I don't hate the NSMB series of games — they've got some solid 2D Mario action in them — but they are aesthetically revolting. I was so excited to see Wonder allowed to have some style, and the work they did to make the models look and feel more like sprites is a tremendous visual upgrade. The game looks great.
It is also, thankfully, a great playing game as well. It's the truest successor to Super Mario World yet. There are a few challenges, but it's not a particularly difficult game. That said, neither is Super Mario World, and that never stopped me from loving it.
If I had a few nitpicks, it's the lack of end-world bosses in a few worlds, lack of boss variety overall (this game should've really had the Koopa Kids, not a handful of Bowser Jr. fights), and the lack of commitment to the flower coin challenges. You keep flower coins even if you die while collecting them, which feels like it robs the challenge of its teeth. I would've liked to see an optional challenge layer that was allowed to be challenging.
It is also, thankfully, a great playing game as well. It's the truest successor to Super Mario World yet. There are a few challenges, but it's not a particularly difficult game. That said, neither is Super Mario World, and that never stopped me from loving it.
If I had a few nitpicks, it's the lack of end-world bosses in a few worlds, lack of boss variety overall (this game should've really had the Koopa Kids, not a handful of Bowser Jr. fights), and the lack of commitment to the flower coin challenges. You keep flower coins even if you die while collecting them, which feels like it robs the challenge of its teeth. I would've liked to see an optional challenge layer that was allowed to be challenging.