Just finished my replay of 3D Land. I take back almost every negative thing I've said about this game in the past. Almost every.
Well, okay. I've never been "negative" on this game so much as ambivalent, even when it was a new game. I thought the concept was neat but lacking and I was truly just looking for a new star-collection game, not what I thought amounted to "New Super Mario Bros. in 3D." Looking back though, it's not quite as simple as that, and it's still a fun little game with some solid level design and platforming. I don't know that I'd quite put it on the same level as the other 3D games still but overall it's still a great game.
But...
As I said before, the world map is boring and the boss variety isn't good at all. Not a single boss besides final Bowser is fun to fight, and Boom Boom and Pom Pom are incredibly weak bosses that shouldn't have come back in 3D World, but at least that game had a bit more boss variety. Also, while I skipped them thanks to using a completed file, the postgame special worlds are mostly remixed stages and just act as filler. There's a handful of stages that are new and original, but most of them aren't as good as the regular game levels. The final unlockable level is kind of haphazard and weak as well, consisting of many of the same kinds of platforming challenges and the only two interesting parts are a bit on the easy side.
Then there's unlocking it. Never again will I go through the pain of beating every level as Mario and Luigi and nabbing the top of the flagpole each time. That's just asinine, and maybe that's what soured my viewpoint on the game in retrospect. Taking that out, and I have little issue with the game. With that factor, the game gives me some hesitation... but only if I were playing a new file. If you have a completed file, this game is much more friendly to return to and enjoy.
Next up, Galaxy...