Levels are never afraid to introduce one-off mechanics or features for them never to resurface again. The creativity and diversity in the levels only serve to make these elements shine too. And when you can stack cherries and therefore your clones, things can get brilliantly messy as you attempt to maneuver six Princess Peaches across the level without losing one to the depths. You'll also be able to find various assorted box hats to wear that give you additional powers, or there's even the new Cherry consumable that immediately spawns another version of your character to simultaneously control in order to solve environmental puzzles. It's a 'one-hit and you're out' deal, but while you're gliding across the ice there's no better feeling. There's the giant ice skating boot you'll find Goombas riding about in that you can steal for yourself. There are appearances from some of its whackier foes, but as much as I love Cat Mario, it's the other powerups that really shine in Super Mario 3D World. While everything is cat-themed in Bowser's Fury, and the Cat Mario power-up is key to unlocking many of the Cat Shines, some of the other features are sadly AWOL. Puss in bootsĪnother thing that Bowser's Fury misses is some of the quirkier elements of Super Mario 3D World. However, the two-player option for Bowser's Fury (where your player two takes control of Bowser Jr.) is a local couch experience only. Online co-op is a new addition to the game on Switch this time too, which is a welcome addition in these troubled times. The difference between the characters makes for a fun exploratory experience for those playing solo - although you'll soon find your favourite - and really makes the co-op experience brilliant chaos, especially as you can grab other characters and send them wailing to their respawn. Toad is fastest overall but subsequently falls quicker. Peach can float briefly after jumping and sprints the soonest, but is slowest overall (that dress definitely won't help that).
Luigi jumps the highest, but has low traction. It also arrives with a strong focus on up to four-player co-op, you can choose to play as Mario, Luigi, Peach, or Toad, which all offer slightly different gameplay benefits. It's not only defined by its unique Super Bell power-up, which turns Mario and co into a cat that can climb walls and scratch enemies, but it also features completely unique enemies and other items that haven't yet made their way to other games. Its overworld offers up a range of different levels spread across different worlds, each offering a distinct theme and plenty of unique features that definitely make this one of Mario's most memorable adventures.Įven having played it on the Wii U originally, it's easy to forget how eccentric Super Mario 3D World is. While Bowser's Fury takes from the Super Mario Odyssey playbook of offering you a hub world to explore, with Cat Shines locked behind completing specific challenges, Super Mario 3D World is far more traditional in terms of presentation. While not many of us will have experienced Super Mario 3D World when it first released due to the Wii U's poor console sales figures, this re-release is a perfect opportunity to experience its fantastic quirks.
Bowser's Fury might be a completely fresh adventure, but it builds on the themes and unique powerups that were introduced with the Wii U's Super Mario 3D World. You might have started noticing a theme in some of Bowser's Fury's presentation, and it's a feline (sorry) that won't disappear as you discover more about this new Switch release. It's an absolutely stunning new offering that pushes the Switch's graphical prowess to its limits, and makes me excited about what's next for Mario beyond this compact new adventure.
Thus, our unusual heroic duo will have to work together to survive Bowser's world-event-inducing tantrums, collecting the new Cat Shines that relight the tar-covered lighthouses that start to bring light back to Lake Lapcat. It's not just cartoony steam from the ears either, his rage manifests in thick black tar that coats the otherwise idyllic place, and causes storms to periodically cloud out the glorious sunshine. In Bowser's Fury, the new adventure arriving alongside the re-release of the Wii U title Super Mario 3D World, his dad has been overcome with rage turning Bowser into a gigantic foe that's contaminating the peaceful land of Lake Lapcat with his anger.