Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Rage

A reborn modern classic

Super Mario 3D World holds a special place in my heart for several reasons; but it was mainly the first game I treated as the head of reviews at Destructoid. That was almost eight years ago.

As I said in many, many words, it has quickly established itself as one of the best modern Mario games ever made, but a lot of people have repeatedly mentioned that they do not intend to own a Wii U.

Well, now you have no excuse!

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Rage (Switch)
Developer: Nintendo
Editor: Nintendo
Release date: February 12, 2021
RRP: $ 59.99

Super Mario 3D World he didn’t get the recognition he deserved on the Wii U. He was asleep. Not even respected, just as Luigi is usually disrespected by Nintendo. But now it has returned to a platform that was not forgotten shortly after launch (burning). People will remember this time.

I’ll just talk about that briefly The 3D world here because it is largely the same as the 2013 original that I covered extensively in my original review. It’s still great, attention! And with the online game, it will be even easier to crowd others. The mechanical “speed increase”, although subtle at first, really makes a difference on a lot of levels and brings The 3D world up, at the level of action.

She still has everything that made me fall in love for the first time. Strong and varied design. Fantastic and interactive powers. And the multiplayer option that feels less crowded than some of the other 2D offerings. But enough about The 3D world, Let’s talk about Bowser’s anger, because many of you are probably dying to know what it really is.

It’s an experiment, as far as I know! But a damn good one.

Almost like the scheme for a completely open new world Mario venture, Bowser’s anger plunges Mario (and his partner Bowser Jr., who can be controlled by AI or a local friend) into a new sandbox that takes about three hours to complete and five hours to 100%. That’s a little on the short side! But since I immediately uploaded a new save file and played it again, there’s something special about it.

Like a lot of passing romps, it never exceeds welcome. Bowser’s anger it may not be as long as a full one Mario game, but it feels as strong as one when you actually play it. All the while, Bowser can wake you up and destroy your day with projectiles in Fury mode, changing the map in the process. Although it is not that unpredictable, provides a sense of tension, as you often are just about to clean up a stage appears before the additional Fury wrinkle. The first time Bowser wakes up and the metal theme arrives exactly, he immediately aspires to you in his unique world.

Your ultimate goal is to get enough Cat Shines to resist the final boss (when the credits roll) or go for each Shine for a 100% rating. So, basically, it plays like most 3D Mario games since then 64. He also never really asks also a large part of you. Puzzles are generally uniform in every part of the map (they hunt for red coins, cause Bowser to explode a certain set of blocks, to reach the end of a course), but they are always fun. Some are even very well hidden, to the point where some of you might even look for a guide. But these are exceptions rather than the rule.

It’s easy and it’s a good thing. Many times I would spend an excessive amount of time just exploring the world, considering the objectives (and the shooting distance). It also has a good degree of variance if you are looking for a challenge. Bowser Jr.’s AI can be changed to do nothing or help you defeat enemies and gain power, and an inventory of on-demand items (which power supplies) allows you to stay in control even in the burning moments. It even has a mount, as your trusted rider Plessie can be ridden to navigate the vast waters of the map; and once you meet a certain requirement, the quick trip to key locations is unlocked. And that’s it Bowser’s anger.

To be clear, I would still fully recommend this version of The 3D world even without Bowser’s anger. The changes are generally small and Bowser’s anger will not satisfy the strongest of Mario fans looking for a new game, but the whole package is magical. If you are one of the many who missed this classic Wii U, fix the problem.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Rage reviewed by Chris Carter