This game is not bad. It’s good, even. But I can’t bring myself to like it.
Virtually every aspect of this game is derivative of NSMB and NSMBW, so it’s hard to talk about its merits without coming off as repetitive. If you’ve played NSMB, you know exactly what you’re getting.
Ironically, despite being the least memorable NSMB game, it is the most consistent in its theming and style: the gimmick being coins this time around. Coins have always been a fairly archaic and even pointless aspect of Mario games, and this game does nothing to change this. Instead of currency serving a potentially engaging purpose, the coins just wind up a stylistic gimmick, one that does not improve or freshen the existing, bland, NSMB art style.
The level design may still be solid, but the lack of identity or ambition in comparison with the rest of the family make me question whether it’s worth even worth the purchase. It’s not even a good choice for “baby’s first 3DS game” like NSMB is for the DS as Super Mario 3D Land fills that role far better.
Virtually every aspect of this game is derivative of NSMB and NSMBW, so it’s hard to talk about its merits without coming off as repetitive. If you’ve played NSMB, you know exactly what you’re getting.
Ironically, despite being the least memorable NSMB game, it is the most consistent in its theming and style: the gimmick being coins this time around. Coins have always been a fairly archaic and even pointless aspect of Mario games, and this game does nothing to change this. Instead of currency serving a potentially engaging purpose, the coins just wind up a stylistic gimmick, one that does not improve or freshen the existing, bland, NSMB art style.
The level design may still be solid, but the lack of identity or ambition in comparison with the rest of the family make me question whether it’s worth even worth the purchase. It’s not even a good choice for “baby’s first 3DS game” like NSMB is for the DS as Super Mario 3D Land fills that role far better.