While most new Nintendo Switch owners are enjoying Super Mario 3D World's port, many returning fans have fixated on Bowser's Fury. Somewhere between appetizer and full experience, Bowser's Fury is essentially an open-world 3D Mario game. It goes beyond even the non-linearity of Super Mario Odyssey, making it a bold step forward for both Mario and Nintendo on the whole.
Reception to the experiment has been overwhelmingly positive, with many players asking for more and hopinh that Bowser's Fury should become the template for 3D Mario games to come. However, while Bowser's Fury shows a great deal of promise, this format needs more work before it becomes the new 3D Mario archetype.
What Needs Work
Bowser's Fury gets a great deal right, but its structure needs more focus. The game is so open that it lacks a through line of more scripted missions. All of the Cat Shines -- Bowser's Fury's core collectable -- feel like side content. They all fall into repetitious categories that lack the creativity and ambition of past 3D Mario games. Cat Shines are collected so quickly that many don't feel earned, and there's decidedly little weight to any of them.
Reaching a Shine in Super Mario Sunshine or a Power Star in Super Mario Galaxy was a far more rewarding experience. Even Super Mario Odyssey, which shifted its focus away from a rigid mission structure, had specific story-related Power Moons that carried more gravitas. Then, these Moons were surrounded by a myriad of optional Moons linked to smaller challenges or discoveries.
Almost all the Cat Shines feel like those optional Power Moons. For players who prefer totally open collect-a-thons like Banjo-Kazooie, Bowser's Fury services that. However, for players who miss the precise, creative design of past 3D Mario games, something is lacking here. Playing Bowser's Fury often feels like going through the motions, platforming around aimlessly and collecting dozens of Cat Shines.
The Strengths of Bowser's Fury
Of course, this is a 3D Mario game, so going through the motions is still very engaging. Even though Mario is working from a modified version of 3D World's fairly limited move set, movement and platforming in Bowser's Fury still feels great. Exploring the jungle gym-like platforming obstacles Nintendo has assembled is a great deal of fun, and it's backed up with a great soundtrack. The fundamental elements of Bowser's Fury are solid.
Even if the Cat Shines become archetypal quickly, there are still a lot of great gameplay ideas here. The focus on Plessie, Mario's dino-like companion, adds a new dimension to the experience. For as lovable as Yoshi is, Plessie has a much larger impact on gameplay and traversal than Yoshi does, and hopefully it becomes a staple member of the Mario cast.
Additionally, the concept of having access to 2D Mario's power-up catalog in a 3D Mario game is novel. Unfortunately, they're underutilized, as there aren't many platforming challenges designed for them specifically. While the implementation needs to be more deliberate than it is in Bowser's Fury, there is so much potential in the power-ups alone.
Then, there's the concept of Fury Bowser, which is both incredibly fun and frustratingly shallow. There's a true cinematic flair to the Fury Bowser encounters. This may be the most menacing that Bowser has ever been, and his boss fights evoke a sense of tension and energy -- at least initially.
Unfortunately, the fights themselves are mechanically simple and quickly become repetitive. They also factor into level design and Cat Shine collection, but only in the most cursory and tedious manner. Like many of Bowser's Fury's innovations, the concept of a persistent boss battle is very engaging, but its execution leaves something to be desired.
On the whole, the strengths and weaknesses of Bowser's Fury speak to the workshopping that is still necessary before leaning into this template. Bowser's Fury is an enjoyable adventure, but that's largely because 3D Mario is intrinsically enjoyable. Even the weakest Mario games are incredibly fun from a basic gameplay perspective. But Bowser's Fury is arguably one of the weakest 3D Mario experiences. The lack of structural focus and poor implementation of ideas leads to a lot of the adventure feeling meandering.
Looking Ahead to the Next 3D Mario
If executed correctly, an open-world 3D Mario title could be truly exceptional. It would be the natural evolution of the sandbox style that Odyssey focused on. However, more work has to be done to flesh out the ideas presented in Bowser's Fury before being turned into a full game. In many respects, Bowser's Fury feels like a less complete version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's Great Plateau. It's a microcosm for a larger experience. But whereas the Great Plateau felt ironclad in its design, Bowser's Fury feels like a first draft.
With more work, Mario could finally get his Breath of the Wild -- a truly open platforming adventure the likes of which are essentially unheard of. It's easy to latch onto that dream and overlook the questionable design of Bowser's Fury itself, but these are flaws that could easily be addressed.
With more focused, grander mission design alongside the smaller-scale Cat Shines currently available, the structure would carry more weight. Paying a bit more attention to variety and careful implementation of ideas like Fury Bowser would make the overarching experience even more engaging. With some careful revision, Bowser's Fury could be Mario's future -- but just not yet.