It works well with the 3D technology and being Mario's premeire outting on the 3DS platform.
By frequently altering the perspective in Mario's movements throughout each level, it does a great job of showing off some great visual effects...with or without the 3D filter being on. It also brings back the Racoon and Tanooki power ups!!! We haven't seen these guys since Super Mario Bros 3! Another nod towards SMB3, 3D Land introduces the Boomerang Bros power up (very similar to elusive Hammer Bros suit). The all the power ups operate as they usually do, including the Boomerang suit which is exacly like it is on its koopa counterparts. One other great feature the game has is its integration with the 3DS' StreetPass system. When you pass another player with 3D Land data, you either gain a gift box full of power ups (via a toad house) or a mystery box that allows the chance of getting another star coin from them. As fun as it was, it was pretty much game breaking. Due to the fact that I work with like 3 other guys with a 3DS and this game...all I would have to do is simply pass by them on a daily basis and get a guareented 2 to 3 Star Coins and insane amounts of 1 UPs DAILY. I'll explain the importance of this further on.
The major issue that I had with this game is the LARGE difficulty gap between the first and second playthroughs. The initial playthrough of 3D Land is insultingly easy! I mean, Nintendo has almost made it so where its impossible to get a game over. There are an incredibly ridiculous amount of opportunity to gain 1-UPs and if you die more than 3 times (I believe), the game gives you a P Wing/Star Man hybrid item that will basically just allow you to fly through the stage mowing down everything in your path! Alternatively, on the second playthrough of the game (a whole different set of 8 worlds) it gets insane difficult the further you proceed. In both playthroughs of the game, you occassionally get levels where you're being chased by a dark verison of Mario or collecting clocks to add to the initial low play time. Well on the second one, these are not only more prevelent but far more difficult. I can't tell you how many times I died being chased by a small or giant dark Mario while trying to successfully jump/glide my way through platform puzzles.
Remember when I mentioned the StreetPass and those Star Coins towards the end of my second paragraph? Ok, Star Coins are collectable items needed to unlock later game levels on the first playthrough and all levels in the final world of the second one. You need at least 200 something to even play a level in the last world of the second playthrough and 290 to be exact for the final level of the game. Well if I'm collecting 2 to 3 Star Coins a data from StreetPass, then why would I even bother going through the stress of collecting Star Coins from the actual levels (3 per level). And yes, they become very difficult to burdensome to collect. I simply just StreetPassed everyday until I got 290 Star Coins and then played through the game. This totally breaks whatever remained of any sort of difficulty during the first playthrough and helps greatly with the second. On the second time around, you don't have to be bothered with trying to make it through level while attempting to collect all the Star Coins to gain access to the final world's levels.
The story is pretty much the same as most other Mario games..."Bowser has kidnapped the princess and Mario/Luigi must rescue her". Luigi isn't palyable until after the first playthrough btw where he can then be swapped with Mario at will during the course selection menu. Surprisingly, another blast from the SMB3 past shows up in the form of Boom Boom and his female counterpart Pom Pom. This happens aboard...wait for it...AIRSHIPS. Yeah 3D Land is definately a treat for any SMB3 fans which there are a lot of.
My Breakdown:
What's Good:
- Very nice integration of various features of the 3DS
- Makes good use of the 3D technology
- Unique in its visual approach
- Tons and Tons of Super Mario Bros 3 references
- ^ Racoon and Tanooki suit Mario returns!!!
- ^^^Boom Boom returns
- The new Boomerang Bros suit is fun to use
- Introduces a bunch of new and creative enemy types
- Retains its classic charm while introducing fresh concepts to the series
What's Not-So-Good:
- Same old "Save the Princess from Bowser" story
- How incredibly relentless Bowser is in this game! He just refuses to die!!!
What's Bad:
- The StreetPass rewards break the regular game's difficulty
- The invinsible P Wing power up breaks the regular game's difficulty
- The difficulty gap between the first and second playthrough
- The StreetPass removed the challenge of getting 290 Star Coins
In all, Super Mario 3D Land is a great first outting for Mario on the 3DS. It has some consistancy issues with the difficulty level but nothing that should turn a lot of people away. Its a must have for all Nintendo and Mario (especially SMB3) fans.