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This thread has been linked to the game 'Super Mario 3D Land'.
Nintendo's newest handheld has come in for a lot of stick recently, with less than stellar reviews for the first batch of titles on the machine and 'low' sales figures. But all that is about to change because Super Mario 3D Land is here and it's ready to kick shell and take names.
The story isn't in any way surprising; that scamp Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach again and left Mario with odd little postcards of his travels with the pinched princess. Of course, it's down to Mario to go rescue her and that involves plenty of game worlds and a highly varied set of levels to traverse.
Oddly for a game on a 3D system, the levels are designed with more of a classic Mario level design in mind. There are levels which are almost left to right movement and others that change the perspective to 3D, as with Mario 64 and Galaxy. What you get from this strange concoction is a heady mix of 2D and 3D level, where one minute you'll be gaming old skool and the next you'll be diving right into the screen. It may sound strange on paper, but it works brilliantly and manages to feel both fresh and classic at the same time.
One area of the series hasn't changed much over time and those little boxes that provide power-ups in the form of suits. Mushrooms that make Mario bigger and Flower suits have been a big part of the series and return here, alongside the fan favourite Tanooki Suit.
The Tanooki gives Mario a tail to whip enemies and turn rotors that allow you to reach higher areas. It's a perfect match for the 3D gameplay here, allowing you to tread air over gaps and makes some areas much easier to traverse by sailing over the heads of enemies or moving platforms.
Graphically, Mario 3D Land is a joy to look at, possibly the best looking 3DS game so far. Bright colours, fantastic enemy designs and some lovely draw distances (just look through the binoculars) easily raise this head and shoulders above other games on the system and really show what the 3DS is capable of. The game worlds all feel full of life and each has an overall theme, from desert levels to pirate ships flying through the air.
The 3D is also used very well, It isn't necessary and those who can't see 3D will still be fine playing Super Mario 3D Land, but using it really adds to the perspective of the level design and certainly helps with jumping from platform to platform.
Veterans of the series may find the levels in the main game slightly too easy at first. Even if you do struggle, Nintendo has added a function that gives you a silver Tanooki Suit that makes you invulnerable. The suit is available at the restart point, but it's always given as an option and not forced on you. If a player still can't get through the game even gives you the chance to skip a level.
That said, when you reach the end of the game Super Mario 3D Land lets you play it all over again by introducing the 'Special' mode, a harder version of the original levels to provide a much greater challenge.
With amazing graphics for a handheld, classic gameplay with a modern twist and the return of THAT suit, Super Mario 3D Land is pure fun. Thank you Nintendo!
10/10
The story isn't in any way surprising; that scamp Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach again and left Mario with odd little postcards of his travels with the pinched princess. Of course, it's down to Mario to go rescue her and that involves plenty of game worlds and a highly varied set of levels to traverse.
Oddly for a game on a 3D system, the levels are designed with more of a classic Mario level design in mind. There are levels which are almost left to right movement and others that change the perspective to 3D, as with Mario 64 and Galaxy. What you get from this strange concoction is a heady mix of 2D and 3D level, where one minute you'll be gaming old skool and the next you'll be diving right into the screen. It may sound strange on paper, but it works brilliantly and manages to feel both fresh and classic at the same time.
One area of the series hasn't changed much over time and those little boxes that provide power-ups in the form of suits. Mushrooms that make Mario bigger and Flower suits have been a big part of the series and return here, alongside the fan favourite Tanooki Suit.
The Tanooki gives Mario a tail to whip enemies and turn rotors that allow you to reach higher areas. It's a perfect match for the 3D gameplay here, allowing you to tread air over gaps and makes some areas much easier to traverse by sailing over the heads of enemies or moving platforms.
Graphically, Mario 3D Land is a joy to look at, possibly the best looking 3DS game so far. Bright colours, fantastic enemy designs and some lovely draw distances (just look through the binoculars) easily raise this head and shoulders above other games on the system and really show what the 3DS is capable of. The game worlds all feel full of life and each has an overall theme, from desert levels to pirate ships flying through the air.
The 3D is also used very well, It isn't necessary and those who can't see 3D will still be fine playing Super Mario 3D Land, but using it really adds to the perspective of the level design and certainly helps with jumping from platform to platform.
Veterans of the series may find the levels in the main game slightly too easy at first. Even if you do struggle, Nintendo has added a function that gives you a silver Tanooki Suit that makes you invulnerable. The suit is available at the restart point, but it's always given as an option and not forced on you. If a player still can't get through the game even gives you the chance to skip a level.
That said, when you reach the end of the game Super Mario 3D Land lets you play it all over again by introducing the 'Special' mode, a harder version of the original levels to provide a much greater challenge.
With amazing graphics for a handheld, classic gameplay with a modern twist and the return of THAT suit, Super Mario 3D Land is pure fun. Thank you Nintendo!
10/10
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Nintendo's newest handheld has come in for a lot of stick recently, with less than stellar reviews for the first batch of titles on the machine and 'low' sales figures. But all that is about to change because Super Mario 3D Land is here and it's ready to kick shell and take names.
The story isn't in any way surprising; that scamp Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach again and left Mario with odd little postcards of his travels with the pinched princess. Of course, it's down to Mario to go rescue her and that involves plenty of game worlds and a highly varied set of levels to traverse.
Oddly for a game on a 3D system, the levels are designed with more of a classic Mario level design in mind. There are levels which are almost left to right movement and others that change the perspective to 3D, as with Mario 64 and Galaxy. What you get from this strange concoction is a heady mix of 2D and 3D level, where one minute you'll be gaming old skool and the next you'll be diving right into the screen. It may sound strange on paper, but it works brilliantly and manages to feel both fresh and classic at the same time.
One area of the series hasn't changed much over time and those little boxes that provide power-ups in the form of suits. Mushrooms that make Mario bigger and Flower suits have been a big part of the series and return here, alongside the fan favourite Tanooki Suit.
The Tanooki gives Mario a tail to whip enemies and turn rotors that allow you to reach higher areas. It's a perfect match for the 3D gameplay here, allowing you to tread air over gaps and makes some areas much easier to traverse by sailing over the heads of enemies or moving platforms.
Graphically, Mario 3D Land is a joy to look at, possibly the best looking 3DS game so far. Bright colours, fantastic enemy designs and some lovely draw distances (just look through the binoculars) easily raise this head and shoulders above other games on the system and really show what the 3DS is capable of. The game worlds all feel full of life and each has an overall theme, from desert levels to pirate ships flying through the air.
The 3D is also used very well, It isn't necessary and those who can't see 3D will still be fine playing Super Mario 3D Land, but using it really adds to the perspective of the level design and certainly helps with jumping from platform to platform.
Veterans of the series may find the levels in the main game slightly too easy at first. Even if you do struggle, Nintendo has added a function that gives you a silver Tanooki Suit that makes you invulnerable. The suit is available at the restart point, but it's always given as an option and not forced on you. If a player still can't get through the game even gives you the chance to skip a level.
That said, when you reach the end of the game Super Mario 3D Land lets you play it all over again by introducing the 'Special' mode, a harder version of the original levels to provide a much greater challenge.
With amazing graphics for a handheld, classic gameplay with a modern twist and the return of THAT suit, Super Mario 3D Land is pure fun. Thank you Nintendo!
10/10
The story isn't in any way surprising; that scamp Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach again and left Mario with odd little postcards of his travels with the pinched princess. Of course, it's down to Mario to go rescue her and that involves plenty of game worlds and a highly varied set of levels to traverse.
Oddly for a game on a 3D system, the levels are designed with more of a classic Mario level design in mind. There are levels which are almost left to right movement and others that change the perspective to 3D, as with Mario 64 and Galaxy. What you get from this strange concoction is a heady mix of 2D and 3D level, where one minute you'll be gaming old skool and the next you'll be diving right into the screen. It may sound strange on paper, but it works brilliantly and manages to feel both fresh and classic at the same time.
One area of the series hasn't changed much over time and those little boxes that provide power-ups in the form of suits. Mushrooms that make Mario bigger and Flower suits have been a big part of the series and return here, alongside the fan favourite Tanooki Suit.
The Tanooki gives Mario a tail to whip enemies and turn rotors that allow you to reach higher areas. It's a perfect match for the 3D gameplay here, allowing you to tread air over gaps and makes some areas much easier to traverse by sailing over the heads of enemies or moving platforms.
Graphically, Mario 3D Land is a joy to look at, possibly the best looking 3DS game so far. Bright colours, fantastic enemy designs and some lovely draw distances (just look through the binoculars) easily raise this head and shoulders above other games on the system and really show what the 3DS is capable of. The game worlds all feel full of life and each has an overall theme, from desert levels to pirate ships flying through the air.
The 3D is also used very well, It isn't necessary and those who can't see 3D will still be fine playing Super Mario 3D Land, but using it really adds to the perspective of the level design and certainly helps with jumping from platform to platform.
Veterans of the series may find the levels in the main game slightly too easy at first. Even if you do struggle, Nintendo has added a function that gives you a silver Tanooki Suit that makes you invulnerable. The suit is available at the restart point, but it's always given as an option and not forced on you. If a player still can't get through the game even gives you the chance to skip a level.
That said, when you reach the end of the game Super Mario 3D Land lets you play it all over again by introducing the 'Special' mode, a harder version of the original levels to provide a much greater challenge.
With amazing graphics for a handheld, classic gameplay with a modern twist and the return of THAT suit, Super Mario 3D Land is pure fun. Thank you Nintendo!
10/10