Super Mario 3D Land is surprisingly great

[Zing]

For whatever reason, when I tried this game at release on a store demo, I didn't enjoy it at all. The 3D felt forced. The controls felt off. I laughed at the raccoon leaf rehash.

Now, years later, after I've played and thoroughly enjoyed Super Mario 3D World on the Wii U (one of the reasons I bought one), I've acquired a 3DS (mainly for Zelda) and decided to give SM3DL another chance.

I'm currently playing through the special worlds as Luigi and this game is fantastic. At first, I had some of the same feelings as before. The stages felt easy, and the controls were strange. I didn't play very often. Now, the game rarely leaves my system. The challenge level is just right. I can usually get through each stage with all star coins on the first few tries, but it is tense the whole time. I get a feeling of triumph when I barely scrape by and hit the top of the flagpole.

I do feel bad for all the times I have yelled "you slippery bastard" at Luigi after I die.

[Gunstar Green]

Honestly it's become my favorite handheld Mario game (sorry SML2). The level designs are really great and the 3D actually adds to the gameplay. It's pure fun and makes me feel like a kid again.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Easily the best 3D Mario game I've played. Haven't tried the Wii U one yet though.

[Flake]

Mario 3D Land is the only Mario game to surpass Mario Land 2 in my mind. The level design is nothing short of genius.

[Violent By Design]

It's a pretty awesome game. Didn't really get the respect it deserved because it was released on a handheld, but it might be the best 3D Mario game.

[Zing]

Giant cosmic clone causes me much grief.

[Cronozilla]

Yeah it's pretty great. I hope people whom are getting 3DS' now are going back any playing it. It came out around that time 3DS started getting traction.

[Stark]

I'm currently playing through the special worlds as Luigi and this game is fantastic. At first, I had some of the same feelings as before. The stages felt easy, and the controls were strange. I didn't play very often. Now, the game rarely leaves my system. The challenge level is just right. I can usually get through each stage with all star coins on the first few tries, but it is tense the whole time. I get a feeling of triumph when I barely scrape by and hit the top of the flagpole.

Yeah 3D Land doesn't really become challenging until the Special Stages and that's when it's great! If you want an insane challenge, get to the top of every flagpole, get every star coin, and beat every level as both Mario and Luigi, it opens another level.

[Krejlooc]

I couldn't get into it at all. I recently got 3D World, however, and love it. I think the problem is that I've come to realize I just don't like small screen gaming. Put the same game on a large screen, and my enjoyment skyrockets.

I'm going to give 3D Land another go when my 3DS capture board arrives.

[Zing]

I've been playing the game for hours today, and I have finally "complete" it. I've found all star medals and finished it with both Mario and Luigi. Although, I just realized that I probably have not gotten "gold" on every stage. Oops. Looks like I have more work to do!

Great game. I need to go back to 3D World and replay it for a fair comparison, but I think I actually like this one better. Other than the multiplayer and better graphics, I can't help feeling this game handled the 2D gameplay better. I initially was turned off by the linear presentation and lack of stage names, but I think it fits better and I now prefer it.

I just wish this one had Internet-based rival times. I really enjoy the time attack ghosts on 3D World. The time attacks being limited to street pass "rivals" seems weak. I have seen a few faces in my rival times and they are all much higher than my times. The 3D World ghosts give me some competition.