Ur right it doesnt need it, its just a way to keep it fresh while sticking to the basics. Did u play 3D Land? Regardless if u like it or not, it worked well.

I have played it, and while it is a good game, I don't think it's approach lives up to either the best of 2D Mario, or Mario 64/Galaxy/Galaxy 2.

No way. No how. Old school Mario and '3D' are not equivalent. Which is part of the reason 3Dworld is receiving a lot of backlash. 2D Mario fans look at the NSMB games as bland, sacharrine, recycled ideas (crappy music) no ambition etc. 3D World is taking cues from NSMB and infusing these things into a 3D Mario game, we'll see what the market reaction will be for this game in a few short months.

TBH, as an old school Mario fan, 3D World is not even on the radar. NSMBU appeals to me and annoys me at the same time. I long for the day when Mario returns truly to his roots. And not given this half ass treatment. Marios popularity was created as a 2D platformer, not a 3D one.

I'm not saying don't make 3D Mario any more, but just give the respective fanbases what they want.

I agree, OP...
Whether or not they are effectively capturing the feel of the original 2D games, it definitely seems as though that is what they are attempting...
Super Mario 3D World wasn't what I wanted to see at E3, but I've enjoyed Mario enough in the past that I will definitely give the game a fair shot...

Mario 3D world looks to be a case of trying to please one fanbase (2D Mario) at the expense of another. (3D Mario)

They're trying to get the 2D players to adopt 3D Mario in the hope of achieving 2D Mario sales with 3D World, but in the process they're alienating a big chunk of their 3D Mario audience.

Ya its not what I was expecting by a long shot but I thoroughly enjoyed 3D Land and this so far looks much better.

If u were to take Mario Bros 3 or Mario World and make a 3D HD remake, it would likely come out similar to 3D Land/World, it damn sure wouldnt look or play like Galaxy.

Miyamoto recently stated this is a completely differet series from Galaxy and isnt meant to replace it. Based off that I would assume a Galaxy-esque sequel is coming in the next year or two.

I certainly hope so. That would win back a lot of fans displeased by the direction of 3D World.

i loved 3D land.
i saw some elements of 64 that worked, and i could feel the 64 experience. also, somehow i feel the magic of the 2D classics too.
lets see what 3D world will be, if it brings this magic again.
But i think that if they care much about multiplayer in the level designs, maybe they can ruin this magic, who knows...

all Im saying Is if u took an old school Mario game and tranferred it into a 3D environment then u would have something similar to 3D World and nothing like Galaxy or 64. Whether u like It or not is irrelevent, my point is 3D World is the traditional concept of Mario put into 3D.