Super Mario 3D World is shaping up to be, well – lets just say that as an avid Galaxy fan the game has gone from initial disappointment to “OMG CAN’T WAIT” on my excitement meter. Despite its simplicity, Super Mario 3D Land was a stellar (not to mention visually wonderful) take on modern Mario for 3DS, so a console rendition is something I’ve come to realize I can really get behind.
In a recent chat with IGN, producer Yoshiaki Koizumi and director Kenta Motokura discussed a whole mess of topics about the game, including why the coveted cat suit was chosen as the game’s main new power-up. Motokura had the following to say on the matter.
When we started out, we were thinking about different kinds of actions that Mario could do. Talking to the designers, some of the things that came up were a Mario that could walk on four legs, or on his hands and feet, and also a Mario that could climb walls. If you climbed walls, that meant you could go to places that you normally can’t. Also, if you’re not such a great player, you might be able to save yourself when you fall off a wall. Thinking about those different actions, running around on all fours and climbing walls, it turned out that a cat was a perfect animal that everybody knows.
As usual, it seems like Nintendo is keeping an eye out for the all-important inexperienced player, and it really is important – Mario is the gateway to videogames for many, so it’s crucial to make said players feel like they can succeed with their initial lack of skill. The cat suit certainly seems like much more of an elegant solution than “bubbling” in New Super Mario Bros, so I’m certainly not complaining.
The interview contains plenty of other fun info as well, including talk about Koizumi’s involvement with Donkey Kong Jungle Beat on the GameCube, so be sure to read the rest for all the details.
Super Mario 3D World is coming exclusively to Wii U November 22nd, so you’ll be able to live out all your kitty cat fantasies in just over two weeks.