Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury review on Switch

Get ready to pounce your way through two action packed Mario games in Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury on Nintendo Switch. Originally released on the Wii U, Super Mario 3D World makes its debut on the Nintendo Switch and includes its excellent level design, superb graphics and now online multiplayer mayhem.

And, you also get Bowser’s Fury, which is a brand new stand-alone adventure where Mario and Bowser Jr. team up in an attempt to stop Fury Bowser.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury Details

Platform: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Nintendo EAD Tokyo
Publisher(s): Nintendo
Genre: Platformer
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
ESRB Rating: M (Mature 17+)

The Sprixie Kingdom has been invaded!

Let’s be honest here, the mainline Mario series of games have never really had an in-depth storyline. Though, that hasn’t stopped Mario from becoming one of the most popular video game series of all times. In Super Mario 3D World, Bowser and his minions are up to no good yet again.

However, this time Bowser has his eyes set on capturing someone else besides our beloved Princess Peach. Bowser and crew have invaded the Sprixie Kingdom! Now, it’s up to Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad to save the Sprixies by fighting their way throughout the new kingdom.

Classic 3D Mario fun that provides countless hours of fun by yourself and with friends

In Super Mario 3D World, you can play either by yourself or with up to 3 other friends. Just as in the classic NES game Super Mario Bros. 2, each character offers slightly different abilities. Mario runs and jumps with equal abilities, Luigi can jump higher than anyone else, Peach can float and glide in the air for a brief amount of time, and Toad offers a slight speed advantage over everyone else.

Each of the character’s control pretty much perfectly, and respond to the slightest touch, which makes exploring the Sprixie Kingdom a pure joy. The obstacle-like course levels compliment the gameplay allowing you to fling your character forwards, sideways, up and down with great ease. As with all other Mario 3D games the camera offers a great unobstructed view of the action with adjustable views which is vital for judging distances and stomping the baddies.

Nintendo has employed a plethora of new gameplay mechanics all throughout the game. However many of these gameplay mechanics are unique to specific levels, such as Mario and gang riding on the back of a friendly dinosaur down the raging river, while another level has our heroes swinging on a trapeze, or timing our jumps rythmiatically on disappearing blocks.

New and fan favourite power-ups make their appearances

Fan favourite power-ups make a comeback such as the Raccoon Suit, Boomerang Suit and the Fire Flower. In true Nintendo fashion they have also introduced new power ups such as the Cat Suit, which will allow Mario and gang to transform into a cat. While using the cat suit you can scratch enemies and climb walls.

Another new power up is the Double Cherry, when you pick up one of these, your character is immediately cloned on the screen. Pickup yet another Double Cherry and now you have triplets of your character. The Double Cherry maxes out at four clones of any character all running around at once on the screen. Each and every clone is controlled by the player, all running and jumping at the same time. Although this may sound very chaotic, and at times it is, the levels that use the Double Cherry make clever use of the power up by letting you spread your characters out for maximum effectiveness. Both of these new power ups allow the player to further explore these worlds and uncover secrets and otherwise hard to reach places.

The level designs in Super Mario 3D World hold up to what we have come to expect in the Mario series, fun to play. The levels communicate very clearly what the objective is and what the goal is to complete the level. They also offer multiple different ways of completing your goal. One of the most memorable levels in this game requires Mario and gang to boost along a path using turbo pads and springboards. This is all done with great ease and joy. Each level is connected via an overhead world map, where you have the ability to roam freely and walk around. This ability to roam freely gives you the opportunity to discover the occasional hidden coin, 1up, or even encounter the random fruit machines.

Both online and local multiplayer fun

Super Mario 3D World is fun to play on your own, but it’s when you play with others that this game really shines. Having four players playing all at once can cause chaos on the screen. Though, I must say, the fun more than makes up for what little frustration it can cause.

Imagine having five toads on the screen and then your friend picks up the Double Cherry. Now, all of a sudden, there are five Luigis on the screen! I have to admit, some of the fun involves “accidentally” bumping your friends off a cliff.

Just as in the New Super Mario Bros series, players who die come back in a protective bubble allowing them to rejoin the game when it’s safe to do so. Online multiplayer, a feature missing from the Wii U version, has been added to the Switch version. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get a chance to test online multiplayer during the review period.

Bowser’s Fury is a new standalone game

Bowser’s Fury is a completely new standalone game that is playable from the very beginning. In this game, both Mario and Bowser Jr. work together to put a stop to Fury Bowser who has been corrupted by Shadow Mario’s black paint. Bowser Jr. acts as an AI controlled partner but can also be played with a second player. The game takes place on Lake Lapcat, which is composed of several small islands with lighthouses that are also covered in Shadow Mario’s black paint.

In order to stop Fury Bowser, you must collect Cat Shines from each of the island’s lighthouses. Though, it’s not as easy as you may think. Randomly, the weather will change to rain along with thunder and lightning and Fury Bowser appears for a short while. Large meteors fall from the sky and he blasts beams of fire directly at you. Either by collecting a Cat Shine or just by waiting it out, Fury Bowser will fall back asleep.

Lake Lapcat contains three Giga Bells, that when a certain number of Cat Shines are collected, activate. When activated, you can touch the Giga Bell and transform into Giga Cat Mario. In this state you can take on Fury Bowser and each time you defeat him, more of Lake Lapcat is uncovered on your map. Each Giga Bell is surrounded by four islands.

Amiibo support

Alongside the launch of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury are two new amiibo figures for Cat Mario and Cat Peach. Both offer in-game enhancements for both games such as Cat Mario giving players the ability to transform into an invincible White Cat form, and Cat Peach spawning helpful power-up items to appear randomly.

Additionally, the Bowser Jr. amiibo triggers a powerful shockwave, and the Bowser amiibo triggers the treacherous Fury Bowser.

Get Super Mario Cat Mario amiibo
Buy Super Mario Cat Peach amiibo
Purchase Super Smash Bros Bowser Jr. amiibo 
Buy Super Smash Bros Bowser amiibo

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury are two great Mario adventures in one package

Make no bones about it, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is easily one of the top five Mario games of all time. Super Mario 3D World offers endless hours of enjoyment not only by yourself but playing with others. It has excellent level design, superb graphics and an amazing amount of content in the game. To be honest, I was amazed at just how much there was to do in the game. Nintendo could have easily released some of the content as DLC.

Let’s not forget Bowser’s Fury! There’s a lot to see and do here too! Both Fury Bowser and Giga Cat Mario are a sight to behold. I can honestly say that Bowser has never looked so scary and good at the same time. I love how each island makes use of Mario’s different power-ups and abilities.

Head on over to my YouTube channel to check out the first 30 minutes of Bowser’s Fury. Wondering about Super Mario 3D online multiplayer? Come check out my live multiplayer stream and see how much fun it is!

+ Both games combined offer a ton of content and high replay value
+ Super Mario 3D World is still one of the best 3D platformers to date
+ Both games have excellent level design and superb graphics
+ Local and online multiplayer modes

– Some may find Bowser’s Fury too short (4-6 hours)

OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD + BOWSER’S FURY

Gameplay: 4.5/5
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 4.5/5
Lasting Appeal/Replayability: 5/5

Overall Rating 4.5/5 (90%)

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