SMB3 is definitely the best 2D Mario game and one of the best 2D platformers in general, but I don't think it's as good as any DKC except the first one. The thing about
Donkey Kong Country is that people expect it to play like Mario and lose interest when it doesn't. That series has its own batch of tropes to learn and not everyone's willing to put in the time. Classic Sonic has the same problem. You either become a fan of it as a kid or not at all.
Anyway, I picked up
Impossible Lair and... I'm gonna go play it now.
