Playing the last few Mario games might give someone the idea that Mario is, above all, an idea man. “Super Mario 3D Land” reminds you that Mario is a man of action, and maybe even a little dangerous. The game delivers a sensation that’s hasn’t been associated with the chubby plumber in ages: excitement. Toggling frequently between 2-D side-scrolling and 3-D roaming, the game satisfies fans of both styles, and got my heart pumping with a level of challenge that brought me back to the days of playing Mario on the original Nintendo.

That the game is so good isn’t clear at first. In fact, “3D Land” greets you as a series of missteps, a rushed capitulation to the notion that a Nintendo system doesn’t really exist until you can play Mario on it. The game brings back the beloved Tanooki Suit — the one that gives Mario a tail — but takes away what made it so special: the ability to fly.