The game keeps up this regular pace of delightful surprise from start to finish. One stage is essentially a Mario Kart riff, recognizable from its rainbow-colored bumpers and dash pads that speed you along the entire length of 'track.' Another is clearly modeled after a classic Zelda dungeon, with your Fire Flower power-up serving to ignite lanterns and solve simple puzzles.

The game also frequently pays homage to other pieces of Nintendo history. One stage might have you navigating a forest or a battleship, while another will time its rhythmic block switching to a steady beat. The sheer variety of ideas on display in 3D World is its biggest asset. Each stage is presented as a diorama slice and usually include a limited degree of Z-axis depth, but the core idea between them is the same: Get in, see a clever application of Mario mechanics, then get out before the concept overstays its welcome. The stages are relatively small, self-contained bouts of creative platforming, often with their own theme or mechanics at the forefront. It's a successor to Mario Galaxy, not in direct mechanics but in a broader design philosophy. It's easier to see Super Mario 3D World's place in Mario canon with the benefit of hindsight. Because of this very split design, though, it only makes sense to examine them as separate games. This makes sense-the two share some superficial traits but are otherwise very different design philosophies and platforming approaches. The two experiences are bifurcated to the point where you need to quit out of one completely to start the other. Now Playing: Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury Video Review By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's

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