Super Mario 3D Land

Super Mario 3D Land (スーパーマリオ3Dランド Sūpā Mario Surī Dī Rando) is a platform game in the 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. 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 5 million copies worldwide as of January 2012, making it the current best-selling game for the 3DS and the fastest-selling Mario handheld game in history.
==Gameplay==
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.
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. 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.
Each course contains three hidden Star Medals that are required to unlock certain levels. The map screen also contains Toad Houses where players can gain additional items, 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 a certain level in these worlds unlocks Luigi as a playable character, who has slightly different handling to Mario.
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.
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. Super Mario 3D Land also utilizes optional use of the 3DS gyroscope, which can be used to control cannons and binoculars. 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.
==Plot==
An ordinary-looking tree that stands on Princess Peach's castle grounds is stripped of all its leaves during a thunderstorm. The leaves, which turn out to be Super Leaves, are blown across the Mushroom Kingdom, bestowing Tanooki Tails on all living things they touch. When Mario and the Toads go to inspect the tree the next day, they discover a letter from Bowser, learning that he has kidnapped Princess Peach. Mario sets off in pursuit to locate and rescue the princess. 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 Tanooki Tree. However, a photo falls to the ground revealing Luigi behind bars with a Koopa Troopa and a newly-rendered Boo, beginning Mario's quest into the eight Special Worlds.
After rescuing Luigi (who is rescued after Mario beats Special 1 Castle,) the two brothers continue on their quest to 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) that helped Mario earlier on investigate the letter and discover that Bowser has kidnapped Peach once again, thus starting Mario's quest over again. When Mario rescues Peach again, another photo is found with Peach in a Tanooki suit herself.
==Development==
In November 2010, Shigeru Miyamoto announced that both 2D and 3D Mario games were in the works for the Nintendo 3DS. He also described this particular game as "completely original" and a cross between Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 64 and revealed that the game will utilize the 3DS gyroscope. The game is being developed by Nintendo EAD Tokyo, which had developed Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel.
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.[19] Miyamoto later stated that "it's what you think it is." While no exact release date was announced, Miyamoto stated that he hoped to release the game during 2011.
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. The power-up allows Mario to float down gently, but unlike in Super Mario Bros. 3, he can no longer fly.
==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. Famitsu awarded Super Mario 3D Land a score of 38/40, praising level design, accessibility for beginners and the use of 3D.
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".[33] 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.
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".
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.
===Awards===
The game won the "Best Handheld Game" award in the 2011 Spike Video Game Awards. Super Mario 3D Land was awarded the "Best Platform Game Award", and Nintendo 3DS Game of the Year 2011 by Game Trailers. Super Mario 3D Land was voted 2011's 3DS Game of the Year by Nintendo Life.
===Sales===
Super Mario 3D Land sold over one million units in the U.S. as of January 3, 2012. In Japan, the game has sold over 1.3 million units as of January 25, 2012. As of January 26, 2012, the game has sold more than 5 million units globally, becoming the first 3DS game to reach the milestone and is the best selling game for the 3DS.
==Links==
*"Super Mario 3D Land Review - Nintendo 3DS Review at IGN".
*"Super Mario 3D Land Video Game, Review | Video Clip | Game Trailers & Videos". GameTrailers.com.
*"Super Mario 3D Land review - Official Nintendo Magazine". Official Nintendo Magazine (UK).
*"Super Mario 3D Land Review for 3DS". G4tv.
*"Nintendo Super Mario 3D Land Game Review | PCWorld".
*Official site
*Official 3DS Browser site	
Category:2011 video games
Category:Most Wanted Games