On one hand, this is the most buttery smooth 3D Mario has ever felt thanks to great controls and near-perfect pacing, while at the same time this is probably the easiest of the 3D entries by a country mile. Yes, I know that post-game challenges and bonuses are there, but the significant ease of the main game all the way to the end minus 2 encounters at the tail end also diminishes a lot of the experience. It felt weird being 6 to 7 hours into the game and feeling like I was still in the first level.

That being said, the game is so easy to jump into and recommend, and is a beautiful love letter to the Mario franchise as a whole, so just play it.

Rapture is amazing as always, though the "been there, done that" feeling can't really be shaken, as the initial awe of taking the place in can't be replicated. The combat improvements, while very noticeable and more than welcome, weren't enough to keep me going at the pace of the original due to the story not being as engaging.

This game -needed-Minerva's Den, while the original is absolute kino as is. In any event, if you think Rapture is the coolest setting ever, there's no reason to not enjoy more of it!