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What is it?
Super Mario Galaxy-style 3D gameplay (without the planetoids or space-faring travel) meets pop-out-the-screen 3D graphics to form the plumber's latest adventure.
Why is it cool?
When a new Mario platformer comes out, it's tough for any game to compete with it. Those Nintendo developers have the precision controls, clever level designs, and all-around cuteness nailed for this series. Super Mario for the 3DS is a bit slower-paced, and the stages are a little more straight-forward and confined, but the precision? The cleverness? The damn cuteness? All there. It's still classic Mario, and nothing else from Nintendo — not Zelda, not Star Fox, and certainly not Luigi — can beat that.
The moment the crowd went wild
Four things made the audience cheer out loud during Nintendo's E3 press conference: Watching the Wii U in action, hearing that Smash Bros. is coming to the 3DS and Wii U, and seeing two big comebacks: the other Bro. returning to Luigi's Mansion 2 and the Tanooki Suit. Yes, something as simple as Mario taking that ratty old raccoon outfit out of the attic can make grown gamers cry.
From the demos so far, Tanooki 2.0 isn't offering the power of flight (now everyone will cry for a different reason). But it still does a good job of terrorizing Goombas with its deadly tail swipe. And yes, Mario looks plump and adorable in it.
Looking for more E3 news, previews, videos, and analysis? Check out our E3 2011 Coverage Hub.
