Of the NEW stages, what are everyone's favorites so far? Going off the footage, I think mine are:
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Mute City (F-Zero) -- I think it's incredible what they've done with the Mode 7 graphics, allowing players to duke it out on top of the sprite-based racecars. Definitely strong nostalgia for me (F-Zero was possibly the first game I played, alongside Super Mario World), but I think younger gamers will like this stage, as well.
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Tortimer Island (Animal Crossing) -- This is such a feel-good stage. You have the lush green island and its sandy coastline, dotted with palm trees and pools of water, the layout changing each time you play. You have the cabana in the background, the dock with Kapp'n and his boat, and the occasional shark launching people out of the sea. Health-replenishing fruit, spiky projectile fruit and beehives drop from the trees. Tortimer and his family watch from the background. Even the FD form is great, with the island rising dramatically out of the water.
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Unova Pokémon League (Pokémon) -- Love the atmosphere in this stage, with the castle under a gathering storm. Reshiram, one of my favorite legendaries, makes an appearance here. So do numerous other Pokémon. It appears there are a variety of things that can happen, like fire spreading across the stage, and bridges that attach and detach. Might be annoying, but there's no denying its epic appeal, especially in FD form!
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3D Land (Super Mario -- Gorgeous stage! So much 3D Land iconography packed into this level. Music note blocks, flipping platforms, rising and falling pipes, tilting platforms, rotating blocks, horizontal columns, vertical pillars, etc. I like how it not only scrolls left to right in 2D fashion, but also forward into the 3D background, as well. Three distinct areas give this stage loads of variety.
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Spirit Tracks (Legend of Zelda) -- This one might end up being one of my favorites. It seems like I see something new in it every time I watch the level. Platforms fly in from the sides and above, vehicles attach and detach, etc. There's even a drill-nosed car that slams into the front of the train and pushes the entire stage backwards, like the Devil AT. Wonderful music, lovely landscapes, and colorful train designs all create a sense of whimsy and adventure. I didn't play Spirit Tracks (the game), but the appeal here is immediate.
And yes, I love other new stages like Magicant, Gerudo Valley, Reset Bomb Forest, etc., but the five above really stand out to me.
