As played twenty-three years later for the first time...

User Rating: 8 | Super Mario Land GB
Before even delving into the review, I feel I must give Super Mario Land some credit. It's very difficult for some games to hold up for a long time once the hardware they've been on become's outdated, yet Super Mario Land easily bucks that trend. Granted, it's an incredibly short ride, but while it lasts, the players is given the chance to traverse one of the most bizarre worlds Mario's ever traversed to date. Playing it twenty-three years later on 3DS, I can't help but find myself repeatedly thanking Nintendo for rereasling this brilliant little platformer. It's certainly not perfect, but I had a blast playing it, all the same.

For any readers who've played a Mario 2D platformer before (which, if you're playing this game as late as I am, you probably have), you have a fair idea of what to expect. You move from left to right across each stage, ultimately trying to reach one of two keyholes at the end of the level. Since this game is a bit older, once you've started moving left, you can't continue backwards the way you came as in newer Mario titles. The power-ups have also changed little from his iteration in the original Super Mario Bros. In order to last longer, collecting a mushroom will make Mario grow larger and allow you to take one hit from an enemy without dying. Grabbing a fire-flower will also grant you the ability to shoot balls of fire at your enemies, though unlike any other Mario game, the balls of fire in this game will ricochet off any platforms they encounter, and will also collect coins for you.

What really makes this game stand out from other Mario titles, however, are the worlds themselves. From the start, you're placed in a very different setting from the usual Mushroom Kingdom. Rather than save Peach, you're trying to save Daisy (in her first appearance of the series), and while story has never been the focus of Mario titles (this included), it makes sense given the rest of the world. Many will notice the differences right away, starting with the Egyptian theme of world one. As far as I'm aware, no other Mario game has you dodging fireball breathing sphinxes as in this game, and it certainly made for a pleasant surprise. The boss fights are also a fun affair, though structured somewhat similarly to old games in that you attempt to slip past the boss to step on the lever placed behind. That said, the game does allow you to finish the bosses off only with the fire-flower if you have it, rather than attempt the tricky platforming sometimes required to get around them.

As interesting as the worlds are, however, it can't be helped but to mention just how short the game is. Granted, it was running on much more limited hardware at the time, but it's worth comparing for those who're considering a purchase on the eshop like myself. The game features four worlds, and only three areas to each of these worlds, none of which are particular long either. Even if it is fun to replay (which it certainly is, if only to beat your high scores), it certainly wouldn't take long to beat several times over. On the original release, this might've been a bit more difficult, but due to the 3DS ability to provide the user with a save location, it has since become much easier for a player to finish the game multiple times. Whether or not you choose to use the save feature (or restore points, as they call it), however, is entirely up to you.

Nevertheless, at only four dollars, the game is well worth picking up if you've been considering it. If you already know platformers are for you, then this game will be a treat, even considering the short length. With its bizarre world, at times tricky platforming, and interesting bosses, one is all but guaranteed a good time.