The plot isn't video gamey at all. This isn't a story about going around the world to different temples to power up your sword to defeat god. The whole game takes place around one small town, the gameplay is about gathering resources to build everyday objects like fences and bridges, and the antagonists are normal people.
If you want a game about a small town, with all the melodrama, economics, politics that comes with it, then this is easily the best game there is.

I'm fine if a game is short. I'm fine if a long game has some repetitive elements. However, I cannot stand games that are short AND repetitive, but that's what this is. The boss fight happens fight times and only has like one new move each time. Many of the cat shines are just the same exact thing in a different area. It still has great music and fun visuals that's expected in a Mario game, but it was the least fun of any 3D Mario game.