© NintendoNeedless to say, 2020 was a challenging year, but for Super Mario’s dedicated fans, it was a small comfort. After months of rumors, Nintendo celebrated the 35th anniversary of the series in a dramatic way and this did not bring any end to the content. Before that, really, Super Mario Maker 2 received a huge update in April that added a World Maker and 3D All-Stars he brought us 64, Sunshine and Galaxy on the Switch in a single package. Hell, we really have a Battle Royale game Super Mario Bros. 35 for some reason, and that doesn’t even matter in spin-off games.
Even if the last two games are it is assumed available only until March 31 – which did not end the controversy – the holidays are not over yet. While the fans continued to meditate Galaxy 2 exclusion from 3D All-Stars (something we have some theories about), Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Rage launches on Switch next month, joining that ever-expanding range of Wii U ports. recorded a relatively low level in our survey of remasters that you would like to see on Switch in June. last year. It seems that for many players it has just registered.
For those who may not keep up with every tranche in the installer’s canon, that game was Super Mario 3D Land, a curious entry in the history of Super Mario that has been released on the 3DS since 2011. It takes its name from Super Mario Land sub-series, 3D Land became the first original 3D Super Mario game for a portable console (except for the DS remake of 64), keeping the basic game with a classic twist.
Along with the Galaxy 2, it is also one of the last 3D inputs that has not reached Switch so far. Sure, 3D Land received a mention during the 35th Anniversary montage, which is more than our spatial continuation had, but this exclusion drew much less attention from devoted fans. I would argue that this is a game that deserves to be reviewed on the Switch, as it is simply unique.
Like many platform mascots of the ’90s, Mario has made the transition from 2D to 3D, and Super Mario 64 remains an iconic game to this day, laying the groundwork for future entries. Launched in 1996, the series did not return to its 2D roots for another decade until The new Super Mario Bros. released on DS. Since then, we have witnessed a variety of 2D / 3D inputs that run parallel to each other. 3D Land is somewhere between them and Shigeru Miyamoto summed it up best: it’s a “3D Mario playing like a 2D Mario game” and this is obvious as soon as you dive.
Shigeru Miyamoto summed it up best: it’s a “Mario 3D that plays like a 2D Mario game” and this is obvious as soon as you dive.
The basic plot of 3D Land does not go too far. Starting literally on a dark and stormy night, we find a storm erupting near Peach’s Castle, one that blows all the Super Leaves on the tail nearby in the distance. Discovering this the next morning, Mario soon receives a flying letter showing that Princess Peach has been kidnapped by Bowser again and, in addition, stole Super Leaves. Providing his minions with Tanooki powers, it was up to us to stop him once more.
Introducing eight new worlds, 3D Land has taken many clues from 8-bit inputs, specifically Super Mario Bros.3, and that went beyond Tanooki Mario’s return. Chief fights covered every world, some of which took us to Bowser’s castle and the like. Super Mario brothers., he needed to hit a switch that threw him into the lava below. Others took us back to the old airship set, and while you won’t find any Koopaling here, they were occupied by Bowser Boom Boom’s loyal minion, along with his new female counterpart Pom Pom.
It wasn’t too challenging and can be completed fairly quickly, but defeating the game unlocked bonus worlds with added difficulty. The timed stages were also brought back, some 3D inputs were entered and the emblem emblem was expected again. Although 3D Land leaned considerably in those early entries, it represented elements of every Super Mario game and, in some respects, emerged as a “Best of Mario” game.
Despite this, he still felt fresh and I thought he made an excellent game, although one that plays things unsafe. With a name like “3D Land”, you will not be surprised to hear that it also used the 3D effect of the console, although some puzzles felt quite strange, a problem that many critics have followed. After resuming it recently, I would say that the criticism still persists, but there is still a lot to love about 3D Land.
Established a formula that Super Mario 3D World successfully built in 2013 on the Wii U. Working as a direct, extended sequel, it tried to further unify fans of both 2D and 3D titles and offered more than just a coat of HD paint. Wearing many elements of 3D Land, such as Super Leaves, turned enemies and even a remixed soundtrack, 3D World has taken on a life of its own. With a greater emphasis on Cat abilities than your Tanooki powers, it provided a fully cooperative local multiplayer for four players, an area for which previous games provided minimal support. With the Switch port adding online multiplayer and improved performance, this premise is getting more refined and we have a lot to look forward to in a few weeks from now.
Given how much love Super Mario received on the Switch last year, there has never been a better time to bring 3D Land back. Sure, there are some gameplay elements that should be remade, but if Nintendo could do it with the Galaxy, it could do it here again. It’s not perfect by any means, but it remains an almost unique experience in Mario’s story, which feels significantly underestimated compared to his colleagues. This is an adventure that deserves a second chance in the spotlight.