Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Mario Kart 7 or Super Mario 3D Land?

A question to all of you who have played both Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land: Which 3DS game do you think I should buy first?

Don't worry, I intend to own both of them at some point, but at the moment I'm planning to buy just one of them between Christmas and, say, the end of January (assuming I can hold out that long).


As for which way I'm currently leaning: Super Mario 3D Land seems like the better bet as a "first game," given its single-player focus. That said, Mario Kart 7's online multiplayer modes sound awfully appealing, too.

Oh, hell, maybe I'll just get them both at the same time. Should I cave at the last minute, though, I'd greatly appreciate hearing which of the two above-mentioned games all of you would buy first if you were me.

33 comments:

Motherplayer said...

I think this would depend on what you're in the mood for right now. So you want an adventure game or a wild cart racer? I say consider that and you'll have your answer.

Bryan Ochalla said...

Oh, sure, Motherplayer, make me do all the hard work myself :P The truth is, I'm not sure what I'm in the mood for right now. My knee-jerk reaction: I want to jump into Mario Kart 7 as soon as possible. That said, I'm worried that if I don't pick up 3D Land soon, I'll either never pick it up or I'll pick it up and it'll get lost in next year's flood of promising-looking games (like Luigi's Mansion 2, Rhythm Heaven Fever and Xenoblade).

Motherplayer said...

Well in that case there is only one thing to do: Do a coin flip and decide from there. Not turning back. No regrets. That would be the easiest way. Play chance with it and maybe it'll point you out in the right direction.

Adam said...

Better get MK7 before all the kids figure out how to ruin online play by cheating. I remember the whole snaking thing with MKDS, it was a good few months before online play was ruined by it's own community.

Bryan Ochalla said...

Yes, I think you're right, Motherplayer. Or I could just do what I mentioned in the post: Break down and buy both at once :P Whether or not I do that depends on whether or not I decide to make a few select purchases on eBay in the coming days...

Bryan Ochalla said...

Hey there, Adam! Yeah, that's definitely something to consider. That said, it's likely MK7's online play won't be ruined for a while, since the 3DS has yet to be hacked (as far as I'm aware). Also, I think the Wii version's online is still doing pretty well -- or it was when I last tried it. Anyway, definitely something to consider.

Marcus said...

If you're up for multiplayer MK7 is definitely the way to go. Personally I'm going to hold out for Animal Crossing DS for that though.

I've not played Super Mario 3D Land yet but my friends who have are absolutely in love with it, going so far as to say that (alongside Ocarina 3D) is THE game to sell the system.

Bryan Ochalla said...

Thanks for chiming in, Marcus! Yeah, I've heard a lot of great things about 3D Land myself. It certainly *looks* great, doesn't it?

Do you have a 3DS, by the way? For some reason I can't remember if you do or don't. Or was that when you meant by holding out until Animal Crossing 3DS?

Marcus said...

It looks soooo good. I'll probably have to wait a while to try it though.

Ah, yeah I do! I got one once the price dropped (although I wish I had waited for that new pink one). As for the AC comment I meant that's basically going to be my first multiplayer-capable game I buy :). I'm currently very conservative with 3DS game purchases, lol.

Bryan Ochalla said...

Oh, I thought you had said before that you had one. Sorry for not remembering. Anyway, I understand being conservative in your purchases. Which games do you currently have, by the way?

Marcus said...

It's all good! There's lots of people who talk to you on Blogger-land, after all :P.

Honestly I've only got Pokemon Rumble Blast at the moment. I kind of restricted myself to not buying ports /almost ports as well as things that add little to a franchise (like Nintendogs + Cats). It leaves me with a very small selection of 3DS games! As for Pokemon I didn't know that there were other Rumble games before it...

Bryan Ochalla said...

Ah, yes, THAT is why I should have known you have a 3DS, Marcus -- I remember reading on your blog that you have Pokemon Rumble Blast.

Anyway, I understand not wanting to buy ports or almost-ports. Me neither! At the moment, in fact, Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land are the only 3DS games I want. More will be out soon, though, so that's not really a bad thing, IMO :)

Marcus said...

I really, really hope that some of the fashion and dating sim games will come over to 3DS. I mean, a few came to DS so I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed that some more do too... If so, then my 3DS library will be quite lovely :). Until then, it will be sparse but that's okay lol.

Unknown said...

Bryan! How could you betray me?? I thought you had your heart set on Mario Kart 7! ;)

Well, you do know what I'm getting. I think my copy of MK7 is in the mail now (I asked my mom for it as a birthday/Christmas present).

As I mentioned to you on Twitter, I held a StreetPass meetup on Saturday for the Australian launch of the game, and we had a full 8 people turn up. Did you know that you can actually do download play with the full selection of courses this time around? I thought that was SUPER.

One of our frequent StreetPassers has 3 3DS's (she's a crazy, a 50+ woman who games more than I do! I love her), so Shaun and I were both able to join in via download play. We had a lot of fun, and there are plenty of new and old courses and some customization, but when it comes down to it, I think it really is just more Mario Kart.

Regardless, I'm most excited to finally be able to play a game with people I know online! (I am so NOT an online gamer normally)

Bryan Ochalla said...

Marcus: I wonder if the sequel to Style Savvy will make it to the States? I certainly hope so! Some of the dating sims would be nice, too. Anyway, I'll cross my fingers for us both :)

Bryan Ochalla said...

Oh, Anne, you *know* I'm getting them both eventually. Hell, I may get them both at the same time. At the moment, though, I think I'll get just one of them (right after Christmas) and then the other in January.

Anyway, right now I'm strongly leaning toward Mario Kart. 3D Land seems very enticing, of course, but quite as enticing as racing people on line with Mario Kart 7.

I'm not usually an online gamer either, by the way. In fact, other than Mario Kart Wii and Grand Slam Tennis (also for Wii), I can't think of the last game I played on line. I much prefer solo play, usually.

I love that you host these StreetPass events, by the way. How fun! Also, I'm jealous of this 50-year-old woman! I wonder if such meetup events happen in Seattle? May have to look it up after I finally get one :)

kidicarus222 said...

Super Mario 3D Land is all well and good, but I feel like any gamer with a blog as pink as yours couldn't pass up the opportunity to play as a character named Honey Queen, what with her corpulent, royal sassiness.

Bryan Ochalla said...

Ha! I like the way you think, Drew! Also, you know me too well -- I *do* want to play as Honey Queen. At least once :P

Do you have a 3DS, by the way? I can't remember if you've mentioned it in the past or not...

kidicarus222 said...

I do have a 3DS, though the only title is Mario Land. I'm happy with the sustem and eager to see how it develops. That said, I'm more excited about upcoming titles than I am stoked on Mario Land.

Bryan Ochalla said...

Are there any particular aspects of Mario Land that you like or don't like at this point, Drew? As for Mario Kart 7: Are you planning to get that at some point? Also, what upcoming games are you excited about at the moment?

Sorry to ask so many questions. Just curious! :)

kidicarus222 said...

You know, I don't love 3D Land's controls. Often, Mario goes toddling off a cliff or saunters when he should be running and I die. I've never had a Mario game whose controls seem to frustrate me so. That said, it is a brilliant bridge between the New SMB games and the Galaxy games, and I enjoy the direct, smaller level design.

I'm getting Mario Kart 7 in the not-too-distant future. I look forward to it, as I am the new Kid Icarus, the new Animal Crossing, the new Paper Mario and probably some non-Nintendo titles if I really think about it.

RetroKingSimon said...

I haven't played a Mario games since Yoshi's Island on my SNES (unless you count Yoshi's Story on the N64) but I'd definitely be more interested in Mario 3D Land :)

Bryan Ochalla said...

Drew: I've read that comment elsewhere, too. Interesting. It actually seems kind of shocking to me since, like you, I've never really been frustrated by Mario's controls before.

Other than that, though, I really like the sound of these smaller levels. I loved Galaxy, but I'll admit that some stages were a bit too sprawling for me.

As for you getting Mario Kart 7 (and looking forward to new Animal Crossing, Paper Mario, etc.): Yay!

Bryan Ochalla said...

You never played Mario 64 or Mario Galaxy or New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Simon? For shame!

Just kidding. There's nothing shameful about it. Still, I'd highly recommend playing each of those games should you ever get the chance!

Unknown said...

There ought to be a StreetPass group for Seattle, but I'm not finding one right now! They have lots of active ones all over the world these days, so I'd be surprised if Washington didn't. I'll keep an eye open!

Bryan Ochalla said...

Thanks, Anne! I'll look into it myself more seriously once I finally get a 3DS. There *has* to be some sort of group here considering Nintendo of America is based here...

Viewtiful_Justin said...

Get 3D Land.

Bryan Ochalla said...

I will, don't worry! I may get Mario Kart 7 first, though. Anyway, you enjoyed 3D Land that much? You didn't seem as impressed by it as I thought you'd be the last time you mentioned it.

RetroKingSimon said...

I don't have a Wii to play Mario Galaxy, Bryan. I've had an N64 for over ten years though, and even a copy of Mario 64 for about five years, so I don't really have an excuse there! :P

Bryan Ochalla said...

OK, Simon, I'll let you off the hook for not having a Wii or a copy of Galaxy. Should you ever get a Wii, though, I"d highly recommend Galaxy. Actually, I'd highly recommend a lot of games. So, let me know if you ever get a Wii, OK? :)

Marco Grande Arbitro said...

I think it better to focus on "3D Mario Land." 7 Mario Kart you can always play later

Bryan Ochalla said...

Ah, another opinion! Thanks, Marco. Honestly, at this point I think I may just pick up both of them at the same time :P

Anonymous said...

wel i am only allowed one because i have only have £30. i want both wich is better?