Super Mario 3D Land

Super Mario 3D Land is a game that is unique from other Mario games as it combines elements from both classic 2D side-scrolling Mario games and modern free-roaming 3D Mario games. The game was released to commercial and critical acclaim, and has sold over 5 million copies worldwide as of January 2012, making it the current best-selling game for the 3DS and the fastest-selling Mario handheld game in history.

Mario in World 1-1

Gameplay 

Super Mario 3D Land is a platform game. As such, Super Mario 3D Land combines the elements of traditional side- scrolling Mario titles, such as linear-based levels, with those of the modern open world Mario titles, such as moving Mario in three dimensions and performing a variety of actions.

Similar to the classic side-scrolling Mario games, the objective of each level is to reach and grab the "Goal Pole" located at the end of the course before the time limit expires. Super Mario 3D Land utilizes a similar health system to those games, in which Mario shrinks upon taking damage from enemies or hazards, and damage while as "Small Mario" results in losing a life.

Each course contains three hidden Star Medals that are required to unlock certain levels.The map screen also contains Toad Houses where players can gain additional items, and Mystery Boxes where more Star Medals can be earned. After clearing the game once, a set of "Special" levels are unlocked, some of which contain additional challenges, such as a 30-second time limit (which can be refilled by collecting clocks) or Cosmic Mario clones (the latter similar to Super Mario Galaxy). Clearing a certain level in these worlds unlocks Luigi as a playable character, who has slightly different handling to Mario.

Similar to the "Super Guide" feature in recent Mario titles, certain items can be made available if the player struggles on a certain level. The Invincibility Leaf, which appears after the player dies five times in a level, gives Mario invincibility and Tanooki Suit abilities; while the P-Wing, which appears after the player dies ten times in a level, sends the player right to the end of the level, near the Goal Pole.

Plot

After rescuing Luigi (who is rescued after Mario beats Special 1 Castle,) the two brothers continue on their quest to completing the Special worlds. After they have completed the Special 8-Castle level, a new letter falls to the ground far away in an open plain. The three Toads (in their Tanooki suits) that helped Mario earlier on investigate the letter and discover that Bowser has kidnapped Peach once again, thus starting Mario's quest over again. When Mario rescues Peach again, another photo is found with Peach in a Tanooki suit herself.An ordinary-looking tree that stands on Princess Peach's castle grounds is stripped of all its leaves during a thunderstorm. The leaves, which turn out to be Super Leaves, are blown across the Mushroom Kingdom, bestowing Tanooki Tails on all living things they touch. When Mario and the Toads go to inspect the tree the next day, they discover a letter from Bowser, learning that he has kidnapped Princess Peach. Mario sets off in pursuit to locate and rescue the princess. After rescuing her, the Toads and Mario return to the Mushroom Kingdom with Tanooki suits while Mario carries the princess. Mario's actions lead to the restoration of the Tanooki Tree. However, a photo falls to the ground revealing Luigi behind bars with a Koopa Troopa and a newly-rendered Boo, beginning Mario's quest into the eight Special Worlds.

Super Mario 3D Land screenshots shown at GDC 2011.

In November 2010, Shigeru Miyamoto announced that both 2D and 3D Mario games were in the works for the Nintendo 3DS. He also described this particular game as "completely original" and a cross between Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 64 and revealed that the game will utilize the 3DS gyroscope The game is being developed by Nintendo EAD Tokyo, which had developed Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel.

The game was showcased at Nintendo's press conference at E3 2011, where a 2011 release date was confirmed, along with the appearance of the Tanooki Suit, a power-up originally from Super Mario Bros. 3 The power-up allows Mario to float down gently, but unlike in Super Mario Bros. 3, he can no longer fly.