@GuillaumeYeah, I've felt this way for awhile about both NSMB games. Personally, I don't really see how NSMBW is THAT much better than NSMB DS, although I do think it's a better game overall.
They're quite fun and well-designed, but ultimately somewhat forgettable in my eyes. I can easily remember the rollercoaster, the final fight (although it's more of a platforming stage than anything), and a couple nifty stage ideas like the ones where you use fireballs as torches...but that's kind of it. And the tepid visuals and sound don't really help.
Personally, I've always found DKCR to be the stronger 2-D platformer, even with its wonky motion controls. There're so many intense setpieces in the game, memorable sequences, and ambitious stage design that it strikes me much more as an evolution of the platforming genre, while something like NSMB could pretty much be done on the SNES (minus the 4-player/camera scaling). And when I think about DKCR's coolest parts, I'm remembering silhouetted stages, the music-based factory, running from a wall of spiders, blasting into the background, platforming in front of a massive tidal wave, evading a pervasive, giant octopus, waking up a family of ornery bats on the rocketbarrel, riding the mine cart on top of an egg, battling a family of moles in a mine cart, and dealing with the super-hard Temple stages.
I'd prefer the NSMB Mii demo to just be scrapped and Nintendo to start from scratch with 2-D Mario. NSMB sold well because they're quality games and they're fun, but it doesn't mean an even better 2-D Mario won't sell well. I've always felt that the series plays it way too safe, and even then, they don't bring enough of the classic elements of the Mario series with them. So my hypothetical wishlist for the next Mario...
1)
More ambition, for everything! Stop with the same old SMB3 themes for each world (which they used in both games!). Look at how Galaxy 1/2 unveiled new ideas. Or for a non-Mario game, Kirby's Epic Yarn. Have crazier, more memorable occurrences within each stage.
2)
A better look! I've never bought the whole "it has to look like this for simplicity's sake." No one has trouble telling where things are in games like Wario Land: Shake It, Kirby's Epic Yarn, DKCR, or (to give an example of a 4-player game) Kirby Wii. Look at the beautiful stuff Rayman Origins is pulling off! It's time to drop NSMB's bland visuals and remind us of how colorful and fun the Mushroom Kingdom is.
3)
Better music! Quick--hum any piece of original music from either NSMB game that isn't the main theme or one of the castle themes. It's not easy.
4)
A cohesive world map, and more secrets! This one's not quite as important, but it's definitely something I loved about SMW. We need a buttload of alternate exits, secret stages, and more. Warp Zones are somewhat similar, but there's just not enough of 'em. No more boring maps!
Wow, it sounds like I'm kind of tearing into the games, eh? Perhaps in some small way, I kind of agree with stinky old IGN on this one after all.
Well, not about their lame assessment that game x has more levels and is therefore better, but about NSMB/W playing it way too safe and sterile. The games are still a lot of fun, but I think Mario has gotten to the point where we hold him to a ridiculously high standard because of what he's done in the past. And frankly, when I was a kid and wondered where the series would go after SMW, it wasn't anything like NSMB. I just want something completely magical, something that really shows what the platformer genre is still capable of. With games like KEY, DKCR, and Rayman, NSMB can't really coast on the novelty of being a 2-D platformer in a modern world anymore. The genre is moving forward without it, so it needs to step it up for the next game!
*equips Flame Shield*