I'm not overly surprised by this at all.  Which is fine this is a game that doesn't led itself to something like that.

We demand the Nintendo metal headmount! Thems gyro controls'll sure to be a hit when combined with the supposed amazingly unique and intuitive 3D use this game'll have. SWEETSPOT! ...CRISSCROSS! ...ROADHOUSE!

Here's you an idea (though some will complain about locked out levels)...

In each world, hide half-keys.  Each save file randomly generates various half keys and you find these hidden within various levels.  In your single save file, you'll never get a full key.

When you Streetpass someone, you'll get to "copy" one of their half-keys (similar to the Puzzle Swap mode).  It could be half a key you need to complete a full key, or it could be half a key to a key you don't even have.

These keys will open gates in a "World 9" that allow you into brand new levels.  I'm thinking, maybe one half-key per world (i.e.: 8 keys) and a total of, say, 12 levels?

I suppose you could also buy keys with PlayCoins...

It seems very Mario-themed and would be something I'd be in for (unlike, say, Street Fighter Figure battle... *yawn*...)

An interesting idea would be to be able to make your own Toad.  You would load him in capsule and send him off, street pass, you collect other people toad to populate your Mushroom Kingdom.  As you collect more they will start to show up in your level backgrounds interacting and like.  Maybe throw a little Actraiser in their and allow them to be able to build up your town with a little direction.  It could be interesting.

Not really a fan of the gryoscope news. Don't know how that'll affect the 3D (probably adversely).

As for the Streetpass, the idea I would use would depend on how exactly the game plays. If it is mostly 3D environments with quasi-2D elements like SMG, then my idea wouldn't work. If it is mostly 2D, then I feel like they should add a level-editor and let people share their favorite user-created levels through streetpass. That way, people will always have a new level to play.

I like the ideas brought up here.  I was all for leaving out Streetpass at first, but the more I think about it, the less it makes sense.  The Mario portables in the past have had a bunch of minigames to show off the capabilities of the system.  Why not in this one?

Wow, that's sounds like complete garbage.  It sounds like those shitty manta ray or bird levels in the Super Mario Galaxy games.  What is honestly more intuitive than up means up, left means left, etc?  Accuracy and responsiveness are also important and Nintendo's previous exercises in motion controls didn't do those too well.  So this will control like complete balls and it will prohibit the 3D from working correctly!  How is this even remotely a good idea?

Though he says it CAN replace, and not WILL.  So if they want to make this an option for morons who are confused by joysticks (I guess in Nintendo's revisionist history Pac-Man was never a hit because the controls were just too damn confusing) that's fine provided everyone else can play it with good controls and the ability to maintain the 3D sweet spot.

I'm pretty sure those manta ray levels wouldn't have been nearly as fun if you controlled it with a joystick. In fact, that sounds boring.

But I understand your complaint, I have the same concern but mine is about the 3D and not the controls.

I don't think the manta ray or bird levels were fun period, and forcing motion control on them didn't help. I'm with Ian on this one -- it seems unlikely that gyro controls can add anything meaningful to a Mario platformer. In no way is tilting the system around "like a second analog joystick". If Nintendo wanted to enable dual-analog controls on 3DS, they should have included two analog joysticks.

It sounds like you guys both sucked at those levels.

But again, I agree. Not because it couldn't work (I actually think it could work really well), but because of the sweet spot.

What could they really add for Street Pass for a Mario game, I am ok by that decision.

Reason why they should have added street pass is because they are a first party publisher on a new console.  They have a responsibility to demonstrate the technology in the platform.  This is a center piece title and street pass is a big feature of this device.  If they don't know what to do with it...then who will?  Why did the add it?  This system is turning into an expensive DS with expensive games. 


What could they have done?  Earn coins meeting people?  New mario outfits?  Playable character? New puzzle if you meet so many people?  But guess we don't find out.  If  they don't know, will the 3rd party guys?  Read the Abyss article in this months Nintendo Power that basically has the developer telling us we should be happy to get the game and no we won't be doing anything with features of the 3ds other than the 3d, which he admitted was a direct port from the ps2.  Then charge us 40 bucks for an old game.


Hope things get better down the road..oh wait...this game was the one down the road.