• Format:3DS
• Unleashed: Out Now
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Developer: Nintendo
• Players: 1
• Site: http://www.nintendo.co.uk

Wii based Galaxy titles have introduced a new level of inventiveness to the Mario formula; so how have Nintendo kept a balance between traditional 2D Mario gameplay, Galaxy style gameplay, and the 3DS’ form factor? Well, they have gone back to their roots for the core DNA. There are no open 3D areas to explore here. Instead think streamlined experiences with the gameplay of traditional 2D games, yet in full 3D with a degree of flexibility to experiment with route and method. Indeed the best comparison is the often overlooked ‘pure platforming’ type levels which were a minor part (but the best sections) of Super Mario Sunshine back on the Gamecube.

This style of gameplay suits the screen size of the 3DS perfectly. With the 3D effect turned up, it’s like looking into a little box of Mario (hence making the Mario land in the title quite apt). The fact that the levels are clearly linear and constrained means it’s like having a little Mario play-set to run around in, there in the palm of your hand. It is rather beautiful in our opinion with bright hues and well rendered characters, platforms and backgrounds.

The gameplay and level variety do not disappoint. As with other franchises, such as Mario Kart, Nintendo seems to know how to add just enough to move the series on, without alienating seasoned veterans. You would have thought that when it comes to platforms we would have seen them all, from all angles; but Nintendo keeps finding new ways of making the old seem new. As with Galaxy, the levels are abstract, with settings such as underwater or firepits, with moving platforms with forward and backward triggers which Mario can control. There is a superb level which is based on old 8 bit, pixelated graphics which uses cannons to propel Mario between different faces and designs made out of these 8 bit blocks. You kinda have to see them to believe them.

Clearly inspired by its 2D bretheren but with added depth....

Some levels are very 2D in design, but rendered in 3D. However they are true 3D and you can move Mario to the foreground or background of the levels, often finding alternative horizontals paths, in a fashion similar to how story levels are constructed in LittleBigPlanet. Mario, though, controls much better than Sackboy and the addition of real 3D allows you to judge the depth much easier. However some levels are clearly influenced by games such as Galaxy, with different areas to progress to, free standing and floating in the air. Whichever level you are on though it is a linear playthrough from one end to another as there are no ‘get the star’ targets here. You start at one end and have to reach the flag at the other, just like with the 2D games we love so dearly.

Throughout the game, Mario will be able to slip on various suits which give the type of superpowers we have become accustomed to over the years such as fireballs, boomerangs – and for 3D Land we see the comeback of the Tanooki suit! The Tanooki suit allows the player to hover in the air for a bit (very useful for all this platforming) and kill enemies with a flick of Mario’s Tanooki tail. Beware, though, as this time the enemies get their own Tanooki suit to use against you! Two suits can be carried at once, and by touching an icon on the bottom screen you can easily switch between them.

The first eight worlds are great and they are super accessible. If you keep failing you’ll get given a super suit that essentially means you can’t be killed. Great for beginners and the experienced alike, to wean them onto the difficulty which kicks in once the main quest is over.

That’s right, the game keeps giving. Once the main quest is complete, another eight worlds appear, with a remix of levels made harder and not coming with any special ‘I can’t be killed’ suits to help you out. Each level comes with three gold coins which need collecting to unlock new levels (and also act as a reason to replay levels for the completists amongst us), whilst the spotpass feature means you end up competing on best times against other 3DS users you might have bumped into via other games such as Mario Kart 7. It’s a great shame Nintendo didn’t go the whole way and offer public leaderboards.

It’s also a shame the game doesn’t offer any multiplayer mode whatsoever. New Super Mario Bros on the DS had a quite compelling coin collecting competition going, and so did the DS remake of Mario 64. However 3D Land has nothing, when an online mode would have added even more replay value.

With the 3D turned up, this looks lovely.

Whilst we feel content to make suggestions regarding what is missing in this review, please don’t confuse that with our actual view on the title. It is excellent. It is better than New Super Mario Brothers on the DS, in that it offers a real difficulty curve for experienced players, and way more replay value. It looks lovely, and the levels delight in their ingenuity whilst the 3D makes a tangible difference to how you experience the game, with some simple puzzle elements being easier to solve with the 3D on rather than off. There is also a nice variety of special suits, as you would expect in a Mario game, which add a degree of strategy and gameplay variation to how you might approach different levels.

Nintendo has shown once again that a proper Mario title is not just a cynical way of printing money, but is a franchise that justifies its greatness time and time again with each release.

Get it now.

An Australian 20-something computer pro, or nerd, has agreed to pay Nintendo $1.3 million for illegally uploading New Super Mario Bros. to the web on November 6, 2009. The sloppy hacker surely had no chance against Nintendo’s attorneys and his case at face value is sceptical.

Hacker James Burt, aged 24, bought the popular game ahead of its global release when a shop sold it to him by mistake. Nintendo estimates they lost thousands of sales because of Hacker Burt’s antics.

Nintendo remained firm and threatening: “Nintendo will pursue those who attempt to jeopardize our industry by using all means available under the law.”

Our Hacker buddy Burt had one last treat in his massive debt. He was also ordered to pay Nintendo’s legal bills.

The clock was ticking, the event was closing, and myself and Luke had only just managed to get on to the New Super Mario game. To be honest I wasn’t all that fussed about it at first, which is why I left it till last. I have been playing Mario games (much like many of you) since I can remember, and have seen it go through numerous changes over the years. From its humble barrel jumping capers through mushroom power-ups, raccoon suits, Yoshis to ride, metallic Marios and flying through space; and figured I’d seen it all. What could they really do to make me want to go back to playing with Mario?

Bring it back to its roots, that’s what. I don’t care what the other critics say, Mario Galaxy was rubbish! It was so far removed from the Mario I knew and loved I truly felt that if you had put Crash Bandicoot or Sonic in there instead of Mario nobody would bat an eyelid. It just didn’t have the ‘feel’ of a Mario game to me, to add to my frustration I had to keep my mouth shut about how I felt because everybody else seemed to think it was genius. As a result I left Mario behind, and expected to never look at him the same way again. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone near the Peter Pan plumber and I had honestly forgotten how much fun a Mario game could be! As Luke and I picked up a remote each, we began to play, and as we both jumped our way through the classic looking level I had a rush of memories flood through me. Past times of quick yet precisely timed jumps and jolly tunes that instantly stick in your head came pouring out of the screen at me, all emphasised by Luke being in the level with me and spurring me on to either catch up with him or help him. It was as if I had gone back to being eleven years old again, that competition and co-operation meshed together like when I used to play with my best friend – only this time, we were in the level at the same time! And it’s this that changes the old Mario dynamic entirely, being able to play with your friends; and helping them or just being annoying and getting in their way is so much fun. Ah ‘fun’, where have you been?

The last time a game made me smile was when I swallowed my manly pride and downloaded Flower off the PSN (true fact). New Super Mario Bros. on the Wii did the same thing to me that day, made me remember why I’m still gaming. It’s the classic Mario all over again, only this time re-created with sumptuous and detailed graphics, colourful deep backdrops and full-sounding melodies to fill your lug-holes! All the things that I remember about the ‘old skool’ Mario yet enhanced in almost every way. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve certainly downloaded a few older titles off the Wii store and used the Wiimote on its side for retro titles before, but the pad has always felt a bit like a NES pad that’s been mashed in a car-crusher with these titles, and yet this time it felt ‘right’. So much so, I wasn’t even aware of holding it. This is how Mario should be, a game that pulls you in with the power of ‘fun’ alone.

Nintendo’s senior product manager, Rob Lowe was heard saying “It’s like a cross between Super Mario World and Mario Kart. Dosen’t that sound amazing?” Indeed it does Mr. Lowe, and he’s made a great analogy there too, it is like a cross between the two. You have the back-to-roots fun of the classic platforming Mario games with the push/pull competitive nature of the Mario Kart games thrown in from the co-op play mechanics. We only spent a short time with New Super Mario, but that was enough to make me want to keep playing, much like a child being told to turn off the lights and go to bed, the reluctance to put down the pad because of the Expo closing made me want to throw a fit on the carpet.The Mario franchise has seen some great ideas and some awful ideas (Mario at the Olympics, pa-lease!) but this time it’s a nail-on-the-head time for the little rotund plumber, a proper 1UP x 10 moment for Nintendo. I expect that when this hits the shops, it’s going to sell bucketloads.