Released in November 2011, Super Mario 3D Land was specifically crafted to appeal to both long-time fans of 2D side-scrollers and newer fans of exploratory 3D titles. Director Koichi Hayashida described it as a "3D Mario that plays like a 2D Mario game". This was achieved by:
: It marked the major return of the Tanooki Suit for the first time in over 20 years, alongside new items like the Boomerang Suit. Old Is New With Super Mario 3D Land Nintendo 3DS Download Super Mario 3D Land (USA) (En,Fr,Es) |...
: Unlike the open exploration of Super Mario 64 , levels in 3D Land are linear paths leading to a traditional Goal Pole. Released in November 2011, Super Mario 3D Land
The game was the first to fully utilize the 3DS's autostereoscopic technology to enhance gameplay rather than just aesthetics. Old Is New With Super Mario 3D Land