Super Mario 3D Land
You can always count on Nintendo to create a solid Mario game that uses a console strengths effectively and defines itself as a example of how platformers should be. Mario 3D land is no different. It is the classic Mario you all love in 3D, even more so that 64, Sunshine and the two Galaxy games.
The first thing you will notice is how familiar everything feels with a slight emphasis on the racoon suit. Mario hasn’t evolved and to fair it doesn’t need to. For a full 3D Mario game on a handheld this runs very smoothly and looks fantastic. The worlds are bright, colourful and so very Mario.
Even some of the Gameplay elements are taken straight for the very first Mario. For example when fighting Bowser at the end of each castle you avoid his attacks and run across a bridge to hit a button. Exactly the same as the original NES classic but in 3D.
So it sounds good, looks good and plays like Old school Mario. The 3D is also used for some pretty cool puzzles, often involving perspective. The lack of proper camera controls is disappointing but then the camera never becomes an issue. It is always where you need it to be.
Sadly the same flaws I noticed when I played it at GAMEfest are still there. The use of a Sprint button seems pointless; you are going to hold that down throughout the levels as there are very few instances where Walking is necessary.
The length of each level is also notoriously short. There are also fewer levels in each world, averaging around 5 including the final castle/airship. Worlds seem to be over before they’re begun and you can generally get through a couple in an hour.
At first it lacks any real challenge either. It has probably one of the steepest difficulty curves I’ve ever come across although it only really spikes at the end. The 3 star coins per level offer an interesting challenge but most are easy to find and most gamers won’t have trouble getting them. Most of your deaths will come from messing up jumps to get these coins.
By the time you get to the really difficult stuff you will have enough lives to get through it all with sheer tenacity. I never saw a game over screen even though I have around 200 retries and I ended up finishing it with 200 lives (and that includes everything, not just the standard levels).
But it very easy to criticise a game. Super Mario 3D land is an excellent addition to the series. Addictive and perfect if you have an hour to kill and don’t want to get into something meatier. Play it in longer periods and you’ll reach the end very quickly.
I’ll finish by mentioning how I hate how Nintendo treat all it’s customers like little children. I know they want little children to play their games but some of the stuff is patronising for adults. Having frequent “it’s time to take a break” messages is really annoying, and the super items aimed to help you when you’re struggling are insulting. There should be an option to turn these off.
Fantastic yet flawed addition to a series known for having a high standard of quality.
8/10
The first thing you will notice is how familiar everything feels with a slight emphasis on the racoon suit. Mario hasn’t evolved and to fair it doesn’t need to. For a full 3D Mario game on a handheld this runs very smoothly and looks fantastic. The worlds are bright, colourful and so very Mario.
Even some of the Gameplay elements are taken straight for the very first Mario. For example when fighting Bowser at the end of each castle you avoid his attacks and run across a bridge to hit a button. Exactly the same as the original NES classic but in 3D.
So it sounds good, looks good and plays like Old school Mario. The 3D is also used for some pretty cool puzzles, often involving perspective. The lack of proper camera controls is disappointing but then the camera never becomes an issue. It is always where you need it to be.
Sadly the same flaws I noticed when I played it at GAMEfest are still there. The use of a Sprint button seems pointless; you are going to hold that down throughout the levels as there are very few instances where Walking is necessary.
The length of each level is also notoriously short. There are also fewer levels in each world, averaging around 5 including the final castle/airship. Worlds seem to be over before they’re begun and you can generally get through a couple in an hour.
At first it lacks any real challenge either. It has probably one of the steepest difficulty curves I’ve ever come across although it only really spikes at the end. The 3 star coins per level offer an interesting challenge but most are easy to find and most gamers won’t have trouble getting them. Most of your deaths will come from messing up jumps to get these coins.
By the time you get to the really difficult stuff you will have enough lives to get through it all with sheer tenacity. I never saw a game over screen even though I have around 200 retries and I ended up finishing it with 200 lives (and that includes everything, not just the standard levels).
But it very easy to criticise a game. Super Mario 3D land is an excellent addition to the series. Addictive and perfect if you have an hour to kill and don’t want to get into something meatier. Play it in longer periods and you’ll reach the end very quickly.
I’ll finish by mentioning how I hate how Nintendo treat all it’s customers like little children. I know they want little children to play their games but some of the stuff is patronising for adults. Having frequent “it’s time to take a break” messages is really annoying, and the super items aimed to help you when you’re struggling are insulting. There should be an option to turn these off.
Fantastic yet flawed addition to a series known for having a high standard of quality.
8/10
posted by Master hunter at 1:52 pm
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