While obviously a 2D game, many moves from the 3D game Super Mario 64 (1996) were incorporated into the game play. For example, the ground pound and wall kick.
Every single Super Mario title is referenced in some way in this game.
If you hold L and R while selecting a file, you can play as Luigi. In addition, after beating the game, if you pause the game at the map and enter this sequence: L, R, L, R, X, X, Y, Y, you enter a secret challenge mode, where you can't backtrack to past areas that the screen doesn't show.
Released 21 years after Super Mario Bros. (1985) and thus it was used to celebrate the 21st anniversary (20th in Australia) of Super Mario Bros.