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[StreetsAhead]

Weird how the dino has a real shadow whilst the rest of the cast has friggin' circular ones. What year is this? 1996?

All footage of the game has shown off proper shadows for all the characters. Mario even has one in the shot you quoted. Peach and Toad are round, therefore their shadows are round, too. Physical realities of how light works might result in a technically inferior looking image, but that's reality for you.

You can see more evidence here:

 

[ASTROID2]

Mario has a real shadow. Toads head is ginormous so his shadow is an oval, and peaches blouse is big too, obstructing everything else.

There aren't really cast shadows, and if they were in the game, the shadows would look much better overall.

Looking at galaxy screens SM3DW has the same shadows as galaxy.

Edit: Some environments do seem to have more shadows. But character ones seem to be the same.

 

[Air]

Looking at galaxy screens SM3DW has the same shadows as galaxy.

It's stylized, but there aren't real cast shadows that I can see from the images (I'm speaking about on the characters themselves). There's a gradient underneath places that should be shadowed, and a rim light, but no actual cast shadows.

Edit: I'm not saying they aren't like galaxy, just commenting on the technique.

 

[ScOULaris]

Ah, I see now. I guess they just looked circular at first glance in that shot because the light source was directly above them. Either that or they aren't actually being cast and are just set below the characters, which isn't uncommon for platformers. Helps with landing jumps.

 

[Chony]

Weird how the dino has a real shadow whilst the rest of the cast has friggin' circular ones. What year is this? 1996?

Toad is a circle...

 

[ASTROID2]

Ah, I see now. I guess they just looked circular at first glance in that shot because the light source was directly above them. Either that or they aren't actually being cast and are just set below the characters, which isn't uncommon for platformers. Helps with landing jumps.

Are there any pics where the shadows of the characters are not directly below them?

 

[Why would you do that?]

The plain, blocky designs served the 3D effect. Copying something like the more ,,complex'' Galaxy wouldn't have looked as good on the 3DS.

The blocky designs is not just because of the art style. It's because it's a 3D version of the 2D Mario games, which also have a blocky, angular design.

2D Mario games are angular - angular blocks, walls, floors, and slopes that are always at specific angles. It isn't only because of the art style, it's also for gameplay and clarity purposes. Compared to, say, Rayman Origins, which is more natural looking, but also busy and complex, 2D Mario is simple. clean, and immediately easy to see and play.

3D Land, as a 3D version of 2D Mario, retains that angular design. It retains the look, feel, and gameplay of the 2D games, and it works very well from a gameplay and clarity perspective. I highly doubt the game was made blocky and angular solely because of the 3D feature. I believe it would have looked that way regardless of whether or not the 3DS had 3D.

 

[soulx]

I've lost all hope on this being the innovative 3D Mario that we've come to expect. There's a time limit, a run button, camera control only with the gyro, smaller-scale levels and mechanics similar to 3D Land, what a disappointment.

With 64, we had Mario in fucking 3D and some of the levels were really big. Sunshine, holy shit...wait what, is that a water pump? Still it was new and innovative. Galaxy, Mario was in fucking space going upside down on planetoids with new gravity mechanics and kickass orchestrated music. That was new and innovative. This is 3D Land...on steroids.

 

[Volotaire]

I've lost all hope on this being the innovative 3D Mario that we've come to expect. There's a time limit, a run button, camera control only with the gyro, smaller-scale levels and mechanics similar to 3D Land, what a disappointment.

With 64, we had Mario in fucking 3D and some of the levels were really big. Sunshine, holy shit...wait what, is that a water pump? Still it was new and innovative. Galaxy, Mario was in fucking space going upside down on planetoids with new gravity mechanics and kickass orchestrated music. That was new and innovative. This is 3D Land...on steroids.

Camera Control an actually be used with the stick as well.

 

[StreetsAhead]

camera control only with the gyro,

You can also use the right-hand stick. They have been highlighting the use of gyro because you can use it to move the camera while running and jumping, which you can't do with the stick.

 

[Easy_D]

The whole point of 3D land was the use of the... 3D. It's probably been asked many times, but can the WiiU produce 3D just like the PS360? That'd make the game interesting.

But if that feature is lacking, I don't really see the point of that game...

The point of 3D Land wasn't using 3D.

 

[Air]

I've lost all hope on this being the innovative 3D Mario that we've come to expect. There's a time limit, a run button, camera control only with the gyro, smaller-scale levels and mechanics similar to 3D Land, what a disappointment.

With 64, we had Mario in fucking 3D and some of the levels were really big. Sunshine, holy shit...wait what, is that a water pump? Still it was new and innovative. Galaxy, Mario was in fucking space going upside down on planetoids with new gravity mechanics and kickass orchestrated music. That was new and innovative. This is 3D Land...on steroids.

This is about as innovative as sunshine going by your logic with the water pump. We have a cat suit. If anything this is more innovative because of multiplayer as well. Maybe we should wait a bit before we declare if its innovative or not?

 

[BumbleBee Castle]

This game will be a day 1 purchase for me.

However, the one aspect that I find underwhelming (which I believe others have articulated in different ways) is lack of a unifying theme for this title.

The perceived lack of scale is merely a disjointed motif moving from one level to the next. It feels like a smattering of levels made by different people without real guidance or true focus.

 

[Carpe Libertatem]

Sunshine, holy shit...wait what, is that a water pump? Still it was new and innovative. .

People hated FLUDD (although I personally enjoyed it) and really enjoyed the FLUDDless levels in the game. Which are kinda like the levels in 3D Land and what looks to be World (although World is more varied it seems)

 

[Why would you do that?]

I've lost all hope on this being the innovative 3D Mario that we've come to expect. There's a time limit, a run button, camera control only with the gyro, smaller-scale levels and mechanics similar to 3D Land, what a disappointment.

With 64, we had Mario in fucking 3D and some of the levels were really big. Sunshine, holy shit...wait what, is that a water pump? Still it was new and innovative. Galaxy, Mario was in fucking space going upside down on planetoids with new gravity mechanics and kickass orchestrated music. That was new and innovative. This is 3D Land...on steroids.

It's a sequel, just like Galaxy 2. Maybe the next game will be something more innovative. I do understand the disappointment that the first Wii U Console Mario game isn't a completely new experience filled with innovation, but it isn't like 3D World is tired, old gameplay we see once every couple years. We've only had 3D Land, the ONE game in that style.

Also, people keep forgetting it will be the first 3D Mario with co-op multiplayer.

This is about as innovative as sunshine going by your logic with the water pump. We have a cat suit.

That's different. The water pump was integral to the game, always on Mario, always available, and provided him with many special functions that would really cripple him and made the game impossible to defeat if the water pack disappeared.

Cat Mario is an optional power-up.

 

[RagnarokX]

I've lost all hope on this being the innovative 3D Mario that we've come to expect. There's a time limit, a run button, camera control only with the gyro, smaller-scale levels and mechanics similar to 3D Land, what a disappointment.

With 64, we had Mario in fucking 3D and some of the levels were really big. Sunshine, holy shit...wait what, is that a water pump? Still it was new and innovative. Galaxy, Mario was in fucking space going upside down on planetoids with new gravity mechanics and kickass orchestrated music. That was new and innovative. This is 3D Land...on steroids.

Camera can be controlled with right stick.
Levels are not smaller scale.
Mechanics similar to 3D Land? Uh?

3D World is 2D Mario finally translated into 3D. Who is to say it won't still have some of the adventurous elements of 3D Marios of the past? Mario 64 and Galaxy's levels weren't as big as you remember.

 

[Oblivion]

Subjective, but I do like the Galaxy games' art direction too, but it lacks detail that 3D Land has which can be seen just by looking at the grass.

Huh?

 

[Air]

That's different. The water pump was integral to the game, always on Mario, always available, and provided him with many special functions that would really cripple him and made the game impossible to defeat if the water pack disappeared.

Cat Mario is an optional power-up.

True. I guess I was getting more at the novelty of both items.

 

[shakin_haitian]

Count me in as one of the people who hated FLUDD. All that jerk did was make me waste time spraying shit when I could have been running and jumping around. There was nothing fun about it. Even the hovering and crap was annoying.

 

[DaBoss]

Huh?

Whoops, meant to say 3D World there. Thanks for catching that.

 

[GAF A60-Rim A]

With 64, we had Mario in fucking 3D and some of the levels were really big.

Levels in SM64 that were really big:












PS there are likely to be orchestral recordings in this game too.

 

[soulx]

Camera can be controlled with right stick.
Levels are not smaller scale.
Mechanics similar to 3D Land? Uh?

3D World is 2D Mario finally translated into 3D. Who is to say it won't still have some of the adventurous elements of 3D Marios of the past? Mario 64 and Galaxy's levels weren't as big as you remember.

Warp blocks are back, flip platforms (yes I know they were also in Galaxy), same aesthetics as 3D Land.

Even compared to 64, the levels here look small in scale. Just as small as levels were in 3D Land. In that game, it was fine since it was suited to a portable format but it isn't ideal for a home console Mario.

You're right, those levels in Galaxy are even bigger than I remember.

 

[Graphics Horse]

Are there any pics where the shadows of the characters are not directly below them?

Don't think so, some of the environment has angled shadows, like normal platforms and flagpoles. Blocks and coins have shadows straight below them.

 

[Carpe Libertatem]

Warp blocks are back,

Would you feel better if these were Launch Stars and they did a fancy animation instead?

Because they're the exact same thing.

 

[Air]

I really loved the size of the levels in galaxy. Each world felt epic.

 

[Doorman]

It's a sequel, just like Galaxy 2. Maybe the next game will be something more innovative. I do understand the disappointment that the first Wii U Console Mario game isn't a completely new experience filled with innovation, but it isn't like 3D World is tired, old gameplay we see once every couple years. We've only had 3D Land, the ONE game in that style.

It isn't even, though, we had New Super Mario Bros U, which was largely a slightly new take on an existing formula with a new power-up suit. Now we get our second HD Mario on the system and it's...a new take on an existing formula with a new power-up suit. That is the lasting early impression from its E3 reveal, at any rate.

Also, people keep forgetting it will be the first 3D Mario with co-op multiplayer.

Which, for me, really isn't even a selling point because it won't have any online capability and the odds of me gathering several people together on a regular-enough basis to actually experience the game together are damn slim. I expect to play most, if not all of this game single-player, and I highly doubt I'm alone. I'm also concerned that with the exception of teamwork-focused events like the water dragon, multiplayer will be as much frustrating as it is fun. The potential for less-skilled players to get constantly left in the dust or for more skilled players to spend time standing around waiting is pretty huge, since I don't expect they'll be able to pan the camera back even as far as they do in the New Super Mario Bros games without totally sacrificing the ability for each player to gauge their jumps.

 

[Hakai]

Would you feel better if these were Launch Stars and they did a fancy animation instead?

Because they're the exact same thing.

Talking about that, I don't understand why they just don't use the normal warp pipe, instead in 3D world.

 

[StreetsAhead]

Talking about that, I don't understand why they just don't use the normal warp pipe, instead in 3D world.

Maybe the blocks are for short jumps within the same location and pipes are for jumps to completely different locations?

 

[Why would you do that?]

It isn't even, though, we had New Super Mario Bros U, which was largely a slightly new take on an existing formula with a new power-up suit. Now we get our second HD Mario on the system and it's...a new take on an existing formula with a new power-up suit. That is the lasting early impression from its E3 reveal, at any rate.

I actually meant first Wii U 3D Mario. Its situation is different from Mario U's because New SMB is a formula from 1985 that almost everybody has experienced, and has seen two very recent games before Mario U. 3D World has only been done once before on a handheld system that's still picking up steam.

Sucks you may not be able to experience the multiplayer, though. Mario in multiplayer really is something fun. I'm fortunate enough to have a couple of Mario buddies, though.

 

[The Boat]

Warp blocks are back, flip platforms (yes I know they were also in Galaxy), same aesthetics as 3D Land.

Even compared to 64, the levels here look small in scale. Just as small as levels were in 3D Land. In that game, it was fine since it was suited to a portable format but it isn't ideal for a home console Mario.



You're right, those levels in Galaxy are even bigger than I remember.

There is nothing in these images that isn't being done in terms of scale in 3D World. Even the first picture, replace the rocks with blocks and it's 3D World.

 

[RagnarokX]

Warp blocks are back, flip platforms (yes I know they were also in Galaxy), same aesthetics as 3D Land.

Even compared to 64, the levels here look small in scale. Just as small as levels were in 3D Land. In that game, it was fine since it was suited to a portable format but it isn't ideal for a home console Mario.



You're right, those levels in Galaxy are even bigger than I remember.

So? What's wrong with warp blocks and flip platforms?

There is nothing about those screens that show bigger scale than 3D World.

Talking about that, I don't understand why they just don't use the normal warp pipe, instead in 3D world.

Well, they still have pipes. I think they came up with warp blocks because they are much less of a hassle to use than pipes. You don't have to land on top of it and crouch, you just have to land in it.

 

[Doorman]

Sucks you may not be able to experience the multiplayer, though. Mario in multiplayer really is something fun. I'm fortunate enough to have a couple of Mario buddies, though.

Oh I know it can be, but to get that style of game at its finest can be tricky. You need time, and people of at least somewhat-close levels of skill. I played through basically all of NSMBU with one of my sisters and a mutual friend and had a great time doing it...but that was literally one night in the course of quite a long time that we had the sort of time to organize that. And if the majority of 3D World can be cleared in a single night's play-session, then...well, I wouldn't feel all that encouraged.
I'm not angry at Nintendo for including it, I'm just skeptical that such a feature will get much mileage out of me, personally. And in that sense I can't help but wonder what sort of level design decisions were changed in the pursuit of making the entire game multi-compatible.

 

[RagnarokX]

Another thing people are forgetting is that although past 3D Mario games had multiple missions per level, they had fewer total levels and some missions were completely throwaway. Galaxy had 42 galaxies, most of which were made up of fairly small planetoids and platforms and some were repeated. 3D Land has 96 levels, granted many of those were remixed harder versions of levels from the normal half of the game, but even if half of 3D Lands levels were remixes (which isn't the case) 48 is more than 42. Since this is a Wii U game not limited by 3DS hardware, we can probably expect 96 or more levels in this game, hopefully all of which will be unique. Maybe they'll go for 120 levels so that we have as many levels as stars from previous 3D Marios.

 

[hatchx]

This game will be a day 1 purchase for me.

However, the one aspect that I find underwhelming (which I believe others have articulated in different ways) is lack of a unifying theme for this title.

The perceived lack of scale is merely a disjointed motif moving from one level to the next. It feels like a smattering of levels made by different people without real guidance or true focus.

I agree. Even Galaxy 2 feels like some kind of adventure in some sort of coherent world.

3D Land was great, but it doesn't feel like the setting is anything but blocks. They don't even try to pretend it's a real setting. Little things like making a warp point a painting or a shooting star as opposed to a little orange warp box. Looking at something like Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze, the worlds in Mario are painfully uninteresting.

I really hope some of the levels in 3D World have some personality and detail. A richly detailed world map or some kind of fun overworld connecting the levels. At the very least, if they stick with a more generic art style, I would expect tonnes of levels.

 

[Roo]

I really hope there's some sort of story in the game...
Or at least that they try to top Galaxy 2' soundtrack
I mean... this piece literally melted my heart... so touching

 

[marc^o^]

While the major problem is still that this game is a complete rehash (plus multiplayer ''finally'' in three deeee hurrr)

No matter how strong your motivation is to paint this narrative, facts keep making your rehash statement ridiculously wrong.

- twice the framerate of the 3DS version, 60fps baby
- 4 player mode with a competitive layer in each stage
- 4 different characters with different running and jumping physics, far more ambitious than NSMB series multiplayer ever was
- the 4 characters can be played in single player with various challenges (Toad being for experts/speed runs)
- New cat power up with a deep move set + return of all time favorites (ie Kurobo shoe)
- Return of old time enemies, brand new enemies, and new twists on old enemies (Snow Pokeys)
- Ability to grab and throw items (we've saw a snow ball and a baseball as an example) as in SMB2
- Free Camera on 360 degrees + new vertical camera layer to see what's upper and below characters. Camera can be controlled with analog stick (and/or gyros)
- New gameplay mechanics with transparent pipes, controllable dinosaurs
- Ambitious boss battle
- return of Mario Galaxy moves set
- brand new move: a mid course boost when running
-discover secrets by tapping on the Gamepad.

All these differences in a mere 4 levels preview. Dat rehash.

 

[StreetsAhead]

- twice the framerate of the 3DS version, 60fps baby
- 4 player mode with a competitive layer in each stage
- 4 different characters with different running and jumping physics, far more ambitious than NSMB series multiplayer ever was
- the 4 characters that can be played in single player with various challenges (Toad being for experts/speed runs)
- New cat power up with a deep move set + return of all time favorites (ie Kurobo shoe)
- Return of old time enemies, brand new enemies, and new twists on old enemies (Snow Pokeys)
- Ability to grab and throw items (we've saw a snow ball and a baseball as an example) as in SMB2
- Free Camera on 360 degrees + new vertical camera layer to see what's upper and below characters. Camera can be controlled with analog stick (and/or gyros)
- New gameplay mechanics with transparent pipes, controllable dinosaurs
- Ambitious boss battle
- return of Mario Galaxy moves set
- brand new move: a mid course boost when running
-discover secrets by tapping on the Gamepad.

Added some stuff I noticed.

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

Are there any pics where the shadows of the characters are not directly below them?

As far as I know every Mario game has shadows directly below the characters. That's to help judge landings.

 

[marc^o^]

Added some stuff I noticed.

Thanks, I updated my post with your elements.

 

[Doorman]

Another thing people are forgetting is that although past 3D Mario games had multiple missions per level, they had fewer total levels and some missions were completely throwaway. Galaxy had 42 galaxies, most of which were made up of fairly small planetoids and platforms and some were repeated. 3D Land has 96 levels, granted many of those were remixed harder versions of levels from the normal half of the game, but even if half of 3D Lands levels were remixes (which isn't the case) 48 is more than 42. Since this is a Wii U game not limited by 3DS hardware, we can probably expect 96 or more levels in this game, hopefully all of which will be unique. Maybe they'll go for 120 levels so that we have as many levels as stars from previous 3D Marios.

Actually from what I remember, some of the levels in 3D Land actually had two remixes present within the special world. Perhaps one as a harder version and another as a more "speedrun" sort of thing. At the very least I remember a castle or two being reused more than once.
Not that I mind harder levels, but something about the way they handled it in 3D Land just felt awkward to me. It goes back to what I mentioned earlier about every level feeling totally self-contained and not having any sense of theme or reason to what you were doing to dig those memory-hooks in.

 

[Shenzakai]

Man, even with all the love in my heart for Nintendo and even though that there might be a lot of new stuff/changes/additions to SM3DW, they just disappointed me so badly.
I've imagined a fully fledged 3D open world Mario in gorgeous HD graphics. Just think of Peaches castle with all that HD stuff (bump maps, a lot of details, rich lightning etc.) or just Metal Mario in HD glory. What they are delivering (I've watched a 12min. gameplay video from E3) is just a super-sized 3D Land upscaled to HD. Compare it to MK8, even that looks a lot more like HD.

The same for DKC:TF. Didn't anybode notice that the game *exactly* looks like on the Wii, except for the fur and HD rez? meh textures, meh details, just everything meh. On the Wii it was top-notch, on the U it's just a joke. The fur was in similar quality already in Starfox Adventures on the GameCube! WTF?! Where is the HD capability? The Wii U in general is just a huge disappointment for me even though I love Nintendo since the NES days... even after E3, or just because of E3 and PS4/XB1, they just missed it totally to stand against the other ones. In terms of visuals, but also in terms of innovation. Everyone who's saying about Sony/MS that they're full of dudebro shooters and soccer games might be right, but so is Nintendo with it's next iteration of NSMB, Zelda and 3D Mario. All on a very high quality level, but also with the same lack of true innovation.

 

[Calamari41]

What I still can't get over after all of this time is that a large number of people seem to think that the same exact team that made their beloved and sacred Galaxy games are going to pump out an uninspired level pack for a handheld game as the major holiday title for a high powered home console. Think they might approach the design differently? No, you're probably right, we will get a bunch of bite sized levels meant to be played on the train and on the shitter.

3D Land levels are short and sweet, but put a couple of them together and they rival the similarly styled Galaxy levels. Now put the team to work on a full home console version and you can expect something special. I predict that this hand wringing won't even be remembered a year from now.

 

[Neo Child]

guys

remember when you just enjoyed games without bitching about textures 6 months prior to release?

 

[gogojira]

Definitely a huge fan of Super Mario Galaxy and all, but Mario 3D World looks fantastic. It's different than the Galaxy games and reminiscent of 3D Land, but the scale is certainly much larger. I don't know, everything I've seen of the game looks really, really fun.

 

[StreetsAhead]

Man, even with all the love in my heart for Nintendo and even though that there might be a lot of new stuff/changes/additions to SM3DW, they just disappointed me so badly.
I've imagined a fully fledged 3D open world Mario in gorgeous HD graphics. Just think of Peaches castle with all that HD stuff (bump maps, a lot of details, rich lightning etc.) or just Metal Mario in HD glory. What they are delivering (I've watched a 12min. gameplay video from E3) is just a super-sized 3D Land upscaled to HD. Compare it to MK8, even that looks a lot more like HD.

The same for DKC:TF. Didn't anybode notice that the game *exactly* looks like on the Wii, except for the fur and HD rez? meh textures, meh details, just everything meh. On the Wii it was top-notch, on the U it's just a joke. The fur was in similar quality already in Starfox Adventures on the GameCube! WTF?! Where is the HD capability? The Wii U in general is just a huge disappointment for me even though I love Nintendo since the NES days... even after E3, or just because of E3 and PS4/XB1, they just missed it totally to stand against the other ones. In terms of visuals, but also in terms of innovation. Everyone who's saying about Sony/MS that they're full of dudebro shooters and soccer games might be right, but so is Nintendo with it's next iteration of NSMB, Zelda and 3D Mario. All on a very high quality level, but also with the same lack of true innovation.

You seem confused. HD is a resolution, not a graphical standard.

 

[Neo Child]

constantly amazes me how after being shown 5 levels - which will probably make up 5% of the entire game

that the game and company is lauded for losing its creativity, something something 'safe' etc.

mario games like this are pure joy.

its literally impossible to play a mario platformer, especially with 2+ players and not have a good time

 

[Anteo]

So why people believe they will do another Open world mario? I get being disapointed for not getting Galaxy 3 but not that.

 

[Volotaire]

So why people believe they will do another Open world mario? I get being disapointed for not getting Galaxy 3 but not that.

No one was expecting Galaxy 3.

People were expecting a new kind of Mario.

Kazoumi said they were not going to be doing Galaxy 3

 

[StreetsAhead]

No one was expecting Galaxy 3.

People were expecting a new kind of Mario.

Kazoumi said they were not going to be doing Galaxy 3

People got a new kind of Mario, just not one that some wanted.

Iterative is not a dirty word.

 

[DDayton]

I like Super Mario 3D Land.

This looks like a followup to the gameplay of SM3DL, with more stuff.

I'm puzzled at the disappointment.

(Then again, as much as I like SM64, I always saw SM64 as a weird, side game... with the 3D serious getting MUCH closer to "real" Super Mario gaming with the Galaxy titles, and finally REACHING real Super Mario-level gaming with 3D Land.)