This review contains spoilers
Is it just me, or did the game feel a bit short? I would have really enjoyed a more extensive post-game, kinda like in 3D World. In terms of actual quantity of content, this didn't really feel like an improvement over NSMBU (only 7 worlds including post-game, c'mon). Hopefully they don't shove some DLC down our throats in a few months -- that "in-game purchases" warning under the ESRB logo worries me a lot.
Anyways, it's a very fine 2D Mario game. I enjoy the fact that instead of trying to push the traditionalist NSMB style further, they embraced the gimmicky side of Mario to its absolute peak. There's really nothing like it in the series and I am very grateful that they tried this out, it's most definitely the best 2D Mario game of the 21st century so far. I am however worried that the whole wonder flower gimmicks will make replays of the game lose some of its magic, the same way replaying SMO for a second time is kinda bland.
Anyways, it's a very fine 2D Mario game. I enjoy the fact that instead of trying to push the traditionalist NSMB style further, they embraced the gimmicky side of Mario to its absolute peak. There's really nothing like it in the series and I am very grateful that they tried this out, it's most definitely the best 2D Mario game of the 21st century so far. I am however worried that the whole wonder flower gimmicks will make replays of the game lose some of its magic, the same way replaying SMO for a second time is kinda bland.
2010
In theory, this should be my favorite Mario game. I've poured in thousands upon thousands of hours over the course of a decade mastering this game, speedrunning it, and exploring its limits. I own six separate copies of this game in various languages and systems. Indeed, the reason why I've spent so much time on this game is that its level design is some of the greatest stuff Nintendo has ever made. Yoshi is such a versatile and broken asset to the game, the platforming is complex and vibrant, and all stars excite me. It really is a perfect add-on to SMG1, as it originally intended to be. The reason why I can't bring myself to give this game a perfect score is that instead of marketing this game as a sort of 'lost levels' or addon to Super Mario Galaxy, they slapped in a lazy story that feels lacking, unfinished and lacks vision. The whole story of this game is filler. Did they do it to boost sales? So they could more comfortably shelve it alongside other mainline Mario games? It feels slightly disingenuous. Either way, it's not a big complaint. This is a sublime game and I've had an outrageous amount of fun with it se a child, a teenager and a young adult. I truly hope they re-release this on the Switch, someday.