Topic: Anyone notice how dull the aesthetics in NSMB are?

Yup, I agree. I loved a Link between Worlds, but I still didn't like the aesthetic that much. New Yoshi's Island wasn't a good game, but again, I hated the aesthetics as soon as I saw it; I'm still surprised that the twenty-something year old original game managed to look more appealing.

Mario is like the vanilla of platformers. In pretty much all the aspects.

It's plain, old and a little boring for some, but it's super popular. Other developers mix it with other ingredients to make their own flavors.

I think the NSMB look good enough (except for 2, I can't stand the blurry compressed-looking backgrounds).

As for ALBW, I also think it looks good enough, but it does look like everything is made of plastic. Like Yoshi's New Island and Mario Kart 7.

I used to really like the New Super Mario Bros games but recently I've began to loathe them, especially NSMBU.

Uh... What happened? Did I end up on the wrong site for this post?

So, just to make sure I followed this right...

NSMBU has dull aesthetics...
Rayman is trash...
A Link Between Worlds looks like a flash game...
And now Mario Kart 7 looks like plastic...

I love the look and play of all of these games. I think A Link Between Worlds looks great compared to Phantom Hourglass and in it's own way. I think Mario Kart 7 is one of the best looking 3DS games available. I still think it looks great today! I don't own NSMBU, but I've played the demo a few times at GameStop and I think it looks nice and crisp. I don't have an issue with it. I DO own NSMB2 and I think it looks good, too. If you don't like blurry backgrounds, turn off the 3D. In my opinion, the blur adds even more depth. As for Rayman, I've not played the demo as often as NSMBU nor have I played another entry in the series, but from what I remember, it wasn't trash. You can't take the music away from a game to critique it. The music is PART of the game, part of the intended feel of the game COMES from the music. If the game is improved in any way by the music, THEN THE MUSIC IS DOING IT'S JOB.

As long as the visuals don't affect how the game PLAYS, I'm fine. That being said, there is a line. I'm not going to play a game comprised of a few blocks as graphics and be told "Here's the game." I'll gladly play a game with N64/PS1 graphics if the game plays well. I'll play a PS4/XB1/PC graphic level game if it plays well. If I can tell what everything is supposed to be, that's fine. A plastic-y looking game is fine if it's fun. A realistic looking game is fine if it's FUN.

TL;DR
NSMBU looks fine to me and plays well, too. I don't really have a reason to complain.

I never said it was necessarily a bad thing (although I personally do not like it). And it certainly does not affect their quality as games.

In Smash Bros Melee every character has an unnatural plasticky shine to them, too.

There were some good levels in NSMBU but generally they were a little bland. I think it would be nice if they took some more chances with the series

Yes, I noticed. The 'New' franchise has no soul.