Super Mario 3D Land

Overview

The game's official logo.
The game's official logo.

Super Mario 3D Land is a 3D platformer developed for the Nintendo 3DS. It's the first portable 3D Mario game, not counting Super Mario 64 DS, which was merely a remake, and marks the return of the popular Tanooki Suit, although its alternate ability--namely turning into a statue--is not available until halfway through the game when you first encounter silver leafs.

The game was released in November 2011. As of April 2012, it has sold 5.84 million copies worldwide.

Gameplay

Avoiding Bullet-Bills in an enemy ship.
Avoiding Bullet-Bills in an enemy ship.

In the Nintendo E3 2011 press conference, a trailer for Super Mario 3D Land was shown. The gameplay is a combination of of New Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Galaxy, and will feature many locked camera angles that can result in 2D and isometric gameplay. The game will feature Mario without a super mushroom, Super Mario, and the Raccoon suit. In 2D Mario fashion, Mario will have to land on a flagpole to end a level.

The levels shown in the E3 2011 show the usual plethora of Mario levels. There is a tropical level, sky level, Bowser level, Egyptian level, clockwork level and an underground level. The demo also shows a stage that gives homage to the The Legend of Zelda series with top down gameplay and classic Zelda Elements.

The game features 8 worlds at first, but after defeating Bowser in World 8, an additional 8 "Special" worlds become available which feature added gameplay elements such as the full Tanooki Suit and Luigi as a playable character.

Reveal

Boom-Booms from Mario 3 appear as bosses
Boom-Booms from Mario 3 appear as bosses

A new Mario title for the Nintendo 3DS was announced by Satoru Iwata at Nintendo's GDC keynote on March 2, 2011. The game is being developed by the Nintendo EAD team responsible for the Super Mario Galaxy series. At the GDC presentation, a "Super Mario" logo was displayed with a silhouette of a tail similar to that of a raccoon's, this hinted at the return of the Raccoon Suit power-up from Super Mario Bros. 3.

In addition to that there is something that resembles a Star Coin found in the New Mario Bros games or Comet Medal from the Galaxy games in one of the screenshots.

Iwata also told the audience how they're working on how to solve design problems like how to help players hit the question blocks even in if it is in 3D and not 2D while showing this game.

Power Ups

StreetPass Functionality

Websites

VersionSite
Japanesenintendo.co.jp/3ds/arej
North Americansupermario3dland.nintendo.com