Review: Super Mario Land
To kick off my Game Boy era reviews, we have a true classic from my youth, Super Mario Land. This game was a launch title for the Game Boy and, as such, it feels a bit different when compared to other Mario games. Certain aspects of the game are familiar, of course. But there’s also plenty of things about it just feel a bit “off”.
Being a launch title for a new handheld system, it really feels like the developers weren’t exactly sure how best to represent this sort of game on this new hardware. It many ways, Super Mario Land doesn’t seem very Mario-like . Yes, there are bricks and pipes, and flowers and turtles. But it just feels… different. Perhaps, it might have something to do with all the UFOs and Pyramids included in the game. These are things that seem a bit out of place when compared with the other games in the series up to this point. Does it make sense? Not really. But at the end of the day, does it even matter? This game is fun. That’s the big takeaway.
The graphics in this title are really a mixed bag. Some are well done, others are lazy and unimaginative. For example, I like the character model for Mario, it looks like the SMB version for the NES. But the turtles and Goombas look like complete monstrosities. I chalk this up to a lack of experience developers had with the platform, as many GB launch titles suffered from the same issue.
The storyline for the game is about what you would expect from a Mario title. But this time instead of rescuing Princess Peach, Mario is called to rescue a different Princess by the name of Daisy. It’s obvious that there’s not much new in terms of storytelling with this release. But, it is hard to complain too much. I don’t think Nintendo designed this game with the intentions to build a deep narrative. It’s merely a low budget portable title, meant to help pass some time. I think the key here is not to take it too seriously. It is what it is. The music is pretty catchy tho!
Despite its flaws, Super Mario Land is a short and cute little game. I can play through it in about thirty minutes, start to finish. Perfect for road trips, or for killing time at a boring family reunion (I’ve used it for both in the past.).
The gameplay will be familiar to anyone who’s played a Mario title in the past. It’s simply been translated to a smaller screen. The controls are precise and the game itself handles surprisingly well.
All in all, this game is a quirky but entertaining entry in the Mario series. Despite its simplicity, it’s actually one of my favorite Mario games.
Version Reviewed: GB
Difficulty: Easy – As Mario titles go, this one is easier than most. Most of the time, I can manage to complete it in one play.
Multiplayer: No.
Story: Its Mario. There not much to expect here. But I do have to ask, who is Daisy and where did she come from???
Originality: The basic premise is familiar to most Mario fans. Although there are a few new twists and turns to be found here. The post-level mini games are new, and personally, I’m a big fan of “submarine” and “airplane” Mario.
Soundtrack: Very basic in terms of composition, but incredibly catchy tunes. Mono beeps and boops at their best!
Fun: A lot of people tend to dismiss this game, but I find it to be quite a good time. It’s very basic, true, but that isn’t always a bad thing.
Graphics: As I mentioned, the graphics are pretty basic compared to later Game Boy titles. But, things are clear and well defined. Many of the other Mario Land titles released later are big step up in terms of quality.
Playcontrol: Flawless. I find no complaints. This is true for both the original Game Boy as well as the GBA or 3DS.
Downloadable Content: N/A
Mature Content: N/A
Value: This game is available on the 3DS eShop for only $4.00. It’s worth every penny.
Overall score (1-100): 70 – This is a really good title and one I would recommend to most collectors. However, it is far from perfect. It’s very short and as I said, not very pretty to look at. But, it is what it is, a simple handheld version of Mario for players on the go.
Original System: Game Boy
Available today on: Nintendo Switch Online – (Updated as of Spring 2024)
Best Experience: Nintendo Switch Online – (Updated as of Spring 2024)
Other Reviews In This Series:
SMB – SMB Lost Levels – SMB 2 – SMB 3 – SM World – SM World 2– SM Land – SM Land 2 – SM Land 3 – Mario 64 – Mario Sunshine – New SMB – Galaxy – Galaxy 2 – New SMB Wii – Mario 3D Land – New SMB 2 – New SMB U – SMB 3D World – Super Mario Odyssey – Wonder
Paper Mario – Thousand Year Door – Super Paper Mario – Sticker Star – Color Splash
Wario Land 2 – Wario Land 3 – Wario Land 4 – Wario World – Master of Disguise – Wario Land Shake It
Luigi’s Mansion – Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon – Luigi’s Mansion 3
Super Princess Peach – Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
