Nintendo had the most to show us at NYCC this year. Their booth was swarming with fans eager to try out the impressive list of upcoming games for the Wii U and 3DS. This was also the first chance for consumers to try out the newly introduced and highly divisive 2DS hand held system.
The most prominent game in Nintendo’s booth was Super Mario 3D World. In some way it’s what you’d expect as it borrows most from the incredibly enjoyable and similarly titled 3DS game, Super Mario 3D Land. Nintendo is expanding on 3D Land’s success by adding Princess Peach to the cast of playable characters for the first time outside of a kart game since Super Mario Bros. 2 for the original NES.
The latest addition to the collection of power ups is the cat suit. First and foremost, the cat transformation is simply adorable. It allows characters to run faster, perform a swipe attack, and even climb up walls. This makes exploring the levels to find hidden items and new areas as rewarding as ever.
Players like myself will rejoice when picking up the Wii U GamePad this time around. Unlike New Super Mario Bros. U, players will no longer be forced into the role of the “lay down the blocks, b****” during coop instead of actually playing the game.
Super Mario 3D World doesn’t feel as familiar as you’d expect from a Mario title. Navigating the extra dimension can be awkward. Even after having a full level under my belt, I couldn’t save myself from sprinting off the highest point I could find, and sending poor Toad in a cat suit (still adorable) careening off the screen to his demise. I can’t be too upset with Nintendo for giving me something new to master after decades of Mario titles.
As much as Super Mario 3D World adheres to the Mario formula, it has enough extra goodness to be a standout game for the series. This will be a very important exclusive for the Wii U.
Super Mario 3D World comes to the Wii U on November 22nd in the US.
