Super Mario 3D Land Guide How to Play
Suits and Transformations
Mario
In his standard form, Mario can jump, dash, and smash with the best of them. With his impressive athleticism and resilience, Mario is capable of overcoming almost any challenge. If Mario suffers damage, he’s reduced to a more vulnerable form. When this happens, look for a Super Mushroom to get Mario back into fighting shape.
Small Mario
When Mario takes damage, he becomes Small Mario. In this state, Mario is at his most vulnerable. Small Mario can’t break through Blocks, and a single hit will put an end to his adventure. This doesn’t mean Small Mario is defenseless, however. In this form, Mario can still combat enemies, traverse hazardous areas, and perform his acts of customary heroism—he just has to be a little more cautious until he finds a fresh power-up.
Fire Mario
When Mario collects a Fire Flower, he’s transformed into Fire Mario. In this form, Mario can use fireballs to attack his enemies from a safe distance. Not all enemies are vulnerable to fireballs, but Fire Mario can easily adapt to these situations. Fire Mario has all of Super Mario’s acrobatic moves, so he’s always ready to switch up his attacks. This rare transformation also makes our hero a bit more durable. When Fire Mario takes damage, he simply reverts to Mario’s normal form.
When in this form, press 
(or 
) to skip a fireball across the ground. Fireballs bounce off of walls, making them particularly effective in enclosed spaces. Fireballs can also be used to ignite special pedestals, revealing hidden items or secret areas in the process.
Boomerang Mario
When Mario collects a Boomerang Flower, he becomes Boomerang Mario. Like the Fire Mario transformation, this form allows Mario to attack from a distance. However, Mario can use boomerangs to take out flying enemies his fireballs could never reach! Boomerangs are also able to collect pick-ups, making this a particularly versatile transformation.
When in this form, press 
(or 
) to throw a boomerang. You can only use one boomerang at a time. After you throw a boomerang, you must wait for it to return or break before you can throw the next one.
Tanooki Mario
When Mario collects a Super Leaf, he transforms into Tanooki Mario. In this form, Mario can perform gravity-defying flutter jumps and devastating tail whips! Flutter-jumping slows Mario’s descent to such an extreme, he practically walks on air. Tanooki Mario can use his tail whip to attack enemies, smash Blocks, and activate Tail Wheels. When combined with Mario’s acrobatic skill, the Tanooki Suit is one of his most versatile outfits.
Flutter-jump by holding $ (or 
) while in the air. This not only extends the duration of your jump, it allows you make midair adjustments for precision landings. To perform a tail whip, tap 
(or 
).
Statue Mario
When Mario collects a Statue Leaf, he undergoes a special Tanooki transformation. As long as he’s wearing a neckerchief, Tanooki Mario can perform a ground pound to turn into Statue Mario. In this form Mario can’t move, but he’s immune to all damage. Each Statue Mario transformation is temporary, but the next one is only a ground pound away; as long as you have a Statue Leaf, the Statue Mario form can be used whenever you like.
Jump into air, then press 
(or 
) to become Statue Mario. Hold the button to maintain the transformation for up to eight seconds.
White TanookiIf you lose five lives on a single level, you’ll have the opportunity to don the White Tanooki Suit. This suit has all the abilities of a standard Tanooki Suit, but it also makes Mario immune to damage. Keep in mind, however, that this suit won’t protect you from deadly falls. If you lose ten lives on a single level, the P-Wing becomes available. The P-Wing is a powerful item that takes you straight to the end of a level. When these items are available, you can collect them from the Assist Blocks that appear at the start of the level (or near the Checkpoint Flag, if you’ve made it that far).Be warned that Assist Blocks aren’t offered in Special Worlds, nor do they appear in any levels you’ve already cleared. |
Propeller Box
Using the Propeller Box, Mario can launch himself to amazing heights and float gently to the ground. This allows Mario to explore areas that would otherwise be impossible to reach. The Propeller Box acts as a temporary suit that Mario can slip right over his current outfit. When he suffers damage, the Propeller Box is destroyed.
? Box
? Boxes look just like ? Blocks, but they behave very differently. When Mario hits one of these rare items, the ? Box breaks free and encases Mario’s upper body! Like Propeller Boxes, ? Boxes act as temporary suits. As Mario moves, the ? Block generates coins. When he takes damage, the ? Box is destroyed.