Super Mario 3D Land – Review

Super Mario 3D Land is among my favorite DS games. It’s a lot of fun to just pick up and play. The levels are great and the music too, and in my review for the game you can learn more!

Why Super Mario 3D Land?

Super Mario 3D Land is a colorful and creative Mario platforming game for the Nintendo 3DS. It combines the classic side-scrolling style of older Mario games with the freedom and depth of 3D Mario adventures. The result is a game that feels familiar while still introducing plenty of new ideas. I liked Super Mario 3D Land a lot because it is fun, charming, easy to pick up, and filled with clever levels, interesting power-ups, and secrets to discover.

One of the most interesting things about Super Mario 3D Land is the way it uses the Nintendo 3DS’s 3D capabilities. The levels are designed to look three-dimensional while still maintaining the straightforward gameplay of a traditional Mario platformer. Platforms can appear closer or farther away, objects can be positioned at different depths, and the 3D perspective can sometimes help players judge distances. Even without using the 3D effect all the time, the level design itself makes excellent use of the idea of depth.

The gameplay is one of the game’s biggest strengths. Mario automatically moves through traditional platforming environments, jumping over obstacles, defeating enemies, collecting coins, and reaching the goal. However, the levels are much more than simple paths from beginning to end. There are hidden areas, Star Medals, secret routes, and optional challenges that encourage players to explore instead of simply rushing toward the finish.

The Star Medals are especially fun to collect. There are three in each level, and some are placed in obvious locations while others require careful exploration or creative thinking to reach. Collecting all of them gives completion-minded players another reason to replay levels. I liked this system because it adds an extra challenge without making the main adventure unnecessarily difficult.

The Tanooki power-up is one of my favorite parts of the game. I really liked using the Tanooki Suit because it gives Mario a fun combination of abilities. Mario can use his tail to attack enemies and interact with objects, and he can briefly slow his descent after jumping. This makes the power-up useful for both attacking and platforming. It also feels like a great connection to classic Mario games while being adapted to the 3D Land gameplay.

The Tanooki Suit isn’t just useful—it is also fun to use. Having a tail that can smack enemies makes certain sections feel different from normal Mario gameplay, while the slower falling ability can help with tricky jumps. It adds another layer of strategy because players have to decide when to use their abilities rather than simply running through every level.

The game also includes several other familiar Mario power-ups and mechanics. Fire Flowers allow Mario to throw fireballs, while other items and transformations provide different ways to deal with obstacles. The variety keeps the gameplay from becoming stale, and levels are often designed around the abilities of particular power-ups.

Another great feature is the variety of environments. Players travel through grasslands, deserts, underwater areas, snowy locations, and other colorful worlds. Each area has its own obstacles and visual style, so progressing through the game feels like going on a real Mario adventure.

The music in Super Mario 3D Land is another highlight. The soundtrack is very catchy and upbeat, with tunes that stick in your head even after you stop playing. Many of the background tracks are light, cheerful, and energetic, which fits the fast-paced platforming perfectly. I especially liked how the music changes slightly depending on the situation, such as when time is running low or when you are in more intense sections. The sound effects also add to the experience, making jumps, coin collection, and power-ups feel satisfying. Overall, the music helps make the game feel even more lively and fun.

The game’s difficulty is another positive. The early levels are accessible enough for newer players, while later stages introduce more difficult challenges. This gradual progression makes the game approachable without making it boring for experienced players. There are also more challenging sections for players who want to collect everything and fully complete the game.

However, Super Mario 3D Land does have some disadvantages. One of the biggest is that the game is relatively straightforward compared with larger 3D Mario adventures. The levels are designed more like traditional Mario stages than huge open areas, so players looking for enormous worlds to explore may find the experience somewhat limited.

Another drawback is that some levels can feel short. While this works well for a handheld game, players who prefer lengthy stages may wish that certain areas lasted longer. The game’s focus on short, replayable levels is useful for portable gaming, but it can occasionally make the adventure feel less substantial.

The 3D effect is also not essential to enjoying the game. It can make certain elements easier to understand visually, but the game remains perfectly playable without it. Players shouldn’t expect the 3D feature alone to transform the entire experience.

How We Test Games

For testing games we use a Nintendo Switch firmware version 2H. Hardware includes Joy-con and Pro controller on a large screen TV. Tests are done with up to 5 players. We take turns playing and evaluating games.

Whenever possible we play multiple players. We also use a Nintendo 2DS, DS XL, and for PC games we use a Ryzen 7 1700x CPU, AMD RX580, running on Win 10. This game is up to 1-player on one Nintendo 2DS/3DS.

Pros

• Fun combination of 2D-style platforming and 3D environments
• Excellent level design
• Creative use of depth and perspective
• Plenty of Star Medals to collect
• Great variety of worlds and obstacles
• Several fun Mario power-ups
• The Tanooki power-up is especially fun and useful
• Catchy and memorable music
• Accessible for newer players while still offering harder challenges
• Lots of secrets and reasons to replay levels
• Bright, colorful graphics and charming presentation
• I liked the game a lot

Cons

• Some levels can feel fairly short
• Not as large or open-ended as some other 3D Mario games
• The 3D effect isn’t necessary to enjoy the game
• Experienced players may find the main adventure relatively easy
• Some of the later challenges can become frustrating when going for complete collection

Summary

Super Mario 3D Land is a fantastic handheld Mario adventure that successfully combines traditional platforming with three-dimensional level design. It doesn’t try to be an enormous open-world experience—instead, it focuses on compact, creative levels that are easy to pick up but rewarding to replay.

I liked the game a lot, especially because there is so much charm packed into its levels. The Star Medals give completionists something extra to work toward, while the variety of worlds, power-ups, and catchy music keeps the adventure interesting. Most of all, I really enjoyed the Tanooki power-up. It is useful, fun, and gives Mario some great abilities that make platforming and defeating enemies more enjoyable.

Overall, Super Mario 3D Land is a fun, polished, and memorable Mario game. It may not be the biggest or most expansive game in the series, but its clever level design, enjoyable power-ups, secrets, catchy music, and portable-friendly gameplay make it an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys classic Mario platforming.