I got the game today from game stop with a fun little keychain, so far so good!

@Mrs_Mustache

Keep us posted on your progress!

I have to say this game is the perfect bathroom buddy due to the short levels, it's great to play in small increments.

Finished! So yeah, I have no restraint.

Four hours to complete all stages. I grabbed maybe 95% of the Star Medals my first time through, too. I think I'll find the rest of them and play the post-game content at a more leisurely pace. I'll TRY to, anyway...

Currently in the middle of world 2. I wasn't quite sure what to think when playing 1-1, but at around 1-3, things began to click for me and feel a lot more interesting. I'm enjoying myself for sure, but it's a struggle to keep the pace slow.

nate38 said:

Finished! So yeah, I have no restraint.

Four hours to complete all stages. I grabbed maybe 95% of the Star Medals my first time through, too. I think I'll find the rest of them and play the post-game content at a more leisurely pace. I'll TRY to, anyway...

Geez! Any quick impressions for us?

The game definitely stretches its legs in the last few Worlds. It never gets as creative or impressive as the Galaxy duo can, but it uses its stage gimmicks surprisingly well. Final boss is pretty cool, too. And yeah, this game looks just as good as Galaxy, just on a smaller scale.

I wish you didn't have to hold down the run button (why even have an analog nub if you're not going to use analog controls for a platformer...?) and sometimes the short running start required for the longer jump is an inconvenience that the series has never had before, but otherwise I really have nothing to complain about.

But it really does straddle the 2D Mario / 3D Mario distinction. I honestly couldn't put it in one or the other. Yeah, it's got 3D movement, but it just feels so much like a New Super Mario Bros.

Did you guys have to do a firmware update before you started the game?

@GameDadGrant

Yup. That's the one we heard about that added the "Join Game" thing for the friends list.

@Jargon Cant wait to join some Mario Kart 7 games!

@sirmastersephiroth

I know! I'm psyched. God I was hoping to hold off on at least one of Skyward Sword and Mario Kart 7 and it's looking less and less like I'll have the willpower.

Count me in on MK7 now that I have a 3DS. I'm such a sucker, hahaha.

So, how do you turn into a statue?

@GameDadGrant


Yea, the game made me do an update first.

Also, at the end of level 2-1....this happened....I got a shitload of balloons all over the screen. First time it happened. Does anyone know why? My time ended with a 6, so not sure if this is like the first Super Mario World, where you would get fireworks when the timer ended with a 1,3,6.

So far I am loving the game and trying to take my time. The first bowser level was really cool. I am actually impressed by the length of the levels. I remember reading where they would be shorter than what we were used to in galaxy, and they are, but at the same time they are not too short. I mean, they are just as long as levels in the 2D Mario games.

Yea, I get what Shiggy meant by the game feeling 2D in 3D. Also, whats up with the little popup in the lower left corner. You can pick 2 different 3D effects, but I am really not sure what the differences are.

@nate38

No way would I want to run through the game that quickly. Plus, I am only in world 2 and already have 1hr 25 min. logged. I did get all the star coins in world 1, except for 1 star coin I missed. Also, am I right in thinking each world is comprised of 4 levels plus the bowser level at the end, giving each world 5 stages?

I think I know why I missed it....can anyone verify this....

I was in world 2-1 and I had missed the very first star coin, and I am like, come on, I know there is no way I could have passed it up. So, I went back into the level cause I knew the binoculars was at the beginning and when I zoomed in on Toad, he threw a star coin out. So, I am I correct in thinking that I will have to use those in certain levels to zoom in on a toad so he will throw me a star coin?

One last thing, I went to check out the instruction booklet and man, this has to be the shortest instruction booklet ever! Basically, you open it up and it fold out again, so basically you are looking at 4 equal sections. And basically, there are only 3 pages of instructions! Wow! Not that I ever read the instruction booklet for a Mario game, except when I was younger. I guess it probably saves Nintendo some money.

@gamewizard65

I've gotten the balloons too so maybe you're onto something...

The top option puts the 3D so it's popping out at you, the bottom option displays the 3D so it's more like you're looking into a window of 3D.

And yes, you are correct on that thing you said about Toad and the binoculars.

Heads-up on a tip I just heard! You know those art stills between each world? Try shaking your DS when you see them!

@gamewizard65

DrFinkelstein said most of what I was gonna say. But since you brought up the manual, I was kinda bummed out by that! Nintendo was one of the only companies left that made a nice big manual, and ever since they went trilingual, that's been majorly compromised. The tiny SM3DL "manual" might actually be my biggest disappointment in the game!

Otherwise, having a good old time. Just finished World 2. Gotta pace myself better...

@DrFinkelstein

Thanks, that is kindof what I though about the 3D. Its subtle, but I picked the popping out effect, as I think all the games Ive played on the 3DS look more like you are looking into the screen. And yea, Im thinking the balloons might appear depending on the end number...but also, I went thru the level really fast to get the first coin that I missed, so it could also have something to do with how fast you complete a level as well. Usually, when I play a new Mario game where you grab onto a flag pole I usually try to get the last number to be a 1,3, or 6. I forgot to do it for this game and it just so happened that the last number was a 6, but I got a heckof alot more than 6 balloons. The screen was filled with them. At least 20 or so.

@TriforceBun


Art stills between each world? Hmmm...not sure what you mean. Are they only inbetween like the actual worlds or each level. Im thinking you mean worlds since I would have noticed stills between each level. Now, I want to go back and see what I missed.


EditL i just tried a level over and I got the timer ending in a 6 and got the balloons again. So, it def. had to do with the ending number. Not sure if you get anything for another number, like 1 or 3.

I find the controls to be pretty stiff. Mario seems to never get good momentum when doing the flagpol jumps either. Am I the only one?

5-2 was brilliant. I just wish it was longer.

@ploot

You can always hold down the y button so Mario runs, that way if you do not have the racoon suit, he runs faster. Have you been trying that?

TriforceBun said:

DrFinkelstein said most of what I was gonna say. But since you brought up the manual, I was kinda bummed out by that! Nintendo was one of the only companies left that made a nice big manual, and ever since they went trilingual, that's been majorly compromised.

Sounds like you're blaming Canada . That seems fair.

(What's the other language, Spanish? Who cares. It's still Canada's fault.)

@gamewizard65 I think he means the postcard things you get from Princess Peach in between worlds. I haven't tried shaking my 3DS... will have to do.