REDMOND, Wash.– The timeless platforming fun of the Super Mario^™ video game franchise expands into a new dimension this holiday season with the Nov. 13 launch of the Super Mario 3D Land^™ game. Created exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS^™ hand-held system, this new game places Mario^™ and his friends in immersive environments that players can enjoy in true 3D without the need for special glasses. Also introducing power-ups, enemies and the return of Tanooki Mario, Super Mario 3D Land promises to satisfy series fans, newcomers and holiday gift seekers at a suggested retail price of $39.99 in the United States.

The game’s remarkable 3D visuals make it easy for players to judge depth and distance as they run through levels, collecting coins and bumping question blocks in search of interesting power-ups. Abilities such as rolling somersaults and high-speed dash moves add to players’ strategic options. Players also can play as Tanooki Mario, using his tail to hover or perform floating jumps and attacks. The game’s level design makes use of the Nintendo 3DS system’s 3D capabilities; some levels require players to progress from top to bottom, while others challenge them to move forward into the spatial depths of an environment. This is truly the next evolution in Mario game play.

“Mario fans from every generation will love experiencing the Super Mario franchise in true 3D,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Making your way through the Mushroom Kingdom has never been so immersive, and Nintendo 3DS lets players dive into the action anytime, anywhere. The game is sure to put smiles on lots of faces this holiday season.”

New characters in the game include enemy Goombas with tails and Piranha Plants that can spit ink to obscure players’ view. In addition to familiar special items such as Fire Flowers and Super Mushrooms, players will find Propeller Blocks that let Mario reach high places and a Boomerang Flower that changes him into Boomerang Mario and enables him to throw boomerangs. Additionally, players can examine parts of some levels by using the Nintendo 3DS system’s built-in gyro sensor to pan and explore.

Another unique feature can give players a helping hand when they’re having trouble with a tricky level. If a player loses too many lives in a row, an invincible White Tanooki Mario or P-Wing can be activated, giving the player a chance to complete the level without enemy threats. Players can also choose to skip ahead to the end of a tricky stage if they prefer to simply move on. These features are completely optional for gamers who prefer to play through levels without help.

Nintendo Stages Epic Super Mario Celebration in Times Square

On Saturday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors to Military Island in New York’s Times Square can join Nintendo for a special interactive Super Mario 3D Land launch event. For one day only, fans are invited to play inside Mario’s 3D world with life-size warp pipes, trampoline coin jumps and a flagpole finale. Attendees can also enjoy live appearances by a Mario costumed character, prize giveaways while supplies last, fun photo backdrops and the chance to playSuper Mario 3D Land before the game launches. Fans are encouraged to dress as Mario or other favorite Mushroom Kingdom characters for the occasion. To help Mario fans take this experience home early, Toys“R”Us Times Square, which is located next to the event site, will offer the game for sale during the event from noon to 2 p.m.

Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

For more information about Super Mario 3D Land, visit http://supermario3dland.nintendo.com.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii^™ home console, Nintendo 3DS^™ and Nintendo DS^™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System^™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.8 billion video games and more than 610 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi^™ and Nintendo DSi XL^™, as well as the Game Boy^™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES^™, Nintendo 64^™ and Nintendo GameCube^™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario^™, Donkey Kong^™, Metroid^™, Zelda^™ and Pokémon^™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website athttp://www.nintendo.com.