Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (2021)

For 3D World, they made a great game even better. Although I wish I just used the multiple controller trick instead of beating every level as every character solo. Also wasn't able to give the online a try.

For Bowser's Fury, I was really excited to try this out because I heard good things about it. It ended up being even better than I imagined. I was expecting a little extra side mode, but it feels like its own fleshed out game, albeit condensed. It feel like a mix of 3D World, Odyssey, and Sunshine. It uses 3D World's mechanics and powerups, Oddysey's open world and infinite life system, and the episodic levels and paint cleansing in Sunshine. So like in Sunshine, the level layout and the presence of the shines is determined by which shine you select when you start the level. Bowser's Fury is similar to this in the way that it requires the player to leave the area and come back in order to collect the remaining shines on each island, with the island's layout changing each time. Playing this makes me excited to see the Mario series return to something like this.

Extra thoughts:

+Cats

+Very little loading

+Neat to see Mario and Bowser Jr. team up

-Having a run button instead of automatic running like SM64, sunshine, Galaxy 1&2, and odyssey makes the game a bit harder to play. I have to use a claw grip if I want to run and control the camera at the same time.

-Occasional slowdown. It's pretty infrequent, but I felt that I should mention it.

Played JUST Bowser's Fury Mode

• Reached credits

My thoughts:

I just so happen to actually be able to borrow this game just to quickly clear out Bowser's Fury mode. It's a quick 5h~ sidemode that takes 3D World's platforming mechanics but expands it in a more sandbox environment. I actually prefer this mode's structure of collecting specific Cat Shines over Mario Odyssey's Moons, which had TOO many to the point it really devalues them. There's are however also times I feel the Bowser's Fury mode (when Bowser wakes up and starts to attack you) are pace breaking, and you can't control when to trigger it.

I do feel the endgame's difficulty really depends on which shines you still haven't collected. [Tips for playing but may be considered spoiler]. Once you're at 47 shines, Bowser's Fury mode will be PERMANENT until you hit 50. If you purposefully left the Bowser Blocks, this is super easy to do! However, if you did all of the sections in order and did all the easy parts and THEN leave only the hard ones left... Have fun being forced to do already challenging levels ONTOP of Bowser's rampage.

I still wouldn't recommend the game at full price for just the Bowser's Fury side-mode, but if you still haven't played 3D World or want a replay, then this is definitely worth it. I personally think 3D World the most refined linear-platforming challenge for a Mario title (as opposed to 64, Sunshine, Odyssey), and it has just enough original ideas to stand out from the bland New Super Mario Bros series.

100% Completion for Bowser's Fury

I enjoyed Bowser's Fury. It's the most streamlined version of the sandbox Mario games and I'd like to see it's structure in the future without it feeling too similar to BF. I love how seamless going into islands is. I enjoy how returning to islands changes some things up, even if some feel even more repetitive than in Odyssey. 3D World's level design philosophy of making the player master a mechanic still remains strong with Bowser's Fury. That being said, I didn't like some of the shines. Ever had shines where you had to wait for Bowser to show up because of these fury blocks? They're in every level, and I didn't like them at all. I hate these shines. Also there is an odd design choice to turn cats evil when Bowser appears, which while it does make sense, ruins the flow of bringing the kittens to their mother. One time when I was holding the cat, I was so close to the mom, but Bowser showed up and I can't hold the cat anymore. I feel like how the levels are designed lack for high skill ceiling gameplay like in 64 or Odyssey. They're really good for 3D World levels, but not for 64/Odyssey levels and that's fine, but with its sandbox structure, I was expecting that, but I think I shouldn't have because it's a side game that 3D World has. I'm just not as much of a fan of the lack of crazy tricks you can do, even though Galaxy 2 is in my top 10 and my is 2nd favorite Mario game.

BOWSER'S FURY RATING: 7/10

This game was a ton of fun in the beginning. It was like a new level in Super Mario's Odyssey with tons of areas to explore and lots of little collectibles and secrets to find. Open world Mario is a fantastic formula. The periodic Bowser appearances were neat at first and I liked that it was needed to unlock certain shines, but I definitely preferred the casual exploring of the world.

But now I am thoroughly loathing the game. I got to the point where Bowser just comes back continuously and won't go away. I haven't yet hit 50 Shines so I can't fight him as giga-cat Mario. Even if I find a shine it won't send him away. All the easy to find and unlocks shines are gone. And certain shines can't be unlocked unless Bowser is gone (find the missing kittens).

What a thoroughly bizarre and horrendous turn for a game that I loved at the start.

Watched Bowser's Fury Mode

My thoughts:

It's very unlikely I'll pick up this game anytime soon unless it goes on major sale or I have a friend I can borrow this from because I've already cleared SM3DW on the Wii U and Bowser's Fury is too short for me to consider double-dipping. That being said from what I saw, seeing Mario's constant glare at Bowser Jr. and all of the Dragonball Z-like boss fights are all amusing. Not to mention how metal the Bowser fight music goes. It's like they took heavy inspiration from some of the final songs to be included in Splatoon 2.

I’ve been trying to get these Mario pins for months now and I completed more than enough of Nintendo’s tasks to be eligible and now they are telling me that they won’t ship them to Canada. Why let me jump through all your silly hoops if you will just exclude me in the end. I have your stupid code but it’s basically useless now.

I know it’s silly but the last time they offered them I missed out and now that there’s more I’m ineligible.

World-1 trough World-Bowser complete 100% (all stars, stamps and flag tops). Going to savour the extra worlds now but I’m almost done World-Star.

In the meantime, I’ve also started Bowser’s Fury. It’s too early to say for certain, but I think this might be my favourite iteration of the Mario 64 formula. I really enjoy the single world and appreciate that levels shift and transform right before your eyes. So far Bowser’s Fury is a very enjoyable game.

Didn't end up playing any this weekend, but I did play through a couple of stages last night, finally.

Definitely a more enjoyable type of platformer to me, as I'm pretty picky with them and don't enjoy the side-scrolling ones much. I'm pretty positive that I didn't play this one on Wii U (though I do have 3D Land on 3DS), but the stages seemed familiar. I dunno if that's just a Mario being Mario thing or if I somehow played World but didn't own it.

Either way, enjoyable so far, and a good way to get some gaming in when I don't have time for more involved games.