Super Mario 3D Land

Super Mario 3D Land
"Here we go!" — Mario
Protagonist(s): Mario Genre(s): Platform Platform(s): Nintendo 3DS Release Date: JP: November 3, 2011 NA: November 13, 2011 EU: November 18, 2011 AU: November 24, 2011 KO: April 28, 2012 HK/CHN: December 7, 2012 Developer(s): Nintendo EAD Publisher(s): Nintendo Country: Japan Series: Super Mario Predecessor: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Successor: Super Mario 3D World

Super Mario 3D Land is a platform game developed and published by Nintendo and released for the Nintendo 3DS in November 3, 2011. The game was ported on the iQue 3DS XL one year later on December 7, 2012. It was followed by a sequel, Super Mario 3D World for the Wii U in November 19, 2013 which is considered as an big improvement to the latter.

Why It's a 3D Land

1. Amazing graphics for the early 3DS era standards, as they are really colorful and have detailed characters models for the time and the console.
2. The concept of combining the 3D gameplay while also using the codes present in the 2D Mario's game (as the levels aren't open) works very well.
3. Great and catchy music, especially the Special World 8 Map and the Castle theme, which was later used by 3D World by making an even better music.
4. Tons of replay value, especially if you want to do the 100%.
5. The controls are really good, thanks to the inclusion of the circle pad.
6. The Tanooki power up made its return ever since Super Mario Bros. 3, which is an amazing power up, especially there since you can float, which makes platforming passages a lot easier.
7. Three new power-ups:
   1. The Boomerang Flower: Allows you to throw boomerangs similarly to Boomerang Bros.
   2. The Statue Leaf: Basically the normal Tank power instead, but it also allows you to transform into a statue which makes you invincible during a short amount of time.
   3. The Invincibility Leaf which is a special item available if you die so many times in a level which can serve as an help for players who struggles in a level.
8. The game uses the advantage of the brand new Nintendo 3DS functionality which is the 3D. In some parts of a level, the 3D must be used for collecting some star medals which shows that this game uses the advantage of the 3DS's 3D.
9. You can unlock Luigi by completing Special 1-Castle. He is similar to Mario, instead he can jump higher than Mario.
10. The infamous Poison Mushroom from The Lost Levels was fixed from this game by making it a lot more distinguishable and easier to avoid it.
11. Great level design with fun and challenging obstacles.
12. In special worlds, there are some levels that have different concepts of challenge, such as having a time limit or a cosmic clone chasing you.
13. After finishing the entire game by finishing every levels by using both Mario and Luigi, every green stars and golden flagpoles, you are going to unlock a special level.

Bad Qualities

1. The bosses tends to be repetitive, as in the Airship levels only Boom Boom and Pom Pom appears, while in Castle levels only Bowser, Tailed Bowser and Dry Bowser appear.
2. Some levels tend to be recycled from the other ones, especially the ones from the Special Worlds.
3. The camera is rather awkward in certain levels.
4. The very last level you unlock after completing everything is incredibly hard at this point that it's heavily recommended to have a stock of Tanooki before playing the level and even then, the level is still very challenging.
5. The game can be really easy if you always keep the Tanooki power up, not only that, but the game is already easy so it can make the game even easier than it's already is.
6. Very short length, the game can be finished in only 4 hours.

Reception

Super Mario 3D Land received Universal Acclaim towards critics, even Metacritic considered this game as a must-play. Even by the users this game is mostly received very well.

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