With the release of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, fans are hoping that the next few games with the Nintendo mascot have the same amount of personality, if not more. Although the games with Mario have always been good, the 3DS and Wii U era for this character made him more bland. The New Super Mario Bros. series is often cited for making this franchise feel stale due to constant releases, with that same feeling affecting Super Mario 3D Land and World.
Now that we have Odyssey and Wonder, fans are a little more forgiving towards 3D World. It helps that the Switch re-release also had plenty of QOL improvements and Bowser’s Fury as an extra game mode. However, I feel that Super Mario 3D Land also deserves some of that love 3D World is getting.
It might have been released during the blandification of Mario, but 3D Land has a certain charm that hasn’t been captured by 3D World or Odyssey.
Firstly, there’s a story beat in this game that is simply wonderful. Mario and the Toads find a letter, which reveals that Bowser has captured Princess Peach for the hundredth time. As the adventure goes on, Bowser sends more letters showing how stressed and worried Peach is while being his prisoner. It’s not complex storytelling, but a villain who sends you photos of his (relatively tame) torture is a fun bit.
Of course, no one plays Mario for the story, as it’s all about that sweet platforming gameplay, and Super Mario 3D Land has that in spades. As the first proper 3D game to use Mario’s 2D powers, it feels great shooting fireballs, throwing boomerangs, and floating a bit with the Kanooki Tail. Each power-up feels unique, but not necessary, ensuring that players can stick with their faves and play their own way.
Another reason 3D Land resonates with me is because a lot of the levels are short and easy. Since I’m a gamer in their late 30s, having a game that offers bite-sized levels with really fun platforming is pretty appealing. Just going through a multitude of fun, colorful levels as Mario and Luigi, who is unlocked after beating the game, is a great way to kill time.
Unfortunately, if there’s one thing that Super Mario 3D Land deserves to be criticized for, it’s the lack of originality. Unlike Galaxy, Odyssey, or even Sunshine, there is no central theme for this game. It’s like the developers said, “just make a basic Mario game,” and proceeded to do just that. While it makes for some comfortable gaming, those who want a bit more creativity were rightfully annoyed at this platformer, despite good controls, visuals, and general level design.
click to enlargeThat’s why this game is a guilty pleasure. Despite getting plenty of good reviews at the time, Super Mario 3D Land is looked at as an unambitious game featuring Nintendo’s icon. It’s a really fun game, one that should get a modern re-release, but there’s nothing original or creative about it.
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