Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury – Likes & Gripes

 

⚠️SPOILER WARNING⚠️

Cats of all shapes and sizes in a short but sweet mix of 3D World and Odyssey in Bowser's Fury. 

Likes

• Lake Lapcat is very Odyssey-influenced.
• Mario's faster and less plasticky.
• Every island features a particular mechanic showcased in only one or two levels from 3D World.*
• Item storage!
• Bowser isn't a complete pushover in boss fights.
• How much Bowser Jr. helps out is all up to you.
• Don't call an Uber... call Plessie.

Gripes

• The mode's a bit short.
• Repetitive Cat Shine levels (shards, timed challenges, etc.) are repetitive.
• Fury Bowser seemingly pops up too often later in the game.**
• Lack of basic 3D Mario moves (ledge-grabbing, backflip) make some areas a chore to navigate.
• Can't quickly adjust the camera towards where Mario's facing.
• Cat Plessie...***

SCORE: 4/5

*Reason I like this so much is that all the different mechanics are reused in one distinct world as opposed to linear levels with little in common with each other.

**This is especially the case when you're completing the Calico cat missions.

***Making an aquatic dino look cat-like just looks... wrong.