Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury review. The Reissue We Deserve, or Why You Need To Play This Game From Nintendo

 

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury cannot be called a completely fresh project. The original came out on Wii U seven years ago, and now we've got it remastered for the Nintendo Switch. A lot has changed in the gaming industry over the years. Yes, Super Mario 3D World still attracts with its incredible magic, but does it make sense in the modern world? Of course have!

Nice, but tasteful

As in almost any Mario game, the story immediately gets down to business, and it is clearly not worth looking for deep drama in it. We jump into the pipe after Bowser - and now we are in the familiar universe with all the familiar enemies and allies.

We have to go through various tests and visit several mesmerizing worlds in order to save fairies from the clutches of a prankster. This begs an obvious comparison with Rayman Origins, in which you had to help out the nymphs. But the classic plot is for that and the classic - there is nothing you can do about it.

Anyone familiar with the Wii U version is unlikely to see something new here, because the only visual difference between the reissue and the original is the improved, more colorful textures. Although this seems to be more than Nintendo has done withPikmin 3 Deluxe , another of its exclusives, which you can read about here . Those who missed the original should definitely visit this fairy-tale world. So we choose one of the characters - Mario, Luigi, Toada or Princess Peach - and go to protect the fairies.

In addition to the smart picture, an online co-op appeared in the reissue. The owners of Amiibo were not forgotten either: the game received support for this function, and new figures will be on sale for release. The sound was also slightly pumped up, but otherwise the game remained almost the same as before. Although who said it was bad?

Reincarnate or Die

The player in Super Mario 3D World has many gameplay possibilities: endlessly jumping and fighting with the same enemies will not have to. In each of the worlds there are levels with unusual inhabitants, such as guns, ghosts or ants. Here you can easily ride a water snake or put on an unusual costume and turn into a seahorse, so that, twisting a couple of pirouettes, rush past enemies and avoid obstacles.

Costumes generally play a special role. Find a flower, mushroom, leaf or bell - and we turn into an improved version of the character. The clothes of the cat are worthy of special mention. With the help of it, you can easily climb the wall and find a hidden platform with a secret, climb over a vertical stand, or slay an offender with sharp claws. Of all the available options, this one is a real imba, so in most cases you prefer it.

Everything would be perfect if not for one "but". The camera is allowed to rotate just barely. Of course, for an old school platformer, this was a lot, but today ... It is not always possible to understand how far from the enemy to the character, and at what point he will now land. A shadow is visible under the hero, which suggests the place of landing, but this approach is still not convenient. Because of him, Mario and his friends over and over again fall into the abyss or perish in the arms of gumbas or piranha plants. This artificially adds complexity and is incredibly annoying in most cases.

True, the game forgives such mistakes, so even if you lose all units of health, you will not have to go through all the worlds again. The character will return to the world map and restore five lives at once. It's great that the game helps beginners and doesn't make them endlessly torment over the same segment. Can't run a level or reach a checkpoint? No problem! We grab a golden leaf and turn into a white cat that will not die in a collision with an enemy. Now you just need to run to the end of the level and grab the flag.

Bowser Who Could

The main feature of the remaster is the Bowser's Fury add-on, which, despite its small size, fully reveals the potential of the adventure. In it, Mario, along with Bowser Jr., rescues his father, who has turned into a huge monster engulfed in darkness. In this mode, a local cooperative for two players is available, and it is always more fun to play in a company. Artificial intelligence can also take the place of a partner: it can be configured to provide maximum assistance or even forbid it to interfere with the gameplay.

But the main thing is that Bowser's Fury finally has full 3D. We are no longer bound by a "semi-fixed" camera and can move in any direction without restrictions. This decision added even more charm to the game. And after a successfulSuper Mario Odyssey would be unwise to leave the reissue without additional bonuses.

The gameplay in the expansion is, of course, not very different from the original. It's still the same platformer, but thanks to the convenient camera, it has become much easier to play than in the main part. Now the game even resemblesRatchet & Clank from 2016, and this comparison is praise in itself .

And what about the key fight in the style of "Godzilla vs. Kong", when Mario turns into a huge cat and fights with Bowser Sr.! Just check out this trailer . There hasn't been such an epic battle, probably since the days of the "King of Shamans". And don't even mention a threat worthy of the Avengers!

Nintendo did exactly what the fans expected of it: it didn't ruin anything. I took a working build of a popular game, added better textures, threw in a new cool plot and voila - one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch in 2021 is already ready. Learn How To Remaster, Electronic Arts !