ToxicJosh on 20 March 2014
The thing to remember with games, especially Nintendo games, is that they have to have a learning curve. Yes, the first 3/4 worlds are very easy, because potentially they are being used to teach 3/4 years olds not just the controls, but how to play games at all.
The fact that the first few easy worlds are still chock full of ideas and excellent level design whilst still being accessible to newcomers is a testament to the design quality, not a criticism of it.
Essay Pro