The graphics aren't the issue. After all, how much can you really improve the graphics of a 2D sidescroller? I suppose you can do a psuedo 3D style sprites like DKC but I just don't see that looking right for Mario.
The issue for me is the lack of new environments/worlds, at least judging from the screenshots released so far. I'm not asking for a whole new setting like dinosaur world in SMW, but at least give me some new imaginitive worlds to keep the series fresh. Forest world in the Wii game was a good example of this, but one more new world is not going to cut it. We keep seeing the usual suspects like ice world, desert world, lava world, etc.
That said, I am hugely looking forward to this game, and the return of the p meter and raccoon tale is pretty awesome. Even a recycled Mario game is superior than 90% of the junk I see being pedaled around these days - games that seem to focus more on cinematics than actual gameplay.
