Poorly designed combination of mall and power center (giant strip mall) with confusing "through streets" in the meandering parking lot and tricky access to and from the freeway. They've had a LOT of stores close (mostly the mall-type chain clothing stores in "The District") and several restaurants have flipped multiple times (the Irish pub, Cadillac Ranch). Some places are showing their age already (Dave and Buster's).
One time my family and I circled the entire place on a Saturday night and there wasn't one single parking space open! Even Chandler Fashion Center will have some spaces (by Sears, heh). I am NOT a fan of slapping parking in the middle of a retail center, and prefer surrounding parking garages or even the "sea of asphalt" that Chandler Fashion Center has (they were going to build a garage while moving to a more upscale retail mix but that blew up with the recession). Thankfully, the parking situation near Harkins is pretty simple.
I imagine Tempe Marketplace is nice for locals in the immediate neighborhoods as it gives them big box stores and the movie theater, and they're putting an H&M in to help fix the mass exodus of apparel stores, but between superior super-regional malls (Chandler Fashion Center closer to here for "normal" or Scottsdale Fashion Square for selection and luxury) and the plethora of more convenient shopping centers closer to me, I don't personally have a need to ever go here other than when meeting friends.