This is a wonderful game!
The graphics are okay, they don't have any major flaws. The simplification is fine, no random button-mashing needed. The races are awesome! Dragoon is the fastest & awesome-est star, so it's the hardest to unlock. I have no clue why people would hate it so much, I played it on my friend's Wii, and even if he hasn't unlocked Dragoon (which we spent 1 hour trying to get (I'm exaggerating)). This game is one of the few games where you can play as Kirby and actually see him from a third-person behind view.
So, if you're looking for a family friendly game, get this one.
And remember, don't judge this game by it's cover, just because it is rated 'E' doesn't make it ultra-crap (like some people think all 'E' games are crappy). So, Once again, this game is very under appreciated, please, give it a chance.