Nintendo 3DS
Super Mario 3D Land
| Graphics: Sound: Gameplay: Overall: |
8.50 8.62 8.96 9.00 |
| Votes: | 26 |
| Reviews: | 1 |
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| Reviewer: Matthew C. | Date: Jul 30, 2025 |
| Oh man, this game brings back memories. Back around I believe 2013, my parents bought an original teal 3DS from a family friend. Two of the first games I got for it was New Super Mario Bros 2 and this game. I remember playing it specifically in this old gym my dad used to go for physical therapy. Kind of weird to think about now but it's a special memory to me. As of recent I got to replay this game on a Japanese New 3DS XL/LL that I bought on a Japanese proxy service, and it's very nice to play this game again on a nicer and bigger screen. So with that, here's my thoughts.
Graphics: 8 Super Mario 3D Land was the first proper "3D Mario" to arrive on a handheld. Yes I know SM64DS exists but to be honest I don't 100% count it because of some teething issues it has (No Analog Controls, Lack of good new content, etc.). So when looking at the graphics, they're very good for the handheld. Smooth models, nice textures, and it runs very well. It's nothing stellar but that's to be expected on the 3DS, as the original model only has a 268Mhz CPU. The art direction is a step down from Galaxy and Galaxy 2 but this was when Nintendo was trying to make the Mario brand and identity a little more cohesive and recognizable. At the end of the day this game wasn't trying to be innovative or groundbreaking, it's just supposed to be a good Mario game, and it does a good job carrying that sentiment in the graphics. Sound: 8 One thing that Galaxy and Galaxy 2 did was bringing Mario over to this new live symphonic sound that really added a great amount of oomph to the franchise. This concept is pulled back in 3D Land with a more simple Jazz Band style, which to be honest is necessary for the tiny speakers of the 3DS. It would be hard to appreciate such a nice soundtrack like the Galaxy music on the 3DS. The soundtrack lacks a little bit of variety however it's not a big deal as this game was supposed to pull back Mario to the basics, which is represented in the soundtrack well, with a style sort of akin to Super Mario 3. Other than that nothing is ever really too loud, all the sound effects are good, and nothing ever sounds out of place. The sound design is essentially what you'd expect from a Mario game. Gameplay: 7 Now this is just me but I can never seem to play this game super well. The camera is set at this almost top-down perspective a lot of the time due to the screen size of the 3DS being very small. You will probably miss jumps or run into stuff due to this perspective; Obviously Nintendo tried to push the 3D display in this game and it does help, but my eyes never seem to adjust well to it so it doesn't help a whole lot. The levels are relatively short however Mario does move slower in this game compared to his other 3D games, so the pacing is actually pretty good. The game contains plenty of levels with 8 main worlds and 8 more special worlds that have some extra challenge. The game overall isn't super hard in terms of level design but you may have some trouble with the platforming due to the camera angle, which to be honest is kind of necessary to add some more challenge overall. Overall: 8 Super Mario 3D Land is a wonderfully charming title that brings Mario down to his basic roots and introduces proper 3D platforming onto a Nintendo handheld. It may not be as stunning as previous titles and is over shadowed by its younger brother in 3D World on the Wii U, however let that not deter you from playing this solid entry in the Mario franchise. It has good platforming, fun level design, and tons of interesting designs and concepts that first got its start here. It's 100% one of my favorite games of all time and is a must get on the 3DS. One little thing I'd like to say is that this game is better played on real hardware than on an emulator. The 3DS screen size, buttons, and overall feel give good context to why 3D Land was designed the way it was. Playing it on an large 4K monitor or TV feels to me feels a bit strange and out of place. While its 100% fine to emulate, to get the true experience its better to play on real hardware if possible. Nothing devaluing, just a bit strange is all. |
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