Super Mario 3D Land



Super Mario 3D Land (スーパーマリオ3Dランド Sūpā Mario Surī Dī Rando?) [5] is a platform game in the Super Mario series developed by Nintendo EAD Tokyo for the Nintendo 3DS. The game was released in Japan on November 3, 2011, in North America on November 13, 2011, in Europe on November 18, 2011, and in Australia on November 24, 2011.[6] It was announced at Nintendo's Keynote Conference during the 2011 Game Developers Conference held in San Francisco. The game is unique from other Mario games as it combines elements from both classic 2D side-scrolling Mario games and modern free-roaming 3D Mario games. The game was released to commercial and critical acclaim, and has sold over 6 million copies worldwide as of June 2012, making it the current best-selling game for the 3DS and the fastest-selling Mario handheld game in history. {| class="toc" id="toc"

Contents

 * 1 Gameplay
 * 2 Plot
 * 3 Development
 * 4 Reception
 * 5 References
 * 6 External links
 * }

Gameplay
Mario in World 1-1.Super Mario 3D Land is a platform game that has been described by game designer Shigeru Miyamoto as a "3D Mario that plays as a 2D Mario game." As such, Super Mario 3D Land combines the elements of traditional side-scrolling Mario titles, such as linear-based levels, with those of the modern open world Mario titles, such as moving Mario in three dimensions and performing a variety of actions.[7]

Similar to the classic side-scrolling Mario games, the objective of each level is to reach and grab the "Goal Pole" located at the end of the course before the time limit expires. Super Mario 3D Land utilizes a similar health system to those games, in which Mario shrinks upon taking damage from enemies or hazards, and damage while as "Small Mario" results in losing a life.

The game offers a number of traditional Mario items, such as the Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, and Starman, along with new power-ups that bestow special suits onto Mario that grant him new abilities. Returning from Super Mario Bros. 3 is the Super Leaf power-up, which gives Mario the Tanooki Suit, allowing him to float in the air and attack with his tail, with a later variant also allowing him to transform into a statue upon performing a ground pound.[8] Other items include: the Boomerang Flower, which allows Mario to throw boomerangs that can collect out of reach items as well as attack enemies, which was also used in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (e-reader expansion) the Propeller Box, which allows Mario to reach high places, similar to New Super Mario Bros. Wii's Propeller Mushroom and Propeller Block; and the rare Prize Box, which gives Mario extra Coins while walking around in it.[9] [10] [11] [12]

Each course contains three hidden Star Medals that are required to unlock certain levels.[13] The map screen also contains Toad Houses where players can visit Toad to gain additional items from him, and Mystery Boxes where more Star Medals can be earned. After clearing the game once, a set of "Special" levels are unlocked, some of which contain additional challenges, such as a 30-second time limit (which can be refilled by collecting clocks) or Cosmic Mario clones (the latter similar to Super Mario Galaxy). Clearing the S1 castle unlocks Luigi as a playable character, who has slightly different handling to Mario.[8]

Similar to the "Super Guide" feature in recent Mario titles, certain items can be made available if the player struggles on a certain level. The Invincibility Leaf, which appears after the player dies five times in a level, gives Mario invincibility and Tanooki Suit abilities; while the P-Wing, which appears after the player dies ten times in a level, sends the player right to the end of the level, near the Goal Pole.[14]

Super Mario 3D Land utilizes the 3DS' autostereoscopic technology, allowing players to perceive depth when viewing the game screen. While the game is designed to not require the 3D effect, some obstacles or points of interest are deliberately more noticeable or easier when the 3D is switched on.[7] Super Mario 3D Land also utilizes optional use of the 3DS gyroscope, which can be used to control cannons and binoculars.[7] The game also features StreetPass functionality, allowing players to exchange Mystery Boxes containing bonus items. StreetPass also gives players another Toad house so they can get items.[15]

Plot
During a heavy thunderstorm, a tail-like branched tree called the "Tail Tree", which stands on Princess Peach's castle grounds, is stripped of all its leaves. The leaves, which turn out to be Super Leaves, were in reality taken by Bowser who is using them to bestow Tanooki Tails on his minions gifting them with new abilities.[16] Unaware of this situation at first, when Mario and the Toads go to inspect the tree the next day, they discover a letter from Bowser, learning that he has kidnapped the princess. Mario sets off in pursuit to locate and rescue the princess, learning in the process of Bowser's intentions for using the aforementioned stolen Super Leaves. After rescuing her, the Toads and Mario return to the Mushroom Kingdom with Tanooki Suits while Mario carries the princess. Mario's actions lead to the restoration of the Tail Tree. However, a photo falls to the ground revealing Luigi behind bars with a Koopa Troopa and a Peepa, beginning Mario's quest into the eight Special Worlds.

After rescuing Luigi (who is rescued after Mario beats a certain level) the two brothers continue on their quest in completing the Special worlds. After they have completed the Special 8-Castle level, a new letter falls to the ground far away in an open plain. The three Toads (in their Tanooki suits) who helped Mario earlier on investigate the letter and discover that Bowser has kidnapped Peach once again, thus starting Mario's quest once over. After Mario rescues Peach for the second time, another photo is found with Peach in a Tanooki suit herself.

Development
Super Mario 3D Land screenshots shown at GDC 2011.In November 2010, Shigeru Miyamoto announced that both 2D and 3D Mario games were in the works for the Nintendo 3DS.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16">[17] He also described this particular game as "completely original" and a cross between Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 64,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Edge421_5-1">[6] and revealed that the game will utilize the 3DS gyroscope.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17">[18] The game was developed by Nintendo EAD Tokyo, which had developed Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18">[19]

Satoru Iwata pointed out that the game's tentative logo sports a tail, and stated that its purpose would be revealed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19">[20] Miyamoto later stated that "it's what you think it is."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20">[21] While no exact release date was announced, Miyamoto stated that he hoped to release the game during 2011.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21">[22]

The game was showcased at Nintendo's press conference at E3 2011, where a 2011 release date was confirmed, along with the appearance of the Tanooki Suit, a power-up originally from Super Mario Bros. 3.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22">[23] The power-up allows Mario to float down gently, but unlike in Super Mario Bros. 3, he can no longer fly.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23">[24]

Reception
Super Mario 3D Land has received critical acclaim, with an average rating of 90 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 80 reviews. The game sold over 343,000 copies in its first week in Japan, helping to move over 145,000 Nintendo 3DS units.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37">[38] Famitsu awarded Super Mario 3D Land a score of 38/40, praising level design, accessibility for beginners and the use of 3D.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-FamReview_27-1">[28]

IGN gave the game a score of 9.5 and an Editor's Choice award, calling it "brilliant and addictive" and stating that "3D gaming has never been fully realized before this".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-IGNRev_33-1">[34] GamesRadar gave the game a score of 9/10, praising its wealth of content, although criticising the inclusion of a run button and some easy difficulty.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GamesRadarRev_31-1">[32]

Game Informer gave 3D Land a 9.5/10, saying ﻿"it lives up to the level of quality set by previous entries and is easily the best reason to own a 3DS". They also complimented the use of both a run button and the 3D effects while criticising the "lack of variety in boss battles".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gameinformer1_28-1">[29]

ScrewAttack gave the game a 9/10 for the special worlds as offered for a second quest, but was originally going to give it a 7/10 for its easy gameplay.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[citation needed]

The game won the "Best Handheld Game" award in the 2011 Spike Video Game Awards.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38">[39] Super Mario 3D Land was awarded the "Best Platform Game Award",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39">[40] and Nintendo 3DS Game of the Year 2011 by Game Trailers.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40">[41] Super Mario 3D Land was voted 2011's 3DS Game of the Year by Nintendo Life.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[citation needed]

Super Mario 3D Land sold over 2.1 million units in the U.S. as of June 6, 2012.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41">[42] In Japan, the game has sold over 1.3 million units as of January 25, 2012.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42">[43] As of June 6, 2012, the game has sold more than 6.1 million units globally, becoming the first 3DS game to reach the milestone and is the best selling game for the 3DS.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43">[44]