[IceDoesntHelp]

What Super Mario 3D Land can learn from Modern Warfare 3.

The odds of that happening are 99-1.

[RyougaSaotome]

I feel like this has been understated, but SM3DL is REALLY pretty. Because of the simple visual style, the graphics are super clean. Kind of like how the Galaxy games looked gorgeous despite not being filled with graphical details.

The 3D also works exceptionally well, and I find myself not wanting to play with it off. In some ways it's actually easier to play with it on, due to the overhead sequences. I'm not a big fan of 3D at all but Nintendo clearly thought this one through.

And as noted earlier by others, the lack of text is really refreshing. The game doesn't hold your hand with tutorials.

[Cheesemeister]

I liked the enemies dancing. That was one of my favorite parts of NSMB. :(

No, it lead to nothing but waiting around for the "wah-wahs" and thus breaking any sort of flow. It also resulted in a lack of music variety, which is remedied and well-balanced in SM3DL.

Me too! Complainers need to learn to listen to the music and an-ti-ci-pate.

I'd rather be pulling off some mind-bending acrobatics than stopping to wait for yet another crescendo.

Me too! I didn't like the game, but the first time I noticed that the enemies and flowers and everything dances to the music... so charming! I have fallen in love with Nintendo because of these cute details.

I know Kondo was all proud of the feature and it sounds like a good idea on paper, but it was simply an inherently broken annoyance.

I really like the fact that the game has almost ZERO text. It was one of the most annoying thing ever in NSMB. Also, I was very surprised to be thrown right into the action without any tutorial whatsoever. Having played Galaxy you would at least think there are some visual clues on screen that teaches you how to play the game, but no! The only visual clue so far is press L to go into a pipe. Really like how clean the game is.

Yes, thankfully this game lets players just jump right in without lecturing them with endless tutorials or a shallow story. I don't want to scroll through the same text between every level. It has that feeling of "conveyance" missing in so many modern games.

[Thoraxes]

I feel like this has been understated, but SM3DL is REALLY pretty. Because of the simple visual style, the graphics are super clean. Kind of like how the Galaxy games looked gorgeous despite not being filled with graphical details. The 3D also works exceptionally well, and I find myself not wanting to play with it off. In some ways it's actually easier to play with it on, due to the overhead sequences. I'm not a big fan of 3D at all but Nintendo clearly thought this one through. And as noted earlier by others, the lack of text is really refreshing. The game doesn't hold your hand with tutorials.

I would imagine the game looks way better running on the actual system then some video we got too.

[RyougaSaotome]

I would imagine the game looks way better running on the actual system then some video we got too.

This. Screenshots and video haven't done a great job of representing the game on a visual level.

Probably the best overall looker of the current gen of 3DS games.

[Freezie KO]

Man I love IGN...

Silly headlines, but I'm still buying both. Although SM3DL is still my most anticipated for the year.

[Gravijah]

wait people waited for enemies to stop moving in nsmbw? just run past those fools, or jump on them or something.

[dr3upmushroom]

I would imagine the game looks way better running on the actual system then some video we got too.

I thought it looked weirdly blurry on the video preview thing you can download from the eShop. I'm not sure how indicative that is of the final game, but I was sort of disappointed. It wasn't bad enough to make look bad really, but compared to other games and even other preview videos like Mario Kart, it definitely had a blurry, low-res look to it.

[Throavium]

Man I love IGN...

ohmygodwhatthefuckaretheytalkingabout

[Celine]

The 3D also works exceptionally well, and I find myself not wanting to play with it off. In some ways it's actually easier to play with it on, due to the overhead sequences. I'm not a big fan of 3D at all but Nintendo clearly thought this one through.

Is the ghosting absent in the "normal view" as Iwata Asks implied?

[@MUWANdo]

I thought it looked weirdly blurry on the video preview thing you can download from the eShop. I'm not sure how indicative that is of the final game, but I was sort of disappointed. It wasn't bad enough to make look bad really, but compared to other games and even other preview videos like Mario Kart, it definitely had a blurry, low-res look to it.

This is a chronic issue with pre-release 3DS media - screenshots, videos, you name it, it's all unflattering and rarely indicative of how the game actually looks, even the games that are genuinely ugly. In the case of videos it's usually due to them running at a lower framerate than the source material, or by them being poorly-encoded videos in general, but sometimes I really have no idea.

[Chet Rippo]

wait people waited for enemies to stop moving in nsmbw? just run past those fools, or jump on them or something.

Wait, what?

[panda21]

I have the theme song stuck in my head.

damn this one is a banger

[SmokyDave]

I feel like this has been understated, but SM3DL is REALLY pretty. Because of the simple visual style, the graphics are super clean. Kind of like how the Galaxy games looked gorgeous despite not being filled with graphical details. The 3D also works exceptionally well, and I find myself not wanting to play with it off. In some ways it's actually easier to play with it on, due to the overhead sequences. I'm not a big fan of 3D at all but Nintendo clearly thought this one through. And as noted earlier by others, the lack of text is really refreshing. The game doesn't hold your hand with tutorials.

Aaah, the wait for the 18th is killing me!

I love the 3D on the 3DS so it's great to hear that it's put to good use.

[BowieZ]

I have the theme song stuck in my head. damn this one is a banger

haha i actually notated that version from scratch from a trailer. that's not the ACTUAL theme recording lolol. those synths came from my macbook pro :P

[Andrex]

Added Cheese, enishi, Ryouga, and mutsu's impressions to the OP. Keep em coming!

haha i actually notated that version from scratch from a trailer. that's not the ACTUAL theme recording lolol. those synths came from my macbook pro :P

I figured. Love the tune though.

[panda21]

haha i actually notated that version from scratch from a trailer. that's not the ACTUAL theme recording lolol. those synths came from my macbook pro :P

wow thats pretty impressive. is there a long version of the actual music?

[BowieZ]

wow thats pretty impressive. is there a long version of the actual music?

I can't find it anywhere (that without sound fx, I presume you mean); I'm checking a couple other sites though.

In meantime, this is a higher quality version from my channel which that person ripped lol:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYDV3KP-fAw

[Diomedeskun]

Just finished the game and started on the special levels. Only played 1-1 and the castle, where I got Luigi. Classic Tanooki!!!! Holy Crap!!!! Absolutely brilliant. The controls are a little difficult with the stick occasionally, particularly for the Bowser fight at the end when my thumbstick gets sweaty but so great! This is exactly what I wanted the game to be. Only way it can get better is if there are more awesome references to come like the Yoshi's Cookie and Donkey Kong shoutouts and Super mario RPG looking cloud levels and new power ups.



Totally perfect that yesterday was a holiday in Japan and I could play it so much and that I had a half day today. Gotta put it down for now. Too much awesome.

[Always-honest]

Just finished the game and started on

Wat?

[Diomedeskun]

Wat?

Sorry, always set up spoiler tags and post with no spoilers then edit afterwards after several times where I misspelled the tags.

[panda21]

I can't find it anywhere (that without sound fx, I presume you mean); I'm checking a couple other sites though. In meantime, this is a higher quality version from my channel which that person ripped lol: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYDV3KP-fAw

sound fx is fine, i've not been following any media for it so I dont know which trailer its from, I checked a few trailers and they were different music

[thecouncil]

NEW "Iwata Asks..." about Super Mario 3D Land

can someone tell me what song is playing at the end of the video titled "Bullet Bill, Thwomp, and Boo, too!" in the "Give Him a Tail! Give Him a Tail!" section? Its during the part with all the boos.

I know it's a tune from another Mario game but i just can't place it.

[Andrex]

NEW "Iwata Asks..." about Super Mario 3D Land can someone tell me what song is playing at the end of the video titled "Bullet Bill, Thwomp, and Boo, too!" in the "Give Him a Tail! Give Him a Tail!" section? Its during the part with all the boos. I know it's a tune from another Mario game but i just can't place it.

They're all versions of songs in SMG. That one is Ghostly Galaxy.

[thecouncil]

They're all versions of songs in SMG. That one is Ghostly Galaxy.

bingo. thank you.

[zigg]

...it lead to nothing but waiting around for the "wah-wahs" and thus breaking any sort of flow... I'd rather be pulling off some mind-bending acrobatics than stopping to wait for yet another crescendo.

It's not like they suddenly became screen-filling impassible walls of flame on certain beats. They just moved a little differently. I don't understand why you felt you needed to stop and wait for them.

[Cheesemeister]

It's not like they suddenly became screen-filling impassible walls of flame on certain beats. They just moved a little differently. I don't understand why you felt you needed to stop and wait for them.

In some cases, not as a rule. It of course depended on Mario's position in relation to the enemies. It was rather annoying, though.

[Mik2121]

I'm right now on World 6 (Special) and this keeps getting better. But I guess after World 8 then it will truly be the end. Wonder if there's something else yet to unlock.. though I guess nope..

[marc^o^]

I'm right now on World 6 (Special) and this keeps getting better. But I guess after World 8 then it will truly be the end. Wonder if there's something else yet to unlock.. though I guess nope..

Do you confirm there is a time attack mode for street pass?

[Sinthetic]

Get your best time attack runs nailed cause in 2 weeks I'm gonna leave you all for dust.

[Andrex]

Impressions now have parts bolded for skim reading. Tried to be Fair and Balanced™ with what I highlighted.

[Cheesemeister]

Impressions now have parts bolded for skim reading. Tried to be Fair and Balanced™ with what I highlighted.

Right on. Would it be too much trouble to put them in quote boxes or otherwise add attributions? Nevermind, saw the images.

[dark10x]

So...framerate anyone? 30 or 60 fps?

[Natiko]

Still no Amazon release date delivery on this. I'd rather not have to bother going out and getting it but at this rate..sigh.

[Mik2121]

Do you confirm there is a time attack mode for street pass?

I have yet to see any, but even if there is, it only has a small display that says "Time Record" (or something like that), then your Mii face and the time itself. The face and time keeps rotating showing other people's times, so I guess there you can see the people you've done street pass with.

However, I've done streetpass with 8 people that owns Mario already, and I have yet to see any. I will check again later see if they show up, but I kinda doubt it...

[Mik2121]

Get your best time attack runs nailed cause in 2 weeks I'm gonna leave you all for dust.

I tried the same level about 20 times to get a great time record. The level is one of the Special ones, but I made it in 47 seconds. I will edit this saying which world, and you better note it down and try to beat me whenever it releases :D

[Cheesemeister]

According to the electronic instruction manual -- the only paper manual included is a set of control diagrams -- StreetPass is used to exchange Mystery Boxes and receive items.

[marc^o^]

I thought I read about a time attack mode somewhere. That's a missed opportunity then, it would have been nice to increase replay value.

[Mik2121]

Which, btw, this is how it looks:



I cut the bottom screen because it contained a bunch of spoilers :P

[EatChildren]

So...framerate anyone? 30 or 60 fps?

Definitely not 60.

[345triangle]

i'm through world 4 and haven't found it remotely challenging so far (i say this as someone who thought NSMB wii was hard as hell and have never even finished super mario bros), but it's really brilliant. the way everything works together is just wonderfully thought-out, with cute touches that'll make you smile every ten seconds from nothing more than the ingenuity of it all.

[@MUWANdo]

I wonder what collecting all the Star Medals does.

Are there little star icons next to your save file or whatever, a la NSMB?

I thought I read about a time attack mode somewhere. That's a missed opportunity then, it would have been nice to increase replay value.

It was mentioned in the Iwata Asks. You don't unlock the ability to record your times until you beat the main game, which may be why he hasn't received anyone elses' times via StreetPass.

[Effect]

Still no Amazon release date delivery on this. I'd rather not have to bother going out and getting it but at this rate..sigh.

There won't be any option for it. Nintendo releases their games on Sundays. In order for release date delivery to work, and to factor in mail isn't delivered on Sundays, Amazon would need to ship games out at least that Friday or Saturday to arrive on that Monday. Why they don't do this I don't know. They'd just need to put up a short note explaining the issue. Seems to be an acceptable deal instead of having to wait for them to ship out Nintendo games that Monday and get it that Thursday to Saturday if you go for standard shipping.

This is why I went and preordered Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword from my local Best Buy. Still haven't decided if I'll do the same for Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7. Amazon with free shipping would be cheaper in the long run and I can wait for the games to arrive.

[Tadale]

Man I can't wait to play this. Would have loved to have a little more time between this and Zelda.

[Peru]

time attack mode is such a great, logical addition. best part of any platformer, whether it's a mode or not.

[Cheesemeister]

I wonder what collecting all the Star Medals does. Are there little star icons next to your save file or whatever, a la NSMB?

Certain levels require having a certain number of Star Medals to be unlocked. If you don't have enough, you can just go on to the next level.

Star icons are shown for each level and world. I'm not sure about whether they're shown next to the save file, but I wouldn't be surprised.

[Sgt.Pepper]

Definitely not 60.

Oh, that's a shame. I kinda expected to be at 60 since SMG 1/2 were.

[Mik2121]

i'm through world 4 and haven't found it remotely challenging so far (i say this as someone who thought NSMB wii was hard as hell and have never even finished super mario bros), but it's really brilliant. the way everything works together is just wonderfully thought-out, with cute touches that'll make you smile every ten seconds from nothing more than the ingenuity of it all.

Use those stages to rack up extra lives. You will need them further down the line.. :)

[Sinthetic]

I tried the same level about 20 times to get a great time record. The level is one of the Special ones, but I made it in 47 seconds. I will edit this saying which world, and you better note it down and try to beat me whenever it releases :D

I'm ready like Freddy!

[Marvie_3]

Shit. I didn't realize this was out so soon. Day 1