>>19695397I just like to pretend that the "Super Mario" games (64, Sunshine, Galaxy) make up the main Mario series. Unlike the (New) Super Mario Bros, they actually differ greatly enough from each other and feel refreshingly fun no matter how many times I play them. I can't wait to see what they plan to follow up on Galaxy 2 with.
Maybe Mario just has 2 "main" series. One that's 3D and one that's a side-scroller (with 3D World being a hybrid). Besides, Mario games have always been about level design more than anything else. They don't really need new mechanics beyond updated graphics and new elements like power-ups, enemies, and level features. I can't even think of something you could do to the side-scrolling games to "revolutionize" them. Experimental new mechanics are in the 3D Super Mario games' territory.
