How many Mario cats do you have?…….

Super Mario 3D World! (Wii U)

So far I have really enjoyed owning a Wii U. Despite many people feeling that the system is "behind" in capabilities of its rivals or the fact that it does currently lack deep 3rd party supporting games, I really do enjoy the system and what it brings to the table. Things such as a lower price point, classic characters, and good BUILD QUALITY (AHEM, MICROSOFT) do mean something to consumers. And I'm sorry but I'm not upset that there isn't the same selection of first person shooters as I really don't play much of those anyway. And I do enjoy playing a console and library of games that are still challenging that also don't require me to wait until my kids are asleep before I can enjoy the full content of the game. You might think I'm foolish, maybe it's untrue, you might think I'm crazy, I enjoy Wii U….

SHUT UP THAT WAS A GOOD SONG!

So to save you from reading anything too fanboy-ish, I have absolutely enjoyed this game so far. It combines the 3D "free roaming" levels of Super Mario 64, with the classic 2D platforming that continues to somehow make Mario games enjoyable after 28 years. The colors look great, the gameplay is smooth and easy for anyone to pick up and play, the fun power-ups are there, and Nintendo does a great job of paying homage to itself through various musics & graphics that bring back the great memories of setting the TV to channel 3 + blowing in the game. 

Quick note: In case any of you are going to be dusting off your classic Nintendo Entertainment System, blowing in the cartridges, was part of what caused the blinking screen in the 1st place. Replace the "pin connector," which can be found at any game store or ebay for a few bucks and your golden. Just let me know if you need help and I'd be glad to. Unless you are my sister-in-law to which case, I'm not good enought to beat you at Tetris yet, so you're on your own.  ;)

*OF COURSE!

The premise of the game is that Bowser is up to his usual tricks (OF COURSE!*) and Mario & Co. must put a stop to him. Right from the start of the game, we get a throwback to Super Mario Bros. 2 (US Version) and are able to chose from 1 of 4 characters to complete the levels; Mario (controls easily), Luigi (jumps high), Princess (floats), and Toad (dashes quickly). There are a few new items like the Bell which allows our heros to wear the Cat costume, and the Cherries that allows multiple versions of your character. 

Now, one of my ABSOLUTE favorite "side" parts of the game is the Captain Toad Adventures. These are side missions that center around a small Toad that don't take long and do provide a good challenge. The levels are small and easy to see with camera rotation, however Captain Toad cannot jump, so you have to plan your route and sometimes back track in order to complete the goal of obtaining all 5 green stars before time runs out. I freakin loved this and look forward to playing these almost as much as the regular game! Another neat item that coincides with "The Year of Luigi" is the addition of the bonus game "Luigi Bros." It's simply a copy of the original arcade classic "Mario Bros." with the main character being Luigi. Enjoy the POW, but use wisely my friends……..

DOWNFALLS: The only major downfall I can immediately see for myself right now is the price. Is this game worth $50 - $60? Wellllllllllllllsortttttttofffffffffffmaybeeeeeeeeeeeee, idunno. Is it worth $30 - $40? You better believe it is. I do highly recommend that any person that has enjoyed a Mario game at one time in their life or another play this game somehow.




Until next time,

I, I've been watching you
I think, I wanna know ya
Said I, I'm a little dangerous
Girl, I'd love to show ya……..



Thanks for reading, take care & have fun out there