Super Mario 3D World - Review

It's-a Me!

After decades of running and jumping, haven't we seen everything Super Mario has to offer? Nintendo's mascot's been at the forefront of platforming games since the era of the NES - surely he's run out of ideas by now?
Not a chance. Ideas, in fact, are the one thing he seems to have more of than ever. That's so far as Super Mario 3D World is concerned, anyway - a bona fide gaming masterpiece and the best reason to pick up a brand new Wii U that you're ever likely to get.
Taking its major cues from the 3DS's wonderful Super Mario 3D Land, 3D World sees you moving through colourful, pinwheeling levels, stomping on Goombas, side-stepping Koopas and eventually showing bad old Bowser who's boss. The biggest change to the formula - or at least the most obvious - comes in the form of some new power-ups. Boy, are they special.

Paws For Applause.

Cat Mario's the stand-out: a magical bell pick-up that sees a furry Mario scampering around, claws out, climbing walls and swiping at foes. Cat Mario's a joy to behold, and he's just as good to control, too, giving you an easy mastery of the terrain and ensuring that low-level enemies can be batted away in seconds. That wall climbing trick isn't bad, either: it allows the roomy levels to hide plenty of secrets up at the top of the screen, and ensures that every mountain you come across as you run and jump around is worth a second, closer look.