Is this the best Mario game ever made?
Certainly not
Is this underrated for what it brought to the series?
Certainly
This game aimed to provide a bite sized platforming experience that combined some of the best aspects of 2D and 3D mario design and it succeeded in that.
This is a Mario game and there aren't any big surprises when it comes to the story and the gameplay. Mario feels as good to control as ever and all of the environments you explore are really polished and have a cute diorama-esque look to them. The diorama idea is used in hidden areas and select levels which use optical illusions and clever perspectives, respectively, to incentivize use of the 3D slider on the system in the most effective way I've seen.
The biggest additions to the gameplay are the barrel roll, a ground roll which has been added to Mario's moveset and the reworking of the Tanooki suit and Boomerang suit in a 3D context. The Tanooki suit is a fantastic addition and feels like it was made for traversing 3D levels. It can make the game, which is already on the easier side, a tad too easy for my taste, but it's a great all-rounder power up that deserves its spot in the game. The boomerang suit is a bit of a flop for me since it's usually strictly worse than the fire flower, but its ability to pick up items was occasionally useful. I would have loved if the boomerang could be used as a jump extender (something done later with Cappy in Super Mario Odyssey).
On my first playthrough I was worried that the first 8 worlds were all the game had to offer. The game is already targeted towards a younger audience, but then in the last 2 worlds, the game started introducing more unique environments like the clockwork level (7-4) and I was craving more. Thankfully, there is a whole second half to the game which remixes previous levels and adds some new ones. These levels are much more difficult than in the first half and were a blast to play through. Since each set of levels is gated by the number of star coins you've collected, there's also great incentive to return to past levels.
As with any Mario game, the boss fights are its weakest link and are particularly lackluster here with Boom Boom making his 3D debut alongside Pom Pom who is a reskin with a slightly altered moveset. The Bowser fights take on the typical 2D style where you have to skirt under him until you collapse the bridge behind you, but are trivialized by your ability to move in 3D around him.
Overall, this game is an effective merger of both Mario design philosophies: the snappiness and precision of 2D Mario paired with the exploration and movement of 3D Mario. Everything done here would, for the most part, be done even better in the sequel, Super Mario 3D World, but as a proof of concept and a handheld platformer, Super Mario 3D Land is well worth returning to next time you're craving your Mario fix on-the-go.
Certainly not
Is this underrated for what it brought to the series?
Certainly
This game aimed to provide a bite sized platforming experience that combined some of the best aspects of 2D and 3D mario design and it succeeded in that.
This is a Mario game and there aren't any big surprises when it comes to the story and the gameplay. Mario feels as good to control as ever and all of the environments you explore are really polished and have a cute diorama-esque look to them. The diorama idea is used in hidden areas and select levels which use optical illusions and clever perspectives, respectively, to incentivize use of the 3D slider on the system in the most effective way I've seen.
The biggest additions to the gameplay are the barrel roll, a ground roll which has been added to Mario's moveset and the reworking of the Tanooki suit and Boomerang suit in a 3D context. The Tanooki suit is a fantastic addition and feels like it was made for traversing 3D levels. It can make the game, which is already on the easier side, a tad too easy for my taste, but it's a great all-rounder power up that deserves its spot in the game. The boomerang suit is a bit of a flop for me since it's usually strictly worse than the fire flower, but its ability to pick up items was occasionally useful. I would have loved if the boomerang could be used as a jump extender (something done later with Cappy in Super Mario Odyssey).
On my first playthrough I was worried that the first 8 worlds were all the game had to offer. The game is already targeted towards a younger audience, but then in the last 2 worlds, the game started introducing more unique environments like the clockwork level (7-4) and I was craving more. Thankfully, there is a whole second half to the game which remixes previous levels and adds some new ones. These levels are much more difficult than in the first half and were a blast to play through. Since each set of levels is gated by the number of star coins you've collected, there's also great incentive to return to past levels.
As with any Mario game, the boss fights are its weakest link and are particularly lackluster here with Boom Boom making his 3D debut alongside Pom Pom who is a reskin with a slightly altered moveset. The Bowser fights take on the typical 2D style where you have to skirt under him until you collapse the bridge behind you, but are trivialized by your ability to move in 3D around him.
Overall, this game is an effective merger of both Mario design philosophies: the snappiness and precision of 2D Mario paired with the exploration and movement of 3D Mario. Everything done here would, for the most part, be done even better in the sequel, Super Mario 3D World, but as a proof of concept and a handheld platformer, Super Mario 3D Land is well worth returning to next time you're craving your Mario fix on-the-go.