Super Mario 3D Land

Super Mario 3D Land (Japanese: スーパーマリオ ３Ｄランド) is a game in the Super Mario franchise for the Nintendo 3DS. It is closely based on side-scrolling Mario games, but it is a 3D platformer in the vein of games like Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy. As noted by Reggie Fils-Aime, president and COO of Nintendo of America, at E3 2011, this game marks the first time a 3D Mario platformer has been built from the ground up for a handheld system. The game was created by the same development team that worked on the Super Mario Galaxy games and Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, currently part of Nintendo EAD Tokyo. As it is a new installment in the main Mario series, Super Mario 3D Land follows Super Mario Galaxy 2 in this respect.

Story

The leaves flying during the storm.

Mario and the three Toads gazing at the flying letter containing Peach's misfortune.

Outside of Princess Peach's Castle stands the Tail Tree, a Tanooki-tailed tree with Super Leaves on its branches. All of the Mushroom Kingdom is familiar with the tree. One night, a huge storm blows all of the leaves off, as Bowser laughs in the background. The next morning, Princess Peach goes outside to see if the tree is okay, but during her inspection, Bowser once again kidnaps her.

Later on, Mario and three Toads (Red, Yellow, and Blue) go looking for the princess. Eventually, they discover that she is missing and the Super Leaves are gone too. Yellow Toad notices a hovering letter near the tree, and the group of four goes to investigate. Mario grabs and opens the letter, and a picture of Bowser holding Princess Peach with Super Leaves flying in the background pops out. The message shocks the three Toads and Mario, and immediately, Mario and the three Toads run to save Princess Peach.^{[video 2]} Throughout his adventure, Mario receives more letters about Peach's predicament and how Bowser conspired this plot utilizing the Super Leaves he took from the Tail Tree.

Princess Peach's capture.

File:Tanooki Tree SM3DL.jpg

Mario and Peach sitting on the Tanooki-tailed tree in the ending.

Peach ultimately attempts to escape from Bowser and his army, but she is soon recaptured. Mario travels through 8 worlds and defeats Bowser, only to be tricked as Bowser escapes with Peach. Mario eventually finds Bowser's lair, but before they can battle, the floor beneath them breaks and they fall. After being chased through various obstacles, Mario manages to press a switch making the bridge under Bowser collapse, sending Bowser into a pool of lava. At last, Mario and the three Toads find Princess Peach and, using their Tanooki powers, bring Peach back to her castle.

File:Luigi 3DL.JPG

Luigi having been captured by Bowser's minions.

After that, a short cutscene appears with a letter floating down in World 1-1. It appears to be Luigi being kidnapped by Dry Bowser . Mario then sets off to save Luigi. After rescuing him in Special World 1-Castle, he becomes a playable character.

After the player beats Special 8-Castle, another cutscene appears. Another letter has floated down on World 1-1, and the three Toads went to investigate it. To their surprise, Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach again. Then, Mario or Luigi must play World 8-2 again to defeat Bowser. After that, a letter of Peach wearing a Tanooki Suit is unlocked.

Once the player has collected 5 stars on his/her profile, Special 8-Crown is unlocked.

Gameplay

Mario in World 1-1.

The levels of Super Mario 3D Land are much more linear and compact than the other 3D titles, more along the lines of the sidescrolling games. Levels have a time limit and even feature flagpoles, a staple of the original Super Mario Bros. and the New Super Mario Bros. games, rather than Power Stars, as the level goals. When Mario is defeated, the "Too Bad" banner from every 3D Mario platformer since Super Mario Sunshine is displayed, but a circle covers the screen instead of a Bowser face. To enter pipes, the player must press or . The graphics of the game greatly resemble those of the Super Mario Galaxy games, while the levels show visual similarities to the New Super Mario Bros. titles. Unlike the 2D Mario games, the level themes in a world tend to be more generic like the galaxies of Super Mario Galaxy 2 compared to the world, instead of focusing on a particular setting per world.

Tanooki Mario in World 2-Airship.

While giving examples of how the Nintendo 3DS enhances gameplay, Shigeru Miyamoto has stated that hitting blocks from underneath in 3D Mario games would be easier with stereoscopic 3D. Blocks will be more prevalent in the title, unlike past 3D games, where blocks were more few and far between. Star Medals that have a similar design to the Comet Medals from Super Mario Galaxy 2 will be found in each level, with collecting all three being part of the level's challenge, like in the New Super Mario Bros. games. Clocks can be picked up to give the player more time to complete the level, the latter a mechanic only seen previously in Super Mario Galaxy 2's Speedy Comet missions. Mario himself returns with some of his trademark 3D abilities, such as the Wall Jump, Long Jump, and Ground Pound, and is now capable of performing rolling, which is done by crouching while moving. Because the Long Jump is now performed through a somersault, it includes a front flip during the jump, but is functionally identical. Mario's health system is now based on the side-scrolling titles rather than being a numbered meter: one hit shrinks Mario to a smaller size and removes his cap, while power-ups give him an extra health point. These power-ups include the Super Mushroom, the Fire Flower, the Star, the Boomerang Flower, the Statue Leaf and the Super Leaf, the last of which has not been seen since Super Mario Bros. 3. Notably, the Fire Flower, unlike its previous 3D appearances in Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel, no longer has a time limit imposed on it and is retained until Mario is hit, as in the side-scrolling games. When Mario dies, he respawns in Super Mario form, not his Small Mario form, unlike previous titles. When Mario dies twice in one level, a flying Roulette Block appears. The lives counter in Super Mario 3D Land extends beyond 99, unlike in the previous Mario games.

There are at least four returning tracks from Super Mario Galaxy: the Airship theme, the Sweet Sweet Galaxy theme, a remixed version of Ghostly Galaxy's mansion theme and the Cosmic Mario theme . There is also 1 track returning from Super Mario Galaxy 2: the theme used on Bonus Planets.(The Peewee Piranha boss theme was also present during the battle with Boom Boom at the E3 Demo as placeholder music. The track is nowhere to be found in the full game). The "tick-tock" that is heard when a timed Ground Pound Switch in the Super Mario Galaxy series is activated is used for when a P-Switch has been jumped on.

Controls

• : Move.
• : Choose level.
• /: Jump, Wall Jump.
• Hold (/): Slow fall (Tanooki Mario).
• Hold (/)+: Dash
• /: Crouch, enter a Warp Pipe, enter a cannon.
• (/)+: Crawl.
• (/)+: Roll.
• +(/)+(/): Long Jump.
• (/)+(/): Ground Pound, transform into Statue Mario/Luigi (Tanooki Mario/Luigi with scarves)
• Hold (/)+(/): Backwards Somersault
• /: Shoot Fireballs (Fire Mario), throw a boomerang (Boomerang Mario), attack with tail (Tanooki Mario).
• : Pause menu.
• (Hold right or left)+:Side Jump
• Left or right, change camera angle. Up, enter normal view (objects on the screen pop-out more). Down, enter extended depth view (the objects push further into the screen).

Nintendo eShop Description

Platforming with serious depth! With the 3D visuals of Super Mario 3D Land, players can see exactly where floating ? Blocks and flying Paragoombas are, so that they can jump and stomp with the precision of the pros. Expert gamers will appreciate the way 3D graphics reveal the true challenge of the levels, so that they can focus on nailing the perfect jump or shaving precious seconds off their speed runs, while new players will find that 3D makes platforming simple to grasp and satisfying to master.

Try on Mario's Tanooki Suit, and put some spring in your step! While longtime gamers will delight in using Tanooki Mario's tail-spin attack to sweep enemies off their feet and fluttering through the air to land super-long jumps, a new generation will learn what makes this classic suit a fan favorite. But even seasoned players will be in for a surprise--Mario's enemies may be sporting the familiar Tanooki tail too!

Mario at his very best! Mario returns to his roots in his first 3D platforming adventure designed exclusively for a handheld system. From the frantic race-against-the-clock dash through the Mushroom Kingdom to that final leap to grab the top of the flagpole, this eye-popping addition to the Super Mario series combines everything that makes Mario great from one generation to the next.

Characters

Playable Characters

File:SM3DL Boombooms.jpg

Boom Boom and his female counterpart Pom Pom.

• Mario
• Luigi

Villains

• Bowser
• False Bowsers^{[video 1]}
• Boom Boom
• Pom Pom
• Small Mario version of a Cosmic Clone
• Dry Bowser

Supporting Characters

• Princess Peach
• Toads

Mario's Transformations

A power-up chart.

• Small Mario
• Mario
• Fire Mario
• Tanooki Mario
• Statue Mario
• White Tanooki Mario
• Boomerang Mario
• Invincible Mario

Luigi's Transformations

• Small Luigi
• Luigi
• Fire Luigi
• Boomerang Luigi
• Tanooki Luigi
• Statue Luigi
• Invincible Luigi

Enemies

New Enemies

File:New Thwomp.jpg

A Wallop.

Biddybuds Blokkabloks Draglets Fake Blocks Flophoppers

Goomba Towers Grand Tail Goombas Inky Piranha Plants Para-Biddybuds Peepas

Prongos Sandmaarghs Spike Eels Stingbies Tail Bob-ombs

Tail Boos Tail Bullet Bills Tail Goombas Tail Thwomps Wallops

Returning Enemies

Ball 'n' Chains Banzai Bills Big Boos Bill Blasters Bloopers Bob-ombs Boos Boomerang Bros. Bullet Bills

Chain Chomps Cheep-Cheeps Coin Coffers Dry Bones Firebars Fuzzies Goombas Grinders

Hammer Bros. Koopa Troopas Magikoopa Magmaargh Monty Moles Mega Moles Paragoombas Piranha Plants Podoboos

Pokeys Paragoombas Porcu-Puffers Rocky Wrenches Spiked Balls Spiky Plants Spinies Thwomps Venus Fire Traps

Features

Power-Ups

• Super Mushroom
• Super Leaf
• Fire Flower
• Super Star
• Invincibility Leaf (appears after the player loses 5 lives in a level)
• Boomerang Flower
• Statue Leaf
• P-Wing (appears after the player loses 10 lives in a level)

Other Items

• Question Blocks
• Flying Question Blocks
• Used Blocks
• Brick Blocks
• Coin Blocks
• Donut Lifts
• Jump Blocks
• Propeller Boxes
• Mystery Boxes
• Rectangular Jump Blocks
• White and orange blocks that warp Mario to other areas of the level
• Rotating multicolor blocks (red, yellow, green, and cyan)
• Purple blocks with arrows on their sides, which Mario can hit to raise them higher
• Yellow step block that changes camera angle
• Roulette Blocks
• Rectangular Coin Blocks
• Green ! Switches
• Elevators
• Coins
• Star Medals
• 1-Up Mushrooms
• Poison Mushrooms
• Green reproducing panels that resemble Snake Blocks and Flipswitches
• Binoculars
• Flagpoles
• Checkpoint Flags
• Warp Pipes
• Green Shells
• P-Switches
• Cutout-like Goombas, 1-Up Mushrooms and Warp Pipes that slightly resemble those of Handfakes
• Crates
• Green and blue Clocks
• Cannons
• Red Rings
• Red Coins
• Switchboards
• Bouncy orange platforms with yellow dots
• Assist Blocks
• Red and blue platforms that strongly resemble Flip-Swap Platforms, but are instead activated by jumping
• Rainbow Notes activated by a P-Switch
• Rings that give the player five coins when passed
• Small or big red Exclamation Mark Blocks which release Platform Blocks
• Blocks with Bowser symbols on them that release Goombas or Dry Bones
• Rainbow Jump Blocks that often lead to a Coin Heaven
• Flying Roulette Blocks
• Small Rocks that Mario can kick into Warp Pipes and 1-Up Mushrooms pop out.
• Coin Blocks that Mario can go in (like the Propeller Box) and punch out coins from the inside, temporary called hatena boxes.Template:Refneeded

Worlds and Levels

Special 1

• Special 1-1: A replica of World 2-1 but with a sunset background. It has different enemies like Spinies and Statue Leafs and Poison Mushrooms appear in the level.
• Special 1-2: An underground level the same as World 1-2 but it includes Spinies and blue spiked blocks. A Cosmic Clone appears here.
• Special 1-3: A level that is similar to World 2-3 but it includes enemies and items and and the level takes place at night.
• Special 1-4: A beach level with Boomerang Bros. and Paragoombas.
• Special 1-Castle: A clone of World 1-Castle that needs to be unlocked by collecting 110 Star Medals. Dry Bowser is the boss here and when defeated, Luigi is rescued. This level starts with 30 seconds..

Special 2

• Special 2-1: A stage where the screen is scrolling up. It has Piranha Plants and the music is a remix of the main theme.
• Special 2-2: A mainly water level where the player is swimming. The clock starts at 30 seconds.
• Special 2-3: A level with the green platforms with arrows above lava.
• Special 2-4: A snowy level with many propeller boxes.
• Special 2-5: A level where it is snowing and there are many green reproducing panels.
• Special 2-Airship: An Airship with a lot of spikes.

Special 3

• Special 3-1: A level with platforms that move back and forth.
• Special 3-2: A level a lot similar to World 4-3, the colorful blocks move faster and the Statue Leaf appears here.
• Special 3-3: A forest area with many tightropes the time starts at 30 seconds and the player has to get timers so time will not run out.
• Special 3-4: An dark undeground area with rolling cylinders and Giant Spiked Balls.
• Special 3-5: A level similar to World 6-4, the blocks beat is slower than normal.
• Special 3-Airship: A quickly scrolling Airship Level at Nighttime.

Special 4

• Special 4-1: A level featuring a yellow platform that slowly shrinks while Mario or Luigi fight enemies and dodge obstacles.
• Special 4-2: A Ghost House level with a Cosmic Clone.
• Special 4-3: A level with a lot of Bullet Bills and some Banzai Bills.
• Special 4-4: A level with 30 seconds and it mainly goes downhill.
• Special 4-5: A level with a lot of breaking blocks and is filled with Boos and Dry Bones.
• Special 4-Airship: An Airship level with many Boomerang Bros. At the end, Boom Boom and Pom Pom are fought seperately.

Special 5

• Special 5-1: A dark blue area filled with many flipping platforms and boos.
• Special 5-2: A level where Cosmic Mario is in. This level consists of many Chain Chomps.
• Special 5-3: A stage with the moving platforms with arrows that dictate which way to go.
• Special 5-4: An area where it is snowing and there are cookies that Mario or Luigi can walk on.
• Special 5-5: A Ghost House with lots of Library books.
• Special 5-Castle: Same level as World 8-6, but the timer starts at 30 seconds, Mario or Luigi needs collect clocks to continue, Dry Bowser is fought at the end of the level.

Special 6

• Special 6-1: A Nighttime level with Desert music.
• Special 6-2: A level with bubbles and the time starts at 30 seconds.
• Special 6-3: A level with many Poisonous Mushrooms and Poisonous Water
• Special 6-4: A Nighttime level. A Cosmic Clone appears here.
• Special 6-5: A Ghost House with a fog like effect.
• Special 6-Airship: An Airship Level with many flipping platforms.

Special 7

• Special 7-1: A snow level where the time starts at 30 seconds.
• Special 7-2: A level where a Cosmic Clone appears. There are lot of Red, Blue, and Yellow platforms that appear and disappear by the beat of the music.
• Special 7-3: A level with lots of moving gears.
• Special 7-4: A level with obstacles that look like Flip Flap platforms and the player jumps to make them turn. A Cosmic Clone also appears.
• Special 7-5: An Airship level with many rotating platforms and Poison Mushrooms are in this level.
• Special 7-Castle: Same as Level 1-Castle but with a Cosmic Clone and only 30 seconds.

Special 8

• Special 8-Crown: The last level of the game, that contains many colorful blocks and varied enemies and obstacles. Mario has to fight Boom Boom and Pom Pom at the same time, and there is a short Cosmic Clone part in it. In the final area, the message "THANK YOU!!" is made of green reproducing panels and there are many Toads near the flagpole.. Although this is the final level to become unlocked, when unlocked it is located before Special 8-1 on the course selection screen. To unlock this course, the player must have 5 stars in his or her profile. When unlocked, the background music for the world (based on the "Mario Drawing Song" in Flipnote Studio) is remixed.
• Special 8-1: An underground level where a Cosmic Clone is found and there are only 30 seconds.
• Special 8-2: An area with many spinning platforms and Rocky Wrenches. There is also a Rocky Wrench that throws Coins.
• Special 8-3: A lava filled level where the time starts at 30 seconds.
• Special 8-4: Another lava filled level where the time starts at 30 seconds.
• Special 8-5: An Airship level with a Cosmic Clone.
• Special 8-Castle: A lava filled level where the time starts at 30 seconds. Dry Bowser is faced at the end.

Others

• Toad Houses - They work the same way as in Super Mario Bros. 3, but StreetPass friends can send gifts to the Toad House that contain items.
• Mystery Boxes - Mario can go inside them and they contain various different tasks, such as defeating all the enemies in the box. After completing the tasks Mario will receive Coins, 1-Up Mushrooms, or a Star Medal. Friends via StreetPass can also send the player Mystery Boxes.
• A room with colored blocks that cause an optical illusion, where Mario can train and learn movements. It is accessed by waiting the end of the cutscene of the title screen. The room strongly resembles Peach's Castle.

Development

Game screenshots as seen at Game Developers Conference in 2011.

Super Mario 3D Land was first mentioned in an "Iwata Asks" interview with Shigeru Miyamoto in October 2010, where he confirmed that a brand-new Super Mario Bros. game for the Nintendo 3DS was already in development, but had not yet been given a proper title. It was known by its tentative title, Super Mario Bros. at the time. In November 2010, Shigeru Miyamoto announced that both 2D world (side-scrolling) and 3D world Mario games were in the works for the 3DS. Four screenshots were available on March 2 2011, and the game was officially announced during the Game Developers Conference, under the name Super Mario. The logo had a Raccoon Tail on the "O" letter, similar to that of Super Mario Bros. 3's logo, which had Raccoon Mario's tail shadow behind the "3". Available screenshots of Super Mario revealed that the game is a 3D platformer and the game was stated to be developed by Nintendo EAD Tokyo's same team which had previously developed Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel, as shown how a Goomba runs after Small Mario. It even contained features from the 2D Mario side-scrolling games. Satoru Iwata stated that a more official announcement would be shown at E3 2011 on June 7. According to Iwata, "it will be a game that will come with the kind of surprises and fun that only the 3DS can offer."Shigeru Miyamoto has stated that the development took over two years and started with 2 to 30 staff members working on the game.

In a later interview, Shigeru Miyamoto described the title as being a combination of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 64, with a little bit of New Super Mario Bros and New Super Mario Bros. Wii. He mentioned there would be an option for a fixed camera system, very similar to the one in Super Mario 64, to demonstrate depth and the 3DS's 3D. He added, however, that it was tough to describe it, before mentioning that not only would the title be shown, but that it would also be playable at E3 2011. Shigeru Miyamoto explained that playing it will give fans a better idea of what it's like. He also commented on the speculation regarding the temporary logo, already confirming that the tail on the end of the logo's "O" was a hint at the return of Super Mario Bros. 3's Tanooki Mario.

The four playable levels demo.

The game was given a full reveal with a trailer at E3 2011 and was playable on the show floor, as previously stated. It was announced that the game was targeted for a release by the end of the year. Attendees were allowed to try the game for themselves in four different levels - a standard plain area, an underground area, a level of switch-activated platforms, reminiscent of a few galaxies from the Super Mario Galaxy titles, and an airship level ending in a fight with Bowser's henchman, Boom Boom. In addition, the E3 2011 trailer was put up for download on the 3DS eShop. By playing the trailer on their 3DS, viewers could see the game in stereoscopic 3D for themselves.

Reception

Since the Japanese release, the game has been reviewed positively by critics. IGN rated this game a 9.5/10, Euro Gamer 9/10, Joystiq 4.5/5, GamePro 5/5, GameInformer 9.5/10, N-Zone 90/100, Famitsu 38/40, and Edge with 8/10. As of November 29, 2011, gamerankings has an average score of 89.72% out of 36 scores and metacritic with an average score of 90% out of 57 reviews, 56 were positive, 1 was mixed. The game has sold over 500,000 units so far and is causing a great boost in 3DS sales. It is also the fastest-selling portable Mario game ever.

Beta Elements

For a list of beta elements, see here.

Glitches

For a list of glitches, see here.

Staff

Main article: Super Mario 3D Land/Staff

References to Other Games

• Donkey Kong: In the final battle with Bowser, Bowser throws barrels at Mario similar to Donkey Kong.
• Super Mario Bros.: Mario's original sprite from this game appears as his world map icon on the touch screen. False Bowsers return with a similar battle style. A remix of the main theme from this game is played in Coin Heavens and in World 2-3 (Mario is also humming the theme in the cutscene between Worlds 5 and 6). This level also contains platforms identical to sprites of Mario, Peach, Luigi and a Super Mushroom from this game.
• Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels: Poison Mushrooms return from this game (only in the Special World courses). The phrase "THANK YOU" appears in the last level, but is in English instead Japanese (written in katakana script).
• Super Mario Bros. 3: Tanooki Mario, Jump Blocks and Super Leaves return, as well as Boom Boom's first appearance since this game. A remix of the Toad House theme from this game plays while outside and inside a Toad House. The backgrounds of some cutscenes between worlds (such as after completing World 2) have mountains and item sprites reminiscent to this game.
• Super Mario World: Some enemies, such as Grinders and Mega Moles, return from this game. The backgrounds of some cutscenes between worlds strongly resemble those of Chocolate Island. The sound heard when Mario exits the level after beating it in this game is present in Super Mario 3D Land after Luigi's letter is seen. Also, in the E3 2011 demo, a Jump Block would make the sound when Yoshi is mounted occasionally. Mario can also keep items that he grabs.
• Super Mario 64: Mario's voice when falling from a high place is reused during the cutscene before Bowser's last fight.
• New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Upon getting the maximum amount of lives (1,110 lives), Super Mario loses his hat and Small Mario does the opposite; he gains his hat instead. The Propeller Block returns in the form of a box.
• Super Mario Galaxy / Super Mario Galaxy 2: A lot of level obstacles return from these games along with some of the levels' music. A Cosmic Clone returns. The Blue and Red Flipping Platforms return, but they are activated by jumping

References in Later Games

• Mario Kart 7: The new design for the Super Leaf is used in this game, it also replaces the old emblem of a generic leaf from the Leaf Cup. Stingby returns.

Trivia

• According to Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, the term Land is used in the title of this game to pay homage to past Mario titles, like Super Mario Land and its 2D art style.
• The yellow switch that changes the camera angle from this game has an eye icon. This eye is the same as the one seen when in first-person mode in the Super Mario Galaxy games.
• This is the first Mario platformer game since Super Mario World where Mario cannot perform a Triple Jump (released 21 years prior). This is also the first 3D Mario platformer game where he cannot perform this move.
• This is also the first Mario platformer game since Super Mario 64 where Bowser Jr. does not make an appearance, despite his constant involvement in the previous installments.
• Super Mario 3D Land is the first installment in the Mario series overall (excluding crossover installments) to be translated to Dutch, Portuguese and Russian.
  • Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is actually the first game with Mario translated to Dutch. However, it is a crossover game and it is translated and published by SEGA. Nintendo also stated on its official news update: "SUPER MARIO 3D LAND™ and Mario Kart 7 include for the first time [in the Mario series] fully Dutch screen texts."
• If the player exceeds up to 1,110 lives in the game, the player will receive three crowns and then Mario/Luigi in their super form will lose their hats. However, Small Mario/Luigi will gain their hats.

External links

• Official Japanese Website
• Official North American Website
• Official European Website
• Official Australian Website