Mario 3D World is a great game. It
plays perfectly, has great leveldesign, looks awesome and is simply a
blast from start to finish. Next to Wonderful 101 and A Link between
worlds it was the best game I played int 2013. I just wanted to make
this clear, before talking about how it was not the game the Wii-U
needed.
It sold great. There is no denying
that. And it received critical praise all over the globe. But it also
felt quite safe. There is nothing wrong with that of course, but 3D
World was not the game the Wii-U needed. I just think that most
people expected more than a 3D Land sequel for Marios first HD
adventure, no matter how good the final game actually was. From start
to finish 3D World played it mostly safe. It was a more grounded
adventure after the grandness of Mario Galaxy, but this isn't what
brings the people to your console. It lacked the WOW factor to do
that. While Super Mario Galaxy was a grand undertaking aimed to bring
many people to the Wii, Mario 3D World felt more like an adventure to
maintain. It would have been a better fit for a successful console,
later in its lifecycle. Of course Nintendo couldn't know that when
they launched the Wii-U. 3D World was probably well in development at
that time, but, like so many things from the Wii-U, it can serve as a
lesson for the future.
I think many expected more from
Nintendos first HD console in it's first year and I can't blame them.
While New Super Mario Bros. U was the best in the series it released
to closely to New Super Mario Bros. 2 and didn't offer anything truly
new. And 3D World is still a 3D Land sequel. Bigger and better in
every aspect, but many people just shrugged it off because they can
already play a similar game on their 3DS. Of course it sold well, but
it was mostly the hardcore Nintendo Fans, who had already bought the
Wii-U. To put it simply 3D World wasn't a game that sold Wii-Us but a
game that sold to already existing Wii-U owners.
Then what kind of game should the next
Mario be? I think they should go back to the style of Mario 64 and
Sunshine. Galaxy is a great game, but I don't want a Super Mario
Galaxy 3. I would prefer them to go back to the world design of the
first two 3D Marios instead of the more obstacle course oriented
approach in Galaxy. What I mean with that, is that Galaxy, if you
look at it from a neutral standpoint, has very little exploration.
Every Star is pretty much self confined and at the end of a specific
obstacle course. While in Mario 64 or Sunshine you could find Stars
other than the one you selected at the beginning. In Super Mario
Galaxy the scenery was grand, but not the levels themselves. And I
think Mario has great potential in that direction. They only need to
use it.
Let's give an example of what I would
love to see in a Mario Game. And for that I want you to take a look
at a game that overflows with details, imagination and variety. Mario
Kart 8
How awesome would this course be as a
level in a 3D Mario. The power of the Wii-U (and following consoles)
allows for such imaginative level design. This level could play with
Mario starting at the base of the great tree and slowly advancing
upwards till he reaches the Shy Guy village up top.(And then slides
back down with the huge waterslide^^) With different tasks and
branches on his way upwards. Also they should fully embrace the
concept of adventure and wonder with the game. When entering a level
there shouldn't be a specific star to select, but you should just get
thrown into the world. Let the players awaken their inner adventurer.
Let them explore the worlds at their own pace and find their own way.
Of course the level design would need to be adjusted to such a new
playstyle, but I trust Nintendo to pull this off. Also this would
open up a lot of possibilities. For example one star in the
hypothetical Wild Woods stage could involve the Toads trying to
repair their elevator to the treetops. After you helped them you
would have swift access to the Shy Guy village. Or you could find
another way towards the treetops and maybe discover one or two Stars
along that path. This way every player would find their own, unique
way of approaching the worlds and completing them. Like I said this
would be challenging to design, but it would definitely be worth the
effort.
Also I hope they leave the boring,
well-trod paths of the standard Mario Worlds. I said this once, and
the DLC only strengthened this opinion, but I think that Mario Kart 8
shows what could be possible in 3D Marios. Wild Woods blows every
standard wood themed level in past Mario Games out of the water with
it's design and imagination. Mount Wario would make for a grand stage
with lots of variety. Why not have a stage taking place in Mushroom
City from Double Dash or in the Water Park? It would open up a lot of
new possibilities to gain stars. 3D World did something like that
with the Circus and Japanese Theme and it was great. I would love
Nintendo to embrace this concept fully with their next Mario game.
Mario Kart 8 shows that it is possible to have levels like Super Bell
Subway or Sunshine Airport, which are ''Outside the Box'', but still
retain the distinctive Mario feel.
So the cornerstones for the next Mario
game should be:
- Exploration
- Big Levels to support this playstyle
- Imaginative Level design and themes outside the standard Mario palette
Just imagine that instead of the 3D
World trailer E3 2013 showed Mario in Wild Woods. First he masters
challenging platform
ing to climb to the top. Then a panning shot of
the Shy Guy village inside the tree tops. We see him completing a
task and gaining a Power Star... and the level continues directly
because there still is much to explore. At the end of the trailer we
can see Mario Jump down the tree in an awesome panorama shot.
This would certainly be a trailer to
WOW people.
The Wii-U would have needed such a
game. While the offering of titles on the console is great, many of
them play it very safe. Nothing offered something completely new and
exciting. To once more pull out the overused Batman quote from the title: Super Mario 3D
World was the game the Wii-U deserved, but not the game it needed.
Oh and sorry for the constant Wild
Woods talk, but I adore this track.
What are your thoughts on Super Mario
3D World, the future of 3D Mario and the offering of the Wii-U in
general? Would you like Nintendo to show us something completely new
for their franchises or are you happy the way it is?
And as always
thanks for reading
Source of all pictures: Nintendo
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