Rich

When the Wii U was released last November it was only ever going to be a matter of time before we were treated to another 3D Mario game experience. New Super Mario Bros. U was available from launch and is an impressive enough 2D platformer, now that the Wii U has its 3D Mario game though we know that Nintendo really does mean business with its latest home console system.

With Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad all available as playable characters within the game, we are here treated to a bit of a retro throwback as they all have the same skill sets that they had in Super Mario Bros. 2 on the NES; Peach is not the fastest but makes up for her lack of speed and jump height in her ability to hover in the air, Luigi can achieve great height with his jumps, Toad is extremely speedy, and Mario is the character to plump for if you’re just looking for someone that’s fairly solid in all areas. If you’ve got a group of friends together then you can give the game’s multiplayer functionality a go, with up to four people on the screen at a time whizzing around each level and making them easier or more difficult depending upon the situation. The multiplayer functionality provides a fun chance to see each character’s individual abilities put to the test side by side in a good mode of gameplay that brings a Mario Party-esque competitiveness to the table; you want to be the one to collect the stamps and green stars and it’s therefore a constant race against your friends as you look to outdo them at every turn, whilst at the same time working together as a unit to beat each level and get the job done.

There’s a fantastic sense of fun and discovery in Super Mario 3D World, you’re constantly finding exciting new powers and features, and the game remains fresh throughout as you’re treated to all kinds of fantastic levels, abilities and hidden areas. Ever since Super Mario 64 the bar has been set extremely high with 3D Mario games, and in Super Mario 3D World Nintendo has once again triumphed with an absolutely brilliant game that should send a strong message to all Wii U doubters out there that the Wii U is still a force to be reckoned with. With some absolutely beautiful looking levels and some incredibly nice touches throughout the game, Super Mario 3D World has the makings of becoming an all-time Nintendo classic, a fantastic looking 3D platformer that is easily the most impressive platform title to have been released in a long time. There’s so much to appreciate and admire about this title, and as you explore each level you constantly find yourself amused and impressed as you uncover subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) little nuances that you’d perhaps missed on a previous run through.

In Super Mario 3D World there is a strong sense of the game taking full advantage of the ability of the Wii U’s GamePad; it’s far more than just a second screen for the title, it’s a piece of equipment that’s utilised to help progress you through the game and make you feel more involved in your progress through the worlds. Each time the game has you do something new with the Wii U GamePad it’s a genuinely exciting experience and as you progress through the title you’re constantly looking out for what the game will throw at you next and the tools that will help you through. As fun as playing a 2D side-scrolling Mario title can be, it can at times feel a little too familiar and safe, with a 3D Mario title there’s always that added element of surprise and intrigue, however, and Super Mario 3D World absolutely has this quality in abundance.

The key to Super Mario 3D World’s success is just how much the game keeps you on your toes. It’s beautiful to look at, the levels and worlds are all extremely well designed, and there’s an absolutely perfect balance of frustration and challenge, but the game would be nowhere near as enjoyable without its quirky little surprises and refusal to ever really stagnate. With some platform titles it gets to a certain point and you feel like you’re purely going through the motions; you’re not even sure if you’re still enjoying the game, you’re just trying to get to the end for completion’s sake. With Super Mario 3D World there’s never any sense of that detachment and you never feel as though the game has become a tepid experience, you keep on playing the game because you truly do want to, not because you feel that you ought to.

With all the nice little touches that this game provides, Super Mario 3D World is an absolute must have title for all Wii U owners out there, and is definitely a strong enough reason to invest in the console for anyone out there that hasn’t already done so. The game may hark back to the 8-bit days of Super Mario Bros. 2 with its character abilities, but it’s very much a title that brings Mario into the contemporary with its beautiful aesthetics and excellent utilisation of the Wii U GamePad. Super Mario 3D World is an absolutely incredible new game from Nintendo, and with Mario Kart 8 and a new Super Smash Bros. title due for release in 2014, now is an absolutely fantastic time to be a Wii U owner and things can only get better for the console as we progress forward into the future. It may have taken a year for the Wii U to receive its must-own 3D Mario title, Super Mario 3D World is now here though and it’s now time to bring the Super Mario HD experience to your home.

Super Mario 3D World is without doubt one of the best titles released on any platform in 2013.