Genre: 3d Platformer
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo

The Mario series has seen many undulations in its visual aesthetic over the years, but none so universally bright and colorful as that exhibited in this title. Texture style and scene arrangement is a little uneven-- the game isn't nearly as screenshot worthy as it could be-- but at least the thematic choices neatly fit the "old but new" paradigm towards which the game's designers were clearly aiming.

The composition-by-commitee approach employed by 3D Land produces an effort that has the same benefits and shortcomings of the visual style; it's a little uneven in application, and maybe a bit too cheery and upbeat for its own good. At the same time, it and the accompanying sound effects are a good match for the title's clear thematic aspirations.

3D Land plays a lot like a Crash Bandicoot game; it allows for free range of movement, but nearly all of the stages take place along constrained, linear paths. The game isn't nearly as clever as the previous game in the series, Super Mario Galaxy 2, but it doesn't have to be; the short, tidy level designs and relatively flat learning curve make for an entirely appropriate handheld experience.

Super Mario 3D Land isn't a "man on the moon" moment like so many other titles in the series. It's not even a "trip to Disney World" moment, or even a trip to ValleyFair for that matter. It's more like a casual, Sunday morning drive to the mall-- liesurely, not particularly taxing, and with its own subtle charms.