Super Mario 3D Land + Observatory Heist

Super Mario 3D Land + Observatory Heist is a game in the Super Mario (series) published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. The game is an expanded remake of the 2011 Nintendo 3DS title, Super Mario 3D Land, running on the same game engine as Super Mario 3D World, whilst retaining most of the mechanics from the original game. There is also a standalone campaign named Observatory Heist, where Mario and Luigi end up stuck in space on the Comet Observatory thanks to it being hijacked by Bowser and must climb to the Garden to fight him by collecting hidden Power Stars to fill up the beacon.
==Changes to Super Mario 3D Land==
As the game runs on the same engine as the Nintendo Switch port of Super Mario 3D World, both Mario and Luigi run 50% faster than in the original game and retain their move sets from the port as well. Cutscenes that serve as the intermissions between gameplay are now able to be skipped. Various basic character movements and abilities have been enhanced: for example, characters bouncing off of an enemy while Long Jumping now automatically perform another Long Jump, rather than a standard jump, and both characters jumping while facing a wall with no directional input now slide against the wall, enabling them to Wall Jump. Additionally, Side Somersaults are now able to be performed while walking.
Gameplay improvements inspired from Super Mario Odyssey are implemented in the game. In addition to four save files now being present instead of three, they are saved, loaded, and copied in the same manner as in Super Mario Odyssey. Both characters can dive and roll in mid air and they can perform a roll or Ground Pound Jump immediately after landing from a Ground Pound. Both characters can also fall through upright Warp Pipes when performing a Ground Pound through the center from above. Similarly, characters now enter sideways Warp Pipes immediately when rolling through the center without their momentum being interrupted. The sped-up variant of the Warp Pipe sound effect from Super Mario Odyssey is reused upon entering Warp Pipes in either of these ways.
Picking up objects and throwing them has also been added. Performing handstands atop trees has varying distances with directional inputs. When hand standing, characters turn clockwise if the player holds right, and counterclockwise if they hold left, which is reversed compared to the original version. When crouched on a slope, characters remain crouched for about one second before beginning to slide down it, rather than sliding the moment.
Luigi is available as a character from the start and retains the same pros and cons as he did in Super Mario 3D World, with the addition of his back flip spin jump from Super Mario 64 DS. Two-player local and online play is added. The number of Red Coins to collect after passing through a Red Ring has been increased from five to eight, with the jingles in the following pitches being C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G.
===Aesthetic===
The game interface is tweaked to fit on one screen. Within courses, it is laid out similarly to Super Mario 3D World. The maps in each of the worlds retain the same straight lines with the levels placed in their order, however Mario and Luigi are able to move around in the maps to access different areas, access hidden Toad Houses and manipulate with background elements such as the blocks in Special 8. As the game runs on the same engine as the 3D World port, shadows can no longer pass through multiple floors.
==Observatory Heist==
Observatory Heist is a stand alone campaign. It is set in the Comet Observatory, which is over run with Bowser's minions thanks to him hijacking the ship. The gameplay functions similarly to Bowser's Fury, however the story and tone is much more serious. 
===Plot===
Whilst fighting Bowser on the Comet Observatory, during a visit from Rosalina and her family of Lumas, Mario and Luigi end up cornering him on the top floor, however he pushes them back off of the floor, causing them to fall down to the roof. As he runs into the engine room, he messes with the controls and by sheer luck, manages to lift the observatory into the air. Once out of earth's atmosphere, Bowser gains control of the speed and runs up to the top floor to rub it in Mario and Luigi's faces, however the ship runs out of fuel and shakes, knocking Bowser into the garden room as the door shuts, and knocking Mario and Luigi off of the ship. Briefly saved by an orange Luma, who traps them in a bubble and lifts them back onto the first floor of the ship. 
Mario and Luigi immediately recognize the Luma as the Luma who used to reside on Starship Mario waiting to help them out whenever needed. As the three watch the beacon on the ship go dark, the Luma offers to assist the brothers in anyway he can whenever needed. 
After collecting enough Power Stars, located within the Observatory to fill up the beacon and fighting all eight of the bosses, Mario and Luigi make their way to the Garden and see Bowser, sitting on the edge of the cliff, looking out beyond the horizon. Expecting him to fight them, they wait a couple of seconds and decide to join him. The orange Luma enters the room and sees them, and decides to get the engine ready.
===Gameplay===
Observatory Heist takes notorious inspiration from Super Mario 64's hub world, Princess Peach's Castle, when it comes to exploration, making the experience of collecting Stars feel light, but more so comforting. 12 of the 13 areas located in the Observatory each have ten Power Stars to find, adding to a total of 120 Stars. A minimum of 70 Power Stars is required to beat the game, however beating the game with 120 Stars allows Mario and Luigi to fight Bowser in the courtyard of Princess Peach's Castle during nighttime.
Much like Bowser Jr. in Bowser's Fury, Luigi acts as an AI-controlled helper who follows Mario around in single player. Unlike Bowser Jr. however, he can perform combos with Mario to help him reach areas, such as the spin jump. The two can also work together in boss fights where using the touch screen or gyro controls, the player can tap Luigi to distract the boss with whatever he is holding by throwing it at them, giving Mario a chance to attack. The player can swap the characters' positions, allowing them to play as Luigi and for Mario to follow him around. 
===Characters===
====Playable====
Name 	Description
Mario	The main playable character. Controls identically to how he does in the main campaign, and can utilize power ups and collect Power Stars.
Luigi	The secondary playable character. Controls identically to how he does in the main campaign and acts as an AI-Controlled helper unless swapped around with Mario. Alternatively, he can be controlled by a second player in two-player mode.
====Supporting Cast====
Name 	Description
Co-Star Luma	The Luma that was once on standby on Starship Mario. He helps find different Star locations in the observatory and gives hints to the brothers to where they're located when they talk to him.
Tiara 	Cappy's sister whom Mario had rescued along with Princess Peach. She carries Mario and Luigi to the Planet of Trials.
Tostarean 	Three skeletal men who offer Mario and Luigi a Power Star after being saved from three of the game's bosses.
Star Bunny 	Bunnies whom Mario and Luigi chase in a game of hide and seek in order to receive a Star. There are twelve Star Bunnies in the game.
Gearmo 	A robot who once worked in the engine room. He gives Mario and Luigi a Star for completing his minigame, "Bob-omb Blasting".
===Enemies===
Name
Tail Goomba
Koopa Troopa
Biddybud
Bob-omb
Piranha Plant
Bully
Fire Bro
Bullet Bill
Stingby
Boomerang Bro
Hammer Bro
===Bosses===
Name 	Location
Klepto 	The Terrace
Boom Boom 	The Kitchen
Pom Pom 	The Library
King Bob-omb 	The Beacon Stand
Petey Piranha	The Beacon Stand
Snow Pokey 	The Planet of Trials
Sumo Bro 	The Beacon Stand
Bowser Jr 	The Engine Room
Bowser 	Peach's Castle Courtyard
==Modes==
For both campaigns there are five extra modes. 
===Mario VS. Luigi===
A multiplayer mode that involves two players fighting for the most Power Stars in one field. Players can choose a number of rounds, the level, where the game tracks each player's total Stars collected and number of rounds won. 
===Mystery House===
A single player/multiplayer mode where one or two players jump into a series of Mystery Boxes to collect a Star Medal before time runs out. Players can try more complex layouts or go for a set goal of Star Medals to collect. 
===Remix Unlimited===
A single player/multiplayer mode where players have to get through as many courses as possible whilst collecting Bonus Medals. There are now power ups in this mode. There are separate high scores for single-player and multiplayer. 
===Planet Hoppers===
A multiplayer mode where two players play hide and seek on a larger version of the Planet of Trials whilst setting traps to slow each other down. Players can choose a number of rounds, whether traps are allowed or not, and number of rounds won. 
===Boss Rush===
A single player/multiplayer mode where players fight all of the bosses unlocked in both campaigns in their order of appearance under a timer that records how long it takes to beat the boss. Boss Rush records the player's best time, excluding cutscenes.
==Promotion==
==Development ==
==Critical Reception==
Category:Super Mario (series)
Category:Mario (series)
Category:Mario Games
Category:Nintendo Switch Games
Category:Super Mario 3d Games
Category:Nintendo Games
Category:Platforming Games