Btw I want to say, you can gain your shiney stars back. Just beat the stage normally, that you used the White Tanooki Suit on.

So then, why complain? I mean, if you buy something knowing exactly what you're getting into, how can you complain about it anyway?

I started over so I can make it sparkle

It wasn't like he was complaining really. He was just answering my question. If anything I'd be more inclined to view it as constructive criticism to the game?

I only read reviews when I'm not too sure about a new game coming out. And those reviews that I read are never NL's.

I knew there wouldn't be much new ideas but I bought the game anyway because I love my 2D Mario games. And since I knew what to expect I adjusted my expectations accordingly and I still enjoy the game a lot.

My expectations were so low, all of the small new ideas were surprising as I didn't expect them. But overall it's a pretty rehashed expansion. Just like Mario Tennis Open, Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land were.

I'm not the one to judge a game without playing it first. For buying this for $40 and having the word "New!" in the title, it's not very new.

I lowered my expectations way before I bought mine. Like I said, presentation wise, 90% of it is lazy. However the level designs are really clever and well done.

well I beat the game, now all im trying to do is get all exits, all star/moon coins, max out my lives and get a million coins.Also gonna be using luigi for the rest of the game.

I continuesly complain about the NSMB series regarding the same negative points that ChronoCross already mentioned. But I'm sure as hell I'll have an absolute blast with NSMB2 regardless. But It just annoys me how much potential Nintendo has and what they could do with 2D mario that would absolutely blow us away instead of this unsuprising generic dejavu infused trip to the plastic & minimal mushroom kingdom. At least NSMBU is giving us the Squirrel suit. Still, experiencing 2 in Stereoscopic 3D although apperantly it's on the subtle and less exciting side should at least breath & inject more life into it.

This game is amazing, but 2 things I've noticed are: The 3D effect is a complete failure, the backgrounds become blurry, so there's not point, but I don't use it anyway, so it's not a big deal; and multiplayer has crazy bad lag, and it's not so fun. I was right next to my friend, and it lagged like there was no tomorrow. also, you can't even pick up your friend like in NSMB Wii. But anyway, these are all parts of the game that I don't use anyway. Loving the game so far!

The 3D blurs the background because it is supposed to create the illusion that the objects in the background are very far away. It's a neat effect, but I agree with some people that it does blur them a little too much. I like it though and always play with it on because it makes the things in the foreground more crisp and full of depth.

Would I have liked to see something a bit more creative and out of the box? Absolutely! But at the end of the day I am having tons of fun with this game. And the last time I checked, that's what gaming is all about.

I have the 3D on full blast and get the full blur. Looks cool, kinda like a painting.

I rather like the 3D blur effect. With the 3D blur switched off the screen gets a bit busy for me. But with the the background blurred out, Mario pops out and is easier to follow around the screen, especially when doing speed runs.

Who's got 5 shiny gold stars on there save file yet?

You get this According to IGN by:

1.Clear the Game (beat world 6)
2.Gather all Star coins in Worlds 1-6 and Mushroom/Flower Worlds
3.Gather all Moon Coins in the Star World
4.Open all paths (the ones that cost 5 coins, as well as finding all hidden exits)
5. Get 3 crowns (this means getting 1110 extra lives - 1000 1 crown, 1100 2 crowns, 1110 3 crowns)

I have done all the above and i have double checked every world and it's all been done, but still only have 4 stars? I am going mad trying to find out what else I need to do. Any idea's?

Edit

Here are pics of each world: have I missed a secret path?

World Star
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/6545/img1680yd.jpg

World Flower
http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/540/img1679z.jpg

World Mushroom
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/2268/img1678s.jpg

World 6
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/4122/img1677e.jpg

World 5
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/8959/img1676bs.jpg

World 4
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/9992/img1675an.jpg

World 3
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/4849/img1674mw.jpg

World 2
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9323/img1673ys.jpg

World 1
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3541/img1672q.jpg

Well I made it to the third world and I have to say that this game is alot better than I thought but maybes thats cause I had low expectations. For those that say its just rehash and its just like NSMB and Mario games need to be more original blah blah blah honestly that can be said about any game that has a series, Call of Duty, Final Fantasy, Halo, GTA etc etc etc. So I dont know why all the hate for Mario games not adding anything new.

Now that that is outta my system I will say that while granted the number of extra lives is a bit extreme (I believe I have 50 something and I am in world 3) but I kinda expected that due to all the coins but the addition of grabbing all the coins is a neat little twist that breathed a bit of fresh air into this series. (BTW has anyone figured out why Mario needs all these coins? Is he saving up for some ultra expensive mustache wax or something?) Also I have to say that I like what they did for the battles with the Kooplings. I was excited to see the return of the Kooplings in SM3DL but then when I had to fight them I was disappointed cause their tactics seemed to just be the same ones in SMB3 and SMW.

Anyway I am going to stop so this doesn't sound like a review and it sets of the Dragon signal (my apologies if this sounds like a review). I find this game alot better than NSMBW for some reason I was disappointed with NSMBW I cant put my finger on why but I just was. But as far as this game goes I am very pleased with it.

you need 1 million coins.

Never mind. Done it. It was world 3 haunted house level. I completed the level normally without the secret passage and now it's done. 5 stars to me.

But there not shiny?

According to IGN: To get shiny stars you need to complete all levels without using shiny raccoon suit.

How do you know what level you used the raccoon suit on though? I can't remember what levels I did use it on.

It isnt a hard decision, I know. But it this looks just like SM3DL very soulless. When I first played SM3DL, I felt really disappointed for it being so boring. Does the same happen with this one? I know it can be a fun game, heck, SM3DL is fun, but just plain and simple and not worth the full price.

One thing I saw in SM3DL and NSMB2 is that I think they try to hard to be nostalgic. To the point where it's not that original.
The old school looking maps can be sort of cool, but sometimes just too plain. Honestly, I prefer an Adventure field of some sort of the 3D games such as Galaxy, anyway.
The Tanooki (spelled that wrong I know) suit is great, but I feel like they are trying to plaster artwork of it everywhere just to try to grab the attention of SMB3 fans.

They seem to be relying too much on past successes and not on trying to make something new.

That's my main complaint with the latest installments to the Mario franchise. Of course, there are people saying that you shouldn't fix something that isnt broken, but making games that looks very similar to other games is just meh. It doesnt have to be revolutionary like Mario 64, but at least give u something original.