Super Mario 3D World runs much faster on the Nintendo Switch, as opposed to its original platform on the Wii U. The game released on Wii U back in 2013, and it was deemed a proper sequel to the Nintendo 3DS game Super Mario 3D Land. Both merged 2D and 3D Mario gameplay, and now Super Mario 3D World is making its way to the Switch on February 12 alongside an expansion pack titled Bowser's Fury.
The Bowser's Fury aspect of the game appears to be much more open-ended than the relatively linear levels of the base game. Judging from the recent trailer, Mario and Bowser Jr. cooperate with each other to collect cat-shaped coins, which will presumably unlock the ability to transform Mario into a massive cat and take on a gigantic, shadowy Bowser. To say that the cat motif permeates the open-ended level would be a drastic understatement.
In a video created by Nintendo Life, Super Mario 3D World runs at a much quicker rate on the Switch. Nintendo Life used trailer footage from the Switch version and did a side-by-side comparison with Wii U footage with the exact same levels, locations, and characters. After each original comparison, the footage is slowed down to half its speed so that the speed differences can be better observed. Take a look at the video for yourself below.
Sometimes the gameplay in Super Mario 3D World felt rather slow, especially when compared with proper 3D Mario outings such as Super Mario 64 or Super Mario Sunshine. Those games run smoothly, and Mario doesn't feel lethargic, but energetic. However, it seems that Nintendo realized it can take greater advantage of the Switch's increased power to make the game run considerably faster. This was the right decision to make, as it seems to play a bit more like a bona fide 3D Mario game.
It will also be interesting to see how this affects the gameplay for different characters in Super Mario 3D World. Toad is an unexpected powerhouse in that game because of how quickly he runs. Will playing as Toad now feel like a speedrun? We'll just have to wait until next month to find out. Another interesting factor will be seeing how this impacts the speedrunning community surrounding the game. It's likely that overall speedrun times will vastly improve, as the footage alone shows just how much faster Super Mario 3D World is on the Switch.
Source: Nintendo Life