Playing this game after experiencing the later entries in the franchise unfortunately diminishes much of the enjoyment, as most of the ideas from 3D World have been used much more effectively in subsequent games. The quality of the series after its release makes this game fall short of any expectations when playing through its campaign. Most of the game's mechanics are reused from 3D Land, with only the cat power-up being new. While it is fun, it alone can't save the game. For these reasons, I felt like I played the weakest campaign in the series.

Regarding the gameplay, the camera and character controls are not as polished as usual, leading to considerable frustration and causing avoidable deaths due to the cumbersome camera and controls. Another point is that the linearity of the levels, as we're accustomed to in the series, didn't work in the main campaign, making it feel tedious with uninspired stages. Undoubtedly, the biggest positive aspect of this re-release is the addition of Bowser's Fury. This expansion is where the game shines and regained my attention. All the tedious linearity is replaced by an open map with plenty of freedom of movement, an improved camera, and a small "story" that motivates the player to keep going, addressing all the issues the original title had.