Super Mario Land

Finally caught up on all the Marvel films leading up to today's US premiere of The Avengers, the first bona fide hit of the summer. Gotta say, being a fan of continuity and cameos, this is one of my favorite moments in cinema. Granted, most of my knowledge comes from the various television shows and films and the rest comes from asking my more American comic-inclined friends.

These 'modern' version of comic book adaptations, beginning with Bryan Singer's X-Men, allowed the non-comics-reading audience such as myself to recognize and connect with these decades-old established characters in a more mainstream way. The production values are usually pleasing to my eye (always a fan of the bombastic-looking films, am I) and they get a surprising amount of actors fitting their characters like gloves. I do admit this view is due to my limited knowledge on the various lores.

Point is, I'm now officially excited to see The Avengers. Not to mention Joss Whedon directed it. Man, do I love that man. Man.
I love you, man.
STOP IT

Moving on to one of my earliest gaming memories:



Look at that old font! I miss the Game Boy.

Super Mario Land was the second Game Boy game I ever played. I can remember the memory fondly: after getting them to bring down the NES to play Super Mario Bros. for the umpteenth time, they showed me the gray brick with the cabbage screen decorated with black and pink buttons known as a Game Boy. Tetris was my first handheld cartridge game, but Mario is what got me hooked. Playing Mario on the couch without using the TV? Craziness!

So long ago!

The game itself, looking back on it, is very much an oddity compared to where the series evolved to today. While still a Mario Platformer, Land clearly distinguishes itself in various ways both large and small. Besides sporting tiny black silhouette-like sprites of animate objects, the setting was completely different. Plot is as standard in the series: Princess Daisy, the royal head of the neighboring region of Sarasa Land, is kidnapped by the alien Tatanga.

Sarasa Land is very distinct in that it combines imagery from real-life locations, such as Ancient Egypt, Easter Island and China. It makes for quite an exotic setting, even for an early Game Boy game. The music is also distinctly Mario; familiar, yet themed. The Dungeon theme in particular (used as The Ruins in Super Smash Bros. Brawl) is my stand-out favorite from the peppy music, though they're all hummable and catchy.

I freaking love Sky Pop!

In fact, the game's so exotic at times that most of the series' staple enemies and even music is different. Instead of normal Koopa Troopers, the Bombshell Koopas' shells explode after being jumped on, enemies resemble flies, snakes and lions, instead of Fire Flowers exists Superballs, and even the Star theme is in fact the Infernal Galop (what you laymen refer to as the Cancan). It's a very distinct journey, and I miss the atmosphere the locations and otherworldly enemies provide.

The platforming is tight and responsive, as usual. Certain aspects of the game play have yet to return in any big fashion since Land, like riding bouncing boulders over spikes (Yoshi's Island features this well with boulders and a dog of all things), jumping on invisible platforms to collect seemingly-floating coins (it was jarring to find that out as a kid), and vehicle sections. Yes, for the Boss fights in Worlds 2 and 4 are done under the sea and up in the clouds respectively. To do battle in such extreme conditions (not wanting to get his overalls wet and without clouds to jump on, apparently), Mario hops in his Marine Pop and Sky Pop for auto-scrolling shooting sections. They're a fun change of pace in an already memorable little game.

Land isn't incredibly long, as evidenced by the title compared to how expansive later main sequel Super Mario World became. Since it contains no save spots and relatively short levels, one can power through the game in a good hour, though the Virtual Console release allows for a Save feature of sorts. It was a product of its time, as portable gaming was just beginning to take off again thanks to the Game Boy and was designed to be completed in a single session.

Such awesome music. Then it's Mario vs. a Sphinx!

Despite its length, it holds a soft spot in my childhood for introducing Mario to the handheld scene and for spawning the Land Trilogy that then spun off into the inventive and fun Wario series. Curious Mario players can find it easily on the 3DS Virtual Console.

Land Series
1. Super Mario Land

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Hope they release the entire trilogy soon. I'd love to replay the third game again.

Ciao!