POSTED 27/11/11


SUPER MARIO 3D LAND

Nintendo
3DS

Wahoo! See my vest, see my vest, made from real-a tanooki chest... Yeah, jam that in your bong and choof it, PETA!

Loonies.

Anyway, Bowser’s finally got off his ample behind and nabbed Peach again, so the world’s most beloved moustachioed tradie has ventured 3DS-wards. Hear that massive sigh of relief? That’s not just fans; it’s also Nintendo’s bean counters.

In old school Mario parlance, this is kinda Super Mario Bros 3 meets Super Mario 64. Younger types, try New Super Mario Bros (featuring Super Mario Galaxy). It takes cues from Mario’s 2D history, inserts much from the 3D exploits that the Nintendo 64 spawned, and adds the kind of 3D you need two in-synch eyes to see to the mix, as you’d kind of expect from a portable games machine that’s key selling point is 3D. The best thing? The 3D isn’t just icing sugar, as it actually helps you play the game. It can be tackled without, but you’ll likely go the death AAAARGGHHHH with more regularity than a gastro-stricken curryoholic.

This mash-up vibe works well, nabbing bits and bobs from throughout Mario’s history and banging them together artfully. Even end of level flagpoles make a welcome return, as, of course, does the much-publicised tanooki suit, making for a killer spin attack, waftiness and a gosh-darned super-comfy Mario brother to boot! There’s some new stuff: helicopter boxes proving fun, whilst boomerang-chucking’s m’kay.

Each level’s generally smallish and easily conquerable to begin with. Difficulty gradually arcs up from easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy to something akin to wham-bam-gosh-damn though. It appears at first that there are eight worlds to conquer, however without getting too spoilerific, things don’t end there.

Star Fox and Ocarina of Time weren’t enough for you? Well, if Super Mario 3D Land doesn’t convince you to go 3DS then nothing will. Okey-dokey?

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