After so many years and so many classics, it shouldn't be a surprise that the latest Mario game is an absolute blinder, yet somehow it is. Back in June, with the headlines dominated by a new generation of consoles, Nintendo's choice of flagship Christmas Wii U title seemed quixotic, if not outright...

Lustrous HD graphics; Imaginative level design; Awesome multiplayer; Instantly accessible but deep

Zoomed-out camera can cause multiplayer trauma

Super Mario 3D World is easily the best Mario game that I've played in years. I'm a believer in this system now. That's not something that I could have said a few months ago; 3D World makes all the difference.

If there's one franchise that can truly stand the test of time, it has to be Super Mario Bros. Ever charming, slightly quirky and forged from a tight weave of platforming history; the games have found a place in the home and on the move in over twenty five years on the scene.

It never quite breaks out of the shadow of Super Mario 3D Land on 3DS, but this is a great Mario game for friends and solo players alike

I'm going to try my best to not gush about Super Mario 3D World, but my goodness it's been a long time since I've enjoyed a game this much. A fan of Mario since the days of the NES, I've played pretty much every game he's appeared in.

Super Mario 3D World sees Nintendo's flagship franchise drop onto Wii U like a megaton, single-handedly giving the system its first must-have title. Taking every idea that's ever worked in previous Super Mario games and blending them with a variety of new, radically original ones, EAD Tokyo has...

+ Remarkable gameplay; + Strong visual presence; + A flurry of new and ideas; + Simply the best Super Mario game in years

- Bosses aren't all that impressive; - Local multiplayer can be frustrating

Super Mario 3D World distils everything great from the long history of the series into a delightfully enjoyable and surprising world. Pure enjoyment in video game form and the perfect reason to finally buy a Wii U.

I went for the so called 'Limited edition' game offered. Would have got it here but for £3 extra you couldn't go wrong, this game is a gem, and GOTY in my eyes, that's someone who has played The Last of Us, if you have a Wii U, you HAVE to get this, perfect game for Xmas.

After decades of running and jumping, haven't we seen everything Super Mario has to offer? Nintendo's mascot's been at the forefront of platforming games since the era of the NES - surely he's run out of ideas by now? Not a chance.

Brilliant power-ups; Crazy multiplayer; Amazing level design

Ummm..; Errr..; Nope; it's pretty much perfect

T here is something quite remarkable in how Mario, who is over 30 years old , has maintained his position as gaming's No 1 superstar. Yet titles as wonderful as 3D World should be an object lesson to his rivals.