Would you want an "open world" Mario game? (Updated OP for elaboration.)

[Lulz]

S.T.A.G.E. said:
Mario 64 is still my favorite Mario game of all time.

Seconded! It's not just the best Mario of all time, it's one of the top 5 video games ever created. I'm appalled that Nintendo hasn't made a true successor to it by now.