I can't believe I defended this game back in 2002. As a platformer maybe I can give it a 3 out of 5 but as a Mario game, it is a 2 out of 5. The controls are not as tight as they should be. Mario is constantly slipping around, hard to make him look straight. It controls worse in the stages without Fludd. Fludd is annoying the entire game, some moves are hidden and not explained in game or manual. Jump sometimes does not work. Visual look is nice and bosses look nice but the controls and repetition of stars, the fact that you can't approach stars in any order really bring this game down, but mainly, the poor controls. No desire to get all the stars.