In your opinion, which franchise had the best jump from 2D to 3D?

[ksv]

Yeah, Nintendo handled it better than anyone else:
Metroid, Zelda and Mario.

But, for me, Mario didn't do it as well as Metroid and Zelda. Don't get me wrong, Mario 64 was an amazing game; but when I look at it, I have more fun playing the 2D Marios than I have playing the 3D Marios; I've replayed SMB1, SMB3 and SMW countless times, Mario 64 only a handful.

I think the reason is Mario already perfected the platforming genre in the 2D era, switching to 3D was a "necessary evil" for Mario, the times required it, and Nintendo did the most of it, but the genre just works better in 2D, no matter how good Mario controls or how smart the camera is.

For Metroid and Zelda tho, the switch to 3D was a more natural evolution, which added a lot to the series and made the franchises even stronger. Adventure games that are about exploration and puzzle solving benefit from the vastness of a 3D world. Platformers are more fun when you have to get from A to B.

Other franchises that did well going from 2D to 3D:
Duke Nukem
Honestly I can't think of any other.