The best Mario titles mix the freedom of 3D gameplay with the tight controls and precision of 2D gaming. Super Mario 3D Land feels wonderful, with controls that come naturally to the player and plenty of moves that allow Mario to explore his surroundings. Each new concept and power is introduced to the player in a safe place, allowing you to explore what you can do before the levels ramp up the difficulty. Extra lives are plentiful, and there is little to be lost by dying. If you begin to struggle with a level, the game will help you along.

There are eight worlds, each with a series of stages laid out in a straight line, as well as some bonuses to be found in each world. To finish each level, you simply have to get to the flagpole and slide down it, and if you can reach the very top you're given an extra life. There are three oversized coins to find in each level as well, and those will be trickier to track down, but they're also needed if you hope to see everything in the game. I'm not allowed to talk about what happens after the eighth world, but I thought I would be able to finish the game in one sitting. I'll just say that goal became laughable once I got to the "end" of the game. There is more than enough content here to justify the price, although it may not appear that way during your first hour with the game.

Is the 3D necessary?

The game is presented with a unique view for the Mario series. "Early on, we established the theme of making a 3D Super Mario game that would be close to 2D so that anyone could play," Yoshiaki Koizumi, one of the game's producers, told Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. "One big difference between 2D and 3D is the camera. We made adjustments as we went to the parallel-track camera we used in Super Mario Galaxy 2 so it would be easy to play."

This means the camera is locked in one position, and follows Mario as he moves around each level. You can turn the view this way and that if you'd like to look around, and the game will sometimes move the camera to give you a specific angle here and there, but overall the view is constant. This helps you maintain your orientation in the game world, and players who maximize the 3D slider on their system will alsol have an advantage; you gain a good amount of data about where things are located via the depth added to the game by the 3DS. Jumps become easier, and there is one particular level that's nearly vertical and features some very long falls. It's the best use of vertigo I've seen in a game since Jumping Flash, and I don't say that lightly.

If you either can't perceive 3D or turn the effect off, some jumps become harder, and there are even a few small rooms that only make sense with the depth that the 3DS offers—you'll actually see an icon on the screen during these sections so you know to turn on 3D if you've kept it off—but the 3D effect is not necessary to enjoy or finish the game. The game is much stronger with the 3D turned on, and Nintendo throws many neat moments and tricks into the game that are much more effective in 3D, but all audiences are welcome here.

The levels are the star of this particular show

Mario games are known for their top-notch level design, and that mastery is in full effect in the plumber's first game on the 3DS. Each level is short; you can play through one from beginning to end in just a few minutes, which is perfect for a portable game. That being said, each level is also filled with in-jokes, references to past games, secret paths, and those three coins that can be collected. You may be able to "beat" a level in a matter of minutes, but true mastery will take time, and as you progress through the game, you'll be asked to put your skills to the test. The difficulty level ramps up perfectly, as you will rarely feel out of your element. The game all but throws extra lives at you, so you rarely need to worry about running out.

The game has a few other ways to help you if you find yourself stuck on a level. If you die five times in a row, the game will give you a box that contains a silver leaf that gives you the standard Tanooki powers—the tail you can spin to attack enemies, and the ability to control your fall—as well as making you invincible. Here's the thing: you don't have to take the leaf, but it's there if you want it. I used it on a few levels, and left it alone in others. Nintendo simply wants you to see everything the game has to offer, and it's clear everyone involved with the game poured their hearts into the level design. With that much dedicated to all the fun surprises, of course they want to help you out when you may be tempted to walk away.

The game is so good, the levels are so much fun, and the pacing is handled with such grace that my first session lasted until the extended battery of my 3DS died, and then I plugged the system in to play some more. Each surprise was delightful, and the references to past games and tropes from the Mario series will make older games very happy. Each level offers something different, giving you a strong incentive to continue playing. This is the rare game that delivers what can only be described as wonder on a regular basis. Nintendo offers inspiration on a strict schedule, and it's an amazing thing to experience.

Super Mario Land 3D manages to feel familiar while constantly offering new challenges and thrilling locations to discover and explore. The 3D adds to the game, and I kept the slider turned all the way up through my entire play session. The game also offers an extra-powerful 3D mode by pressing up on the digital pad, but that was a little too much for me and I quickly developed a headache. That being said, this is the game that will sell a 3DS to every child or adult who loves platforming games. Nintendo always knows how to take advantage of its own systems, and this title proves that once again. Explaining or describing any more of the game would do you a disservice, so I'll only say this is one of the best games I've played this year, and you need to own it.

If you don't have a 3DS, this is a good excuse to put one on your Christmas list. If Mario Kart 7 is half as good as Super Mario 3D Land, Nintendo is going to have an amazing holiday season.