We’ve known a Super Mario game for 3DS was coming since this year’s GDC, when Satoru Iwata revealed a few screenshots and a temporary logo in his keynote. Now we’ve played it, and… we don’t know that much more.
Here’s the best way we can explain it: this game takes Super Mario 64, adds the polished elements we’ve seen from the Galaxy games but forgoes the space theme or the round worlds, and sprinkles a little bit of Super Mario 3 here and there. Want the Tanooki Suit? You’re in luck. Itching to fight a Koopaling? That’s here. Yearning to bounce on a Note Block? Your dreams have come true in a very real way.
Besides that, the levels seem like the more restricted environments from recent installments. These aren’t sprawling places to climb and swim and find things in. These are 3D obstacle courses, and on a smaller system, it probably leads to more bite-sized gameplay and concentrated design focus.
Super Mario is due out this holiday season. Hopefully we’ll know more about the game’s scope and structure before then.
