Super Mario 3D Land is the best Mario game since Mario 64.

You people are breaking my heart. Sunshine was the best 3D Mario.

Sunshine had great level designand music, but over all the game was hampered by the forced gimmick and mechanics of F.L.U.D.D. Which in turn sullied and ruined a game that could have been great.
 
I thought the game was just ok. Eventually it bored me. But to be fair, so did Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 as well.

I can still see the production value in it though.
 
I'm glad the OP feels that way but I have to strongly disagree. Mario 64, SMG 1 are two of my favourite games of all time.

Super Mario 3D Land on the other hand was really disappointing to me. I love the Mario franchise and I'm a huge handheld gamer so I was really looking forward to the next 3D entry but it didn't click with me at all.

The change in focus from exploration to point-to-point gameplay is probably my main point of contention. There was no sense of wonder in SM3DL.

I did like the 3D though, especially dropping from heights. If they add 3D TV support to the next mainline console entry I'll be happy.
 
How the heck is it better than the Galaxy series? It's rehashed lower res Galaxy assets and a CRAP soundtrack. The levels might be shorter and faster, but the visuals were too familiar.

I cannot fault 3D Land for the visuals which really shine with the 3D effect turned on (lighting wise especially) and I have to say that level after level I was being surprised and entertained quite a lot :). The only thing I really minded was the run button... I still do not feel like it belongs in 3D Mario games.
 
I'm glad the OP feels that way but I have to strongly disagree. Mario 64, SMG 1 are two of my favourite games of all time.

Super Mario 3D Land on the other hand was really disappointing to me. I love the Mario franchise and I'm a huge handheld gamer so I was really looking forward to the next 3D entry but it didn't click with me at all.

The change in focus from exploration to point-to-point gameplay is probably my main point of contention. There was no sense of wonder in SM3DL.

I did like the 3D though, especially dropping from heights. If they add 3D TV support to the next mainline console entry I'll be happy.

Yes, aside from the run button there was another thing I did not like that much in SM3DLand... and the lower focus on exploration and adventure you have in SM64 is not really there. Sometimes there is stuff you can discover, there is exploration you can do, but the timer does kind of push you to reach the finish line of the level rather than wander around. They should have added a no timer DLC mode at least.
 
Yep, though you won't find many around here who agree. It was like they took everything they learned from every 3D Mario, then went back and restarted the series as if it was just graduating from the 2D titles. A perfect fusion of old Mario and new, polished to a tee. The Mario 64 of a new age.

While I still like Galaxy 1 and 2 a bit more, this is what I love about 3D Land. It's the classic Mario formula in 3D and that's what I always dreamed about since the N64. Mario is supposed to have a level with a goal he has to reach, not some big playground with some stars!
 
While I still like Galaxy 1 and 2 a bit more, this is what I love about 3D Land. It's the classic Mario formula in 3D and that's what I always dreamed about since the N64. Mario is supposed to have a level with a goal he has to reach, not some big playground with some stars!

I wouldn't mind a mix of both to be honest. 3D Land still rewarded exploration and a lot of levels skewed more towards open playgrounds.

Regardless, I agree with you that the goal system works incredibly well in 3D. Landing the jump on the flagpole is all sorts of satisfying. It baffles me that the 2D Mario formula wasn't translated sooner.
 
oh god no

just no

not by a long shot

even if you disregard the masterpiece that is super mario galaxy, 3D land still comes up short in comparison to most mario games
 
I have a serious soft spot/ nostalgia for Mario Sunshine. I got it the DAY before I started my first day of high school and it was really my last time I was a "kid". I rode my bike to Babbage's to get it and played all day. I love it to this day because of that day.
 
Good game but I prefer the Galaxy games.
And in overall, NSMBWii et and NSMBU are the 2 best Mario games ever, right up there with SMB3 imo.
 
Problem with 3D Land is most people compare it to the other 3D Mario games, when it's actually just a 3D rendition of 2D Mario games. Compare it to those, instead - it's not better than Galaxy 1 & 2, imo.
 
I liked the streetpass time sharing aspect. Made the game really replayable. Along with the coin rush, NSMB2 should have copied that as well, though the 3D world does allow for more cutting of corners.

I think that the presence of the Tanooki Suit presents a major balance issue.
Isn't the beauty of powerups their optional nature. You can play the game just as regular Mario if you so wish.
 
Problem with 3D Land is most people compare it to the other 3D Mario games, when it's actually just a 3D rendition of 2D Mario games. Compare it to those, instead - it's not better than Galaxy 1 & 2, imo.

Well, it looks and plays 3D.... therefore its a 3D Mario. There's nothing else to it.
 
I thought that the levels were too short, but on the other hand it's a handheld game. What I can say for myself is that I enjoy Luigi's Mansion 2 much more, although it's another genre. So it's not the best 3DS game for me, but I can see people loving it.
 
What I like about Galaxy and 3DLand is that Nintendo didn't just continue with the 3D platformer model they came up with with Mario64, but went back to the drawing table and came up with other ideas of how a 3D platformer can work.

I'm inclined to agree. Never really 'clicked' with SMG, but I devoured M3DLand like it was crack-laced chocolate.
I still say you should sod convention and just skip straight to Galaxy2 (if you can find it cheap). It fixes the problems with the hubworld and has a level select screen similar to the one in 3DLand.
 
The only 3D Mario that I have no issue designating the "worse" is Sunshine. All the other titles are tied for first place really, but if I had to rank them...

SMG2 > 3D Land > SMG > 64 > Sunshine.
 
What I like about Galaxy and 3DLand is that Nintendo didn't just continue with the 3D platformer model they came up with with Mario64, but went back to the drawing table and came up with other ideas of how a 3D platformer can work.

This. I hope they have the time to do that with the Wii U 3D Mario too. They're no doubt in a hurry to get it out but hopefully it won't be just Galaxy 3 or something.
 
I have no arguments against this FACT. I loved the crap out of this game, though I'm not sure why people thought the final unlockable stage was the bane of everyone's existence. Was it really that hard? Granted I had Tanooki suit on, but just curious?
 
I still say you should sod convention and just skip straight to Galaxy2 (if you can find it cheap). It fixes the problems with the hubworld and has a level select screen similar to the one in 3DLand.
I own it! I picked it up on day 1, same as SMG. Once I've finished NSMBU, I'll most likely give it a crack.
 
I have no arguments against this FACT. I loved the crap out of this game, though I'm not sure why people thought the final unlockable stage was the bane of everyone's existence. Was it really that hard? Granted I had Tanooki suit on, but just curious?

Tanooki makes everything easy.
 
I own it! I picked it up on day 1, same as SMG. Once I've finished NSMBU, I'll most likely give it a crack.
Ok cool. Just didn't want you wasting money just because I said the level selection is streamlined. There may be other reasons it didn't click.
 
Just started playing it yesterday. It´s fantastic. It seems I´m starting to fall in love with my 3DS. Thinking about picking up a 3DS XL - or should I wait for E3? Could there be a new model coming? They update their handhelds roughly once a year right?
 
Just started playing it yesterday. It´s fantastic. It seems I´m starting to fall in love with my 3DS. Thinking about picking up a 3DS XL - or should I wait for E3? Could there be a new model coming? They update their handhelds roughly once a year right?

They already said they won't be announcing new hardware at E3. In my opinion XL is well worth the extra spending. So much better than the original.
 
Just started playing it yesterday. It´s fantastic. It seems I´m starting to fall in love with my 3DS. Thinking about picking up a 3DS XL - or should I wait for E3? Could there be a new model coming? They update their handhelds roughly once a year right?

Eh...they might decide to make a model the same size as the original but with all of the XL features. Nothing game changing like a second circle pad is going to be added though. If ya wanna wait, wait, but I sincerely doubt we're going to see much this year. And even so, the quality of the XL is already leagues above the original.
 
Just started playing it yesterday. It´s fantastic. It seems I´m starting to fall in love with my 3DS. Thinking about picking up a 3DS XL - or should I wait for E3? Could there be a new model coming? They update their handhelds roughly once a year right?

if you got the money sure

I dont know about the XL being worth an upgrade. It's certainly the way to go now for your first 3DS but if you already own an original model one and have no issues with it i'd say spend that money on games instead
 
if you got the money sure

I dont know about the XL being worth an upgrade. It's certainly the way to go now for your first 3DS but if you already own an original model one and have no issues with it i'd say spend that money on games instead

I just don´t like how the original one feels. I also find it quite distracting that it´s glossy on the inside..

Will go to Saturn after work and check the XL out. Is the data transfer easy?
 
I'm really surprised about the love 3d land gets here, i find Galaxy 2 to be one of the best games I have ever had the joy of playing, 3D Land never got there but it is fantastic too.
 
Well, firstly, to compare 3D marios with 2D marios when they are two entirely different experiences is a big mistake.

New 2D mario are faster, with a deeper gameplay focused on mastering the timing of each scenario and with a great multiplayer experience.
3D mario focuse on different experiences, less jumping and more exploration, playing with concepts only possible in 3D (liquid physics on Sunshine, local planetary gravity in the Galaxys, etc.). Even 3DLand, which is a 3D-2D mario mix, has its own unique feel that makes it completely different than any other mario.

So at the end, saying that one formula is better than another one is just a matter of tastes, because in terms of quality, all those games are the BEST of their respective sub-genre.
 
Well imo Galaxy 1/2 are better games for sure, if you look it purely from a "which is a better game experience" standpoint.

However, 3D Land is pretty much perfect implementation of a Mario game designed for a handheld console, especially 3DS, everything about it fits perfectly for the platform. It's so good. I feel it works on this context better than say a Galaxy -like game would on a handheld.
 
Best portable Mario that isn't a port from the NES/SNES/N64? Yes.
Best Mario game? Surely not.

It has great levels (although the basic ones are far too easy), superb music (clocktower!) and amazing graphics, but it feels a bit rushed. There isn't much to do after beating the game. Yes, there are extra worlds, Luigi and stuff like that, but i feel it misses something... can't desribe what, but something does feel missing :(

Oh and the graphics. Man, that game made me just wander and sightsee. The last level, the desert ones (with the nice heat/light filter), coockies level. So good.
 
I recently 100%-ed this game (holy fuck @ the Crown level), and while I'm not sure if I'd put it above Galaxy, it's definitely very, very high up there.
 
I don't really consider 3D Land a "true" 3D platformer since you can't manipulate the camera much. IMO, it's not any more "3D" than the isometric Mario RPG.
 
I just don´t like how the original one feels. I also find it quite distracting that it´s glossy on the inside..

Will go to Saturn after work and check the XL out. Is the data transfer easy?

I switched from a black 3DS to a white 3DS XL a couple weeks ago

As a handheld device, it looks way better and feels so comfortable; I couldn't play any 3DS game longer than 20 minutes because my hand hurt - and now I can play for hours until the battery runs out

This is what the 3DS should have been in the first place; you should check it out
 
I switched from a black 3DS to a white 3DS XL a couple weeks ago

As a handheld device, it looks way better and feels so comfortable; I couldn't play any 3DS game longer than 20 minutes because my hand hurt - and now I can play for hours until the battery runs out

This is what the 3DS should have been in the first place; you should check it out

Ok, fuck it. I´m gonna buy one after work. So many good games coming out - it will be worth it.

You sir just cost me 200€!

;)
 
Ok, fuck it. I´m gonna buy one after work. So many good games coming out - it will be worth it.

You sir just cost me 200€!

;)

200 bucks well spent I'd say :)

Sold my old black 3DS + 2 games for 180€ and will never look back again. The 3DS XL is the best Nintendo handheld when it comes to build quality (my opinion) - love that damn thing
 
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