Preview: Super Mario 3D Land

Since the beginning of three-dimensional environments, developers have toyed with the idea of merging together the two traditional worlds of gaming: 2D and 3D. This concept has been met with some success (Klonoa instantly comes to mind), some disaster (Spyro the Dragon), and a plethora of cop-outs (Crash Bandicoot, anyone?). Then you have the classic Mario games – Mario 64 and Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 – that have repeatedly taught us that when a game is done right, there is no better experience than that which is in 3D. Leave it to Nintendo (NTDOY) to prove that assumption wrong with Super Mario 3D Land, a game that combines the best of 3D environments and level interactivity with the best of 2D gaming, all the while introducing the eye-popping beauty of graphics and special effects that bounce off the screen.

Super Mario 3D Land has very little to do with its Game Boy predecessors. In fact, first-time players will be instantly reminded of the first time they played Mario 64, not the original Super Mario Land. The game is phenomenally gorgeous with smooth, fully rendered environments and an inspired layout that makes running through each area a dream. But unlike Mario 64, you aren't placed in a cluster of giant worlds that are each filled with six stars. Rather, the game is set up like the old-school Mario games, with a semi-linear world. You start at point A (the beginning of the level) and end at point B (the flagpole). But unlike the 8- and 16-bit Mario games, Super Mario 3D Land isn't a side-scroller. You have the ability to move all around each stage, just like in Mario 64 and Mario Galaxy. It's a wonderful mixture that will instantly engross fans of the series. Then you have another element of 3D that has never been present before in the Mario series, an element that comes courtesy of the Nintendo 3DS' glasses-free screen. Whatever you think of the 3DS, let me tell you – this is the game that it was designed to power. Super Mario 3D Land adds a level of graphical depth not previously seen in a game. Not even the amazing The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time can compare. Every platform, every block, every mushroom and every Goomba stands apart. The closest thing I can compare it to would be the 3D release of Toy Story 1 and 2, two films that didn't exactly jump off the screen, but were dimensionally richer because of the 3D inclusion. The same can be said for Super Mario 3D Land.

Due for release on November 13, Super Mario 3D Land is set to become the next great game in the long-running Mario franchise. Those who are eager to play it now should check out their nearest Best Buy BBY location, as many now feature a playable kiosk with a demo of the game. Follow me @LouisBedigian