Lol, I don't think we're playing the same game here.
You're absolutely right. You're playing the game that is absolutely groundbreaking, that features innovative new graphics and a 3D world that's a blast to explore because there's nothing else like it. It doesn't matter that the game has control quirks, because the world is so magnificent that you can't put it down, and you'll learn every single nuance of Mario's movements so you can counter ever quirk and improvise on the fly. You're playing the game you've been playing for 15 years, so that every aspect is perfectly honed into your muscle memory.
New players? They're playing an old, ugly game with imprecise platforming and repetitive objectives, that's outdone in almost every respect by every 3D Mario since. The world isn't wonderful, it's mundane. Every ounce of magic is outdone by the pounds of it in Galaxy and 3D Land. The point of entry is no longer as a good game in itself, but as a cultural curio that's become an interesting metagame, based around the idea that we can break this game, using its own mechanics against it in an attempt to turn it into a high score.
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that design, in fact, I think that's a fantastic way to achieve longevity out of your favorite games, and actually supplies the game with a lot of appeal. What I'm saying though, is that the mechanics are terrible if you haven't engrained them into muscle memory, that the control is stiff and awkward, that's it's more fun for what it stands for than for what it actually is.
To put one of my own favorite games on the spot, I love Super Mario Kart, but I have little doubt that a new player, no matter how skilled in all different genres, would think it's an absolute clunker compared to newer entries. Likewise, Goldeneye may seem perfect if you've played it every weekend for the years and years since release, but if you're picking it up for the first time, it's an absolute hot mess.
