How Mario Saved the 3DS

When the 3DS launch lineup was first announced, many questioned Nintendo's decision to focus on third party offerings. There was no Mario or Zelda game in sight - the closest early adopters had to look forward to was the Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake that was set to launch a full three months after the system. This lack of sure-win software, paired with the system's initially lofty price tag, no doubt accounted for the poor sales the 3DS suffered during its infancy.

But that was then, and this is now. Now a 3DS goes for only 20 bucks more than the original DS was when it first launched more than seven years ago. Now the 3DS' first eight month sales have already surpassed the first year numbers of the DS, even without the sales boost of the holiday season - rising a full 325 percent since the first week of November. Now the release of Super Mario 3D Land, the best portable Mario game to date (and the fastest selling), makes the system a must-own for all serious gamers.

Now it's an exciting time to be a 3DS owner, with all of those filler titles finally complemented by some real, hardcore gems, and only more on the way in the next few months. And this turn around all comes at the hands of a pudgy, Italian plumber - the same one that's defined the company since Super Mario Bros. for the NES helped popularize the fledgling medium. But for those who still hold tight to their initial skepticism, read on for the handful of ways Super Mario 3D Land made the 3DS a system well worth owning.

Up until Super Mario 3D Land, 3D in gaming had essentially only been used as a visual enhancement, an afterthought that had no real effect on gameplay. It added a cool but generally unnecessary depth to the visuals, but developers had failed to prove it could be harnessed to truly affect the way you experience a game.

Then came Mario, and suddenly the oft-hypothesized potential of the 3DS was no longer a question. It was a real, tangible experience in the palm of gamer's hands, an addictive adventure brought to life and only made possible care of the 3D visuals.


The effect was used to inform movement, giving players a greater, more accurate sense of where Mario was in relation to the rest of the world. This allowed for more complex and inventive platforming puzzles, calling upon players to sink into the 3D world and execute their moves flawlessly to nab all the Star Medals and take their plumber from World 1-1 to the final, epic encounter.

Paired with the masterful and creative use of camera angles, the 3D effect provided fresh vantage points, thrilling jumps, daring descents and some surprising applications - all culminating in the ultimate portable Mario, setting a standard that all future uses of 3D in video games will be compared to.

Super Mario 3D Land did more than just legitimize 3D - it made full use of the system's other features as well. Binoculars were spread throughout the various levels, and if you found a pair you could look through it using the portable's gyroscope controls. Moving the system around, you could take a look at the challenges ahead, or just take a moment to appreciate the colorful environment. You could even zoom-in on captive Toads, who sometimes had a Star Medal, Power-Up or 1-Up mushroom awaiting players who did so. Gyro was also used for aiming canons that Mario could jump into, lending more accuracy and interactivity to the practice.

StreetPass was also incorporated in a surprisingly engaging way. You could push yourself to beat the best times of friends and strangers you passed on the street, a fun way to heighten the experience of speed runs. StreetPassing also unlocks Mystery Boxes, timed challenge areas where you must defeat all of the enemies in the room to nab the Star Medal and coins before the timer runs out. The more you StreetPass, the more interesting the rooms get - propelling tons of people to once again keep their system in the ole back pocket, lest they miss a StreetPassing opportunity.

The Circle Pad also shined with Mario 3D Land, allowing players to smoothly, easily and precisely control the plumber's every movement. Even the graphics impressed, with bright, gorgeous environments, perfect character models and smooth animations all making for an immersive, touchable world that was a joy to romp through. Though not highly textured, every aspect of the levels expertly captured the Mario universe, showing that the 3DS is capable of beautiful graphics without sacrificing the fantastic nature of their first party franchises.

A huge reason that Super Mario 3D Land has already done amazing things for 3DS sales is that it's a game everyone can enjoy. It's rare that a title has simple enough controls that children and casual gamers can get into it, but also deep enough gameplay so as to keep the attention of hardcore gaming enthusiasts. But that's just what Super Mario 3D Land offers, bridging the gap between the accessibility of the 2D Mario titles and the complexity of the 3D ones.

Much like the original Super Mario Bros., Mario 3D Land effortlessly achieves this balance, making it a game that anyone, no matter who they are or what their gaming experience is, can pick up and immediately enjoy. Mario 3D Land also masterfully found a way to make many of the levels fairly easy should you choose to just run through it, but more challenging if you choose to explore, take chances and go for all the hidden secrets and more than 300 collectible Star Medals.


The inclusion of eight Special Worlds, containing levels that are often far more difficult and complex than those in the first eight, provided even more to enjoy for gamers looking for a deeper, more challenging experience. Even the earlier levels, while simpler, are still memorable and delightful enough to bring a smile to even the most jaded gamer's face. All of this made for a title that has something for everybody, one that allows you to get as much out of it as you choose, and thusly leaves nobody out of the Mario fun.

Super Mario 3D Land marks another important step for the 3DS - it's the first fully original, blockbuster title to join the system's software library. Ocarina of Time 3D and Star Fox 64 3D were incredible games - ones well worth the time and money of any 3DS owner - but they were also remakes. While they were certainly updated enough to warrant their re-release, they didn't offer a brand new experience for the world to enjoy.

That's where Super Mario 3D Land came in. It's the first 3DS exclusive title that really sells the system as its own, standalone platform. It's further noteworthy as the first entry in the franchise to merge the worlds of 2D and 3D Mario into a fresh, unique experience.

Mario 3D Land is also the first full-fledged 3DS title developed by Nintendo. PilotWings Resort and Steel Diver each had their charms, but they were little more than placeholders until Mario arrived. Nintendogs plus Cats was cute (and trust me, I spent hours walking my pooch and taking 3D pictures of my kitty in various hats), but it was still just Nintendogs… plus cats. Mario 3D Land is the first title the company internally developed to truly stand the test of time, and is a worthy edition to the company's rich legacy.

And if you want to play this incredible, new Mario adventure, you can only do so on the 3DS. Talk about a system seller.

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For these reasons and more, Super Mario 3D Land is the perfect example of what Nintendo's newest system is truly capable of. It's the killer app we've all been waiting for, showing off the 3DS' true potential and finally making a compelling case for dropping the money. It set the system apart from its hugely successful predecessor, and flexed its muscles as a unique platform that offers experiences you can't find anywhere else.

And that's how a plumber saved the 3DS, and why I'm more invested in and excited about my shiny, new portable than ever. Here's to the future of the little handheld that could. If Super Mario 3D Land is any indication, it's a bright one indeed.

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