LogFAQs > #932349572

#77





Years of release: 2011 (3DS)
Beaten?: I think so? I think I did all the secret levels and stuff

Part of me can't believe that this was so long ago. Another part of me feels like this game has probably always existed. I feel like the 2010's have completely ruined my perception of time. Gosh, remember when the 3DS was new? We were all so young. Remember when we were actually like, hey, the 3DS has a 3D feature? It's sad, but this game probably had the best use of 3D of any 3DS game to date. Aw man, now I'm thinking about how the 3DS's lifespan is basically over and I'm sad.

I've never really been a huge fan of the whole New Super Mario Bros style. I remember when Mario games used to be creative, when each game could have a completely new style, completely new enemies, completely new ideas, and there was no one specific style guide for what Mario could be and what it could not be. NSMB has really standardized Mario to something that's bordering on boring, for me, which is a real shame.

That said, Super Mario 3D Land is doing a little bit more to revolutionize itself than its predecessors, even if it's SHAMELESSLY borrowing from SMB3 imagery. I love that this game is kind of a mix between the 2D platforming style with 3D movement - it really makes this Mario game stand out among others. There's a design space here that isn't utilized in other Mario games, with the 3D games not offering a ton of precision platforming challenges (Sunshine's platforming levels excepted) and the 2D games not... offering the ability to move in a three-dimensional space.

There's a ton of content here too. I was really impressed by how many levels there are in this game, and how challenging it is overall. It's just a really solid Mario game and it was an awesome launch title for an awesome console. I think it gets a little lost in the shuffle nowadays because there's a lot of Mario games out there but I think this one is worth remembering and giving props to.