| Super Mario 3D Land | |
|---|---|
North American box art |
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| Developer(s) | Nintendo EAD Tokyo |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Director(s) | Koichi Hayashida |
| Producer(s) | Yoshiaki Koizumi |
| Composer(s) | Asuka Hayazaki Mahito Yokota Shigetoshi Gohara Takeshi Hama Yuya Takezawa |
| Series | Mario |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 3DS |
| Release date(s) | JP November 3, 2011 NA November 13, 2011[1] EU November 18, 2011[2] AU November 24, 2011[3] |
| Genre(s) | Platforming |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) | |
Super Mario 3D Land (スーパーマリオ3Dランド Sūpā Mario Surī Dī Rando)[4] is a platform game in the Mario series developed by Nintendo EAD Tokyo for the Nintendo 3DS. The game was released in Japan on November 3, 2011, in North America on November 13, 2011, in Europe on November 18, 2011, and in Australia on November 24, 2011.[5] It was announced at Nintendo's Keynote Conference during the 2011 Game Developers Conference held in San Francisco. The game combines elements from both classic 2D side-scrolling Mario games and modern free-roaming 3D Mario games.
Contents |
Super Mario 3D Land is a platform game that has been described by game designer Shigeru Miyamoto as a "3D Mario that plays as a 2D Mario game." As such, Super Mario 3D Land combines the elements of traditional side-scrolling Mario titles, such as linear-based levels, with those of the modern open world Mario titles, such as moving Mario in three dimensions and performing a variety of actions.[6]
Similar to the classic side-scrolling Mario games, the objective of each level is to reach and grab the flagpole located at the end before the time limit expires. Super Mario 3D Land utilizes a similar health system to those games, in which Mario shrinks upon taking damage from enemies or hazards, and damage while "small" results in losing a life. The game offers a number of traditional Mario items, such as the Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, and Starman, along with new power-ups that bestow a special suit onto Mario that grants him new abilities. Returning from Super Mario Bros. 3 is the Super Leaf power-up which turns Mario into Tanooki Mario, allowing him to float in the air and attack with his tail, with a later variant also allowing him to transform into a statue.[7] Other new items include the Boomerang Flower, which allows Mario to throw boomerangs that can collect out of reach items as well as attack enemies; the Propeller Box, which allows Mario to reach high places, similar to New Super Mario Bros. Wii's Propeller Suit; and the rare Question Box which gives Mario extra coins whilst wearing it.[8][9][10][11] Each course contains three hidden Star Medals that are required to unlock certain levels.[12] The map screen also contains Toad Houses where players can gain additional items and Mystery Boxes where more Star Medals can be earned. After clearing the game once, a set of special levels are unlocked, some of which contain additional challenges such as a short time limit or Shadow Mario clones. Clearing a certain level in these worlds unlocks Luigi as a playable character, who has slightly different handling to Mario.[7] Similar to the Super Guide feature in recent Mario titles, certain items can be made available if the player struggles on a certain level. The Invincibility Leaf, which appears after the player dies five times in a level, gives Mario invincibility and Tanooki Suit abilities, while the P-Wing, which appears after the player dies ten times in a level, sends the player right to the end of the level.[13]
Super Mario 3D Land utilizes the Nintendo 3DS autostereoscopic technology, allowing players to perceive depth when viewing the game screen. While the game is designed to not require the 3D effect, some obstacles or points of interest are deliberately more noticeable or easier when the 3D is switched on.[6] Super Mario 3D Land also utilizes optional use of the 3DS gyroscope which can be used to control cannons and binoculars.[6] The game also features StreetPass functionality, allowing players to exchange mystery boxes containing bonus items.[14]
A tree that stands on Princess Peach's castle grounds is stripped of all its leaves during a storm. The leaves, which turn out to be Super Leaves, are blown across the Mushroom Kingdom, bestowing Tanooki tails on all living things they touch.[15] When Mario and the Toads go to inspect the tree the next day, they discover a letter from Bowser, learning that he has kidnapped Princess Peach. Mario sets off in pursuit to locate and rescue the princess. After rescuing her, the Toads and Mario return to the Mushroom Kingdom with tanooki suits while Mario carries the princess. The Tanooki Tree is restored, however, a photo falls to the ground revealing Luigi behind bars with a Koopa Troopa and a newly rendered Boo.
After rescuing Luigi, the two brothers continue on their quest to completing the special worlds. After they have completed the Special World 8-Castle level, a new letter falls to the ground far away in an open plain. The three Toads (in their tanooki suits) that helped Mario earlier on investigate the letter and discover that Bowser has kidnapped Peach once again, thus, starting Mario's quest over again.
In November 2010, Shigeru Miyamoto announced that both 2D and 3D Mario games were in the works for the Nintendo 3DS.[16] He also described this particular game as "completely original" and a cross between Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 64,[5] and revealed that the game will utilize the 3DS gyroscope.[17] The game is being developed by Nintendo EAD Tokyo, which had developed Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel.[18]
Satoru Iwata pointed out that the game's tentative logo sports a tail, and stated that its purpose would be revealed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011.[19] Miyamoto later stated that "it's what you think it is."[20] While no exact release date was announced, Miyamoto stated that he hoped to release the game during 2011.[21]
The game was showcased at Nintendo's press conference at E3 2011, where a 2011 release date was confirmed, along with the appearance of the Tanooki Suit, a power-up originally from Super Mario Bros. 3.[22] The power-up allows Mario to float down gently, but unlike in Super Mario Bros. 3, he can no longer fly.[23]
| Reception | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Aggregator | Score |
| GameRankings | 90.22%[24] |
| Metacritic | 90/100[25] |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| 1UP.com | B+ [26] |
| Famitsu | 38/40[27] |
| Game Informer | 9.5/10 [28] |
| GamePro | [29] |
| GameSpot | 8.0/10 [30] |
| GamesRadar | 9/10 [31] |
| GameTrailers | 9.2/10 [32] |
| IGN | 9.5/10 [33] |
| Official Nintendo Magazine | 94%[34] |
| X-Play | [35] |
| Wired | 9/10 [36] |
Super Mario 3D Land has received positive critical acclaim, with an average rating of 90 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 74 reviews. The game sold over 343,000 copies in its first week in Japan, helping to move over 145,000 Nintendo 3DS units.[37] Famitsu awarded Super Mario 3D Land a score of 38/40, praising level design, accessibility for beginners and the use of 3D.[27]
IGN gave the game a score of 9.5 and an Editor's Choice award, calling it "brilliant and addictive," and stating that "3D gaming has never been fully realized before this."[33] GamesRadar gave the game a score of 9/10, praising its wealth of content, although criticising the inclusion of a run button and some easy difficulty.[31]
Game Informer gave 3D Land a 9.5/10, saying "it lives up to the level of quality set by previous entries and is easily the best reason to own a 3DS," and complimenting both the use of a run button and the 3D effects while criticising the "lack of variety in boss battles".[28]
Super Mario 3D Land was awarded the "Best Platform Game Award" by GameTrailers.[38]
ScrewAttack gave the game a 9/10 for the special worlds as offered for a second quest, but was originally going to give it a 7/10 for its easy gameplay.
The game won the "Best Handheld Game" award in the 2011 Spike Video Game Awards.[39]
Super Mario 3D Land was awarded the best Nintendo 3DS game for the year 2011 by Game Trailers.[40]
Super Mario 3D Land was voted 2011's 3DS Game of the Year by Nintendo Life.
|title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://www.gametrailers.com/video/best-3ds-game-of-the/725209l.| Book: Mario titles | |
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