Super Mario Land

Super Mario Land
North American box art
Developer(s)	Nintendo R&D1
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Director(s)	Satoru Okada
Producer(s)	Gunpei Yokoi
Composer(s)	Hirokazu Tanaka
Series	Mario
Platform(s)	Game Boy, 3DS Virtual Console
Release date(s)	Game Boy JP April 21, 1989[1] NA July 31, 1989[2] EU September 28, 1990 Virtual Console (3DS) JP June 7, 2011[3] NA June 6, 2011 EU June 7, 2011 AUS June 7, 2011
Genre(s)	Platforming
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	ACB: G ESRB: E

Super Mario Land (スーパーマリオランド, Sūpā Mario Rando^?) is a platforming video game developed by Nintendo for the Game Boy handheld game console. It and the Game Boy debuted in Japan on April 21, 1989, in the United States on July 31, 1989, and in Europe on September 28, 1990.^[4] Super Mario Land marked Mario's first appearance on the Game Boy, is the first Mario game for the system and was a launch title for the Game Boy in Japan and North America. It is one of the first games re-released on the "Virtual Console" for the Nintendo 3DS.

Reviews of the game were generally favorable. The game drove initial sales of the Game Boy and has sold over 18 million copies in total.^[5] Super Mario Land was also the first game of the Mario series produced by Gunpei Yokoi. The game's sequel, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, was released in 1992. Another sequel, Super Mario 3D Land, was released in 2011.

Gameplay

A level in the Easton kingdom of Super Mario Land.

See also: Gameplay of Mario series

The gameplay of Super Mario Land is similar to that of Super Mario Bros. and its Japanese successor for the Nintendo Entertainment System. As in the previous games, the player takes over the role of Mario. The ultimate objective is to defeat Tatanga, the "Mysterious Spaceman," and save Princess Daisy.^[6] However, there are some differences from earlier Mario games as well.

Mario's primary attack is to jump on top of his enemies, which normally kills them. However, there are a few antagonists who cannot be undone in this manner or may even cause damage to Mario if he jumps on them. Power-ups like the Super Mushroom work normally, but the Fire Flower enables Mario to throw "superballs" that fly at a 45-degree angle and ricochet off floors, walls, and ceilings. Unlike traditional fireballs, Superballs can also be used to collect coins, which is useful for coins that are difficult or impossible to reach otherwise.^[7] Also, unlike other games in the series, gameplay doesn't pause briefly when Mario collects a power-up or takes damage.

In two specific levels Mario flies in the "Sky Pop" aeroplane or travels in the "Marine Pop" submarine instead of walking.^[8] In these levels, there is no Super Flower because Mario can shoot the entire time. He still can grow by getting a Super Mushroom or become invincible by getting a Starman. During these levels, the screen constantly scrolls forward until it reaches the boss at the end, and it is not possible to slow down or stop it. Mario can be killed either by an enemy or by being crushed by the edge of the screen.^[7]

The game consists of four worlds with three levels each.^[8] At the end of every level, there is a tower with an access at the top and at the bottom. If Mario can reach the upper access, there is a bonus level in which the player can win extra lives or power-ups. If he only reaches the lower access, the game continues normally. At the end of every third level, Mario has to fight a boss by either battling it or getting around it to reach a point behind them that will end the battle, similar to fighting Bowser in the original Super Mario Bros. After the game is completed, the game returns to the title screen, and the player is given the option to play in "Hard Mode." If the game is finished in Hard Mode, the game goes back to the title screen and allows the player to choose which stage to start in, allowing for replay of any particular stage.^[7]

Plot

The story of Super Mario Land is set in the peaceful realm of Sarasaland, which is split into the four kingdoms of Birabuto, Muda, Easton, and Chai. One day, a mysterious alien named Tatanga appears and hypnotizes the inhabitants of Sarasaland, including Daisy. He kidnaps Princess Daisy in order to marry her. Mario then sets out to rescue her from Tatanga, traveling through the four geographical areas of Sarasaland and defeating Tatanga's minions along the way, as well as finding monsters that pretend to be Daisy in order to fool Mario. Mario finally corners Tatanga in the skies of the Chai kingdom, bringing down his alien warship and rescuing Daisy, who kisses him and takes him back to her castle.^[6][7]

Development

The game was produced by Gunpei Yokoi, who previously produced Donkey Kong (1981), Donkey Kong Junior (1982), Mario Bros. (1983) and Metroid (1986). It featured music written by Hirokazu Tanaka, who also composed for Duck Hunt (1984).^[9] Hiroshi Yamauchi, then president of Nintendo, wanted a Mario game to be on the Game Boy, and ordered Yokoi to create the game with his development team, Nintendo Research & Development 1.^[10] This would be the first original portable Mario game since the others made for the Game and Watch. This would also be the first Mario game developed without Shigeru Miyamoto, Yokoi's protege and creator of Mario and The Legend of Zelda.^[10] Early in conceptual development, they decided to recreate the classic gameplay of the 1985 original in new worlds that took Mario far from the Mushroom Kingdom. It seemed like the perfect title to help sell their new system.^[11] Yokoi's take on Mario helped the Game Boy surpass the NES as Nintendo's best selling platform, and the game itself just surpassed Super Mario Bros. 3's sales figures.^[10]

Initially, Nintendo planned to package Super Mario Land with the Game Boy, but decided to package Tetris instead at the insistence of Henk Rogers, who convinced Nintendo of America head Minoru Arakawa that a Mario title would only sell the Game Boy to young boys instead of everyone.^[12]

Reception and legacy

Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	74.2%[13]
Review scores
Publication	Score
Allgame	[14]
Electronic Gaming Monthly	7.75[13]
GameSpot	8.3[15]
Mean Machines	90%[16]

Super Mario Land sold 18.06 million copies,^[5] making it the seventh-highest selling game of the Mario series and the fourth-highest selling game for the Game Boy.^[17] As a result of its success, it was re-released in 1996 as part of the Game Boy Player's Choice series of games that have sold over one million units. Official Nintendo Magazine later named the game one of the best Nintendo games of all time, ranking it 73rd on their list of the top 100.^[18]

Receptions of the game were generally positive. It holds an average rating of 8.4/10 and 9.2/10 respectively at IGN,^[8] as well as an average rating of 8.3/10 and 7.3/10 respectively at GameSpot.^[19] Justin Searls of Nintendojo wrote that Super Mario Land continued the brilliance of its predecessor and gave it a 9 out of 10.^[20] He remarked that the game was "very similar to the original Mario Brothers. It seems that the Mario sprites are almost identical to its predecessor." Also, some reviewers criticized the control, finding it imprecise compared to the other Mario games.^[21][22][23]

Legacy

The game launched one main sequel that shares the Mario Land title as well as the first Wario Land game, which later launched a franchise of its own. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins is the sequel to the game with better graphics and including a new character called Wario.^[24] Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, takes Wario into his own adventures, without Mario. Wario Land was an attempt to expand the appearance of Wario in Super Mario Land 2 to a starring role and also to expand the Mario universe and which was successful, as it eventually led to many successful games in the Wario series. The Mario Land brand was used for the first time after 17 years in 2011's Super Mario 3D Land.

This game also marks the first appearance of Princess Daisy to the Mario series. Both Wario and Daisy are featured in most Mario spin-off titles, including the Mario Party series and the Mario Kart series.^[25]

References

1. ^ Nintendo published Game Boy listing Nintendo. Retrieved on 2008-03-15
2. ^ White, Dave (July 1989). "Gameboy Club". Electronic Gaming Monthly (3): 68. 
3. ^ バーチャルコンソール スーパーマリオランド
4. ^ "Super Mario Land Release Info". Moby Games. 1 March 1999. http://www.mobygames.com/game/gameboy/super-mario-land/release-info. Retrieved 21 April 2008. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Mario Sales Data". Gamecubicle. http://www.gamecubicle.com/features-mario-units_sold_sales.htm. Retrieved 10 February 2006. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Nintendo (1989). Super Mario Land Instruction Booklet. Nintendo of America, Inc.. 
7. ^ ^{a b c d} Super Mario Land Instruction Booklet. Nintendo. 
8. ^ ^{a b c} "Super Mario Land". IGN. News Corporation. 9 July 2002. http://gameboy.ign.com/objects/008/008816.html. 
9. ^ "The Metroid Retrospective – Part 1". GameTrailers. 2007-07-25. http://www.gametrailers.com/player/22771.html. Retrieved 2009-02-20. 
10. ^ ^{a b c} McLaughlin, Rus. "IGN Presents The History of Super Mario Bros.". IGN. News Corporation. http://retro.ign.com/articles/833/833615p2.html. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
11. ^ Fahs, Travis. "IGN Presents The History of Gameboy". IGN. News Corporation. http://retro.ign.com/articles/100/1007864p2.html. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
12. ^ Staff (13 June 2009). "Alexey Pajitnov Stars Interview - Video Interview: Alexey Pajitnov Pt. 1". IGN. News Corporation. http://stars.ign.com/dor/objects/919431/Alexey-Pajitnov/videos/tetris_spc_e3_01.html. Retrieved 13 June 2009. 
13. ^ ^{a b} Game Rankings page on Super Mario Land. Retrieved on 2008-03-13
14. ^ allgame ((( Super Mario Land > Overview ))) Retrieved on 2008-04-28
15. ^ Gamespot Other Reviews page for Super Mario Land Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
16. ^ Mean Machines review of Super Mario Land (archive) Retrieved on 2008-03-13
17. ^ "All Time Top 20 Best Selling Games". 23 May 2005. Archived from the original on 10 September 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060910130538/http://www.ownt.com/qtakes/2003/gamestats/gamestats.shtm. Retrieved 1 December 2006. 
18. ^ East, Tom (19 February 2009). "Feature: 100 Best Nintendo Games". ONM. http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=7206. Retrieved 18 March 2009. 
19. ^ "Super Mario Land". GameSpot. 1 May 1996. http://www.gamespot.com/gameboy/action/supermarioland/index.html. 
20. ^ Searls, Justin. "Super Mario Land Review". Nintendojo. http://www.nintendojo.com/reviews/GB/view_item.php?961948800. 
21. ^ "Super Mario Land Review". Game Rankings. 10 December 2003. http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/launchreview.asp?reviewid=486405. 
22. ^ "Super Mario Land Review". Game Rankings. 25 October 2006. http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/launchreview.asp?reviewid=656137. 
23. ^ Vavra, Chris (10 October 2002). "Super Mario Land Review". Game Rankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/launchreview.asp?reviewid=268191. 
24. ^ (Magazine) Nintendo Power - The 20th Anniversary Issue!. Nintendo Power. 231. San Francisco, California: Future US. August 2008. p. 72. 
25. ^ "Guides: Mario Kart Wii Guide p.6". IGN. News Corporation. http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/949580/page_6.html. Retrieved 2008-05-24. 

External links

	Mario portal
	Video games portal

• Official Nintendo Japan website (Japanese)
• Super Mario Land at MobyGames