6: Super Mario 3D Land
Super Mario 3D Land on the 3DS came along at a time when the 3DS desperately needed a hit and it didn’t disappoint. It’s actually difficult to think of the 3DS as a failure of any kind now, but when it first launched with it’s higher than usual for a hand held price and lack of must have software Nintendo did have it’s backs against the ropes.
Fortunately Sony who also launched their PS Vita at a similar time did enough bungling of their system themselves that it gave Nintendo time to regroup and put out the double whammy of Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 which gave the system a massive shot in the arm.
What made Super Mario 3D Land so good is how well designed it was around the platform it appeared on. Unlike when they released Super Mario 64 DS on a system that didn’t have the analogue stick the game was designed for, Nintendo really took care to make an experience that worked for the 3DS.
They did this by creating a game that featured shorter more linier levels that perfectly balanced 3D levels that had secrets to explore for with the more traditional 2D Mario goals of reaching an end goal to complete a level. This was perfect for portable gaming sessions and a return to the series’ roots was a welcome change of approach for this game.
Additionally, the game also included puzzles which took advantage of the 3D display. This was incredibly rare on the 3DS as Nintendo made it clear that even though they added a 3D screen to the device, that all games should be able to be played with the 3D mode switched off. But hey if anyone can bend Nintendo’s rules here it’s them themselves right?
