Super Mario Land

Super Mario Land
Developer	Nintendo R&D1
Publisher	Nintendo
System	Game Boy, 3DS (Virtual Console)
Release Date	Game Boy JP April 21, 1989 US August 1989 EU September 28, 1990 3DS Virtual Console US June 6, 2011 EU June 7, 2011 JP June 7, 2011 SK February 3, 2016
Gallery	GH Gallery
Rating	ESRB: E

Super Mario Land is a 2-D platforming Mario adventure that was made for the Game Boy in 1989 and acted as one of its launch titles. Directed by Gunpei Yokoi, it marked the first Mario game that Shigeru Miyamoto was not in charge of and the first handheld Mario platformer.

Story

An alien called Tatanga has kidnapped Princess Daisy of Sarasaland and placed the kingdom's citizens under his mind control. Mario must save her while defeating the enemies that stand in his way.

Gameplay

The game retains the basic gameplay of Super Mario Bros.. This includes the presence of mushrooms that can grow Mario and give him an extra hit, as well as the Starman that grants temporary invincibility. The Fire Flower, however, has been replaced by a different type of flower that allows Mario to shoot out 'superballs'. Unlike fireballs, superballs can bounce off of objects and can be used to collect coins. In addition to standard power-ups, there are also levels in which Mario rides a submarine and plane.

Super Mario Land is divided into four different worlds, with each world having three levels. Each of the levels has a different theme; Birabuto resembles ancient Egypt, Muda is an aquatic area, Easton resembles China, and Chai is in the sky. At the end of each level aside from the boss levels, the goal is represented by a tower with two doors. The ground-level door is the standard exit. By reaching the upper exit, the player will earn the right to play a bonus game, where the player can earn extra lives or power-ups.

Completing the game once unlocks its Hard Mode, which has more enemies. A level select can also be unlocked by beating the Hard Mode. However, this game was unable to save, so all progress is lost whenever the game is reset or turned off.

Legacy

Super Mario Land was popular enough to number among the top 10 best-selling Mario games and the fourth bestselling game for the Game Boy. It started a subseries on the Game Boy that would transition into a Wario Land series with its third installment. This game was also notable for introducing a new princess, Daisy, who would go onto appear in various Mario spin-off games.

Ports and Remakes

• In 2011, Super Mario Land was released for download on the Nintendo 3DS as one of the launch titles for the 3DS Virtual Console.
• In May 2024, it was added to the Nintendo Switch's library of Game Boy games that could be freely played by Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.

Sequels

Super Mario Land was followed by Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins in 1992.

Homages/Other

• One of 9-Volt's microgames in WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! as well as one of 5-Volt's microgames in 'WarioWare Gold are based on Super Mario Land.
• Music from Super Mario Land has been used in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, as well as in parts of other medleys/remixed songs in Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games and the Remix 10 mode of Super Mario Run.
• In Super Mario Maker 2, the Superball Flower appears as an unlockable power-up that can be used in the Super Mario Bros. style. When using it, the character's sprite will change to resemble a monochromatic Game Boy sprite, and the music and sound effects will also be based on Super Mario Land.