Is Super Mario 3D World Worth It? Yes, It‘s a Must-Buy Platforming Delight

As both a longtime fan and critic of Nintendo‘s mascot plumber, I can safely say that Super Mario 3D World is absolutely worth picking up for most gamers. Whether you missed out on the Wii U original or are craving some new Mario magic, this Switch port offers an essential Nintendo experience.

Read on as I break down if and why Super Mario 3D World deserves a spot in your Switch library.

An Overview of Super Mario 3D World: The Beloved Wii U Gem Reborn

First released on the ill-fated Wii U in 2013, Super Mario 3D World hearkens back to the linear 2D Mario titles rather than the collectathon 3D adventures like Super Mario 64 or Odyssey. You and up to 3 friends control Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad on a quest to rescue the fairy-like Sprixie Princesses that have been kidnapped by Bowser.

With its fixed camera angles, charming diorama-like levels, and heavy focus on reaching goal poles at the end, this feels like a natural evolution of Super Mario Bros. while adding depth and creativity that makes the most of 3D environments.

Gameplay is instantly familiar – run, jump, bounce, and stomp through vertically scrolling stages across a world map, using power-ups like the Super Bell that transforms characters into adorable cats. They can scale walls, perform claw swipes, and pounce on enemies in true feline fashion. Classic abilities like Fire Flowers return along with new twists like cloning your character with the Double Cherry.

Despite being overlooked due to the Wii U‘s small install base, critics and fans praised Super Mario 3D World upon release. It currently holds a 91/100 Metascore on Metacritic and 93% positive Steam user reviews. Let‘s examine what makes this such a standout Mario adventure.

Vibrant Visuals Bring Mario‘s World to Life

While Super Mario 3D World doesn‘t showcase the most advanced graphics, its charming art direction shines on the Switch‘s screen. The 1080p resolution and smooth 60fps gives the game a clean, colorful look that pops. Mario‘s world feels tactile and inviting thanks to little touches like fabric textures on arrows and poster boards.

Seeing classic enemies from Goombas to Piranha Plants fully modeled in 3D adds new life to their animations and designs. For example, the way a Koopa Troopa ducks into its vibrating shell as you approach shows off the expressiveness. Level backdrops like erupting volcanos, speeding trains, and Bowser‘s towering lava castle are equally well-realized.

The graphics won‘t blow you away like Super Mario Odyssey, but importantly serve the gameplay and quirky mood. This retains the spirit of Mario‘s world in glorious HD.

Level Design: Clever Themes and Diverse Challenges

Where Super Mario 3D World truly excels is its masterclass level design that impresses from beginning to end. While its worlds are more compact than Mario‘s open 3D adventures, they use this linearity to deliver focused, density-packed stages. You‘re constantly being introduced to fun new concepts, obstacles, and power-up twists that keep the platforming fresh and exciting.

The imagery helps cement the themes – one moment you‘re riding across the desert on Plessie the dinosaur in a Jurassic Park homage, the next solving mirror puzzles in ghost houses as Cat Mario, or braving a Bowser mech‘s bullet barrage. There‘s always something new around the corner thanks to the creative themes.

Secrets also abound; obtaining the three hidden green stars in each level demands exploration to track down hidden alcoves, alternative routes, and場域任務. These really test your platforming prowess and know-how. While the worlds are shorter than Mario‘s open adventures, they pack in more ideas per square inch than should be allowed.

Gameplay: It Just Feels Right

As a life-long Mario fan, I‘m extremely picky about how controlling Nintendo‘s mascot should feel. I‘m happy to report that Super Mario 3D World delivers pitch-perfect Mario gameplay.

Controlling Mario is a dream thanks to the buttery-smooth animations and intuitive motion. Running, jumping, climbing, and cat-swiping feel precise and responsive. Pulling off a perfectly timed hop between disappearing platforms or bouncing off a Koopa shell just feels right in the way veterans expect.

This makes navigating obstacles and collecting items immensely satisfying. The gameplay innovations mesh perfectly with the traditional Mario fundamentals we know and love. Whether you‘ve been playing since the ‘80s or are a newcomer to Nintendo, running and jumping is a sheer joy.

Multiplayer Mayhem Up to 4 Players

One huge advantage Super Mario 3D World has over other recent solo adventures is its fantastic 4 player local co-op. Playing with friends and family adds a thrilling dash of chaos as you race through levels simultaneously.

Having up to 4 playable characters on-screen breeds happy chaos. You can work together to access new areas but also stun each other with power-ups or frantically climb over teammates to be the first to grab the crown at the end of the level. There‘s a sense of silly fun that you just don‘t get from single-player.

The multiplayer experience is seamless, social, and endlessly replayable due to the changing dynamics based on who you‘re playing with. This couch co-op alone makes the game worth revisiting.

Bowser‘s Fury: A Clever New Mini Open World

The major addition to this Switch release is Bowser‘s Fury – a compact open world adventure where Mario traverses Lake Lapcat to collect 100 Cat Shines needed to fight Fury Bowser. This colossal, lava-dripping version of the iconic villain towers over islands and periodically rampages until you can reach Giga Cat Mario to battle him back.

The open structure provides some nice flexibility to explore the islands and sandy shores in whatever order you‘d like. Teaming up with Bowser Jr. in your Giga Cat suits to topple Fury Bowser is a refreshing twist. There‘s even optional local co-op with one player piloting Mario while the other controls the mech.

While only 3 to 5 hours if you focus on the main objectives, Bowser‘s Fury succeeds as a bite-sized dose of open exploration to complement the main game‘s linear approach. It feels like a proof-of-concept for an expanded 3D Mario sandbox.

How Does It Compare to Other Mario Games?

Let‘s examine how Super Mario 3D World stacks up to other recent 3D entries:

• Vs. Super Mario Odyssey: Odyssey wins in terms of open exploration freedom and new mechanics like Cappy possession. But 3D World‘s tighter, denser level designs make for a more consistent experience.

• Vs. Super Mario 3D Land: As a similar linear 3D game on 3DS, 3D World edges it out with 4-player co-op, more visual variety, and better power-up innovations.

• Vs. Super Mario Galaxy: Galaxy provides a sense of cosmic spectacle and adventure that 3D World can‘t match. But 3D World‘s multiplayer and traditional Mario feel give it a unique flavor.

Overall, 3D World carves out its own identity with multilayer platforming chaos. It stands tall even amongst Mario greats.

Is It Worth Rebuying on Switch?

For players who‘ve already experienced the Wii U original, the tougher call is if updated HD visuals, gameplay tweaks, and a new mode warrant double dipping at full $60 price.

For those who only did a single run through previously, the answer is yes. Seeing the creativity and chaos unfold again in co-op is great fun. There are plenty of green stars and secrets you likely missed the first time too.

Even for 100% completionists, Bowser‘s Fury offers a compelling new slice of gameplay. And being able to play on the go thanks to Switch‘s handheld mode shouldn‘t be underestimated.

While the changes aren‘t massive, Super Mario 3D World holds up so well that revisiting this joyful adventure is absolutely recommended.

Super Mario 3D World is a Must-Buy Platforming Delight

When broken down piece-by-piece, Super Mario 3D World delivers an expertly crafted and versatile Mario experience. The visuals pop with vibrance and charm. Levels consistently introduce new themes and gameplay concepts. Controlling Mario feels like second nature. Multiplayer amplifies the zany action. And Bowser‘s Fury provides a tasty new open world appetizer.

It‘s easy to take great Mario games for granted, but everything about 3D World just clicks. This is a hall-of-fame Mario adventure that every Switch owner deserves to play – including lapsed fans, newcomers, and even those who‘ve completed it before. With masterful level design, quintessential gameplay, and delightful co-op hijinks, Super Mario 3D World earns its place among the best 3D platformers ever made.