Super Mario Land (Gameboy/eShop Review) by Carl B.

Super Mario Land
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
System: Gameboy, 3DS eShop
Release: July 31, 1989

June 28, 2011, by Carl B. - Originally released on the Gameboy in 1989, Super Mario Land is the strangest Mario title to date – even more so than Super Mario Bros. 2. Nintendo re-released this classic on the 3DS eShop on June 6, 2011, but does Mario's zaniest adventure stand the test of time and hold up to its $3.99 price tag?

Super Mario Land takes place in the world of Sarasaland, which is split into four kingdoms: Birabuto, Muda, Easton, and Chai. On one fateful day, an alien known as Tatanga appeared and hypnotized the inhabitants of Sarasaland, specifically Princess Daisy, who Mario sets out to rescue.

There are four worlds in Super Mario Land, each with three levels. Compared to other Mario games released during the same era, Super Mario Land is pretty easy – I blasted through the game in just one hour and 21 minutes. In the 3DS eShop release, players are able to suspend play and create one save state at a time, which is an incredibly useful feature since the basic game doesn't support saving.

Levels in Super Mario Land are pretty typical as far as Mario goes; only the settings are strange – there are levels with pyramids, giant spiders, and aliens. There are even underwater and air levels where Mario hops into a craft and takes part in some sidescrolling shooting action.

The Verdict

Sound
10/15 - A nifty, 8-bit style soundtrack.

Graphics
11/20 - Simple, black and white sprites that carry the Mario charm.

Appeal
15/25 - Only around two hours of gameplay for the Mario adventure, but it's still very fun.

Gameplay
30/40 - Standard Mario platforming with some nice shooter levels to shake things up. The basic levels certainly aren't the best in the series.

Overall
66/100 - Super Mario Land is a fun game, but it's far too short to recommend it for the $4 price tag. Only the biggest Mario fans or people who really want something to play on their Nintendo 3DS should download this one.