[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Hello hello. Before you read this review, I just want to assure you that I have beaten the game to the fullest. I am not basing this review on any less than a full game. With that said, let's review.[/font]
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[font=comic sans ms,cursive]What is Super Mario 3D Land? [/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Super Mario 3D Land is a hybrid of the old an the new. On the one hand, you have a 3D game with plenty of content, whereas on the other hand, you can tell the roots that are linked to the old 2D Mario games. These references can be anything from the boss battles against bowser, to the simple blocks that are laid out all over world 1-1. For those of you who have enjoyed some classic 2D mario games, you'll spot plenty of references that'll just make you smile. And for those of you who want a solid 3D platformer, this is the game for you.[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Story -[/font]
Wouldn't you know it, Peach has once again been kidnapped by Bowser, the king of the Koopa's. There's a small twist however. It's nothing fancy, but it works out well in the gameplay. The twist? Bowser steals the tanooki leaves from the tanooki tree and scatters them all throughout the world. By doing so, he enables some of his allies to gain the tanooki power-up as well. Allies such as goomba's, boos, and even thwomps. It's nothing mind shattering, but it's nice to see how it's implemented within the game.
There's also the matter of how they tell the story in this game. Again, nothing mind shattering, but it's cute. After you beat every world, you'll see a cutscene of mario walking on a path with an envelope flying in the air. He takes the envelope, and see's pictures of what's going on with peach, which essentially shows how she was kidnapped. After you get to world 3, you gain access to a blue toad house, which houses the album of the pictures you've collected so far. If you view the pictures in the album, you can save them to your SD card. A nice little touch on Nintendo's part.
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Graphics -[/font]
If you've played either of the galaxy games, you'll know that they pushed the limits of the wii to produce the graphics that they had used. The same goes for this game. The details that are put into each stage really add on to the overall package. I'm not saying that the graphics are perfect however. You can still see jagged lines ever now and then, but it's not a big deal at all. After all, mario games aren't known for their graphics, but for their gameplay.
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Gameplay -[/font]
If there's one thing that Nintendo is good at, it's making a game with fantastic gameplay. Mario games especially benefit from that talent. This one is no different. In playing 3D Land, I found that all of the levels had some degree of fun, including the "final" level. The ideals are simple. Run. Jump. Stomp. Same formula, same fun. The levels in of themselves are linear compared to the other 3D titles, which isn't a big deal considering the goal they had in mind when making this game. For those of you who love to explore the levels, there is tons to find. Having played through all the levels over again, I'm still finding new secret areas. I doubt I've even scratched the surface with all the secrets they've hidden. There are several other things that add to the gameplay, so I'll divide them into sub-categories for you.
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Powerups :[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]In almost ever mario game, there's bound to be a few new powerups. Surprisingly though, this game's best powerup is the tanooki suit from Super Mario Bros 3. Though they removed the flying capabilities, this powerup is a joy to play with, though I believe it makes the game a bit easy when you first start out. I don't think I need to discuss this too much though, considering the hype that it had produced for the game. I'd imagine that we know all about it by now.
There are a few new powerups in this game though, such as the propeller block (not to be confused with the block from New Super Mario Bros Wii), the boomerang suit, and the "coin block." Unfortunately, I feel as though the propeller block could have been used more in the game. You can only find it in select stages, and it cannot be carried to the next stage after. But the levels that it is in are great fun. The coin block is also barely used as well, but it's fine considering it's more of a bonus powerup than a practical one. [/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Before I bought the game, I had heard a great deal of fuss about the boomerang suit being exactly like the fire flower powerup... Don't worry, it's not. The only similarity is that you fire a projectile that can kill enemies. But aside from that, it's completely different. Only having access to one boomerang at a time, you need to think ahead of how you are going to use it. Especially with several enemies crowding you. It is a ton of fun to play with.
Mystery Boxes and Toad Houses:[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]I'm not gonna lie, mystery boxes are pretty fun to play with, and get rather challenging without the tanooki suit. Within these boxes are star coins, tons of regular coins, enemies, powerups, and sometimes 1ups. You have ten seconds to clear the room of enemies, and only after that will a star coin appear. It's a nice addition to the game. [/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Toad houses on the other hand are just there. When you use them, they disappear until you street pass someone. If you live in a place where hardly anyone carries around their 3ds, this feature is a bit disappointing. If however you do get street passes daily, I can see this being a nice little bonus to the game.[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]'Time attack' : [/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]After you beat the first eight worlds, the game will keep track of the time you spend in each level. Since I don't live in an active area where I can get street pass everywhere, I have yet to indulge myself in the fullness in this feature. It does look like it will be fun to crunch down on other peoples times though when I do street pass someone with this game.[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Special Stages:[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]This for me made the game. The first eight worlds are fun, but not much of a challenge. This all changes in the special world. For those who do not wish to be spoiled about it, I will include the tag.[/font]
[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]The 3D:[/font]
[font="'comic sans ms"]I almost forgot to add this... *Edits it in* The 3D for this game is pleasing to the eyes, and definitely adds to the whole experience. It's not a requirement for playing however, and can get quite difficult to focus on while moving. You'd need to sit down and stay relaxed in order to fully enjoy the effect.[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]The Controls - [/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]There is only one complaint I have about the controls, and that is the grip of the thumb pad. When playing, it is sometimes difficult to keep the thumb pad from slipping out from under your thumb. That isn't a problem with the game however, as much as it is with the system. Aside from that, the controls are mostly fluid. Having to use the L trigger to long jump gets awkward at times, but it's a minor complaint that doesn't harm the game at all.[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Music and Sounds-[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]The tone of the Music for the stages is delightful to listen to, though there could have been a bigger variety of songs to listen to. But when you indulge yourself into the levels, you hardly focus on the music as much as you do exploring the stages. The sounds are the same, in that you don't really pay attention to them while playing. They're not new for the most part, so I don't think it's worth going into detail over. [/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Replayability - [/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]If you think that the game is too short, you're only thinking up to world 8. Not only are there another 8 worlds in the special world, there are also several challenges for those who wish to 100% the game. I won't spoil what's involved, but I will say that it gives even mario veterans a run for their money. I rushed through the game just to see how long it would take me to beat it at a fast pace. It took me 16 hours and 8 minutes to 100% while rushing the game as fast as I could. For a hand held, it's a pretty long game. Even after you 100% the game, the levels were enough fun to make me want to play them some more. Heck, I might make a new file to play it all over again at a relaxing rate. Who knows, but I'd definitely say that the replayability exists. It was a very enjoyable game. [/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Rating:[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]I give this game a 9.7/10. It's not perfect, but it's very close to it. Mario's never been one to disappoint, and I'd say that this is definitely a must buy game. I hope you all will enjoy the game! [/font]
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[font=comic sans ms,cursive]What is Super Mario 3D Land? [/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Super Mario 3D Land is a hybrid of the old an the new. On the one hand, you have a 3D game with plenty of content, whereas on the other hand, you can tell the roots that are linked to the old 2D Mario games. These references can be anything from the boss battles against bowser, to the simple blocks that are laid out all over world 1-1. For those of you who have enjoyed some classic 2D mario games, you'll spot plenty of references that'll just make you smile. And for those of you who want a solid 3D platformer, this is the game for you.[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Story -[/font]
Wouldn't you know it, Peach has once again been kidnapped by Bowser, the king of the Koopa's. There's a small twist however. It's nothing fancy, but it works out well in the gameplay. The twist? Bowser steals the tanooki leaves from the tanooki tree and scatters them all throughout the world. By doing so, he enables some of his allies to gain the tanooki power-up as well. Allies such as goomba's, boos, and even thwomps. It's nothing mind shattering, but it's nice to see how it's implemented within the game.
There's also the matter of how they tell the story in this game. Again, nothing mind shattering, but it's cute. After you beat every world, you'll see a cutscene of mario walking on a path with an envelope flying in the air. He takes the envelope, and see's pictures of what's going on with peach, which essentially shows how she was kidnapped. After you get to world 3, you gain access to a blue toad house, which houses the album of the pictures you've collected so far. If you view the pictures in the album, you can save them to your SD card. A nice little touch on Nintendo's part.
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Graphics -[/font]
If you've played either of the galaxy games, you'll know that they pushed the limits of the wii to produce the graphics that they had used. The same goes for this game. The details that are put into each stage really add on to the overall package. I'm not saying that the graphics are perfect however. You can still see jagged lines ever now and then, but it's not a big deal at all. After all, mario games aren't known for their graphics, but for their gameplay.
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Gameplay -[/font]
If there's one thing that Nintendo is good at, it's making a game with fantastic gameplay. Mario games especially benefit from that talent. This one is no different. In playing 3D Land, I found that all of the levels had some degree of fun, including the "final" level. The ideals are simple. Run. Jump. Stomp. Same formula, same fun. The levels in of themselves are linear compared to the other 3D titles, which isn't a big deal considering the goal they had in mind when making this game. For those of you who love to explore the levels, there is tons to find. Having played through all the levels over again, I'm still finding new secret areas. I doubt I've even scratched the surface with all the secrets they've hidden. There are several other things that add to the gameplay, so I'll divide them into sub-categories for you.
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Powerups :[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]In almost ever mario game, there's bound to be a few new powerups. Surprisingly though, this game's best powerup is the tanooki suit from Super Mario Bros 3. Though they removed the flying capabilities, this powerup is a joy to play with, though I believe it makes the game a bit easy when you first start out. I don't think I need to discuss this too much though, considering the hype that it had produced for the game. I'd imagine that we know all about it by now.
There are a few new powerups in this game though, such as the propeller block (not to be confused with the block from New Super Mario Bros Wii), the boomerang suit, and the "coin block." Unfortunately, I feel as though the propeller block could have been used more in the game. You can only find it in select stages, and it cannot be carried to the next stage after. But the levels that it is in are great fun. The coin block is also barely used as well, but it's fine considering it's more of a bonus powerup than a practical one. [/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Before I bought the game, I had heard a great deal of fuss about the boomerang suit being exactly like the fire flower powerup... Don't worry, it's not. The only similarity is that you fire a projectile that can kill enemies. But aside from that, it's completely different. Only having access to one boomerang at a time, you need to think ahead of how you are going to use it. Especially with several enemies crowding you. It is a ton of fun to play with.
Mystery Boxes and Toad Houses:[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]I'm not gonna lie, mystery boxes are pretty fun to play with, and get rather challenging without the tanooki suit. Within these boxes are star coins, tons of regular coins, enemies, powerups, and sometimes 1ups. You have ten seconds to clear the room of enemies, and only after that will a star coin appear. It's a nice addition to the game. [/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Toad houses on the other hand are just there. When you use them, they disappear until you street pass someone. If you live in a place where hardly anyone carries around their 3ds, this feature is a bit disappointing. If however you do get street passes daily, I can see this being a nice little bonus to the game.[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]'Time attack' : [/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]After you beat the first eight worlds, the game will keep track of the time you spend in each level. Since I don't live in an active area where I can get street pass everywhere, I have yet to indulge myself in the fullness in this feature. It does look like it will be fun to crunch down on other peoples times though when I do street pass someone with this game.[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Special Stages:[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]This for me made the game. The first eight worlds are fun, but not much of a challenge. This all changes in the special world. For those who do not wish to be spoiled about it, I will include the tag.[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]The special stages take several of the normal stages and revamps them to be challenging. On top of that, there are also a few new stages that are quite challenging in their own respect. Even the old stages from the first eight worlds in the special worlds feel different when playing through them again.[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]The special stages provide familiar gimmicks to the game. The two biggest gimmicks being cosmic mario and a time attack (Starting the stages with 30 seconds). Sometimes, gimmicks are meshed together to create a whole new gimmick in of itself. To say the least, the special stages are a refreshing change from the normal part of the game.
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]The 3D:[/font]
[font="'comic sans ms"]I almost forgot to add this... *Edits it in* The 3D for this game is pleasing to the eyes, and definitely adds to the whole experience. It's not a requirement for playing however, and can get quite difficult to focus on while moving. You'd need to sit down and stay relaxed in order to fully enjoy the effect.[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]The Controls - [/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]There is only one complaint I have about the controls, and that is the grip of the thumb pad. When playing, it is sometimes difficult to keep the thumb pad from slipping out from under your thumb. That isn't a problem with the game however, as much as it is with the system. Aside from that, the controls are mostly fluid. Having to use the L trigger to long jump gets awkward at times, but it's a minor complaint that doesn't harm the game at all.[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Music and Sounds-[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]The tone of the Music for the stages is delightful to listen to, though there could have been a bigger variety of songs to listen to. But when you indulge yourself into the levels, you hardly focus on the music as much as you do exploring the stages. The sounds are the same, in that you don't really pay attention to them while playing. They're not new for the most part, so I don't think it's worth going into detail over. [/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Replayability - [/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]If you think that the game is too short, you're only thinking up to world 8. Not only are there another 8 worlds in the special world, there are also several challenges for those who wish to 100% the game. I won't spoil what's involved, but I will say that it gives even mario veterans a run for their money. I rushed through the game just to see how long it would take me to beat it at a fast pace. It took me 16 hours and 8 minutes to 100% while rushing the game as fast as I could. For a hand held, it's a pretty long game. Even after you 100% the game, the levels were enough fun to make me want to play them some more. Heck, I might make a new file to play it all over again at a relaxing rate. Who knows, but I'd definitely say that the replayability exists. It was a very enjoyable game. [/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Rating:[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]I give this game a 9.7/10. It's not perfect, but it's very close to it. Mario's never been one to disappoint, and I'd say that this is definitely a must buy game. I hope you all will enjoy the game! [/font]
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