Captain Toad – Treasure Tracker

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a 2014 puzzle-platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. The game was re-released for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS in 2018 with additional content. It is a spin-off of the Super Mario series and a part of the larger Mario franchise. The game stars Captain Toad and Toadette as they complete levels, defeat enemies and save each other from the antagonist Wingo. Each level is contained within a miniature diorama-like environment that requires puzzle-solving and platforming challenges to complete.

The player also uses the Wii U GamePad to rotate the camera and reveal new information and interact with the environment. The Captain Toad levels in Super Mario 3D World started as a prototype concept that was included as side levels in the final product. Captain Toad was selected as the main character because his large backpack would justify the lack of jump controls. The developers wanted to make the concept into a full game since the start of 3D World’s development, and upon Shigeru Miyamoto’s request, development began after the conclusion of 3D World.

Plucking as an action was made for additional gameplay variation, and bonus challenges and collectibles were added to help with difficulty. The goal throughout development was to make the game enjoyable to as broad of an audience as possible, and help normalize the use of camera control in video games. The game opens with Captain Toad and Toadette ascending a tower together to claim a star. The villainous giant crow Wingo appears and steals the star, taking Toadette along with him when she grabs hold of it. The player guides Captain Toad as he tracks Wingo down to his lair and rescues Toadette.

Each following chapter sees one of the two captured, and the player controls the other Toad on their way to save them. In the final scene of the game, they defeat Wingo, and the introduction to Super Mario 3D World plays out, and Captain Toad is seen following a falling star into the glass pipe. For the Switch/3DS versions, the final scene shows Captain Toad following the Super Mario Odyssey. In Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, the player controls Captain Toad, a Toad, or his companion Toadette, attempting to safely navigate through various obstacles and reach a star at the end of each level. 

As in Super Mario 3D World, Captain Toad and Toadette can walk and run, but cannot jump due to their heavy backpacks. They are able to pull plants out of the ground to use as projectiles, a feature that is also used to interact with other items in the level. Each level is contained in a small environment, requiring the player to solve puzzles or complete platforming challenges to complete the level in a linear fashion. By using the thumbsticks or motion sensors on the Wii U GamePad, the player can rotate the diorama-like level to different orientations, revealing new paths and parts of the environment.

The GamePad can also be used to interact with the environment in some levels, such as using the touchscreen to move platforms, blowing into the built-in microphone to move moving platforms, and using the motion controls to aim and throw objects at enemies. The player has two hitpoints that can be lost by being hit by enemies. If the second hitpoint is lost, the player must restart the level. However, if all lives are lost, the game is over. Mushrooms are hidden in levels that will restore a lost hitpoint when collected.