Super Mario 3D Land

Super Mario 3D Land is the first fully 3D original Mario for a handheld and the marquee holiday release for the somewhat troubled 3DS system, which might be too much pressure for other franchises. But with Mario's decades of massive success on both consoles and portables, he’s more than ready. We just got another chance to play the much desired title before its retail launch on November 13, and while our time was brief, what we saw only made the release date seem more frustratingly far away... » Read Full Super Mario 3D Land preview

We've already conquered World 1 and seen some Super Mario 3D Land's later levels at E3, but we couldn't pass up a recent chance to play six new levels from Worlds 2 and 3 to see more of what's easily our most anticipated upcoming 3DS game. As we see more and more of 3D Land, it's really starting to feel like a "greatest hits" of the Mario franchise... » Read Full Super Mario 3D Land preview

The largest transformation in Mario’s history came with the shift from 2D to 3D in Super Mario 64. He handled the transition well, but the platforming plumber was never the same. From that point on, Mario’s console releases started to take on a form of their own, with new mechanics and nuances exclusive to the 3D iterations. With Super Mario 3D Land, it seems like Nintendo is trying to make a 3D Mario game that feels more akin to the earlier 2D games in the series, bringing back what was lost when Mario leapt out of the second dimension. We recently had the opportunity to clear World 1, and were surprised by how “classic” Mario’s newest adventure feels... » Read Full Super Mario 3D Land preview

After all the hustle and bustle of Nintendo’s E3 press conference, the one thing I wanted play more than its new-fangled iPad-esque controller was Super Mario 3D. A new Mario platformer is always something to be excited about, but in this case, Mario 3D is notable for three reasons: one, it’s from the Super Mario Galaxy team, so we can already assume a level of brilliance; two, it’s Mario’s big 3DS debut and the first time Mario’s been portrayed in actual 3D; and finally, it marks the return of the Tanooki suit, one of Mario 3’s most beloved power-ups (though we’re still fond of Kuribo’s Shoe)... » Read Full Super Mario 3D Land preview