It has always been the case that 2D Mario games have performed better then their 3D brethren when it comes to sales. Although many will debate which iterations contain the highest quality, there is no disputing the fact that 2D Mario games simply sell more units.  The reason for this is the simplicity of 2D Mario games that makes them so accessible to the public. It is perhaps for this reason that Nintendo has claimed that they are attempting to merge the gameplay of both 2D and 3D Mario games into some sort of hybrid for Super Mario 3D Land.

  

It is a bold move trying to appeal to both 3D Mario and 2D Marios fans and more often than not, when trying to please everyone, nobody is left satisfied. Sure enough in the lead up the game's release there were concerns that Mario 3D Land would be the jack of all trades and master of none. However, within about 30 minutes of starting the game, you will start to realise that Nintendo has struck gold once again. 

 

Mario 3D Land starts of with a few simple levels, allowing the user to get a feel for the controls of the game. The ability to move Mario towards and away from the screen as well as left and right might be new to some players and Nintendo has allowed for that in their simplistic level design in the early stages. While we are on the topic of level design it should be noted that the levels are quite short. This carries on through the entirety of the game which may disappoint some fans who enjoyed exploring open worlds in previous games. However don't let this disappoint settle because there are still secrets to be found and these shorter levels suit themselves to handheld gameplay perfectly. It is extremely easy to jump in and out of playing the game at your leisure. At the same time it is just as easy to sit down and watch the hours pass as you play through level after level.

 

The gameplay is everything you would expect from a Mario game. The return of the sprint button may have thrown some people who believe this should not be necessary due to the circle pad but I assure you that it only takes a few moments before the controls are second nature. Although speaking of the sprint button you will find yourself holding it for the majority of your playthrough because Mario moves a little bit slower then usual. The lack of a triple jump was a disappointing fact to learn but it rarely crossed my mind as I played through the game. It is obvious that the development studio, EAD Tokyo, created the levels with these game mechanics in mind and vice versa. The inclusion of the long lost Tanooki power-up is great to see although it has certainly made up for lost time. The power-up is present in almost every level and even enemies can be seen sporting a tanooki tail. Other power-ups include the standard Fire Flower as well as Boomerang Mario which is similar to the fire flower except now the projectile returns to Mario making it even more deadly. Although both the Tanooki Suit and Boomerang power-up are entertaining additions, the lack of variety in the power-ups is a little disappointing, especially when so many were created for Mario Galaxy and ready to be used.

 

I didn't want to mention the graphics of the game too early in my review for fear of being called shallow. However it has to be mentioned that the game is absolutely beautiful. It is not quite up to the standard of the Galaxy games but impressively close. With some people claiming that the 3DS is underpowered, Mario 3D Land proves that it still has plenty to offer. The environments look vibrant, the movementof both Mario and his enemies is extremely fluid and seeing gorgeous backdrops with the addition of the 3D effect can be awe inspiring. Camera problems that have plagued 3D Mario games in the past are not a problem due to the predominant side-on view.

 

The music in the game includes the classic tunes that we all know and love and they suit the levels that they appear in well. The sound effects of Mario crushing enemies beneath the weight of his own body are still extremely satisfying and up to a high standard.

 

 A Mario game with depth?

Speaking of the 3D effect, it is brilliant. The 3D is the easiest to view I have seen yet on the system. Little to no ghosting is seen which was present in some of the launch titles. There is no discomfort while viewing the game and it really does add to the experience. Miyamoto claimed that Mario 3D Land would be the game that would show how 3D can benefit gameplay as well as graphics. To be honest he was half right. There are certain levels where a coin appears to be reachable by climbing blocks however it is only with the 3D effect turned on that you realise the blocks weren't where you originally believed. It is little ideas like these that show how 3D effect can be used to change gameplay but they are few and far between.