Super Mario 3D World may seem a tad simplistic from the beginning when compared to the epic Super Mario Galaxy 2. It's a feeling which is no doubt caused by the game being a successor to handheld title 3D Land rather than any of the console Super Mario games or a new offshoot for the series.

It's an absolute joy to play; and one of the most refined gameplay experiences available; Plenty of innovation with power-ups and platforming mechanics; leading to an incredible final level; Tons to do; with plenty of variety throughout; Visually and musically a step up from previous Super Mario...

…but not quite the advancement 3D Mario deserves right now; It's limited by its design as a co-operative game; A few framerate and camera issues hinder some of the fun

It's a sad day when a Super Mario release is met with muted enthusiasm, but that's been the trend regarding our favorite overall'd plumber. Releasing with the seeming regularity of a Call of Duty game, each new addition to Nintendo's flagship franchise is technically and mechanically sound, but...

Every moment is a delight; Multiplayer is actually fun; not frustrating

Painfully brief; Too easy for Mario fanatics

After almost three decades of consistently stunning Mario games – including last year's Super Mario 3D Land on 3DS, and the ground-breaking Wii series Super Mario Galaxy – few would doubt that Nintendo's lost its touch when it comes to weaving platform-hopping magic.

But thankfully, that's not the case. It takes the same philosophy of short, sweet stages and expands them just enough to work flawlessly in a living room, whether playing alone or with three friends in tow.

Just when the Wii U needed a hero, Mario has returned in Super Mario 3D World, the plumber's latest console outing. Don't confuse it with last year's 2D sidescroller New Super Mario Bros. U , though.

Lush, expansive HD worlds; Overflowing with creative power-ups; Nostalgic without being stuck in the past; The best multiplayer in a Mario platformer yet

Gamepad controls don't add much to the experience; Doesn't feel quite as ambitious as past console Mario games

Super Mario Galaxy 2 successfully iterated on one of the most inventive platformers of the last console generation. takes slightly smaller steps in the grand scheme of the platformer genre, but it fulfills the promise of a multiplayer Mario much better than anything that the Japanese game maker has...

Unabashedly creative; Great co-op multiplayer; Skillful platforming; Excellent music; Great art direction

Four-player camera

Mario games are filled with branching paths, letting players pick between the obvious route or the more challenging one, and the series as a whole has seen a similar divergence. While the Galaxy series went in an incredibly rewarding and complex direction, Super Mario 3D World (and its predecessor,...

Pure platforming fun; Multiplayer finally works; Makes great use of HD visuals

Some lackluster boss fights; Highs make occasional lows more annoying

A strident burst of brass announced the hero's arrival in Super Mario Galaxy: a bold, triumphant fanfare to herald the return of the king. Mario landed with a gymnastic flourish, spreading his arms wide in a gesture of pure showmanship, as if to say "Ta-da! I'm back!"

Brimming with brilliant moments; Marvellous counter-co-op multiplayer; New standards of variety and invention; Latter stages will test even Mario veterans

GamePad functionality is somewhat trivial

Years ago when we were told they were pulling their plumber into a 3D world, few believed the essence of the series would be preserved. Yet Super Mario 64 became one of the most acclaimed games ever. The story was the same on Wii with Super Mario Galaxy.

Super Mario 3D World is the missing link between 2D and 3D Mario games and is chock full of more fresh ideas than we've seen from Nintendo in some time. If you own a Wii U, you owe it to yourself to pick this one up.

Simplified take on 3D Mario; Enough challenge for veteran players; Cat Mario; Double Mario; and tons of other power ups; Multiplayer is addictive and competitive

Sometimes difficult to correctly jump; Four-player camera isn't always user-friendly; Storyline is as simple as ever