Is SM3DW A Placeholder For Another 3D Mario Game or Is It The Evolution of 3D Mario?

[TK14]

I WISH it was just a...NOT a placeholder, but a 3rd-tier of Mario. A mix between traditional 2D/3D Mario, where now they've added multiplayer. 3D Land was awesome and I'm sure 3D World will be too. I wish that it wasn't a "replacement" for the 64/Sunshine Mario, but I fear it probably is. I don't consider Galaxy to be in the same vein as 64/Sunshine because comparatively, Galaxy is also VERY linear. I'm afraid Nintendo feels that 64/Sunshine were "experimental" and that with more linearity like Galaxy and the mix of 2D/3D like 3D Land they feel they've finally gotten where they want to be with making 3D Mario feel fully tied to its 2D roots. I question whether we'll ever see a true open-world, sandbox Mario game again. I doubt it. That being said, while I WISH it was a 3rd-tier series, I think it's the "evolution" of 3D Mario, at least in Nintendo's mind.

To be honest, I really wish they'd use this 2D/3D hybrid to replace the 2D New Super Mario Bros. series....at least until they can figure out how to stop being so lazy with the graphics, the stage themes, and especially the god-awful (BAH!....Bah-Bah!) music. But they won't....because 2D Mario sells....though it remains to be seen whether Nintendo has realized/acknowledged that NSMB2 and NSMBU are not going to sell anywhere CLOSE to what the DS and Wii games did, regardless of install base differences.