Milk-and-water battles, godawful giant fights that amount to minutes-long QTEs, basically does not have character writing outside of Bowser, likely Shimomura's worst ever work outside of the singular piece that everyone remembers (which doesn't even suit the scenario it plays in—write a climactic battle track that isn't a melancholic kingdom hearts piano piece you hack.) What the hell happened to the comedic setpieces from Superstar Saga? This one seems to think writing nine quips in a row qualifies as a laugh riot.

It's well-liked because you can play as Bowser, right? That has to be the whole of it.