-Sigmund Freud
Recently, Nintendo has been on a porting mission – titles like Pikmin 3, Xenoblade Chronicles and even Super Mario 3D All Stars have been reimagined and re-released on Nintendo’s continuously impressive Switch. These ports have allowed Nintendo to share some of its videogame gems with people who may have missed them on previous platforms like the Wii U. However, it’s also allowed for a steady stream of games to be released, during the current climate. Luckily, one of these ports is Super Mario 3D World, but rather than a straight-up-port, this release comes with some added spice – I’m of course talking about Bowser’s Fury.
Super Mario 3D World, a successor to the 3DS’ 3D Land, is a flagpole Mario game with a twist. The levels are linear with a clear start and finish, but which path you take to reach the lofty flagpole gives the player some flexibility and creativity. The expansion, Bowser’s Fury, is absolutely nothing like this, and its open world gameplay is more closely linked to Odyssey or Galaxy.
The story sees Bowser Jnr. ask Mario for help to save his dad (Boswer) who’s flung himself into a giant rampage. Why he’s mad is anybody’s guess – could be all the Cat ears, could be because Nintendo are pulling all the special 35th anniversary Mario releases at the end of the month. But whatever the reason, Mario’s here to sort him out. The open world game has several “Islands” where you collect Cat Shines – these shines help repel Bowser during one of his rampage phases, which occur every couple of minutes. It’s a clever game mechanic as certain shines only become available after each Bowser tantrum. It feels like an expansion on 3D World’s flexible linearity, but takes it one step further – creating linear shine missions within a completely open space.
Effortless controls, power-up caches and pure gaming quality aside, it’s the islands across the open world that really do stand out in the game due to their individuality and personality. So, I’m breaking down my favourite Islands from Bowser’s Fury and how these are to my rage, as the Cat shines are to Bowser’s.
Did You Know?
- Sold just under 6 million copies on Wii U.
- Introduced the Cat Suit power-up!
- Literally, everything in Bowser’s Fury has Cat ears…
10) Risky Whisker Island
Kicking off the list is Risky Whisker Island. Risky by name and Risky by nature, this Island is made up of a congregation of temporary, floating platforms. Having Mario touch a platform starts the countdown that results in said platform plummeting to the horrifying depths below. This means you’ve got to keep Mario moving until you can reach one of the very few permanent platforms littered around the Island. I like how the platforms enclose the Lighthouse within the centre – each Island requires Mario to collect 5 shines that reside within the Lighthouse, so it’s a constant reminder of what’s at stake. It’s not an overly difficult Island, and the other Islands that open up alongside this one are perhaps more impressive, so it unfortunately doesn’t claw its way any higher up the list.
9) Pipe Path Tower
One of the newer features in Super Mario 3D World was the use of clear pipes. Seeing through the pipes to show Mario combined well with creating a “pipe-maze” of twists and turns, allowing the player for the first time to guide Mario whilst he’s inside a pipe. In Bowser’s Fury, Pipe Path Tower uses a similar approach that sees Mario navigating his way to the top of the turbulent tower. More complex than an Escher painting, you’ll be leaping from pipe-to-pipe, picking up Shine Shards, and dodging great balls of fire from the many Fire Bros. Some of the earlier pipes dip into the surrounding ocean which means you’re forced to experiment with which directions will progress Mario towards the summit. There are also some areas where you’ll have to walk along the top of the pipes, creating some nail biting, precise platforming. The great thing about the clear pipes is they’ll protect you from those Bowser attacks, meaning you can boot up a Netflix documentary and kill some time whilst he throws a wobbler.
8) Pounce Bounce Isle
After the opening tutorial shines you’re soon given the freedom to explore – of the three Islands that are available to wander right away, one of these is Pounce Bounce Isle. You’ve probably guessed by now that the name of the Island gives a clue into that Island’s gimmick, and Pounce Bounce Isle is no different. Made up of “Bounce pads” that propel Mario into the air, this Island has you cascading over chasms of space to reach the slippery slide down to the Lighthouse. There’s a good mixture of platforming and enemy dodging here as you’ll narrowly avoid Bullet Bills, Boomerang Bros and Blocksteppers, all whilst being hurtled into the air and sickening speeds. The “Hurry! Jump High, Jump Fast!” Shine is a welcome change as it veers you off to make lower altitude leaps over Lake Lapcat in a timely manner. This Island is a good all-rounder, but the gimmick and lack of difficulty doesn’t do too much to push the player.
7) Trickity Tower
Don’t judge a book by its cover has never been truer than it is for Trickity Tower. On the surface, this Island looks like a single small circular platform with the Lighthouse near the entrance, but the challenge is made immediately aware to you during the first “So Close Yet So Far” Shine. The shine appears mere inches away from Mario’s larger than average schnose and if you think simply walking over to pick it up was an option, you’d be wrong. You soon learn the level is made up of invisible walls and platforms that only show as you touch/approach them – these encase the first shine around its entire perimeter. Ground pounding helps reveal slightly more of the path and you’re soon led down a rabbit hole of leaps and climbs before you can claim that first shine that started at your fingertips. Some of the missions take you down different invisible paths, whilst the “Blue Coin Bustle” shine teaches you a lesson in humility, as you’re rushed to make quick decisions in the interest of time before the coins dissipate!
6) Slipskate Slope
A ski-slope personified, Slipskate Slope is a desperate downhill dash – all achieved from the comfort of an Ice Skate (or Kuribo’s Skate as I like to call it!) Most of the missions on this Island have you donning Kuribo’s Skate and pelting full throttle down to the Lighthouse. You’ll glide over spikes, through rotating tunnels and you’ll be zigzagging around the mice like (yes with Cat ears) Skipsqueaks. I really like the “Key to the Cat Shine” mission on this Island – the caged shine is right at the very top of the slope, so after making your way to the bottom in the usual fashion, you have to carry the key right back up to the summit. It sounds like a chore, but as each level you descend on the way down is off a sheer drop, the route back forces you to explore the outer edges and inner workings of the Island. You’ll tiptoe on crumbling, narrow edges and have to reveal hidden question mark blocks, allowing you to climb the dizzying heights back to the cage. It’s a great Island filled with racing thrills and explorative inquisitiveness.
5) Mount Magmeow
Perhaps one of the best looking Islands on the list, Mount Magmeow is a hot-bed of lava, volcanic eruptions and pitfalls. With the cat shaped mountain luring in the background, the majority of this Island is made up of moving switchboard platforms that you need to navigate to the top – all whilst avoiding melting Mario into an Italian puddle. You’ll need well-timed jumps to hit blocks that switch the “tracks” of the switchboards, and dainty footsteps to creep around the pencil-thin ledges. The Island is towards the end of the story which means the difficulty is considerably higher than some of its predecessors. It’s this challenge, combined with the visual impressiveness, that lands Mount Magmeow in the top half of this list.
4) Clawswipe Colosseum
Around halfway through the story, you’ll stumble across Clawswipe Colosseum. This gladiator-esque level produces a majority of its Cat Shines in the form of boss-fights. You have to gain access to the inner of the colosseum to begin the fight. However, with each Shine mission, a whole new floor is added to the colosseum, and the way to enter is changed, making finding the doorway to the fight a challenge in itself. Unfortunately, the boss fights are a little disappointing as they’re repetitions of the Pom Pom and Boom Boom fights (OH MY GOD WHY DO THEY HAVE CAT EARS TOO) from the main 3D World title. But, overall I like how this Island changes it up – it could have been another platforming Island with a gimmick, but the inclusion of a battle-themed Island means you don’t have to save all your ass-kicking for Bowser.
3) Rolling Roller Isle
Probably the most difficult Island within Bowser’s Fury is Rolling Roller Isle. This Island has all the vibes of a traditional final-world Mario sidescroller. You’ve got large, difficult-to-navigate, rotating platforms, a constant bed of lava beneath you, and Kameks and Bob-Ombs trying to take you out from every angle. The onslaught of platforming precision and attacking enemies means you have to stay alert at all times – keeping Mario nimble as you hop your way up to the Shines. Each of the Islands includes a “Five Cat Shine Shards” mission where you need to locate five Cat “tokens” to get the Shine. On Rolling Roller Isle, this mission is easily the most troublesome of the bunch. The tokes are hidden at particular points on the rotating “puzzle-like” pieces – usually hovering close to the lava – and even behind a bob-omb-able wall. For what appears to be the final “level” of Bowser’s Fury, the difficulty of this Island is fitting, as is the feeling of accomplishment for beating it!
2) Scamper Shores
Scamper Shores is likely to be the first Island you visit after the tutorial Shine and it’s also one of the best. Setting the stage for the mechanics, gameplay and vibe of Bowser’s Fury, there’s a lot resting on the shoulders of this first level – but oh boy does it deliver. This multi-levelled island is made up of spinning, climbable gates, rows of Conkdors trying to peck at you, and a raised summit only accessible during one of Bowser’s hissy fits. It’s stunningly designed and offers plenty of nooks and crannies for you to explore – allowing the player to sink their claws into the way Bowser’s Fury plays out. The “Key to the Cat Shine” mission on this Island is a highlight of mine . Swapping all the Conkdors for Piranha Creepers, you have to hop, skip and wall jump to the key at the top of the level before taking a mighty, plant-dodging plummet back to the sandy shores. This well-balanced and platforming beaut is a Shine-ing example of how good Nintendo can be when they get it spot on.
1) Crisp Climb Tower
Taking the top spot for my favourite Island in Bower’s Fury is Crisp Climb Tower. This Island is made up of two large towers – one’s firmly rooted in the ground whilst the other is just magically floating thanks to a few spinning rotors (at least it’s not got cat ears). You’re given access to the propeller block often on this Island, and it’s a power-up I absolutely loved in 3D Land, so was super happy to see it used in 3D World / Bowser’s Fury. Using the propeller block, you’ll leap and hover from rotating ledge to rotating ledge as they spin around the outer sides of both towers. After ascending the first smaller tower, you then have to leap across to the floating tower before starting your ascent here. This is where the stakes rise, as one mistake and you’ll be starting from square one. The camera angles of the sheer drop keep this front of mind and although it may be sweaty palm time, the pay-off at the top is completely worth it. The highest altitude point in the game, the panoramic view of Lake Lapcat is stunning – this, alongside the well hidden Shine Shards, alternate ways of climbing the tower during a Fury, and the nifty circular “ice-rink” around the base of the first tower make this Island a memorable Mario experience.
I know, I’ve snuck a few cat-puns in. It’s difficult not to when the feline references are almost everywhere in this little spin-off title. The Island names, all the enemies with Cat ears, CAT SHINES, the list goes on. Pawsome puns aside (oh dear me), this game is an absolute delight – a short, sweet, quality filled Mario title that’s definitely worth your while (and whiskers…sorry).