Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

MEAN.

...how much

So I finished Bowser's Fury with all shines now and I have to say it's fantastic, I can totally see where people are coming from with the "concept" talk and as much I'm sure I'd enjoy a full game like this I'd be happy if it were done Odyssey style again next game they release.

How are we all feeling about when Bowser have Fury? I had the odd moment when it was annoying but once I figured him out it made for some really fun bits that felt like set pieces even though they weren't, would actually like to see that adapted further.

I think I got up to 93/100 Cat Shines and the main reason I haven't gotten the last few is because his Fury makes getting some of them slightly too annoying (picking up kittens that you then drop when it happens because they get all possessed and evil). Otherwise, it was pretty easy to wait it out or make sure you dashed over to somewhere with Fury Blocks to make use of it, so it never bothered me too much.

I enjoyed it overall - it felt like a different beast to Odyssey and I quite enjoyed the daft "EVERYTHING IS CATS" vibe.

Didn't have you down as a Cat person.

I know I'm a month late in posting about it, but that co-op session with Cappa, Dusty and Smurf was great fun! There was some connection hiccups here or there, but what do you expect when you're dealing with Nintendo's online? I'd be game for revisiting our co-op run at some point, for what it's worth.

I'm very glad I chose to beat the game myself before hopping into co-op, mind you, as there we did barrel through the levels at a fair pace and I enjoyed experiencing each level at my own plodding rate in my solo run. That same Mario charm - the old "every level does something new!" adage - is still present here, but it doesn't shine as brightly as it does in Odyssey or Galaxy in my eyes.

Conversely, Bowser's Fury is scratching that itch. It feels much more like an Odyssey expansion than an add-on to 3DW, but that's no bad thing. I've really enjoyed what I've played of it thus far and I really ought to go back and finish it!

I'm all for playing some more of it, curious to see how we'd fare in the later worlds. I couldn't really put Bowser's Fury down once I got started, it really tapped in to the collect everything fun of open world Mario and island hopping felt great too, it's definitely just more Odyssey though.

I'll be playing Bowser's Fury in co-op. I'm actually wondering if that's the right approach... It sounds like it's a bit more special than the main game, and may deserve a bit more reverence.

@JayMoyles wrote:

I know I'm a month late in posting about it, but that co-op session with Cappa, Dusty and Smurf was great fun! There was some connection hiccups here or there, but what do you expect when you're dealing with Nintendo's online? I'd be game for revisiting our co-op run at some point, for what it's worth.

I'd be game for that too - let's arrange that for some time 

...I've still not played Bowser's Fury. I keep forgetting about it 

@Balladeer wrote:

I'll be playing Bowser's Fury in co-op.  I'm actually wondering if that's the right approach...  It sounds like it's a bit more special than the main game, and may deserve a bit more reverence.

I didn't think it worked that well in co-op - whoever plays at Bowser Jr doesn't get that much to do. You'll probably shit on it just as much as the main game if you take that approach.

@Balladeer wrote:

I'll be playing Bowser's Fury in co-op.  I'm actually wondering if that's the right approach...  It sounds like it's a bit more special than the main game, and may deserve a bit more reverence.

Yeah, it's definitely more in the vein of Galaxy with how it handles co-op - Bowser Jr. doesn't do much. It's very much a "little brother" co-op mode, if you follow.

Cappa: Name a date and I'll do my best to be there for some 3DW co-op action!

Bobbins. If only we had another local co-op game to play...

I say that, MHR might have to wait (in multiplayer anyway) as we finish the hidden worlds. Weirdly I think we're getting into it a bit more in these! Maybe it's just because The Lady has now got to grips with Mario: maybe it's us both laughing our heads off as we die, again.

That's 3DW done: I didn't finish Champion's Road on the Wii U so I wasn't going to try on the Switch, and we couldn't be bothered with the Big Mystery House either. Definitely picked up towards the end!

Onto Bowser's Fury and... yep, co-op it isn't. My first thought was frustration that they'd done this in the 3DW engine: I can't triple-jump! Why can't I triple-jump? That said, I did enjoy the first island, and the battle with Bowser was big dumb fun. I'm worried that aspect might get old as the adventure progresses though.

@Balladeer wrote:

Weirdly I think we're getting into it a bit more in these!  

Nope, that's everyone. 3D World was the epitome of the Mario "the game starts at the end" thing.

@Balladeer wrote:

That's 3DW done: I didn't finish Champion's Road on the Wii U so I wasn't going to try on the Switch, and we couldn't be bothered with the Big Mystery House either.  Definitely picked up towards the end!

Onto Bowser's Fury and... yep, co-op it isn't.  My first thought was frustration that they'd done this in the 3DW engine: I can't triple-jump!  Why can't I triple-jump? That said, I did enjoy the first island, and the battle with Bowser was big dumb fun.  I'm worried that aspect might get old as the adventure progresses though.

On the Bowser Battles, I don't think you have to do them that much but keep in mind that you can pick things up as Mario, I only noticed this in the last battle I did but it made the thing so much more enjoyable.

So you can. I'm now up to 42 Cat Shines and I don't seem to be able to wait him out any more, which is bloody annoying.

@Buskalilly wrote:

@Balladeer wrote:

Weirdly I think we're getting into it a bit more in these!   

Nope, that's everyone. 3D World was the epitome of the Mario "the game starts at the end" thing.

Ah okay. It's... not a great thing.

In terms of difficulty I really like that approach because it means young kids get the satisfaction of finishing a game and dorks like us get the extra challenge. When all the creativity is also back-loaded, I guess it could be seen as a problem.

Oh yep, I mean in terms of creativity. I felt there were maybe three or four levels before world seven that did something creative? The difficulty approach worked fine for me, especially as it was The Lady's first Mario!

I've now got all the Cat Shines and beaten Bowser for the final time. I can confirm that Bowser's Fury did indeed get old as the adventure progressed. Still a good adventure, but... mixed feelings.

I've still not polished off Bowser's Fury - thank MHR for that - but I'm curious as to why you thought it didn't have legs. I think I'm most of the way through the adventure and I've still really enjoyed the freedom this mode offers compared to the main game.

Ah yes, it's not quite clear is it? By Bowser's Fury in italics I mean the game mode, and by Bowser's Fury I mean the thing in Bowser's Fury where Bowser goes on an inky rampage. Despite its repetitive tasks Bowser's Fury didn't get old, but Bowser's Fury did. Crystal clear.