I Want Another Open World Mario

This is going to be a short entry just so you guys know.  Quick and to the point.

Along with many other people, I love the Super Mario Galaxy games.  There is one thing missing from them to me though, and that's exploration.  The Galaxy games are extremely linear and are basically get from point A to point B without dying.  With the announcement of Super Mario 3D Land, it seems like Nintendo is sticking with the same forumla.  While it is a fun formula, I can't help but to find myself yearning for another Mario game with open environments.  The last time we got to truly explore large environments in a Mario game was in Super Mario Sunshine back in 2002.  Meanwhile, we've gotten New Super Mario Bros., New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Galaxy 2, and Super Mario 3D Land.  I'm not arguing that these games are bad games -- they're not, and I love them just as much as the next person, but I still love my open world Mario too.

I miss the open environments that were present in 64 and
Sunshine.

I know some of you will say that open world Mario games were never really Mario, since every single game before Super Mario 64 was a 2D sidescroller without much exploration, and you'd be right.  However, that doesn't stop me from wanting a new Mario game with environments akin to 64 or Sunshine.  Even if I look outside of Nintendo, no one seems to be willing to create an open world platformer.  Naughty Dog's focus is now on Uncharted, Rareware seems to have abandoned platformers all together now, and Spyro hasn't had a good game since the Playstation days (although apparently the new Spyro game is good, which is shocking).  One could argue that the Ratchet and Clank games are open, but they're not.  They're good games, don't get me wrong, but they're basically get from point A to point B with some wiggle room to go left or right.

Sure, Sly is getting a new game next year, but one game isn't enough to quench my thirst.  That leaves Nintendo.  It's been nine years since Sunshine came out, and even though I have loved the 2D sidescrolling Mario games, I still think it's time for a new Mario game with open worlds.  Maybe on the Wii U.