New Mario games are almost always new landmarks in gaming. Super Mario Bros. changed platforming forever, Super Mario 64 introduced a completely new gameplay experience and the abstract imagination of the Super Mario Galaxy games have arguably made them the most lovingly-crafted games on any system in the past five years. As the first Mario game on 3DS, there's a lot riding on Super Mario 3D Land to provide yet another landmark moment, and we're happy to say that it does.
On first appearance Super Mario 3D Land looks like a handheld version of the Super Mario Galaxy games. Mario can wander around wherever he likes. Yet despite the seemingly free-roaming nature of the game, Mario only ever has one set path. The aim in every level is always to reach the flagpole at the end, ideally while collecting the three Star Coins hidden in each stage.
Level Headed
Most of the levels in Super Mario 3D Land are packed with imaginative gameplay mechanics. Each stage guarantees at least one new object or enemy you've never dealt with before, keeping things fresh without much repetition.
Having said that, some of the gameplay mechanics introduced have been uncharacteristically copied straight over from previous games (Like the cannons that fire Mario across the stage, and platforms that flip over as you jump from Galaxy's FlipSwitch Galaxy) but for the most part there are plenty of imaginative new ideas in each world you encounter.
Super Mario 3D Land has clearly been put together with the same care and attention given to every other triple-A Nintendo title. The camera is rock solid, the little graphical touches also provide a level of detail that wasn't even really seen in the Wii games while the inter-World cutscenes add some fun variety not seen since Super Mario World.
Controlling Mario is a charm and it only takes a few minutes to get used to holding down the sprint button to make Mario dash. He's also got a new standing dash move, where holding down the sprint button before moving starts him running on the spot, allowing you to reach top speed instantly.
Vision Impress
Super Mario 3D Land is the first game truly makes use of the handheld's 3D effect. While 3D in most of the other 3DS games released to date looks great but is ultimately purely aesthetic, this is the first game we've played in which you really do feel at a disadvantage if you don't have the 3D slider turned up. This is instantly obvious in the smaller optical illusion-style bonus rooms which deliberately position blocks in a way that makes it impossible to tell where they're positioned unless you switch from 2D to 3D, but it's also the case for the game as a whole.
He's back and better than ever. So looking forward to this must have game.
I'm going to be so bankrupt by the end of this year.
Went into an independent games retailer this afternoon after lectures, and they already had their shipment. Day early with no pre-order? Yes please. And I can confirm that you, whoever you are that might be reading this, need to buy this game.
This sounds like a great game.I so have to have this for my 3DS.
Only as Good as star fox eh
well it still should be good tommorow... 18th Nov... 
What? Only 94%? It should be 101%.
I'm going to have to wait till Christmas day to play this and mario kart 7
I'm so excited about this game but I have to wait until Christmas to play it. That's over a month after everyone else!!!! It's sooo annoying =[
I'm really enjoying this game so far! It seems a bit short though... :/ Hoping the later worlds will have more to offer.
I have been looking forward to this game since I got my 3DS knowing that a mario game had to be made... can't wait to pick this game up tomorrow from my local city games shop...
Hurry up tommorow... HURRY UP TOMMOROW!!!
reviews are live on eshop
HURRY UP TOMORROW! For gods sake, Friday's, why don't you come quicker as Rebecca Black's dislikes on her Friday song.
So can't you temporarily fly or turn into a statue like SMB 3 when Mario wears the Tanooki suit? What's the point?
I pre ordered from GAME.CO.UK and recieved super mario 3d land today (Thursday 17th November 2011) a day before the release. With that order i pre ordered Zelda skyward sword which has not come yet... hoping it will come tommorow
You can turn into a statue with the statue leaf and you can flutter jump
this looks alright...
Not convinced at all. I think Nintendo are starting to become lazy on the ideas department, and are just "recycling" aspects of the other Mario games, and shoving them into another new Mario game. A little originality and daring wouldnt go amiss- Mario has gone down this route a few too many times
Yeah, thats what you think? Im betting you havent seen the game, it has aspects from previous mario games yet its a whole new game and concept. I think its a great game and doesn't really deserve any badmouthing.
Going to buy Skyward Sword tomorrow so I will probably buy this when I'm in Gamestation as well... The temptation will be too hard to resist!
I have actually, and indeed, it is my opinion- however, I am entitled to one, alike to how everyone else is
Actually in many ways this is the most unique of the 3d mario games as it combines both styles of mario games (2d and 3d) with the linear stye and 2d game style controls all featuring in a 3d plain, kind of like the metroid other m of the series. As well as this it incorparates new ideas such as top down perspective. Also I'm curiouse what route would you have the mario series go down?
Anyway I think this looks superb, and I'm really looking forward to indulging into a burst of mario awesomeness
Play the game first
I want it,I want it a lot.
Yeah, he should definitely go ahead an throw away £30-£40 on a game he feels sceptical about. Because that's a great idea!
But personally I'm looking forward to this game. Not looking forward to a run button, but everything else looks groovy.
Ditto.
I've just started World 3 and have been playing for about 2 hours now. I can see how ONM feel the 'main' game is too easy; I could've quite happily stormed through the levels as they are incredibly straightforward and offer no immediate challenge. However, I found within certain levels (not all, some really are run to the flagpole) there are plenty of oppurtunities to explore and interact with the environment - usually this tends to be for a star medal, but there are cases where it's an extra route or for a hidden 1Up
Honestly, my first impressions were that it felt like the weakest Mario game so far and I was a little disappointed, but with the promise of the difficulty ramping up (perhaps a little too late) and all the little secrets sprinkled in the levels (not to mention the superb visuals and good use of 3D) I think it's gonna be a must own title!!
You can rent games y'know.
I just hope it isn't really easy,and offer some difficult levels.
"Play the game first"- Exactly- that what all the Mario fans should do before they say my words are rubbish. I can't judge, because I haven't played it, but neither can you dude, because you haven't played it (or by the time I posted my first comment, no-one had played it) No-one can force me to like Mario games XD
Thats exactly the point i was trying to make
If you haven't bought it yet try Morrison's. I got it this morning for £24.99
If you haven't bought it already, try Morrison's. I got it this morning for £24.99
If you haven't bought this yet, try Morrison's. I got it this morning for £24.99. A tenner cheaper than HMV etc
Sorry for repeat posting - the first post wasn't showing up. I don't work for Morrison's, honest
if you dont work for morrisons then why have you posted like 5 of the exact same message
For some reason, After playing the first few stages, I cant bring myself to play it again. It just bores me out of my mind once the novelty wears off.
Ah, that's awesome
I didn't want to make out that no-one else was entitled to an opinion x} Just wanted to say that I wasn't convinced into buying the game. To add to your point, I know people who have played the game and enjoyed it- but they also talked about it being quite easy- 
It sounds intriguing, but not exceptional. I apologise as well for getting slightly peeved at the mindless fanboyism on here too! X)
No worries
We're all allowed to give a point of view 
I apologize for my first comment in response to your's 
It didn't sound very nice, i didn't mean for it to come across that way 
Don't worry about how you feel about fanboyism, i know what you mean 
I have Super Mario 3D Land and I can rate it as 10/10. The games retro nods, return of Tanooki, amazing new power-ups and fresh new levels
. This game is a must be!!
SO EXCITED!!! IT IS AT THE TOP OF MY CHRISTMAS LIST!
that is cool
Actually played through this now, and I remain to what I said earlier. It's fun, but way too easy (even the special level) and a little overhyped, but still a solid platformer. I'm giving it 84% myself.
Super overrated. It's a well constructed game that doesn't really do anything particularly wrong, but doesn't do anything really. Visually it's stunning, soundtrack is pretty nice, 3D is the best out of any 3DS game and fundamental gameplay is still as solid and precise as it was (though not quite as satisfying as the Galaxy games) but it does almost nothing new or interesting. It presents no innovative ideas, no interesting level designs, only one new power-up that in itself is fun to use but not all that interesting, recycled levels and gimmicks used from past games. It tries to be like classic Mario and Galaxy at the same time, but ultimately doesn't quite match up to either. Level designs are dull and totally unmemorable too. They largely consist of floating blocks in the sky or (as aforementioned) a gimmick from a previous Mario game (like the flip panels from SMG2).
Now don't get me wrong, I love Mario games. I've played and thoroughly enjoyed most of them and the two Galaxy titles remain to be two of my favourite games of all time. It's just that for a series known for innovating, for bringing fresh, new and exciting ideas; Super Mario 3D Land just falls flat. It's just there. It's still fun mind, an 80% game mainly due to how polished it is. Just a totally uninspired and pathetically easy one.