Super Mario 3D Land Review
It wouldn’t be a Nintendo system without Mario, and the 3DS gets its plumber platformer right in the first year of its release. Super Mario 3D Land combines two different styles of gameplay from past Mario games to create a wholly unique adventure. With 3D gameplay in an actual 3D environment, this game offers a range of depth, all with the addictive platformer gameplay that has made Mario a success for so long.
What defines 3D Land is its blend of 2D and 3D platforming, of side-scrolling camera perspective combined with freedom of movement throughout the depth of the screen. In this regard, the game is a complete success; the joining of these two elements is perfectly seamless and natural, from the first level to the last. The gameplay takes obvious inspiration and cues from classic side-scrolling Mario games–even the flag at the end of the level makes an appearance–but with the extra dimension there are even more opportunities for hidden alcoves and other tricks to surprise players. The game neatly wedges itself between side-scrolling Mario games and full 3D exploratory Mario games, drawing upon the best of both worlds. 3D Land may not have a lot of stand out moments, but what it does have is a consistent level of quality. No stage feels bare-boned, and every level has its own supply of tricks, traps, and trials.
Stereoscopic 3D can make even cardboard goombas come alive.
The second major point regarding 3D Land is seeing how useful stereoscopic 3D is from a gameplay stand point. And unfortunately it still has a fairly minor impact on the actual gameplay–shadows still do most of the work as far as showing you where you are in relation to another object. It’s hard to change tracks from dozens of years of 3D game design, and of course the game accommodates players who can’t use the 3D effect, so there can’t be too much emphasis upon this visual trick. A couple of bonus areas show off how perspective and depth can be used to augment the experience, but otherwise it’s generally a cosmetic feature. Still, the game looks great in 3D with smooth graphics that provide a range of depth. You can even enhance the 3D effect further in 3D Land, making the depth of the stage quite stark and noticeable, emphasizing the power of the 3DS’ visuals.
Like other recent Nintendo games, 3D Land is quick to lend a helping hand if you’re having trouble–dying repeatedly brings up a special tanooki suit or even a P-Wing to fly right through the level. It’s unlikely that most players will feel the need for these crutches, though; extra lives are extremely easy to come by, and significantly difficult levels only pop up every so often. In addition, the levels themselves are generally quite short, and each world only has a handful of levels. It’s a good recipe for playing quickly on the go, but if you sit down to play you can easily blast through a world or two at once. The flip side of this system is that these short levels are perfect for speed-running or just dashing through the stage, a way of playing much more common in early platformers. But for experienced Mario fans 3D Land might seem a little short, even as a portable game.
Even Bowser is sporting a tanooki tail in this game.
The good news, though, is that the game doesn’t end when you reach Bowser in world eight. Bonus stages open up at that point, and though they’re just remixes of earlier levels, they are significantly more challenging and give you a real test of speed and skill. It’s a tad disappointing that these levels reuse earlier designs–it would have been nice to see fresh stages–but with different enemy and coin placement as well as new restrictions such as time limits, the challenge is fresh even if the scenery is not.
The controls are perfectly easy to pick up and play. The circle pad makes navigating 3D environments a breeze, and the game only requires the use of a couple of buttons, so there are no complicated controls to learn. Some of Mario’s specialty jumps are still here such as the crouching back-flip, but even these moves don’t require much practice. The controls are great for new or veteran platformer players.
Classic tricks never die; rack up extra lives by rapidly killing enemies in a row.
3D Land features some slick visuals, though they may seem simple at first. As with its approach to gameplay, the Mario series balances simple, colorful graphics that can be easily appreciated by anyone with a hidden depth that appeals to experienced gamers as well. Notably, climactic stages such as castles and airships boast visual effects that would look good on a home console and look great on a handheld. By the time you reach the more exotic locales of Mario’s adventure, the graphics prove to be as colorful as they are stylish. The soundtrack enjoys a similar range of quality, whether it’s drawing upon classic Mario tunes or composing new ones to match the mood of the stage. It remains to be seen whether these songs will stand the test of time, but for 3D Land, the tunes are a perfect fit.
Super Mario 3D Land is an excellent portable platformer experience, providing quick and easy access to a variety of levels while also giving die-hard players a good amount of content. The blend of 2D and 3D gameplay comes off beautifully, providing a wealth of new gameplay ideas out of familiar fundamentals, while the sharp graphics and bouncy soundtrack jump out at the player. Mario games rarely disappoint and this title is no different–for experienced players or new 3DS owners, Super Mario 3D Land is an ideal title for Nintendo’s newest handheld system.
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