is the main course. Super Mario 3D World isn’t just a fun experiment, it’s a fully-fledged Super Mario game, meaning you’ll have hours of fun with it for sure.
If you never played the game before, you’re certainly in for a treat as it’s by far one of the better Super Mario games in the franchise. The reason for this is the freedom the developers got while creating this game. By creating rather classic levels, the team really could create some of the best 3D-levels without having to keep one major theme in the back of their minds. Some of these levels certainly are extremely original and even surprising. Did you also know that Captain Toad made its first appearance in this game? Before Captain Toad got his own game, you could try to solve his puzzles in Super Mario 3D World. These puzzles are still part of the port and can even be played with up to four players this time. The Captain Toad levels aren’t the only distraction from the main levels but we’ll leave that for you to discover. It’s safe to say that you won’t be disappointed if you never played this one before. Next to the freedom in levels, you’re also able to change your playable character at the start of every level, altering the level of difficulty depending on your character’s abilities. This one is by far one of the most accessible but at the same time still challenging Super Mario games.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is so much more than just a simple port thanks to the addition of Bowser’s Fury. With Bowser’s Fury, you’ll get one of the most unique and thrilling Super Mario adventures while Super Mario 3D World is filled with quality content. This bundle is without a doubt a must-have for any Super Mario fan and is the prime example of what a modern platforming game should be. If you own a Nintendo Switch, this is a no-brainer and should be added to your library without any doubt.
