The gameplay is not just fun, it’s addictive. There are plenty of levels I replayed, not only to ensure I found every Star Medal, but to explore every part of it and find every hidden area or alternative route. The look, feel, and gameplay of every level is fantastic. It’s hard to describe exactly what the 3D effect brings to the game - it doesn’t just make the game look amazing but it is incorporated into the design of every single level. The 3D environment can initially make some movement, such as jumping diagonally from platform to platform a bit trickier, but you get the hang of it. I never once felt that the game was straining or tiring my eyes. The different levels really maximize the 3D effect, but without it being annoying or difficult to look at. All these camera views help avoid the game from becoming repetitive. There is quite a variety in the style of the different levels in terms of perspective - side scrolling, top down view, and three-dimensional open-world movement (first seen in Super Mario 64). I’m sure this is something that many older and advanced gamers would scoff at, but it keeps the game fun for younger and more inexperienced players by limiting frustration. You can still die if you fall into lava or down a pit, so if that’s not enough help, there is also the P-Wing, which allows Mario to travel instantly to the end of the level. In order to keep the game accessible to players of all ages, if you die several times in the same level, you have the choice to employ the Invincibility Leaf, which turns Mario into Tanooki Mario with unlimited invincibility. These extra lives definitely come in handy, as some of the levels can be quite challenging. There are lots of one-up mushrooms hidden in the levels and if you land at the very top of the flag pole you are rewarded with an extra life. You rack up extra lives pretty easily - there are tons of coins to find (as always 100 coins = one-up). Super Mario 3D land is very heavy on the one-ups.
The Propeller Box turns Mario into a peculiar little box with a propeller, allowing Mario to reach high places. The Boomerang Flower gives Mario the power to throw boomerangs.
There are also new power-ups featured in this game: the Boomerang Suit and the Propeller Box. Find the Super Leaf, and Mario dons a raccoon suit, which allows Mario to attack with his raccoon tail and float in the air for a short time when jumping. In addition to the classic Super Mario power-ups (Super Mushrooms, Fire Flowers, and Super Star), Super Mario 3D Land features the return of Super Mario 3’s Tanooki Suit. Some of the Star Medals are tricky to find, and I found myself repeatedly playing through certain levels in order to find every last one. There are three Star Medals hidden in each level, and you will need to spend these in order to unlock certain levels as you progress through the game. There are coins to collect, power-ups to find in order to aid your way, and also Star Medals to find.
Just as in the original Super Mario Bros., the objective of each level is to find the flagpole and jump on it before time expires. Once again, Bowser has Princess Peach, and it is up to Mario (you) to rescue her.
#Super mario 3d land review full#
Super Mario 3D Land is classic Mario - running and jumping in levels full of goombas, koopa troopers, and piranha plants. Once I started playing the game, I discovered that Super Mario 3D Land does not disappoint. While I immensely enjoyed playing that classic game again, I was still impatient for a brand new first-party Nintendo game made for the 3DS that would really show what all the hype was about when the 3DS was first revealed at E3 2010. When The Ocarina of Time did come out for the 3DS in June, it looked fantastic, and played as well as I remembered in the original game. They just didn’t appeal to me, and the ones I did play didn’t seem to really showcase the capabilities of the 3DS system. When the Nintendo 3DS debuted earlier this year, I have to admit I was very disappointed with the launch title selection.