If you’ve been playing Super Mario platformers for a long time, you’ll recognize pretty quickly that Super Mario 3D Land is drawing on Mario’s history, going all the way back to the original Super Mario Bros. on NES.
Yes, the raccoon suit from Super Mario Bros. 3 is in this game, and it’s fantastic. Super Mario Bros. 3 is maybe the best 2D platformer that Nintendo has ever made, and Super Mario 3D Land does not try to hide its influence.
Nintendo has also added the flagpoles from the original Super Mario Bros. at the end of every level which, again, pulls on the nostalgia strings of long-time players.
Then it’s all coated with the type of superb level design that we saw in the Super Mario Galaxy games, which are more recent. The result is a unique combination of new and old that hasn’t been seen in the Mario series before, which is exactly what Nintendo was going for.
Super Mario 3D Land is a game that is so fun and simple to pick up and play that, in spite of my issues with the lack of camera controls and trouble judging depth at times (more on that later), I wanted to keep playing.
Not out of frustration, but because I was having a lot of fun. The game does an excellent job of minimizing the aforementioned flaws with balanced, appropriate difficulty, lots of extra lives, and a raccoon suit that is as fun to use as it was when it first premiered in Super Mario Bros. 3 in 1990.
There are other power-up suits Mario can use that aid him in his quest to save Princess Peach. The raccoon suit is the most significant because:
A. We haven’t seen the raccoon suit in a Mario game for so long and
B. You will have to be a very skilled player to 100% this game without it.
However, there are some drawbacks.
Super Mario 3D Land combines the 3D platformer (which Nintendo pretty much invented) with the 2D platformer (which Nintendo also pretty much invented). In doing so, they have created something new and fresh. However, the game doesn’t quite excel at either 2D or 3D to the same degree their counterparts in the Super Mario series do.
When you’re moving Mario around in 3D space, you’re stuck with a static camera that you can’t adjust, much like when you’re playing a 2D platformer. This can lead to awkward camera angles that are normally easily fixable when playing a fully 3D platformer – and awkward camera angles in a 3D platformer can lead to deaths.
When you’re moving Mario around in 2D space, it’s easy to forget that you can still move Mario in 3D as well. The result can be, again, deaths. It can get frustrating.
The gameplay is pretty straightforward. Each bite-size level allows a certain amount of exploration, but still remains pretty linear in its overall design. Each level has a beginning, mid-point, and ending, exclamated by a flagpole which you are strongly encouraged to jump as high on as you can.
The levels overall feel like smaller versions of what you get in the Super Mario Galaxy, the difference being this game takes place in the Mushroom Kingdom instead of outer space. Also, 2D movement and camera angles play a more prominent role.
The levels are not especially long, and seem designed for a handheld system and short play sessions in mind. Mario can run, jump, butt-stomp, flip, long-jump, and wall-jump like he always can. Though he feels a little more weighted in this game when pulling them off.
Each level has three star coins for you to get. Eventually, you will need almost all of them to advance to the end of the game. However, you get a power-up halfway through to help you get those coins, so you don’t feel pressured to get all of them on your first run-through.
As you advance further into the game, you will start to run into levels you’ve already played, but with a twist to make them more difficult. I was pretty tolerant of that in the Super Mario Galaxy games, but 3D Land tested my patience with its reuse of levels. A small complaint, but in the end I really didn’t mind much, as the gameplay remained engaging.
The overworld map is pretty straightforward. Levels unlock as you complete each level and pick up more star coins. Mushroom houses and bonus levels help you along in each world with coins, power-ups, star coins, and lots of extra lives (yes, every 100 coins you collect still earns you an extra life).
You’ll be collecting lots of lives, as the game is very generous with the green mushrooms. I still had over 200 lives after completing 100% of the game. You will die in this game, but it’s not likely you’ll run out of lives.
Visually, the game looks like a Mario game. Lots of bright, primary colors are in play. To nail it down further, it looks a lot like the Super Mario Galaxy games, which is a good thing.
It’s a pretty game, although I did have occasional issues hitting the 3D sweet spot on my 3DS XL. I found myself having to subtly readjust my viewing angle on some of the more difficult levels – but if you have a New 3DS, this won’t be as big a problem for you. Or you could just turn the 3D off.
Aurally, you’ll be treated to a good dose of nostalgia, as the game uses a lot of well-done remixed themes from past Mario titles. The Ghost House theme was a standout for me. If you have a taste for retro Mario music, you’ll love what Super Mario 3D Land has to offer.
VERDICT:
Super Mario 3D Land is Nintendo’s first attempt to merge the 2D platformer with the 3D platformer – and for the most part, they succeed. However, with that design come some issues I’m hoping Nintendo will address in future releases.
While it doesn’t reach the levels of gaming nirvana that some of Mario’s past titles have, Super Mario 3D Land is still a fantastic game that oozes charm, joy, and pure fun, and should be played by every 3DS owner.
It attempts something new, and mostly succeeds. You will have a lot of fun experiencing what Nintendo has put together with this one, especially if you’ve been playing Mario games since the beginning.
If you have a 3DS, buy this game.
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