G: Super Mario 3D World

My first and only experience to date with the Nintendo Wii U is the ninth installment in the mainline Super Mario series, Super Mario 3D World. 3D World is a follow up to the 3DS title Super Mario 3D World, but comparisons will be left out of this review as I have not played that game. 3D World's design structure is a combination of 3-D and 2-D levels with an art style similar to Galaxy's, a world map like Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World, and multiple playable characters like in Super Mario Bros. 2.

As for movement in the game you have your basic walk and run, a sprint button, crouch, jump, leap, back flip, side flip, wall jumps, and a spin attack that's initiated by rotating the analog stick quickly in a small circumference. Jumping feels as good as always in the game, but some of the variation jumps seem to have lost usefulness. The leap doesn't go as far in previous games, and the black flip and side flips do not seem to give the characters any more height than the regular jump. I also don't see much need for the crouch button other than to perform a leap or back flip. This isn't a big hindrance on the game however as they're optional mechanics and not required to progress through any of the games levels.

The five playable characters are all unique and provide a different playstyle. Mario is the all around character and plays like he always has in the series. Luigi returns with his slippery flutter jump from Super Mario Bros. 2, Peach also brings back her float mechanic from the same game, the blue toad can start his sprint faster than other characters, and the fifth secret character is wonderfully overpowered. The blue toad is the only character I find not that unique. He is not actually faster than any of the other characters and being able to go into a sprint a second faster doesn't make much difference. Playing as everyone else is terrific. The game also encourages players to switch characters as there are buttons on some stages that can only be pressed by having a certain character.

The level design in 3D World is as good as always in the Super Mario series. Levels are linear in nature with a tad bit of non-linearity as the game has stamps and green stars to collect (green stars which are required to beat the game). If you want to collect these sometimes it would require exploring parts of the level that aren't inline with the set path and there are some level segments that require you to collect five medallions that are spread out in various parts of the given area and you can collect those in any fashion you want. The game gives plenty of variety in level design and gameplay. You are never stuck doing any one action for long. You could be hopping from platform to platform one minute to swimming underwater, and shooting through pipes in another.

Variety is also instilled through the game's power-ups. These are some of the best power-ups in a Mario game. Each power-up really feels like it gives you extra utility. They can give attack power, mobility, invulnerability, and more. A few of the power ups are also necessary to acquire certain stars and stamps encouraging players to replay levels with certain power-ups.

The game is also sprinkled with slot machine bonus levels where you have an opportunity to get extra 1-ups, power-up houses like in Super Mario Bros. 3 where you can get extra power-ups, and Captain Toad levels which are puzzle focused. 3D World has no problem in variety. Difficulty in this game ranges. I didn't find any levels to be way too easy, and difficult levels are sprinkled throughout, most of them positioned at the end of the game.

The bosses in the game are way too easy as it has always been in Mario for me. They don't really require many different techniques to take down either. It would be nice to actually have a Mario game with challenging bosses for once. There are a couple that provide great presentation, but that's about it.

On visual and audio aesthetics, the game is somewhere in the middle for me. The art style is rather pleasing and the visual design of certain levels can be charming. The music is about average in this game. The tracks I enjoyed most are pulled from previous entries and almost none of the original music was memorable to me.

Overall Super Mario 3D World is a well deserved entry in the Super Mario franchise.