Super Mario 3D World

Super Mario 3D World is an upcoming 3D platformer action game for the Wii U. It is set to be released in December 2013. It is the fifteenth title in the Super Mario series and the sixth 3D Mario title. This installment is the follow-up to the Nintendo 3DS game, Super Mario 3D Land.

Gameplay
The game plays very similar to Super Mario 3D Land, being closely based on the 2D side-scrolling games, while being a 3D platformer, like Super Mario 64 and the Super Mario Galaxy games. This game retains its predecessor's similarity to Super Mario Bros. 3 (with colorful blocks, the Super Leaf, Spikes and the Lose a Life theme returning from that game), however, many elements from Super Mario World are returning as well, such as the Chargin' Chucks and the round version of Goombas. Lives also make a return, but in multiplayer mode, players share their lives. Stages are once again open, yet linear, have a time limit and end by grabbing the classic Goal Pole at the end. Green Stars return from the Super Mario Galaxy games, taking the role of the Star Medals from Super Mario 3D Land.

Power-ups, like the Fire Flower and Super Leaf make a return, along with a new power-up; a bell that grants the player a Cat Suit, allowing the player to lunge at enemies and climb up walls. The can also be used to unveil hidden blocks and objects, as well as stun enemies and platforms, like the Co-Star Luma from Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Boost Mode from New Super Mario Bros. U. The game also supports Off TV Play. Also, the can be used to control the camera during gameplay. It works in a similar fashion to the camera from Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine.

The game features 4-player multiplayer (the first for a 3D Mario game), allowing players to play as Mario, Luigi, Toad and Princess Peach, each with different abilities, much like they had in Super Mario Bros. 2. Also, the first player has a choice to play as any character, unlike in the previous multiplayer Mario platformers where the first player must use Mario.

Playable and abilities

 * Mario: An all-around character.
 * Luigi: Has his trademark higher jumps.
 * Princess Peach: Similarly to Super Mario Bros. 2, Peach is able to hover in midair.
 * Blue Toad: Can run faster than other characters.
 * Toad Brigade Captain

Non-playable

 * A rideable orange sea serpent that resembles Yoshi and Dorrie
 * A pink fairy-like creature resembling a Subcon
 * Bowser (implied due to his emblem covering the screen upon death, on Checkpoint Flags and Goal Pole flags, and in the portal of World 4-Boss)
 * A potted Piranha Plant that snoozes, which can be carried and used to eat other Piranha Plants.

Bosses

 * A giant purple snake with a king outfit. He is the boss of World 4.

Forms

 * Super Mario (default form)
 * Small Mario
 * Cat Mario
 * Invincible Mario
 * Tanooki Mario
 * Fire Mario

World 1

 * World 1-5: A water course where the players ride the sea serpent.

World 2

 * World 2-1: A grassland with rolling hills and colorful blocks.

World 4

 * World 4-2: A canyon featuring many Clear Pipes and Fuzzies.
 * World 4-Boss: A boss area featuring the snake-like boss.

World 6

 * World 6-3: A fortress-like overworld with Bullet Bills and Banzai Bills.

Confirmed

 * A canyon level with ant-like enemies.
 * A bluish underground area with many Boost Pads and red POW Blocks.
 * A snow stage with snowballs and Pokey-like snowmen.
 * An ice level with a frozen lake.
 * A level with a rising swarm of Fuzzies.
 * A dessert-themed desert level with Stingbies.
 * Ruins with Chargin' Chucks and swinging platforms.
 * A grassy area made of blocks.
 * A lava-themed stage with Fire Bros.
 * A Ghost House.

References to other games

 * Super Mario Bros.: A bonus room in World 2-1 features blocks similar to those found in underground areas in this game. The song played here is also a remixed version of the overworld and invincibility themes. Also, Fire Peach's clothes resembles those of her sprite from this game.
 * Super Mario Bros. 2: Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad's abilities are based off of theirs from this game. In addition, Blue Toad is possibly a reference to Toad in the original NES version of this game, in which his sprite appeared blue.
 * Super Mario Bros. 3: Like its predecessor, Super Mario 3D World shares some similarities to this game. Spikes make a return, along with the Super Leaf and Tanooki Suit. The music that plays when the player loses a life is a redone version of said music from this game.
 * Super Mario World: Chargin' Chucks and Round Goombas return.
 * Super Mario 64: When riding the creature in World 1-5, the music that plays is that of Rainbow Ride, Tick Tock Clock, and The Princess's Secret Slide from this game. Also, some Piranha Plants are seen asleep.
 * Super Mario Sunshine: When Princess Peach is in her Fire Flower form, her hair is tied back, similar to her hairstyle in this game.
 * New Super Mario Bros. Wii: The 4-player co-op (which was introduced in this game), and the ability to do a simultaneous Ground Pound with multiple players, pick up other players, and place their character in a bubble make a return. The rolling hill obstacles from World 1 are back.
 * Super Mario 3D Land: The game is a follow-up to this title; the majority of the game elements for Super Mario 3D World were taken from this installment. Also, the theme that plays in the underground section of World 2-1 is similar to the underground theme from this game.

Trivia

 * This is the first time that Fire Bros. and Spikes appear in a 3D Mario plaformer game.
 * Also, this marks the first appearance of Chargin' Chucks in the main Mario series since their debut in Super Mario World (not counting remakes and ports).
 * This is the first 3D Mario game to feature a score system.
 * This is the first time Princess Peach is playable in a mainstream Mario game since Super Mario Bros. 2, not counting remakes and ports, released 25 years prior. This game is also the first 3D Mario title in which Peach and Toad are playable.