After the Wii U launched alongside a 2D Mario title, many fans we're expecting a follow-up to the Wii's Super Mario Galaxy 2. Instead, what they got was a follow-up to the 3DS' Super Mario 3D Land, and, just like New Super Mario Bros. U, multiplayer is at the heart of this Mario experience.

From our brief experience on Super Mario 3D World, the levels are similar to that of 3D Land; offering a happy medium between the linear approach offered by the New Super Mario Bros. series and the more open-ended earlier 3D titles. Sure, you were following a path, but it felt like there was a chance to explore the world rather than being edged along.

For the first time in a 3D Mario title up to four players can play. This option harkens back to Super Mario Bros 2, and even the art style of the characters in the title select screen ooze nostalgic joy, as Nintendo has chosen the more cartoon-like style of the early 90's.

Playing with friends makes this feel more like the New Super Mario Bros series and may disappoint some in this regard, but given Nintendo's rich history of local-multiplayer it is surprising it has taken this long for it to be incorporated into a 3D Mario title. Whether the complete game feels more like the 3D games of yesteryear remains to be seen, but from what we played it feels like New Super Mario Bros. grew a new dimension and put on a cat suit.

Which brings us to the new costume that I'm sure none of us were anticipating, but in hindsight it is a logical choice in the cat-ruled Internet era we find ourselves in. Mario and co can now dress up as cuddly kittens and climb walls, allowing for more verticality than previous titles. Other common power-ups of course return, but it is the Cat Bell that is the star of this show.

Another main addition is the transparent pipes that players can leap into. While travelling around them in a Futurama-esque manner, you can change direction using the D-Pad or analogue stick. Be warned though, enemies tend to travel around in these pipes so timing is everything. Of the levels we played, there were some tricky situations derived from having to time your pipe adventures well.

One of the other levels offered showcase the multiplayer focus, forcing you and your teammates to work together while riding some giant orange dinosaur creature that looks like a cross between Yoshi and Denver the Last Dinosaur. Players must jump and steer together in order to ensure the creature made it down a waterfall. Multiplayer aspects such as this really work well in a group of friends, so hopefully Super Mario 3D World will provide plenty of excuses for friends to get together.

We've only seen a small part of Super Mario 3D World so far, but what we have seen looks promising. The title mixes elements of previous games, both 2D and 3D, and the addition of multiplayer means the fun can be shared with your friends. The use of the GamePad is subtle but well implemented, although obviously it can only be used by player one (while everyone else can use a Wii Remote/Nunchuck combination or Pro Controller).  As you can use the GamePad for off-screen play, the face buttons are your primary method of interaction but Nintendo has included some touch screen functionality.  When in single-player mode you can press a button on the touch screen and move the GamePad to adjust the camera.  In multiplayer mode, the GamePad player can use the touch screen to stun enemies and reveal hidden items. 

We'll have to wait and see what the final product ends up like, but early impressions are good. Mario is-a-back and we can't wait to explore this brand new game.