Mario takes a break from his New Super Mario Bros games and jumps back into the 3D world; and this time he's back in a familiar title to original Gameboy owners. That's right Mario makes his triumphant appearance on the 3DS with Super Mario 3D Land. Super Mario 3D Land is a combination of both 2D Mario gameplay with his modern home-console 3D world gameplay, or as game designer Shigeru Miyamoto says "a 3D Mario that plays as a 2D Mario game" (quote here). Playing Super Mario 3D Land is a fantastic experience especially for the elder Mario players who fondly remember his old 2D adventures. Super Mario 3D Land brings back many classic features from older Mario Bros games and integrates them into a way that makes them seem fresh and new so that all players can enjoy it.

Once again, the story in a Mario game is a simple one, in which it revolves around Mario, Princess Peach, and Bowser. One night, a special tree that lays nears Peach's Castle, called the "Tail Tree", was stripped of all its leaves (the Super Leaves also known as the Raccoon/Tanooki Leaves). The culprit was none other than Bowser, who gave the leaves to all his minions, granting them new abilities, and kidnapped Princess Peach while he was it. Now, with Mario finding a letter of Bowser's misdeeds, he sets off on his journey to rescue the Princess.

Super Mario 3D Land gameplay is similar to that of a home-console 3D Mario game, with many platforming aspects similar to old 2D Mario games. Mario's ability to dash, wall-jump, dash-jump, and crouch are all there, playing similar to that of Super Mario Galaxy or Super Mario 64. In addition, there are many old-school throwback features in the game like the Tanooki Suit, Flagpoles at the end of each level, Music Note Boxes, holding the crouch button to charge a high jump (SMB2), even the old style of swimming from Super Mario Bros. 3 is back!  (meaning you only sink unless you press the jump button).



All Mario levels are basic point A to point B levels, with each stage having a different theme, sometimes placing Mario in the sky, in the desert or even underwater. Super Mario 3D Land is filled with eight worlds, around five to six stages each, and all are crammed with unique puzzles, with some requiring the aid of power-ups. The classic Fire Flower makes another appearance, as well as the triumphant return of the Tanooki suit, although flying is not an option in this 3D-adventure. One new powerup that is brought to the table is the ability of the Boomerang [Bros]. Similar to the idea of Hammer Mario, Mario can take the power of a Boomerang Bro and get access to two boomerangs to reach items or coins that are not able to reached in normal circumstances.

A huge and integral element in Super Mario 3D Land, is the 3D integration for each stage. Not only is platforming in full 3D, where a straight path is not always what it seems, but 3D is required in some of the levels, to ensure victory over optical illusions that can't be seen without activating your 3DS' 3D. A level will indicate that the section has a 3D segment with a box before each level telling the player that 3D is required, making the 3DS 3D feature not feel like a gimmick, but more of a necessity.
Each World has a boss ranging from Bowser in a classic Super Mario Bros Bridge fight to the Air-ships and a fight with a Boom-Boom (the mid-boss in SMB3 castles). There are no mini-bosses in the game, but there are special bonuses on the level-selection map to help the player like Toad Houses or Mystery Boxes. Toad Houses provide Mario with powerups he can save for his journey (he can carry on extra powerup like in Super Mario World) and Mystery Boxes give Mario plenty of 1-UP's and sometimes Star Coins. Now, this is where the Streetpass comes into play for Super Mario 3D Land, because after one use of either a Toad House or Mystery Box causes it to disappear. With a Streetpass, you reactivate these areas in turn letting you use them again. If a Player is a 5-star player, you receive a greater bonus etc.

If you were worried about that the graphics of Super Mario 3D Land were not going to be better than Super Mario 64 then do not. The graphics in this game were fantastic, nearly looking like a port of Super Mario Galaxy, fit perfectly for the 3DS. The levels are vibrant, Mario, Peach, Bowser, all look fantastic making you wonder how far the graphics of the 3DS can actually go. Once again, music in this Mario game is catchy, but maybe that's because most of the tracks are redone classics, with a modern ring to it. You will hear the old Air-ship theme from SM3, the Bowser Castle/Area theme from Galaxy and Super Mario 64, and you will hear all new takes of the original Mario Bros song. My personal favorite song of the game was World Special 8 Over-world Theme (listen here)

The game overall itself in difficulty is a bit on the easy side, which in turn makes the game a quick experience, especially for any Mario vet. For those who have trouble, Nintendo allows you to obtain a Super-Leaf if you've died 5 times or more on the same level, therefore continuing Nintendo's everyone needs help self-thought process. However, the replay-value, of the game is phenomenal because after completion of the game the first time; you unlock eight special worlds, roughly countering the entire first playthrough, except with a difficulty jump. In addition, to unlock the final special level, which is quite a challenge, you need to re-beat the entire campaign as Luigi (who is an unlockable), get all the Star Coins in each level, as well as get a Gold Flag in each level, and then finally beat Bowser again, so in turn you will find yourself coming back to playing Super Mario 3D Land so you can get that 5-star ranking.



Overall: 9.5/10

Super Mario 3D Land blew past my expectations and we everything I ever wanted for a new Mario game. The game felt like a combined Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, and Super Mario Bros 3 with some Super Mario Bros homages to make a game that was fantastic from the second you started. The controls are great, the puzzles are fun, replaying the game was not a hassle at all, and to just see what they did with some of the level design was always something I thought could be done with a 3D Mario game. It felt like a successor almost like a Super Mario Bros 3 to Super Mario Bros 3D. When I first fought Tanooki Bowser in Bowser's Castle on the bridge, and I jumped forward (meaning jumped towards the camera/you) and floated back on the bridge it truly felt like I played a Mario Bros game in 3D.

Pros:
- Fantastic Game
- Excellent Graphics
- Fun Music
- Replay-Value
- Throwback Homages

Cons:
-First couple of worlds were too easy, making the game a bit short 

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Michael Troina Find him anywhere with this flavors.me/michaeltroina If you guys got some time subscribe to him at youtube here!  Or like his gaming channel

Do I have what it takes to be the internet's Next Top Streamer? Yes, because I know I AM going to be the internet's Next Top Streamer. Playing video games is one thing and streaming is another; for the former you need to be good, a winner so the people who can't finish their games come to see other people beat it for them. For the later, streaming is now a form of entertainment so you need to be engaging, be it funny or just someone that people want to listen to. I feel that I provide all aspects that it takes to be the internet's next top streamer, I'm funny, I own a lot of systems, which in turn means I've beaten a lot of games, and heck I love gaming.


[s]A sneak preview of my next review with this gif lol[/s]

I write reviews for all the games I beat, I thoroughly read Destructoid everyday (more than my textbooks!), and I don't think there's a day where I haven't gone without playing a game. In addition, I love to make gifs for all my readers and blogs, so giving me a capture card can allow me to create gifs of myself so in turn MORE GIFS! I tried to get in the streaming game last year and was able to get around 50 subscribers on my Twitch account (same name: Troyfullbuster). The only problem was I had to play on emulators all the time, so in turn the games I played were  elder "retro" games (which I love and enjoy but isn't that engaging as a newer game) and my computer blows. So with bad FPS leading towards lag, I've had to shut down my streaming for a bit until I get a new computer. (the last game completed on my stream was Battletoads…yep I beat it).

I feel the point of this contest and why I should win is so I can finally show my talents in gaming, play some current games, use a real program and build an audience. I already know I'm really good at games, I usually 100% everything I play, and also…I want to share my experience of gaming with everyone, because I have some memorable experiences be it by myself, with my brothers, or my friends. See, some people already have capture cards and they are ahead of the game and well this will let me counter them so they don't have to watch me do lame things on a shitty cam…now they can watch me do lame things on an AWESOME CAPTURE CARD ALL THE TIME NOW, not some of the time.

Here's the video submission:

(sorry haven't blogged in a while finals but oh snap Destructoid has a new writing tool-base definitely a lot easier to write...although I didn't use it for this one lol)

We all know I love Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga as it is probably the best game for the GBA and Mario's best RPG game (sorry Paper Mario 64). The game is funny, charming, fun, lengthy, has great tunes, addicting, and has some hidden fun features. The Mario & Luigi series has spanned two sequels, Partners in Time and Bowser's Inside Story, and a third [Dream Team] coming, this July-August depending on where you live (for me August, which is turning into RPG month with Tales of Xillia launching the week before).

Now, just because Superstar Saga was great, doesn't mean the DS successors were, especially that of Partners in Time. What was lost in the DS sequels was mainly the appeal and charm that made me fall in love with the game. Gone were the Bros Attacks, in which if you excited them enough and you had a quick eye, you can actually do secret chain/infinite combo attacks. In replacement were Bros Items, while a good idea, didn't have the same special feeling of using your BP (bros points) to execute an attack; buying 99 of a special attack makes it feel a normal attack or just an item.

Partners in Time and Bowser's Inside Story got rid of the exploration and platform areas. While Bowser's Inside Story was a bit truer to SS, it still felt quite shallow compared to Superstar Saga. Take for example playing as Mario and Luigi, yes you still fight and do some Bro Combinations in the main world, but you were basically a pit-stop leeway for Bowser, as he explored new areas and would have a "inside job/problem" the plumber's would fix.


What am I hoping for in this new 3DS continuation of the series? Not much, but from what I've seen in the trailer it looks fantastic. From the exploration aspect of having an over-world and a dream world that both Mario and Luigi can explore, with the option of using Luigi in different ways in the Dream World (like manipulating objects or the Mass-Luigi Ball from the trailer) shows that the game is going back to its unique way of adventuring. In addition, while combat wasn't heavily shown in the trailer, one has to wonder if they brought back Bros Points, as it appears that Bros Items are back in a new back-shot camera angle.

I wonder if Bowser will be making an appearance (he has in all the M&L games) and how will he be used? I would like to see him back in a villain role with some-what of a good guy for a bit cameo during the game. Bowser is an important part to the Mario and Luigi series, being the role of a bad-guy but at the same time someone of a comedic-relief like Luigi in some scenarios. Thinking about Bowser, also made me wonder if they will add RPG-like ideas of sidequests or if there will be mini-games like the arcade of that in SuperStar Saga. Last but not least, I would love if the fire-thunder element of Mario and Luigi makes a return, only because that idea of the game giving Mario and Luigi elemental powers was actually very cool (and I loved to make Luigi say Thunder all the time).

Other than that I just want the game to be fun like the original. The original brought a bit of challenge if you didn't know where to go and made RPG's a fun interactive game, like a better Super Mario RPG.

Donkey Kong Country is one of the best series in all of videogames. In fact, every gamer should play or at least try Donkey Kong Country 2. Produced by Rare, the original trio for the SNES, are considered instant classics and gave Donkey Kong a name after his arcade days. A few years later....well a long time Donkey Kong Country finally got a sequel from it's third and final installment on the SNES DKC3, Donkey Kong Country Returns made by Retro Studios.

As a huge fan of the series and a serious gamer I was more than excited to continue playing one of my favorite series, be it co-op or single-player DKC a platformer among platformers. One little irk I had about Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii, was the idea of, if the game is too difficult, we'll play the game for you aka the Super Guide. While I understand the Wii brought the "casual" gamer to videogames this was a bit ridiculous. In fact, this may have hurt Nintendo's image at first, but now I just realized it is gamers of today's fault it is like this.


sorry guys I used DKC2 GBC version

First off, every disses Nintendo as "lame" or "not cool" because it isn't CoD for the Xbox along with Madden. So, in turn the "gaming market" aka hipsters and bros tend to miss out on great games because they are too cool for it. Alright, that's fine, but the next fact is apparently you are a casual gamer if you are not in that crowd, meaning you fall into the "dumber than dumb" mobile game category, or basically just a gamer. I for one hate labels, especially in the gaming community, all it does is divide gamers and fanbases even further rather than having people expand their libraries.

You may not understand where I am coming from yet, but what originally disappointed me for Donkey Kong Country Returns was the fact that it is considered "insanely hard". I don't know if my copy was bad or something, but 110 or 117%-ing (I can't remember I haven't touched my DKCR considering my Wii cannot read discs) seemed pretty easy to me. In fact, I think I only had trouble with one or two Temple's for the idol's but that was about it. Even the secret level, was a big disappointment.

Once I heard Retro Studio's was working on 3DS game, I first thought a 2.5D Metroid game, marking Samus' Return to handhelds, though after rumors of a new Donkey Kong Country Returns game started to make rise from the internet, I thought it was a great idea to make a sequel. So, boom, I was disappointed when I heard the Wii game was getting a port, but that's not all too bad with 8 new stages and an addition world, I may pick the game up when it's cheaper although I already beat the first.

But, then I heard about the New Mode to make the game 'easier'. It says that, players will receive two additional health slots, allowing them to take more hits from enemies without having to restart a stage or checkpoint. Secondly several new helpful items have been introduced like the Portable DK Barrel The Green Balloon, The Crash Guard to help prevent dying.

WHAT!?

This literally upset me greatly, as not only a "purist" but a gamer in general. Has the gaming community fallen so low that they need all this? Is Nintendo still looking after it's casual crowd more than it's regular fanbase, or is it that kids don't have skills today in any type of game that isn't a shooter or a ridiculous castle-crasher type game? If you can't beat a game, keep trying and get better, THAT'S HOW YOU GET BETTER. Seriously, I was never good at Marvel vs Capcom 2 and I constantly played and played and now I can pull an infinite out of my butt anytime I want to. I was never always able to run through any Super Mario Bros game at any time, but with practice and a few deaths along the way I mastered them. It's just natural law, the more you practice the better you get and the harder you work, the more you appreciate something. I didn't just buy mega man 9 and 10 and beat it on hard mode (for a worthless bronze trophy) on my first play. No, I tried and tried and practice and boom with patience and time I'm mastered the game...not an easy feat

Maybe I'm too old school, maybe it's all my years from high school to college sports, maybe I'm just amazing and didn't even know, who knows? But to see that games are offering easier and easier modes upsets me. It's basically showing to me that these game companies think that A) we don't have the skills to play if we aren't MLG or B) that we are basically dumb people who need help all the time. A fun fact for myself, you ever see those tutorials or those button manuals that say 1001 things but you can never read it on time; yeah I don't do use those and I'm sure 90% of you readers out there don't either. What we usually do is pick up a game and learn how to play...but I guess that is too much to ask for in today's society.

I guess I should be MLG of platformers....oh wait only FPS and fighting games BRO.




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Hey guys this is my first time doing a video review and a joint review; so I just wanted to bring it to Destructoid for some helpful tips on what we should add, get rid of etc. It may seem a little sloppy but next time is the time we want to improve it. So far we're probably going to have a script and divide it into segments where we both just state our opinions.

Well other than that comments/tips are greatly appreciated. Thank you for watching!




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Everyone has a favorite game, heck even a favorite series but that doesn't mean you'll always replay that game. In fact few games ever get the replay treatment, only the best of the best. For starters, the replay treatment is different than replaying a game for the rest of the achievements or one thing you missed, NO MATTER HOW FAR you missed that one specific quest/item/whatever.

No, replaying a game yearly is only saved for the true wonders of a gamers heart. For me, considering I don't buy that many new games per year, I have a very large list for replay games. For starters, Donkey Kong Country 2, Super Mario World, Super Mario Bros 3, and Goof Troop are all things I replay any chance I go to my grandmother's house with the SNES plugged in. Paper Mario 64is a classic I can never not play, along with Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga for the GBA. Fighting games, in my personal opinion, do not count although I have logged in some many hours at Marvel vs Capcom 2 it has basically turned into a daily fixture. Last, but not least, in my abundance of yearly replays is that of Ocarina of Time; and yes the N64, GCN, Master Quest and 3D version all count. The same goes for Sonic 3 & Knuckles, be it on my SEGA Genesis or Gamecube I have to replay the game. Funny, I feel more like I'm naming a greatest games all-time list rather than a yearly replay list, but that is what comes with these games; they are just the fantastic in so many ways.



To begin my SNES is basically my replay machine, but I like to choose what games I will replay or play (as I still find/buy SNES games). Last year my games to play were Illusion of Gaia and Earthbound, so in between each game (whether I get stuck or bored for the day) I chose a "side-game". It's always a lottery between my Super Mario All-stars, Super Mario World, and Donkey Kong Country 2. They are games I find fun and bring a challenge no matter how many times I've completed the game past it's regular 100% (DKC2 102% etc). I can play by myself or with a friend, and I can complete the levels in a number of ways. In fact, for DKC2 I occasionally do an "all-Diddy" or "all-Dixie" run making sure I complete and only play as either of the two otherwise I have to re-do the entire game/level.

If anyone wants to know why I listed Goof Troop (SNES) on my replay list is because it is one of my favorite co-op games of all-time. Yes, I do own TMNT IV: Turtles in Time but what makes Goof Troop so special is it is a game my younger brother and I play every holiday and have many laughs and memories with it. Be it how we play the game, or the jokes we've made, Goof Troop will always hold joyous memories of my brother and I beating the game...or failing to communicate on puzzles and killing each other.

The N64 I used to replay a lot but I have become more attached to my 3DS as of late. The N64 is home of some mega-ultimate-classics like Ocarina of Time, Super Mario 64, Banjo-Tooie, Star Fox 64, and Paper Mario. As you have probably surmised I used to replay those games all the time on my N64. Problem I have with these games, except Star Fox 64 and Ocarina of Time, is I have practically memorized the entire game so the joy of replaying them is not as great as the first five times. My new plan is to actually let myself forget most of the game and comeback to it when I'm ready, like my plan for Donkey Kong 64 this year. The reason why Star Fox 64 is an exception is because you can play and beat the entire game in about 25 minutes and take an abundance of different routes. I constantly replay the game to beat my former/past-self's score of 5656 hits/kills...which for some reason I can't score that anymore and I was only 8 or 9 then!

Ocarina of Time is a different caliber because I feel it is the greatest game of all-time. The game from it's epic music, to fantastic story, to just overall fun gameplay, and level design is just as fun as the last playthrough. There are so many unique characters, fun sidequests, that you can complete this game in a numerous amount of fashions. Master Quest only adds to the fun, especially Ganon's castle (the lava part for anyone who knows what I'm talking about).

I don't really replay RPG's all that much, because they are like a good anime; the first is always the best. But there is one RPG-game that transcends that limit and that game is: Final Fantasy IX. FFIX, is my favorite in the entire series, and I can and will never get enough of it. Just the entire world and its characters are enough to get you through it but going to Auction House in Treno, playing Chocobo Hot & Cold, or even just annoying Mog with the Mog Whistle is enough to keep me entertained forever.

Wow, there really are so many games I just keep remembering more and more; like I always replay Phoenix Wright Trials and Tribulations every summer (the DS version). I don't want to keep you guys here all day, just know I replay the game because it actually makes me pumped to go to law-school next year, although I know law is nothing like PW but still!

I'm sure one of these days, I will replay my Gameboy games, but I always tell myself to replay Pokemon Yellow and I can't bring myself to delete my old file. It's literally my past and I feel like I'd lose a part of myself if I deleted it.



Well, now you guys know my big list of my yearly or two yearly replay games. It would probably be a lot more if some of the games didn't have only one save file! One final thing I have to say is I don't believe multiplayer games count as "replay" games because otherwise Mario Party, Smash Bros, and Mario Kart would dominate a replay list!

*don't steal my gifs thank you

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