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1-1 in Super Mario 3D Land is a work of art

I already said it in the 3D Land OT, 1-1 is one the best introductory platforming levels designed ever, trailing only to the first Mario Bros level. The level design is absolutely fantastic and does an amazing job in taking you through the basics of the game showcasing the new features of the game coupled with a fantastic and colorful art direction.
 
PumpkinPie said:
6-1 is one of my favourite Mario levels ever, it's just the epitome of what Mario should be for me: Great music, plenty of colours.
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That's the tropical level with the boardwalks and the Cheep Cheeps flying toward the screen, right? Yeah, that level was great fun as well. I think in the special worlds there was a variant with some tricky Boomerang Bros.
 
I just replayed through 3D Land this weekend, and I agree, particularly on 5-1. I wish there were a few more of these playgroundish levels in the game as they're the most interesting to me. Those and the propeller block levels were generally the ones that wowed me the most
 
Another one of my favorite levels is 5-2, the Zelda-inspired dungeon with the top-down view, the Spinies set up like Blade Traps, and even the optional room where you can light the torches to hear the classic Zelda chime. And if you hop up on the block in the very first room, and jump as high as you can with 3D dialed all the way up, Mario REALLY pops off the screen. It's amazing.
 
I was just thinking exactly the same thing, OP.

I recently picked up the 3DS LL and NSMB2, and it really wasn't very satisfying.
After picking up 3D Land and playing the first level I realised I had found what I was looking for.
 
Mario 3D Land in general is a work of art. It's a shame EAD Tokyo doesn't have the manpower to make every Nintendo game. I'd love to see what they would do with Zelda, but I can't wait to see their Mario for the Wii U.
 
Laid-back platforming at its finest.
 
Just dropping by to add to the love! This 1-1 is definitely one of my favourite Mario levels.

For all the bitching regarding the games difficulty some of the secret levels certainly managed to challenge me whilst my Mum, playing her first ever 3D Mario, managed to 5-star her file.
I see this as being the epitome of Nintendo's 'games for everybody' philosophy, it certainly managed to strike a great balance between both ends of the spectrum (contrast the very hard final secret level with the invincibility suit mechanic) and delivered something truly accessible for all players.

If this game had included the triple jump in place of the useless roll and had the Koopalings in place of the constantly reused two bosses this might be the perfect 3D Mario game.
 
I wish more levels in this game were as layered as this one and not always straight up obstacle courses. That's one of the reasons I prefer the more open levels in this game like 3-1 and 4-1, they encourage exploration too.

1-1 though really is great, I remember played it over and over again at Best Buy before the game came out.

Jo Shishido's Cheeks said:
If this game had included the triple jump in place of the useless roll and had the Koopalings in place of the constantly reused two bosses this might be the perfect 3D Mario game.
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Agree with the Kooplings, but the triple jump might have made some parts easier than they should be. The roll I actually did find useful though.
 
I have been aiming for a 5 star file since getting my XL and I am hooked on the game, 3 more Special worlds to go and I would have 100% my first game in a long time and it must be something speacial to get me to play it that much. 1-1 is glorious and a true lesson in level design for any game dev.

Another thing I love about this game is that it isn't tied into a theme per world, it really stops the game from becoming boring allowing it to feel consistently fresh. I don't know how many times in a Mario game I got so utterly bored playing through the desert worlds.
 
EktorPR said:
Hey, I can relate! I think it's a fantastic introduction to the game's mechanics and level progression/pace. Just the level design alone BEGS you to explore, and explore one does. Love that there are others who share such love for this stage. :D
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I agree, I would like to unlock a timer-disabled option and run around all levels without a timer rushing me.
 
Fully agreed. The whole game is a friggin' joy to play through. Very charming and it combines the best aspects of both 2D and 3D Mario into something incredibly unique. Stuff like W7-4 (the clock tower) and S1-1 (W2-1 set in the evening), I could just replay endlessly.
 
The game had its moments, but 1-1 was so-so like the rest of it. Never really did it for me!
 
Nintendo, king of level design.

Always sad to see so many people not even noticing it. Everything is so expertly thought through, the placing of enemies and items etc. Most of it is just pitch perfect and I always get a kick out of games that nail level-design.
 
had the best final level ever that game. damn was that hard to beat.
 
I thought 3D Land was boring up until World 7. Why the
Special World
isn't the game from the beginning is laughable.
 
Neiteio said:
Another one of my favorite levels is 5-2, the Zelda-inspired dungeon with the top-down view, the Spinies set up like Blade Traps, and even the optional room where you can light the torches to hear the classic Zelda chime. And if you hop up on the block in the very first room, and jump as high as you can with 3D dialed all the way up, Mario REALLY pops off the screen. It's amazing.
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Yes! Several times playing this game I thought how cool would it be if they made a "Zelda 3D land"in the same vein ..Make the Overworld like these mario 3D land levels with the fixed camera system, and use the top down view for the dungeons. Keep it simple and fun to explore, no train gimmick shit, not rpgish like Oot , pure action-adventure, just go save the the princess and have a blast on the way.
 
I'll admit I was pretty down on the game,
I mean no orchestra, the game try to pass off as a 2D sidescroller but IN 3D!!!
And all that.
I went back and tried to finish my save and well it's starting to grow on me.
BTW I prefer the vastly superior Special-1 to 1-1.
I don't even mind the music, I was getting a bit bored of the galactic theme anyway >.>
 
1-1 was excellent, indeed. I wish most of the following levels would have as many secrets as this one. Reminded me of SMB3 which is a big plus.

Jo Shishido's Cheeks said:
If this game had included the triple jump in place of the useless roll and had the Koopalings in place of the constantly reused two bosses this might be the perfect 3D Mario game.
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Enough of the Koopalings. It's a bit refreshing to see different bosses (even if they were from a previous game). And the roll is mandatory for speedrunning (and while not really needed in normal play, a joy to use). Wouldn't have minded the triple-jump though.
 
Mutagenic said:
I had to look it up on YouTube to remember. It doesn't do much for me, no.
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I looked up 1-1 on YouTube, and nobody does it justice -- they just trailblaze straight to the end, skipping half the level and 90 percent of what's there to see. To really appreciate 1-1, boot up your copy of the game and explore the level thoroughly -- climb every tree, go all the way left and all the way right, smash every crate and go through any tunnels you find, hop up and over any colored blocks, etc. Lots to see and do. :)
 
1-1 is fine but I don't think it's fantastic. Super Mario 3D Land is phenomenal though and the primary reason to own a 3DS.
 
1-1 is a great introductary level. i whole heartedly agree. 3D Land is my favourite Mario game personally. Between the level size, the difficulty curve (sorry guys, I am not that good at Mario games), the creativity, the gameyness, and all that... it feels almost tailored to fit me.

evilromero said:
I thought it was rather pedestrian when compared with Mario 64 or Sunshine's opening level.
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which ones though? Mario 64's opening level is basically coming out the warp pipe and going into the castle, no enemies, no nothing. Sunshine is even worse with a video cutscene, a daft bit on the docks, more cutscenes and daft bits in Delphino plaza, before you can finally get to the first level proper.

3D Land throws you right into a great level after the shortest of cutscenes. it definately wins.
 
I wonder if I missed a lot of secrets, if I didn't watch the video showing a free fall to a secret pipe in that early cliff level where you keep going down, probably would have never find it.
 
i got a 25 hour flight coming up and I'm looking forward to playing this game! I've had it since launch and only finished the 1st world!
 
Playing through the game for the first time, and it really is great. Nothing too impressive or surprising, but a masterful achievement in game design.

Oh, and looking at some levels I kept thinking "this engine will be perfect for Zelda 3DS."
 
Currygan said:
SM3DL is basically Galaxy in a pocket. So delicious
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Spanish Wrath said:
IMO, Super Mario 3D Land is the best handled Mario game ever made.
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DoctorWho said:
1-1 is fine but I don't think it's fantastic. Super Mario 3D Land is phenomenal though and the primary reason to own a 3DS.
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catfish said:
had the best final level ever that game. damn was that hard to beat.
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Fabrik said:
Yeah Mario 3D Land is magic in a cart. NSMB2 on the other hand...
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bridegur said:
Mario 3D Land in general is a work of art. It's a shame EAD Tokyo doesn't have the manpower to make every Nintendo game. I'd love to see what they would do with Zelda, but I can't wait to see their Mario for the Wii U.
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Mario 3D Land is like someone in your pocket constantly giving you handjobs.

1up.
 
During those mushroom levels when the camera is low down like Galaxy it looks magnificent, and I wish the camera was like that for the whole game.
 
Thank you OP. There has been a disturbing trend of people putting down earlier levels of platformers recently. "The game doesn't get good until world_". "Yah those first levels are meh wait until World__". What happened to the love for the early levels that don't demand platforming prowess but just hint to them? Good thing there are others out there who value other aspects of a platformers design space.

Just beat the last last level in 3d Land last night. Spent probably a total of 6 hours on this one level alone. Loved most of my time there too.
 
I think 3D Land has the right balance of exploration and linearity. It falls second on my list of favorite 3D Mario games, followed by Galaxy 2, Sunshine, Galaxy 1. My number one which has yet to be surpassed is: Super Mario 64. I would looove a true sequel to Super Mario 64, although the remake with extra stars and characters was nice, but I would've preferred an overhaul on the graphics for the better and more new areas... or a Super Mario 64-2, lol. I hope Nintendo creates a 3D Land 2, I'd be really happy. And I also hope that one day we get a Mario game with as much exploration as Super Mario 64... LOVE that game!
 
Wish I could remember the level numbers, but I'd like to make a shout-out to to the castle dungeon levels with the spiked pillars swinging on chains, and the levels where you run across rotating rectangular blocks high up in the sky. Oh, and the levels made of mattresses with the falling logs from SMB3 and bubbles blowing about in the background are nifty, too. I usually replay those along with 1-1, 5-1 and 5-2 when I pick up the game.
 
I don't own the game, but watched a playthrough video of the first level and I must agree that the level design in 1-1 is really great.
 
Once you've beaten 1-1 about 30 times to get double Tanooki leaves it starts to lose it's greatness. But overall I really love 3D Land.
 
Hadn't enjoyed a Mario game so much since 64/Sunshine. 3D Land is fantastic and I selfishly wish we could get a sequel instead of NSMB2. Definitely a more enjoyable experience than the Galaxies, I think.
 
Doesn't EAD Tokyo have two teams? One is surely working on a WiiU game, but maybe we'll get a 3D Land sequel from the other...
 
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