so i got all five shiny stars on my file. i don't think i need to do the million coin challenge. i did get 45k from playing the game normally, which is sorta absurd. at 13 and a half hours, i can't complain.
overall, i came away impressed with this title. people who consider it a map pack aren't really giving the game its due. rainbow worlds as rewards are a cool, new idea; the world map is the best-designed mario world map since super mario world or super mario bros. 3, with tons of secret exits; and the warp to hidden worlds are a welcome addition to the mario series- it's about time there was a forced running level after decades of slow-moving ones.
i also loved the return of the leaf and how it was meant to be used. honestly, i think if nsmb ds never existed, and they spaced out nsmb2 and nsmbu a bit, this series would be getting some high praise. it's too bad the original nsmb sucked as much as it did in the design department. i think people associate its uninspired level design with its safe visuals and music too much, and attribute it to the other, better games in the series.
it would have been cool to see the coin mechanic really come into play, but looking at the game from a pure platformer perspective, i'm glad i at least got a good platformer that was great to play. this is in contrast to super mario 3d land, which has a tantalizing concept and delivers on the idea of making 2d mario into a 3d game, but then also forgets things like the speed, weight, and powers of the character, and how to effectively make that into a 3d game. doesn't help that the level design is trash for most of the game, and to unlock the real final challenge you have to play through each level at least twice and complete other unnecessary steps. the lack of imagination extends to the world map- which is a straight line, very unlike nsmb2's pipes and cannons and secret exit flags that take you a variety of ways around.
nsmb2 probably doesn't hit my top five for the series, but it definitely comes close, and it is at least enjoyable, unlike the previous two handheld mario games. if the new guys could pull off something like this, i can't wait to see what the veterans have in store for new super mario bros. u.
