@bigsocrates: I think they probably just did the game for a really low budget on a quick schedule for whatever the holding company pretending to be Accolade is called. Before this game was even finished Black Forest Games actually got bought by THQ Nordic, so I don't think they were banking on it at all.
I don't understand Dan's definition of mainline Mario game.
It's easy. Whichever games Dan likes/has played the most is a mainline Mario game, anything else is a side story. In Super Mario 3D World, Bowser captures the fairies and you have to battle through various stages across multiple locations and defeat bosses to free them, leading up to a final showdown with Bowser himself. Side story. Just like Mario Tennis or Dr. Mario. Simple, right?
I think maybe 3D Land/World don't get grouped in as "big" or mainline Mario almost just because they curb a lot of their look from the New Super Mario Bros series. If you look at each of the games Dan would consider a mainline Mario game they all kind of have a look and a sound at least a little unique to them, making them feel more standalone.
I'm not saying I think that is 100% right or that I think it is a good way of categorizing them, I just think that is why people (not just Dan) tend to not include 3D World when talking about main Mario games.
suggestion: just use medicine in fights, and stop by restaurants to restore your health when you're just running around. It is more effective and can initiate some sub stories.
There were definitely a lot of 3D platformers in the N64 days, but I do think looking back the Banjo games were definitely a lot better than stuff like DK64. Even in Banjo Tooie the collecting never even approached the tedium of DK64, which was kind of a nightmare
generalwalnut's comments