Super Mario 3D Land Review

It's taken almost a full year for Nintendo's latest handheld, Nintendo 3DS, to take off.  Many people were skeptical towards the system feeling that it was just another DS handheld.  Though the system had some strong titles, like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D and Star Fox 64 3D, none of them utilized the handheld's capabilities (mainly the 3D function).  It was hard to say that the handheld had any games that defined it; that was until Nintendo released their latest platforming game, Super Mario 3D Land.

PRESENTATION

The game has a basic system menu that works well for the game; players use the touch screen, or circle pad, to navigate the menu.  The game uses a level select design reminiscent of New Super Mario Bros. for Wii and DS.  Navigation is smooth and simple so it's easy to get in the game.  

The level select menu is easy to navigate, but it's nothing new.

The game uses the StreetPass function, wireless connection between multiple 3DS systems, to trade items and mystery boxes, used to collect Star Medals; I find myself on daily basis passing people and collecting mystery boxes.  It does suck that you're only limited to three at a time.  If you pass six people that played the game, the game will only register three of them.  It's annoying but it doesn't impede one's ability to play the game.

The music is decent for a Mario game but I wish that they would have some orchestral sounds like they did with the Super Mario Galaxy titles.  It works well for the game, but none of the music is memorable.  The sound effects are nothing special, but that's not why people play Mario games.

GAMEPLAY

The gameplay is a mix of Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64) and Super Mario Bros. (NES).  The objective is to reach the flagpole before the timer runs out.  New to the game is the ability to increase the amount of time available by collecting clocks in certain stages; blue clocks add 10 seconds to the timer while green clocks add 100 seconds.  They're optional for the first half of the game, but later on there are sections that require it because it starts you out with 30 seconds.  

Star Medals are crucial to the completion of the game.  Just like in the recent Mario entries  on Nintendo's home consoles, Star Medals are required to gains access to certain levels and bosses.  There are three hidden in each stage and it's not required to get all of them.  You only need enough to enter the stages.  

The 3D effect in the game is fantastic.  While you can get around most of the stages without 3D, there sections that require it.  For example, you see two clouds and they look like they're at the same height.  Without the 3D, you wouldn't know that one cloud is actually higher than the other which can lead to Mario falling off the edge.  This game is great example of how 3D can affect the gameplay; it is harder without it.

Luigi is also playable in the game but his moves are exactly likes Mario's.  In previous games Luigi could jump higher than Mario but in this, it's the height.  The gameplay doesn't change between the two brothers so it all depends on which brother you like more: Mario or Luigi.

The only way to play as Luigi is to save him...again.

The game's difficulty is low (until you reach the special stages) and the levels are short which is disappointing for a retail game selling at $39.99.  It's possible to beat the game in couple hours but the replay value lies in StreetPass and collecting all the Star Medals.

GRAPHICS

The graphics are nice and simple.  They're not as crisp as Super Mario Galaxy's but they still look nice.  The enemy and character animations are smooth and the frame rate rarely dips.  The 3D can make the image look a little blurry but that tends be in every 3DS game since the resolution is split in half to send two separate images to each eye.  

VERDICT

Super Mario 3D Land is a fantastic entry to the franchise.  It's not perfect, but it is a fun game and well worth the purchase for any 3DS owner.  The 3D works well and gameplay is satisfying.  The music could be better but this is a quality game.

SCORE: 9 / 10