Super Mario 3D Land

It seems that Mario can do no wrong these days. With his phenomenal outings on the Wii as well as DS, Nintendo’s plucky plumber has cemented himself further into our gaming culture, all thanks to rock solid game design and a cute and appealing aesthetic. The 3DS has been out for a while now, though, and is in dire need of a big hit. Enter Super Mario 3D Land, a game that is poised to not only rocket the 3DS into the must buy lists of the season but once again put a great game in Mario’s great repertoire of adventures.

Super Mario 3D Land is unique in that it actually combines both the appealing nature of his 2D adventures as well as the complexities of his 3D adventures. Levels often switch between the two planes, giving players some of the best level design in any of Mario’s handheld games. This is where the 3DS’s 3D capabilities come into play. The game uses that feature to both immense players in further as well as a gameplay mechanic where players must judge distance between obstacles and platformers in order to get as far ahead as possible and reaching the finish line. It’s a classic gameplay formula that has been polished to a great modern sheen.

And there are a lot of levels to complete and unlock, too! Even if you complete the initial set of levels, more are waiting to be conquered once you finish the first half of your question, and other levels that are unlocked through StreetPass. Yes, if you have your 3DS with this mode on, you can exchange data with other players, unlocking new content in the cartridge.

Speaking of classic formulas, Super Mario 3D Land also pays tribute to the classic Super Mario games not just through gameplay but through the items as well. The leaf, first introduced in Super Mario Bros. 3, makes a comeback in Super Mario 3D Land. Mario gains a suit that allows him to briefly float when jumping as well as attack enemies. In addition to the Tanooki suit, Mario has the classic fireflower power up as well as a brand new boomerang suit which gives him a boomerang weapon.

With all these new additions as well as mix of new and classic ideas, Super Mario 3D Land is poised to be a huge hit. It’s a title that pays tribute to everything that made Mario so memorable in the first place while implementing many new ideas that keep it fresh but without intruding on its ideals. The 3DS is now available at a very low price, making it the perfect time to pick up one as well as Super Mario 3D Land.