Almost since its inception, Nintendo’s Mario franchise has been synonymous with video games; even non-gamers recognize the iconic character and it seems the series is almost universally beloved. It’s no surprise that Nintendo has finally released a Mario game for its struggling new portable system, the 3DS, in order to boost its sales. This has always been a successful strategy for Nintendo in the past, all the way back to the original Nintendo Entertainment System, and it certainly seems like it will work for the 3DS with the release of Super Mario 3D Land.

Super Mario 3D Land once again puts players in the role of the famous plumber as he tries to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of the villainous Bowser. The structure of the game is similar to that of previous Mario games in which players visit a series of self-contained levels across eight worlds, with about five to six levels in each world. Each world ends with a boss level staged in either Bowser’s castle, a la Super Mario Bros. or on a floating pirate ship like in Super Mario Bros. 3. After completing the first eight worlds, gamers have access to an additional eight “special worlds,” which are reiterations of the original eight but with slight changes designed to increase the difficulty.

The gameplay is also a nod to Mario games of the past, combining elements of the two-dimensional games from the NES era with the more modern three-dimensional gameplay of the N64 and Gamecube. Throughout the game, Nintendo pays homage to the long history of the franchise borrowing concepts from nearly every entry in the series. As a gamer who has played and enjoyed every one of the main Mario games as well as too many spin-offs to count, it was an absolute joy to see these references to the game’s origins. I particularly enjoyed seeing Nintendo bring back the Tanooki Suit, a beloved power-up which appeared in 1988 with Super Mario Bros. 3. Nintendo clearly had its long-time fans in mind when it made 3D Land, and it was nice to see that dedication.

While 3D Land is heavily indebted to the legacy of the series, it is also an incredible game in its own right and, in a way, marks the high point of the 3DS to date. Unlike previous 3D games on the system in which the 3D effects were merely employed to enhance the visuals, Super Mario 3D Land successfully incorporates the effect into the gameplay. The 3D effects create depth in the levels that greatly enhances the platforming sequences in the game. Several areas also employ optical illusions that necessitate the use of the 3D effect to get through. 3D Land successfully shows how the 3DS’ focal feature can be used to enhance gameplay and be more than just another gimmick.

Outside of its use of 3D effects, 3D Land doesn’t do much to change the formula of past Mario games. That’s not to say that there is anything wrong with that; the franchise is enormously successful because its core gameplay is simply intuitive and fun. The game has enormous appeal for gamers of all stripes. The first eight worlds aren’t too difficult and younger generations should have plenty of fun getting through these levels. At the same time, the additional special worlds ramp up the challenge considerably and finding the three hidden star coins in each level will test even the most seasoned gamers. The references to previous Mario games should also keep veterans of the series entertained and appeal to their sense of nostalgia.

There’s truly something for everyone in 3D Land and it stands as the best non-remake on the 3DS to date. I give Super Mario 3D Land a 9/10.