Initially appears too short and easy, but there is still much to do
User Rating: 8 | Super Mario 3D Land 3DS
Super Mario 3D Land is a 3D Mario game, but the levels have a classic 2D feel to them which gives makes it seem different to previous Mario releases. As usual, Princess Peach has been kidnapped by Bowser and so Mario must travel through 8 worlds to save the day. However, there are only 5 stages in each one plus a couple of extra, optional levels; so the game feels rather short. However, once you do this, it turns out you are only really half way to complete the game because another set of 8 worlds with 5 stages in each is revealed, and the real challenge begins. However, to play these extra levels, there is a increasingly harsh coin cost to unlock them. The required coins are the special 3 coins found in each level, located in the more dangerous and harder to reach places. If you want to play these extra stages, you will need to make sure to find the 3 coins, unless you will be replaying levels again and again to find the ones you missed the first time round. In terms of power ups, the usual Mario ones are featured, and a stronger emphasis is placed on the Tanooki suit in which Mario can spin attack and partially glide using the tail. The propeller box can make Mario fly to large vertical heights then slowly glide back to the ground, and an uncommon Boomerang Bro's suit makes an appearance in a handful of levels. The main game is mainly easy and experienced players won't die too often. Most deaths I found were caused by some platforms being hard to judge their position, or when Mario didn't gain as much speed as predicted. Maybe it was me that just had problems with the 3DS circle pad, but sometimes Mario often didn't like jumping diagonally and came up short. In the event that you do die many times, an optional Invincibility Leaf can be used which basically is a cross between a Tanooki suit and permanent Star power, which allows you to focus on the platforming and ignore all enemies. The special worlds are much more trickier, with a higher amount of enemies, particularly the tricky ones like Spineys, and after the first world, you can have the choice of playing as Luigi. If you plan on playing through the main game, you may end up being disappointed with the games length and challenge, but if you judge the game as a whole, it is enjoyable and should provide a fairly long lasting challenge.
