Nintendo developer talks about the graphical effects in Bowser’s Fury

Nintendo developer Shuhei Sugimoto has opened up about creating the effects that were featured in Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury – specifically the Bowser’s Fury side of the package. This comes as part of a post published on the company’s recruitment website.

Our full translation is below:

My First Big Challenge After Joining

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is a port of the Wii U game Super Mario 3D World to the Nintendo Switch with the new game mode Bowser’s Fury added. When it was decided to create the new Bowser’s Fury mode as a Bowser-centric concept to contrast the bright style of Mario’s game, I was in charge of effects in the development process.

“Effects” refers to the special effects that are added to characters and backgrounds in the game. The clouds of dust that Mario kicks up when he runs and the fire that Bowser breathes are the job of the effects director. In Bowser’s Fury, Mario fights a giant Bowser. I was put in charge of the effects in this extremely important scene in the game, so I felt a lot of pressure while carrying out my work.

At the time, I had just started work at Nintendo after working for five years at a company in Tokyo. I was very happy to be involved in the development of Nintendo’s flagship Mario title just after I’d gone through training and helped out on other games, but it was also my first big challenge after joining the company.

Making a Distinction From Super Mario 3D World

I paid particular attention during my effects work on this title to distinguish it from Super Mario 3D World. Since Mario and Bowser fight while transformed into giants, I focused on expressing that sense of scale in my effects work. I watched monster movies as reference, and I tweaked the details and distortions over and over on Bowser’s fireball and shock wave attacks so they felt serious and huge in order to create a more impactful sensory experience.

The new Bowser’s Fury focuses on a visual concept centered around a new form of Bowser in a departure from the classic Mario feel of the original Super Mario 3D World. As the effects director, I had to think about how I would express that in my area of responsibility. In order to achieve this, I consulted the art director directly and made proposals and suggestions for changes, which helped me contribute to the realization of new Mario visuals.

That’s why, when the game was complete, I honestly felt relieved as well as happy.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury originally released for Switch in February 2021.

Translation provided by Kim Louise Davis on behalf of Nintendo Everything.

If you use any of this translation, please be sure to source Nintendo Everything. Do not copy its full contents.