Demon Turf

Hot damn, I love games that love being the game that they are, and Demon Turf is just that: a song sung for 3D Mario in particular and 3D platformers in general.

The movement? So good, a trimmed down version of Super Mario Odyssey. Camera? Not perfect, but when are they ever. It does its job, and outside of the mild annoyance of swooping down low for triggered events was never really a nuisance. So the core is good, great even. How's the rest?

Generous. Overflowing. Levels, remixed levels, race courses, challenge courses, weird golf, enemy arenas, photo hunt, time trials, a dedicated Getting Over It tower. The collectibles are perfect. Minor ones are for cosmetics, major ones for upgrades, and the ones needed for progression are simply earned by beating the stage. You can care exactly as much as you want about them.

It's also all unobtrusive, readily obtained. Looking for collectibles? They give you an arrow pointing to the closest one. Don't like the dialog? Almost entirely avoidable, with a fast skip when it's not. Don't want to traipse around the hubs? It's all accessible from the pause menu. All those side activities? Available right away, save for one that unlocks after the first world. Demon Turf loves what it is, and wants you to play it. It doesn't stop you every 30 seconds to show you how cute or clever it is, and I deeply appreciate that.

It's not perfect, though. The combat is just there. Not necessary, but I like that they were trying something new. The final ability is janky and slows you down when the others all serve to speed you up. There's some level design fatigue toward the end. The bosses are generally great, but the final one is a bit of a victory lap. Doesn't matter, because the real boss is the level leading up to him. Subway Surfing exists as a level, and I actively hated it. Some people don't like having to do the remix levels to beat the game, but honestly, I loved them. Why wouldn't I? More game, harder movement, genuinely different challenges.

It is, genuinely, the best 3D platformer I've played in years despite its faults. Clears A Hat in Time based solely on how seamless the entire experience is, and for not wanting to be my least favorite 3D Mario.