Super Mario 3D Land

After getting off to a rocky start earlier this year, the 3DS has certainly started to pick up the pace. Many of the iconic characters that have come to define Nintendo have been absent. Needless to say, that leaves a lot riding on Super Mario 3D Land, the handhelds first truly original Mario title. . So now you’ve got to be wondering if all the hype surrounding the title is justified, or is the game simply a rehashing of elements we’ve all seen, this time with a 3D twist? Read on to find out if Nintendo truly delivered with this much anticipated Mario title.

Plot

Super Mario 3D Land’s story begins with the sight of a tumultuous storm barreling its way through the kingdom. The winds rush through the land, shaking the branches of a tree and blowing its leaves right off. Though this doesn’t seem particularly important, read on and you’ll see that it plays a key role in the game. Mario and his Toad entourage eventually show up, only to be greeted by a winged letter. Opening it reveals that Bowser has once again captured the Princess, and naturally it becomes the player’s job to take on the role of Mario and play savior to Princess Peach one more time. The premise of Super Mario 3D Land is indeed a simple one, but the conventional plot harkens back to the earlier titles. The simplicity of the story is actually somewhat refreshing given the narrative density of some of today’s AAA titles.

As expected, every sort of baddie has crawled out of the woodwork to hinder your progress and prevent you from becoming the Princess’s knight in shining armor. From Goombah’s to Koopah’s, expect a wide array of enemies to rear their heads. It’s up to Mario, or rather it’s up to you, to overcome these obstacles in order to rescue the enslaved Princess Peach.

Gameplay

The game is initially comprised of eight worlds, each with five levels and a boss. The level progression is fairly obvious and typical of the traditional Mario titles, as the player must pass a certain number of levels in each world before facing off against a boss in order to get to the next. Each world also features some special levels, such as a mystery box, which engages the player in a timed challenged that involves destroying enemies or gathering items. Many worlds also allow the player to pay a visit to Toad’s house, where the little man is waiting for you with a gift in the form of a power-up. Overall, every world features a wide variety of level types and settings. Super Mario 3D Land truly has something for everyone, from those who are fond of ghost houses to those who favor underwater sequences. In this regard, the game has borrowed heavily from what has come before it, but has managed to present it in a fresh, engaging manner because of the game’s use of 3D, but more on that later.

One of the huge things this title has going for it is that it handles wonderfully, and the controls for Super Mario 3D Land feel both natural and precise. Mario has retained his traditional repertoire of moves with his standard dash and jump, but is also able to do some more advanced maneuvers like the ground pound and long jump. Once you add a crouch feature and a roll to this, as well as a long jump, you’ve got a pretty useful set of moves.

The game has also implemented a bit of environmental interactivity, as Mario is now capable of jumping onto and vaulting himself off of certain walls. This certainly comes in handy when trying to avoid persistent foes or snatch lofty coins. The controls for the game are yet another example of how it seamlessly blends together the traditional elements of Super Mario Bros. with some of the more recent innovations found in Super Mario Galaxy. In the end, the result feels completely natural, as veteran Mario players should have no problem feeling right at home, while those new to the franchise can easily pick up a 3DS and start enjoying the game in no time.

Mario’s expanded set of abilities and moves plays extremely well off the game’s outstanding level design. Individual levels go by fairly quickly, lasting only a couple minutes at most, but each is both a unique and memorable experience. Scattered throughout each level are three star coins, which are used to unlock later levels and boss fights. In this sense the game does encourages a limited amount of exploration, and later on you will find yourself needing those coins in order to unlock special stages or boss fights. In the end though, this game is a platformer at heart. This installment in the Mario franchise stresses urgency as much as it’s early predecessor, and in that sense, the original Super Mario Bros. influence is present. Both speed and precision become necessary and the player is still strongly encouraged to race through each board and beat the clock, while pouncing on baddies and attaining power-ups along the way.

Speaking of power-ups, Super Mario 3D Land has also managed to incorporate a perfectly balanced set of power-ups.  Players familiar with older Mario titles will recognize the classic Fire Flower and the Tanooki suit. They’ve also thrown in propeller block from Super Mario Bros. Wii, as well as a new power-up that allows Mario to hurl a boomerang that can both damage enemies and collect items. In the end it just feels like no matter what the situation, there’s an available power-up to help you get through it.

As mentioned earlier, the first playthrough for the game is divided up into eight worlds, each with a great amount of variety.  Themes change drastically from each level to the next and there’s a notable lack of repetition. The general experience and feel of the game changes from level to level; and from world to world. Each level also varies in terms of its directional progression as well, as some may have you moving across a more traditional, horizontal board, while others feature an increasingly vertical climb. The change-up’s here are great, and provide a truly addictive experience that never seems to get old.

The game also makes great use of the 3DS’s gyroscope. In many levels you’ll stumble across a set of usable binoculars. Mario is able jump on the platform and peer through them in order to see what lies ahead in that level, whether it be dangerous enemies, power-ups or a valuable star coin. While looking through the binoculars, the player can move the 3DS itself in order to change view, or simply use the analog stick. This is a relatively simple feature, but it’s undoubtedly a cool one at that.

Admittedly, the first eight worlds of the game are fairly easy to breeze through. Expect to have a ton of extra lives saved up by the time you face Bowser for one epic final battle. Fortunately, the game doesn’t end there, as it still proved to have some tricks up its sleeve. Once the initial eight worlds are beaten, you unlock the special worlds, which are really something to behold. The special worlds themselves can be considered remixes of the original eight worlds. Playing through certain levels, one may notice some slight variations, while others become entirely new. The great thing is that with these the difficulty is ramped up, with a much stronger focus on time management and careful movements. Though many veteran players will likely find the standard worlds lacking in difficulty, the special worlds will certainly provide a challenge. It goes without saying that these levels stress time conservation and precise movement in order to complete them. Some levels only start you with 30 seconds on the clock, leaving the player to race through and grab time bonuses in order to reach the finish flag. Ghost houses also feature a unique twist, as the player finds himself being chased by a tiny, spectral version of Mario that will cause damage if touched. It’s also worth noting the game is somewhat forgiving in regards to the standard worlds. If a player dies five times on a board, they will be granted a power-up that is a combination of a Tanooki suit and an invincibility star. Ten deaths in a row and the player gets a P-Wing that transports them to the end of the board. You won’t find these assists in the special world, however, so you had better be prepared to bring your A-game. 

Another great thing about the game is that once you complete the first eight worlds, you're also given the option to replay all of them, plus the special worlds, as Luigi. While this may not seem like a big deal, Luigi has notably different handling than Mario, making any level you play through for a second time have an entirely new feel.

Presentation

The graphics in Super Mario 3D Land are undoubtedly some of the best seen on the 3DS to date. Every aspect of the game is crisp and colorful, from the environment to the enemies. Likewise, the 3D presentation of the game truly justifies owning a 3DS. While it’s not entirely necessary to play the game in 3D, it’s really so much better with the 3D slider turned all the way up.

Interestingly, the 3D itself comes in two forms in Super Mario 3D Land. The player can either opt for the full experience, or toggle the 3D down with the D-pad so the effect is not quite as intense. While it’s nice to have this option, the full 3D experience is truly phenomenal.

Each level contains its own unique set of 3D aspects and features. In order to accentuate this, the game will automatically change camera angles for you as you progress through the board. One moment you may be leaping from one plateau to the next across a horizontal plane, and the next you may find yourself sliding down a platform suspended by rails with the camera directly overhead. The ever changing camera angles really drive home the 3D in this game, as they provide a wide array of varied perspectives and vantage points depending on the situation. In the end what you get a great 3D experience, accentuated by solid perspective changes that add a sense of variety to every board played.

There are occasions where the set camera angles can prove to be somewhat problematic, as certain drops or pitfalls can be kind of obscured. The result is the occasional surprise fall to your death, but these instances are fairly rare. In the end though, most of the camera angle changes are very well done and truly accentuate the 3D depth the game has to offer.

Adding to the great 3D and clean visuals is the game’s amazing use of music and sound effects. The game features many classic Mario tunes, some of which are not as recognizable as others. Needless to say, the music that accompanies Mario as he makes his way through each level has never sounded better. Many of the old school Mario themes are present here, and the smallest sounds, from the pop of pouncing on a Goombahs head to little noises Mario makes all sound wonderful. Needless to say, the music and effects are guaranteed to hold some nostalgic appeal for older players, and will surely entertain the younger ones.

Closing Comments

Without a doubt, this is a hugely important game for the 3DS. What you’ve got with Super Mario 3D Land is a very complete and realized package, one that totally justifies the handheld’s worth. From its tight controls and masterful use of power ups, to its wonderfully nostalgic use of music and sound, Mario has never felt so fresh. The 3D is truly something to behold, and is undoubtedly some of the best 3D you’ll find in gaming, period.

When you add up everything this game has to offer, you’ve got yourself a near perfect experience. Rarely does a game come along that makes the player feel great the entire way through, and it truly invokes a sense of pure enjoyment. Super Mario 3D Land is a game that is guaranteed to put a smile on any players face.

Written by Rich Kovarovic

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