Review: Super Mario 3D Land

Mario's first 3D outing is his best handheld adventure yet. Have you ever wondered what Mario would be like if his 2D and 3D worlds collided into one massive adventure? Super Paper Mario gave us a few hints by providing the player with the option to switch between 2D side-scrolling and pseudo-3D level interactions. But as cool as that game was, it wasn't quite the perfect marriage of Mario gameplay styles. Rather, it was another take on the Mario RPG formula, creating a new and engrossing gaming experience, but not yet introducing us to a true 2D/3D combo. Thus, many gamers have continued to wonder, “Is this combination truly possible? Can a game of this magnitude actually work?” With the release of Super Mario 3D Land this Sunday, November 13, Nintendo (NTDOY) will finally answer that question: yes, it can.

Super Mario 3D Land isn't your typical Mario game. It's familiar, no question. You'll see Goombas and Koopa Troopas. You'll fight those incredibly cool turtle-like enemies with spiked shells. Mario can stomp, side-flip, travel through pipes, grow twice as large with red mushrooms, and complete a stage by jumping toward and landing on top of a flagpole. He can also wear his beloved Tanooki suit from Mario 3. Though you may not understand it until you play the game for yourself, these familiar elements are part of the reason why Mario 3D Land is so unique. Whereas NEW! Super Mario Bros. was purely two-dimensional, and whereas Super Mario Galaxy was set entirely in the third dimension (2D mini-environments excluded), Mario 3D Land is a genuinely brilliant blend of both gameplay styles. Mario 3D Land borrows a lot from the series' 2D past, including the traditional point-A-to-point-B level design. You can, if you wish, run all the way through a stage, hit the flagpole, and call yourself a winner, just like in the old days. But unlike the majority of the 2D Mario games, Mario 3D Land wasn't developed to be a rush-to-the-finish-line experience. The game was designed to be something that each player would savor. While it can be fun to run through a stage as fast as possible, it is more enjoyable to thoroughly examine each level with a fine-tooth comb, searching for extra coins, extra green mushrooms, new pathways, and other hidden goodies. It's the kind of experience that was born with Super Mario 64 on Nintendo 64 more than 15 years ago. For the first time ever, it has been carried over to a handheld.

What's exceptional is that Mario 3D Land controls like a 3D Mario (such as the aforementioned Mario 64 or Mario Galaxy) but feels like one of the 2D classics (Mario 3, Mario World, etc.). How? Through the use of a modified control scheme, clever camera angles, and ingenious level design, Mario 3D Land pulls off the impossible. On one hand, you can go anywhere you like within each stage. The only limitation is the number of available platforms, which is purposely limited to make the game challenging and to keep the player from venturing too far off the main path. But when you come to a side-scrolling moment, the controls make a smooth transition that allows players to move from left to right as seamlessly as if we were playing the original Mario. During this phase, you can still move around the environment, just like in Mario 64. It's spectacularly subtle, and is something most players won't even think about. But a guy like me, who's been playing Mario since the beginning, will undoubtedly notice and wholeheartedly appreciate these elements.

The Two 3Ds Mario 3D Land is unique in that it features two kinds of 3D: three-dimensional gameplay, and three-dimensional visuals courtesy of the Nintendo 3DS. The former set of 3D elements are as polished as ever. Players will be amazed at what the developers were able to accomplish with this game, especially on such a tiny screen. The latter 3D is somewhat of a shocker. Many 3DS buyers have been getting the system because they love Nintendo games, they enjoyed the original DS, and they knew this would (eventually) become a great handheld device. But few have been impressed with the 3D effects. Most of the people I've spoken to turn the 3D off. Outside of games I'm reviewing, I only use it for The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time 3D. This blasé consumer reaction does not match the hype and anticipation that followed the 3DS' unveiling in 2010. Back then, people were ready to buy the handheld in droves. If Mario 3D Land could have arrived at the system's launch in March, that hype would have surely continued. This game – more than any other – is the 3D adventure we've been waiting for. It looks amazing, it's easy on the eyes, and it takes Mario to a whole other dimension. Every brick, every character – every single element within every environment – is painstakingly detailed. These elements are beautifully separated from the background, creating an effect that's akin to the 3D release of the original Toy Story (which came back to theaters in the fall of 2009). On top of that, there are occasional moments where the developers pull a few surprises and push the images out of the screen, introducing a cinema-like effect that is very impressive.

Enjoy it While it Lasts Unlike Mario Galaxy, Mario 3D Land isn't a massive, ultra-challenging epic adventure. It is rich, engrossing, and undeniably addictive. Its replay value is top-notch. Five years from now, you'll still want to come back and play through this game. But you must be warned that, not unlike NEW! Super Mario Bros., Mario 3D Land is not a lengthy adventure. You could beat it in a weekend or sooner. If you take advantage of the cakewalk bonuses (such as an invincible Tanooki suit, which is handed out to players who die too many times in a particular stage), you can finish the game even faster. There is a silver lining, however. Though we are prevented from revealing anything specific about the game beyond the first world, I can tell you that this is not a Mario you will regret beating. In other words, you might be happy when the credits roll (hint, hint).

The One to Rule Them All Mario 3D Land more than lives up to expectations – it is the game that will make you glad you purchased a 3DS, whether you paid $249 or $169. It's a must-own sequel that will dazzle your senses and frequently blow your mind, all the while taking you back to the nostalgic roots of Mario's 8- and 16-bit beginnings.

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