Super Mario 3D World

If you don't own a Nintendo Wii U Game Console yet ... RUN OUT AND BUY ONE NOW !!! This game alone will justify its purchase, but its not the only great game for the Wii U (Wii Fit U, Pikmin 3, Super Mario Bros U, Luigi U, Resident Evil Revelations, Zen Pinball 2, Nintendo Land, COD Black Ops 2, Assassin's Creed 3 & 4, Deus Ex Directors Edition, Runner 2, Edge, Puddle, Batman Arkham City Amored Edition, & Rayman Legends are some of my favorites not to mention it also plays Wii Games and Virtual Console games too. Mario 3D World appeals to new comers and gaming veterans alike. Nintendo is the only company out there that has the unique ability to create games that appeal to everyone. Now that might seem like a simple statement but when you look at most games from other companies, they have a target market and generally only appeal to that demographic. Games made for kids simply do not hold the attention of adults and games made for adults are dropping the F Bomb and are inappropriate for kids. How does this game appeal to everyone? Graphically, it is stimulating for everyone. Nowhere does it even try to look realistic but it almost makes everyone else look like they got the whole HD thing wrong. How is that even possible? Well, it creates an environment which is entertaining and very visually stimulating for people of all ages causing them to smile, be shocked, and even laugh. It transports you to another world in a way that games that try to look realistic simply can not do. To put it mildly the game looks stunning and runs at 60 frames per second as smooth as silk even when you have 4 characters on the screen at once who have all multiplied themselves 5 times and are all throwing fireballs! That's 20 characters on the screen at one time all moving around and throwing fireballs! AMAZING and great fun too! Variety .. There is so much variety in this game it is actually hard to believe. Interesting gameplay scenerios are thrown at you and you say wow, thats really neat, then the next level is copletely different and you must shift gears, then its on to something new! Too many games these days are the same level after level after level but in this game you have to adjust your thinking and play style depending on what it throws at you. Gameplay - This game appeals to young or casual players in that the characters are easy to control and do not have complicated schemes and casual players can simply have the goal of getting to the flag pole and trying to stay alive. Veteran players on the other hand will seek out all the hidden goodies such as green stars, stamps, and secret areas. They will try to land on top of the flag pole to get a golden flag. Veterans will not rest until they have unlocked all the areas of the game and completed it 100%. Both styles of players will really enjoy themselves. Power Ups ... folks there have never been so many different types of power ups in a single Mario Game before .... there are boatloads of old and new power ups in this game. Multiplayer ... If you play this game with others either as cooperative or competitive, you will be satisfied. It is a much better experience than in previous games because of the isometric perspective. Each player has room to move about in a more open space now making multiplayer a joy to play. If you play competitively, you race to flag pole getting as many points as you can along the way and try to get there first and land at the highest point on the flag pole. If you do, you will earn a crown and will wear it in the next level you play. If you win the next level wearing the crown, you are awarded bonus points but watch out, others can try to physically steal your crown as you all race to the flag pole! Its a lot of laughs and great fun for everyone. This game does not have the same difficulty as say Mario 3 or Lost Worlds but that broadens its appeal in my eyes. Its fun no matter how you play it ... casually or 100 percenting it. It will challenge those who want a challenge and those that don't can find ways around them. The only people this game will not appeal to is someone who refuses to play it for some reason ... but if one of those types of people are sitting in the same room as someone who is playing it, just give them a few minutes, they will buckle down, and say do you have another contoller? It is a sight to behold and will give you a real feel good feeling, it will shock you with its graphics, and it will make you smile, laugh, and even angry too. What more could you ask of a game?

So far, I've been playing this game for 9 hours straight and I'm loving every minute of it. I'm the kind of person to take my time with video games. I like to find little secrets and hidden passages. So far I've gotten every green star (and stamp) in every level up until 6-2. I need to take a rest though. My eyes are killing me.. Anyway, more about the game! It is absolutely a MUST if you own a wii u. The level designs are completely original and replay worthy. They're set up in a way that doesn't make it insanely difficult getting to the top of every flag pole, and getting every green star. I'm not happy, or upset about this (as some gamers are pretty peeved off saying it's "WAY too easy".. Trust me, this isn't true. It's got some hair ripping levels just like SMG1&2). In the end of the day, it's a video game.. and I had lots of fun! Anyway, there are many little details you'll notice in this game that will make you go "OH MY GOD... LOOK AT _____ ! Me, my two little brothers, and my sister were playing multiplayer for about an hour and it was MADDNESS! So many laughs and so much fun! It's pretty much like new super mario bros wii&wiiu, except you can walk in all directions and (obviously) do more intricate things. I strongly recommend buying this game if your family enjoys mario multiplayer. The artistic design to this game is amazing as well, I can't express how happy I am to see mario in HD. The worlds look more beautiful than ever.. Another thing I really enjoyed is that there are 4 different characters always at your disposal! With certain strengths and weaknesses, it's great if you're having trouble with a level and one of the other characters can ease the pain a little with faster running/higher jumping/levitating. I also enjoyed the throwback looks they gave the characters icons! Made me feel like I was little kid again. I also enjoyed the fact that on the map, you're not secluded to just using the directional pad to automatically move you from one world to the next.. Nope! You walk around the map in free direction! Amazing! I give it a 10/10. I love this game, worth the money for sure.. ****UPDATE 11/26/13****** Just beat the 8th world, I've gotten every star and stamp up until the first level of the star world!! Beware, the star world can get very frustrating if you're trying to get all the green stars and stamps.. Anyway, I was not disappointed with this game at all. The last boss did justice to it. I was very pleased. It was challenging to the point where it wasn't annoying, but fun. It made me laugh and go "all right let's try again" whenever I died, not throw the the remote across the room and say "THATS IT IM DONE" Like some previous mario games! So I was pleased with that! But If you're a hardcore mario fan looking to unlock/collect everything. This game probably gives out a good 20-25 hours of gameplay in order to beat it. (And that's not including the star world) so it's pretty decent. I strongly recommend this is if you own a wii u as it's a whole different animal from the other mario games you've ever played. It's not familiar territory at all, it brings a breath of fresh air to the franchise and it's exactly what I needed! ****UPDATE 12/6/13***** Getting all the green stars and stamps in star world, mushroom world, fireplant world, and crown world Is HARD. Jesus.. I'd like to see all the people who are saying this game is "too easy" try and beat some of these levels. Some of em require intense concentration. Not to mention, while you're concentrating on not dying.. you have to remember to find all the green stars and a stamp! I'm still working on the crown world and It's pretty tough. Can you do it without using the invincible leaf? Cause there have been times where I contemplated whether i should use it or not. THAT'S how frustrating it got. A mario fanatic tried to cheat his way through a level...but I didn't. You just have to concentrate, and eventually you'll be able to do it without any help. I strongly recommend this game as it has a great amount of content on it! Also, you unlock a secret character in star world. That's 5 players to choose from! Pretty sweet if you ask me. It's a great selection for anybody. Cheers for Super Mario!

First off, let me start by explaining the situation we have right now regarding the console wars. People seem to think we don't need Nintendo anymore since we have the two powerhouses in Sony and Microsoft, but man they couldn't be more wrong. I've been buying and playing Nintendo games on Nintendo consoles since the early days when they first brought out the nes. I'll never forget the great experiences I had with it. Then the SNES came out and it was an amazing successor to the nes. I didn't think video games could get much better and then came the beloved n64 which quickly proved me wrong. With games like GoldenEye, perfect dark, conkers, Mario kart, turok and the list goes on and on. Sony entered the console market at this time too by releasing the ps1. I bought one, as well as a load of games and I remember thinking, this is the peak for video games! I played crash, medal of honor, syphon filter and many more. Although the ps1 sold a lot more units than the n64, I still considered the n64 to be the better console overall because it had more classic games. Next, the GameCube and ps2 came out. I have to admit, I hated the GameCube and every game that came out for it. Heck, I even hated the controller and that stupid yellow peg leg joystick. The ps2 was amazing though and I probably bought 50 games for it. I honestly never touched my GameCube again after I bought the ps2 and I promised myself that if Nintendo continued down that path then I was going to be done with them for good. Then the Xbox came out in 2001 and I bought all the exclusives and every game I had on ps2. That's right, I wanted to see the differences in both consoles. The differences were incredible to say the least. The Xbox had better graphics, controls, load times and was just more fun overall. Aside from a few ps2 exclusives, Xbox was just a much better experience for me and that's why I give the crown to Microsoft for that generation. The next console I bought was the Wii. It was perfect and seemed to be the holy grail of video game consoles. It won sales wise last gen and rightfully so because it had the best games and the most innovation. That brings me to the main issue I have with the gaming market now days and gamers in general. Why are we so concerned about graphics to the point that we'll pick graphics over innovation. If you haven't noticed, it's already almost like real life, so there's really not much more room to grow graphically. However, the sky's the limit for true innovators like Nintendo or whoever else wants to step up with new ideas. I'll be the first to admit that Nintendo needs some new franchises to stay relevant, but you still can't deny their ability to make amazing games and even durable hardware for that matter. Lets face it, if Nintendo dies then gaming could very well die too because we can't rely on Sony and Microsoft to pave the way with new innovative ideas. It's nothing against either company because I'm not a fanboy and I own every console thus far except for ps4 and xb1, but facts are facts. Their content with more powerful hardware and slight controller changes whereas Nintendo brings an entirely new experience everytime! It's hit or miss for them, but at least they're taking chances and that's what leaders do. So, stop all the Nintendo hating and everyone get out there and support them, so we can see what they'll do next. OK, as for this particular game, I love it and I think it's the best Mario game ever made. I really have a feeling this gen will be like the n64 vs. Ps1. By that I mean the ps4 will win in sales numbers, but I believe the Wiiu will have more legendary experiences. Only time will tell, but I just wish for a great generation of gaming despite what console it's on. Happy gaming!!!

I've been playing Mario games since the original arcade game on the Atari 2600. This game is spectacular all around. Very solid game play, controls are flawless as usual, graphics and music are top notch. The new power-ups are fun, even if a bit silly looking (looking at you Cat Mario) and bring fun, new game play elements to the series. Being able to play as 4 different characters isn't brand new to Mario, and neither is playing as 4 players all together, BUT being able to play as 4 different characters, with a 5th hidden character, each with their own specific jumps and run speeds, all together and in a full 3D environment IS brand new. It works, and it works well. You can do most of the stuff seen in the "New" Super Mario Bros games, carry characters to help them get through tough spots, or put them into bubbles if it's getting to chaotic in a tough area to get through, to save lives. All characters share lives this time, instead of having their own, so the bubble can be a big help. It's a great multiplayer game, the best Mario multiplayer game yet, by far. Don't let the cartoonish exterior fool you "hardcore" gamers out there. While children can most certainly enjoy this game (and I look forward to playing it with my daughter when I get home from Afghanistan) there is a real challenge in this game, especially if you are a completionist, and want to get 100% Some of the early levels (mostly the first 5 worlds) can be beaten fairly easily, so kids will enjoy the fact they can beat some levels without dying too much. However, collecting all the stamps and stars in every level, is a bigger challenge. The later levels get harder, and even after you have beaten the main story, there is A LOT more to do. Further proof this game is good for the "hardcore" or "mature" gamer as well as kids? It took me around 45-50 hours to get 100% completion, and I died 251 times doing it. Granted, I rushed some levels and took some risks that caused some deaths, but it was a very good challenge to complete. Playing with friends can help to shorten the experience, and can be a lot of fun. I got my money's worth out of this game, and then some. Great graphics, great controls, fun multiplayer and tons of content, sure to keep casual gamers, young gamers and experienced, hardcore gamers busy for many hours. A must buy for the great Wii U console. Highly recommended.

If Nintendo’s first party games are known for something it’s for their perfect controls, beautiful graphics that push their current console to the max and memorable music. Even though the Wii was not technically capable of producing HD graphics I was certainly impressed by how pretty Mario Galaxy games looked and now that the WiiU can produce HD graphics I’m so happy that I can finally enjoy a 3D Mario game in all its High Definition glory. The level of detail they put into every level makes every world feel differently and you have many ways to approach the situation, especially with this game and it’s first entry into the 4 player co-op game in a 3D Mario game giving you the chance to play as Mario, Luigi, Toad or Princess Peach, each with their own characteristic á la Mario Bros. 2 for NES. The main new thing is the cat suit which will let you control your character in a very different way that you’re used to. You can climb up walls and slash at enemies instead of the usual stomp and it will also let you reach new and hidden places or collect new stars too. As always, you need very precise movements to achieve whatever’s necessary to get your goal, be it a star or a powerup and things might get as chaotic as you’d expect just as when playing New Super Mario Bros. The variety of puzzles will make playing through a game a breeze since there is rarely a repetitive mechanic in other levels, and if there is it’ll include some clever twist that will make it feel only vaguely familiar. After playing most of the new games in this new generation you’ll notice that a lot of them require you to go through a lengthy tutorial of explanation of every single thing you need to do, and Mario (or most of Nintendo’s) games guide you by gameplay alone through all the tricks you can do naturally that you won’t even know they’re teaching them. Every level feels familiar as you’ll notice homages to the history of Mario games, from the music to the world where you choose the level, but always with something new. It’s such a joy to play this game it’s hard to describe. If you own a WiiU, or thinking about getting one, this might be the main reason to do it in the near future (Smash Bros. and Mario Kart will come out next year). You will not be disappointed. Whether you play single player or co-op, this is a game you will not soon forget.

From the years 1985-2005, there were six Mario platformers in existence, eight if you count the fantastic Yoshi's Island and the paint job of Doki Doki Panic known to us westerners as Super Mario Bros 2. In the last eight years alone, Nintendo has made an additional eight Mario platformers. Mario games used to be events. Sometimes they were earth shaking, watershed, revolutionary events. That is no longer true. And despite my lifelong love of Mario, I had started to get a little burned out. All of this makes it that much more impressive that this game blew me away as much as it did. Super Mario 3D World is an insane game, filled to the brim with pure joy. I am convinced the development team, Tokyo EAD, is a magic factory. Every idea, and there are lots of ideas, is meant to be fun or amusing. The cat suit, complete with characters meowing and walking around like cats. Plessie the goofy, hard to control dinosaur that you ride in select levels. Multiplying your character seven times over. Playing with your friends. Everything in this game was designed with the mantra, "what is the most fun thing we can possibly do?" And they usually succeed at accomplishing their goal. Even the least of Mario games have superb physics to their game, meaning running and jumping around just feels right, and 3D World is no exception. What really separates the merely good Mario games from the all time classic Mario games is the level design. 3D World has fantastic level design. I think the Mario Galaxy games have the highest of highs when it comes to Mario levels, but they also have some middling levels that are probably actually fun but by comparison they seem to be a drag. 3D World may not hit those highs of Galaxy, but they come close and there is no level that I would consider "middling." It's all Grade A, incredibly varied stuff. Really, there's no other game trying, let alone succeeding, at being this seemingly drug induced brand of pure joy. If you like Mario at all, and why on earth wouldn't you, you should play this game. I know there's been a lot of them recently, but this (and both the Galaxy games) is among the most fun I've had playing video games. Ever. Huzzah for hyperbole!

Was happy to get Prime shipping on this item, however, the disc I received was defective. After the first level of the game, I would receive an error telling me to clean the disc. This is not my first rodeo with broken Wii U games and I dont necessarily hold the seller responsible. Its a major issue that Nintendo solved by selling a new console and abandoning their old one. I ended up getting the game through the Nintendo eShop. A bright spot in this scenario. Id rather own the physical copy of any game, but this game is really fun and its a reliable alternative. Make sure when buying Wii U discs that wherever you buy them, they have a solid return policy.

Super Mario 3D World effectively picks up where 3D Land left off. There's a lot to love about Nintendo's foray into Wii U platforming, but veteran players will likely be put off by several elements. 3D World's biggest enemy is Mario himself. To be clear, this is not a true follow-up to the universally adored Super Mario Galaxy series, nor does it find itself at home amongst even the likes of Mario 64 or Super Mario Sunshine. Players going in expecting a similar gameplay style and feel will be genuinely disappointed by short, shallow, and linear levels that spare little time in the way of visual spectacle and mostly feature simple challenges. This is a Mario game for everyone. Levels are divided up between 8 primary worlds, which serve as the "overworld" hub to use the term loosely. Boredom quickly set in during the first few worlds where levels could be completed on the first try without much effort. There are 4 main characters to choose between, and each have their own special abilities and perks, but they all move painfully slowly. Even if you're holding the sprint button, just running down a straight corridor can be an arduous ordeal. The difficulty curve accelerates at a snail's pace. The game finally warmed up to me in World 5, when they implemented a mechanic that made me admit, "ok, that was clever." Once the first 8 worlds of the game's main "story" are beaten, then the real challenges open up in the secret worlds. But here I have the same complaint I had with 3D Land before it: the levels are tiny, soulless, bite-sized samples of ideas that run down a timer, forcing you to sprint through them without much appreciation for their design, let alone time to explore it. The positive side is that if you don't like a game mechanic or idea, it won't last long, but if you do like it, it probably won't show up anywhere else in the game. You develop no attachment to the levels because there's no story tying them together, and no real reason compelling Mario to continue moving to the right. The worlds do not give the sense that they exist for any other purpose than for Mario to run over, and this fact takes me completely out of the game. Verdict: Like I said, I've been spoiled by Nintendo's previous offerings. For what it is, 3D World is a splendid game. Power-ups and multiplayer are implemented perfectly, and completing the game 100% is a herculean feat (I won't ruin what that entails, but I'm close!) My high rating comes from appreciating the game at face value. It's an accessible game for anyone that (eventually) provides challenges for even the best players with great music and shiny graphics. While it doesn't stand out in the innovation department and leaves a somewhat forgettable impression, all in all, 3D World is fun. And that's what a Mario game should be. Pros: The Mushroom Kingdom never looked better Great music Cat suit & other power-ups are intuitive and well-utilized Later levels are great (final level is beastly) Designed for multiplayer Immediately accessible to anyone Cons: Can't stand up next to older entries in the franchise Literally no dialogue Almost no story No emotional attachment Slow-moving characters Short, shallow, forgettable, linear levels Timer Precious little spectacle to show off Wii U's graphical capabilities -- just endless streams of confetti Copy/paste simple boss battles Why do we still need lives?