This is pretty much my perfect 2D Mario game. I’ve always considered the 3D Mario games to be leagues above even the best of the 2D games. For me this is the only 2D Mario that manages to match the feeling of excitement and, well, wonder I get from playing one of the 3D games. There were several times where the visuals blew me away, the animations and use of color are especially effective. This game makes many fun callbacks to older games in the series, and not just the “look! It’s something from Mario 1!” thing that’s been done to death. Lots of songs from throughout the series history, the blocks that flip around when you bump them from Super Mario World are here out of nowhere, which was a fun surprise. The game never fails to surprise you with stuff from the past, as well as completely new stuff. Obviously there is tons of variety in the level themes, and there are rarely more than like 4 levels of the same theme. The gameplay is constantly changing, with a ton of unique wonder effects and badges, different types of challenges on the map, a large roster of characters, and the fact that you can do the last 3 worlds in any order. When you mix it all up it really feels like it’d be impossible to experience this game the same way twice.

Now that I’m done meatriding, here’s some very minor downsides. The general level design feels like a very slight step down from New Super Mario Bros. U. Obviously the levels are way more distinct from each other now than they were in that game, which makes up for it completely, but I think the actual design of the levels is a little bit more simplistic here. The camera rarely every zooms out to show you multiple paths and a bunch of different things to do like it does in NSMBU. Like I said though, it’s very minor, and doesn’t have much of an actual effect at all. I kinda wish easy mode was a toggle so I could play as the yoshis and nabbit without falling asleep. The badges really do make up for this, but I kinda wish there was just one more powerup. I want them to do more returning powerups that aren’t just the fire flower, so I would’ve appreciated maybe a flight powerup like the leaf or the cape, or maybe just like a mini mushroom or something.

That’s all. Very enjoyable to 100%, rarely ever had to look up any obscure secret exits or anything. This is my favorite 2D Mario by a long shot. Probably in my top 5 overall Mario games. I can’t wait to play multiplayer with my friends.