The invincibility leaf appears after you've failed five times on a stage and grants Mario the white tanooki suit. However, these items pale in comparison to the game's two special assistance items: the invincibility leaf and the p-wing. Wii is also available for when Mario needs a vertical boost. The propeller box from New Super Mario Bros. Other items include a new boomerang suit that, as you may have guessed, lets Mario throw boomerangs to dispose of enemies at a distance or collect hard-to-reach items. Several enemies also sport puffy, brown tails, though this hardly changes their attack patterns. It lets Mario slow his midair descent by wagging his little raccoon tail. This item quickly makes up for lost time by being nearly everywhere in the game. The fan-favorite tanooki suit also makes its triumphant transition from the 2D era.
The game even encourages speedy runthroughs by recording your best time in each one and displaying it against the other player accounts on your cart.Ī special variant of the tanooki suit lets Mario transform into a statue for a brief time. In many ways the stages are more reminiscent of the classic, 2D Mario games and do an excellent job of translating their platforming challenges into a 3D environment. This shifts your focus from exploration to speed and execution. Stages are designed around a specific linear pathway, unlike the more free-form 3D stages of Super Mario Galaxy 2. This means reaching the flagpole won't take you long throughout the first half of Super Mario 3D Land.
No matter where you are in the game, playing it is a delight, thanks to the tight, simple controls afforded by the 3DS’s circle pad. The mystery boxes can reward Mario with additional items-or even star coins-if you can complete the objective before time runs out. There are also some familiar special stages, like item-granting mushroom houses and unique mystery boxes. Both of these locations have their own mini-boss encounters waiting at the end: either a battle-on-the-bridge showdown with Bowser or a brawl with some wannabe Koopalings.
The boss stages almost always have this requirement and take you through the lava-filled castles and high-flying airships of Mario's past. Some of these are locked initially, requiring you to collect star coins-the game’s lone collectable-to access them. These include the five regular stages, a boss stage, and a few special stages. Each is loaded with inventive stages that keep you excited to see what lies beyond. Your journey takes you through eight themed worlds ranging from deep seas to dusty deserts. Princess Peach has been captured yet again by Bowser, and Mario is the only one who can save her. In classic Mario fashion, Super Mario 3D Land starts with a kidnapping. Now Playing: Video Review - Super Mario 3D Land By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's