ADVERTORIAL PROMOTION
If you’re a fan of Super Mario and are up for a new challenge, the latest adventure featuring everyone’s favourite plumber could be right up your street. Super Mario 3D Land is one of the latest Nintendo 3DS games to hit stores, only across the UK – and comes with a very special twist in its ‘tail’.
Mario’s arch nemesis, the evil Bowser, has been up to his old tricks again and has kidnapped Princess Peach. Of course, our hero has stepped up to the plate to prise her from his dastardly clutches, so you’ll need to help him run, leap, smash and of course, fly to victory – all across a series of brand new stereoscopic 3D landscapes.
In addition to the usual perilous pitfalls, perplexing puzzles, aggressive Goombas and classic Mario playability, this new outing comes with some incredible new 3D graphics and amazing optical illusions that are only possible with a handheld gaming console like the Nintendo 3DS. So what other features can you expect?
More Mario manoeuvres!
He’s always been a flexible fella, but Mario now comes with new moves at his disposal to help him negotiate the tricky environments around him. Once you’ve mastered the iconic Mario jump you’ll need to get through most of the game, there are all kinds of other tricks to get used to.
If you need to get to higher spaces, use the build-up of kinetic energy in crouch mode to unleash the awesome crouch jump or bounce off walls with a wall jump. When time becomes a factor, make a dash for it or use your forward roll to project yourself forward – also handy when you have to bash through things. You can crouch to get through tight spaces, take long running leaps to clear wide gaps, side somersault to about face and launch into the air, do a ground pound to crush Goombas or unlock extra features – or use binoculars to spot far away platforms or possible secret areas.
What’s in the box?
Since he first appeared on the Nintendo Entertainment System over 25 years ago, Mario has been through some pretty tough scrapes. However, he’s also learned a thing or two and picked up some pretty nifty skills along the way. In the late 80s, the Tanooki Suit of Super Mario Bros 3 even gave him the ability to hover and, with the release of Super Mario 3D Land, Tanooki Mario is back Just grab yourself a Super Leaf from one of the power-up boxes and get that tail spinning!
But it isn’t just the Tanooki Suit that will help you on your mission. The power-up boxes contain Super Mushrooms to give you back your size – and hat – if you lose it in battle, while the Fire Flower will offer the ability to throw deadly fireballs. The Super Star offers invincibility for a quick spell and the Boomerang Flower gives Mario a cunning curved weapon to throw. On certain levels, you’ll also need to make use of the Propeller Box, which allows you to helicopter your way up to places no other power-up can.
Classic enemies and all new challenges
One of the great things about Super Mario 3D Land is that it brings together some of the best elements of the Mario series and puts them right in the palm of your hand – but also offers a host of new challenges.
Those who have come to know and love Super Mario and his all-star cast of friends and enemies will no doubt look forward to seeing them all reunited in Super Mario 3D Land. However, the Nintendo 3DS also allows the world of Mario to be explored in a whole new way. For instance, being able to see the ground – or lack of it – beneath your feet in cloud levels or getting some overhead Legend of Zelda-style action in the later levels.
Super Mario 3D Land will be easy to dive into, but tricky to master. One thing’s for certain though, it will be a handheld gaming experience you won’t soon forget!
