Just enough for the 35th anniversary



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Nintendo and Super Mario go together like peanut butter and jelly. Yes, you can have one without the other. But they still belong together.

So it goes without saying that Switch owners should pick the new one. Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection. They are three of the best Mario games ever, yes, even Sunshine – together in one package that, thanks to the Switch’s unique design, you can take with you wherever you go.

For that reason alone, this $ 60 package is worth buying. But that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Super Mario 3D All-Stars Contains exactly what was promised: Three Mario games: Super mario 64, Super Mario Sunshineand Super mario galaxy. That’s. That is all you get.

Come on, you think, letting out an exasperated sigh. “Are not three incredible games enough?” Yes! It is! As I already said, if you have a Switch then you really should get this package. But it is alone all three games, with no improvements beyond control settings to make them Switch compatible. You have the ability to play any of the three soundtracks while your Switch is idle, but that’s it.

For a package that is framed as a Super Mario 35th anniversary celebration, there isn’t much of a party. It’s hard to complain about these old games just existing on the latest (and super popular) Nintendo console. But if you’re expecting to see behind-the-scenes files or Easter egg additions as bonus games, this is not the place.

From the The newest one of the three titles in Super Mario 3D All-Stars He’s 13 now, let’s tackle this by reviewing what he’s getting. Especially for younger readers who missed Nintendo’s GameCube and Nintendo 64 generations, there’s a historical context here that matters.

Super mario 64 (nineteen ninety six)

'Super Mario 3D All-Stars' for Switch: barely enough, but still a must

When the Nintendo 64 was released in 1996, Super mario 64 It was released alongside the console and it was something of a revelation. For the first time, the mustachioed plumber existed in a 3D world. All the puzzles and platform jumps took place not only on the X and Y axes, but also on the Z axis.

It was a game changer, literally. Mario 64 play like no other game before. The adjustable camera that rotates around Mario in 90 degree increments feels archaic compared to modern 3D games giving you full control over the camera. But in 1996, a year before Sony introduced the industry’s first dual-stick controller, Nintendo’s bulky camera twists changed the way we conceived of the Mario game.

Super mario 64 it’s like the Jimi Hendrix from Mario games.

the 3D stars the version does not change anything about the camera, or anything else. And that’s okay! 90 degree turns take a little getting used to, but Mario 64The gameplay has aged remarkably well. It’s a product of Nintendo’s excellent level design and the imaginatively designed worlds they exist in (although the penguin’s slide is still an idiot).

Like most Mario games, you are on a quest to save Princess Peach from Bowser’s clutches. The setting this time is Peach’s Castle, a labyrinthine collection of hallways and rooms adorned with very little furniture but tons and tons of hanging art.

Each work of art is your gateway to another level. While the castle, which serves as the hub, offers secrets of its own to discover, you spend most of your time jumping into the paintings and chasing down the low-key challenges you encounter on a never-ending quest for Power Stars. There are six in the world of every painting, and part of the fun is figuring out how to get them.

Super mario 64 it’s like the Jimi Hendrix from Mario games. If you’re discovering it for the first time in 2020, features like the central world and the Power Star chase may not feel particularly new or fresh. But he’s still a superstar among superstars. This was the first time that a Mario game introduced any of these ideas. Not only did it change the look of future Mario games, but it also influenced tons and tons of Mario-inspired games and series.

Super Mario Sunshine (2002)

'Super Mario 3D All-Stars' for Switch: barely enough, but still a must

This is weird and a game that continues to be the subject of much debate among Nintendo fans. Super Mario Sunshine it was the second Mario game in 3D, and the only one released for Nintendo’s GameCube. Nor is it, crucially, a story about the kidnapping of Princess Peach.

Sunshine sees Mario, Peach and friends going on vacation to the tropical island of Delfino. But when they arrive, they discover that the island is covered in patches of glowing toxic mud. Soon after, Mario gets the FLUDD, a robotic backpack that can shoot jets of water. He uses it to clean up some of the mud, but is arrested almost immediately (not kidding!), On the suspicion that he has been marking the island with graffiti.

As you can probably see by now, more story unfolds here than you’d normally get in a Mario game, with some limited voice acting (exposure!) And even spoiler-worthy twists (which I won’t reveal here – don’t). concern). The opening of the game shows the presence of a Mario doppelganger as the likely culprit behind the graffiti, and there it lies. Sunshinecentral mystery.

Sunshine it feels like an experiment to further the notion of what a 3D Mario game can be.

It’s not just the story that does Sunshine different, however. Mario’s FLUDD, which is short for Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device, and the presence of all that toxic sludge changes the nature of the puzzles you’re solving. The FLUDD jets have two positions, allowing you to use it as a jump extension jetpack or a water spray device. However, the backpack only carries a limited amount of water, so you have to constantly monitor the water level and find a way to refill when it is low.

Sunshine It may have only been the second Mario game in 3D, but there hasn’t been a Nintendo Mario game like it since. In hindsight, it seems like an experiment to push the notion of what a 3D Mario game can be in new directions. For that reason, it has become a divisive game among fans of the series. But it is still magnificent.

Unlike both 64 and Galaxy, Super Mario Sunshine gives you full 360 degree control over the camera. the 3D stars Unfortunately, the launch is completely kept with the original controls, right down to the awkward setting for aiming and shooting your FLUDD. But the original game was designed with that control scheme in mind, so it’s more of something to get used to than something that breaks the game.

Sunshine it also has a truly wild level design that immediately ups the ante on what is a post-Mario 64 the game can do. The GameCube’s unobstructed camera and enhanced processing power allow you to explore larger and more detailed worlds, starting with the excellent central city of Isle Delfino.

Forget the mud pitches you’ve seen targeted Super Mario Sunshine. It’s still an essential Mario game, and it shines just as brightly in this Switch collection as it did nearly 20 years ago.

Super mario galaxy (2007)

'Super Mario 3D All-Stars' for Switch: barely enough, but still a must

If you are looking for a “better” option in the 3D stars package, this one has my vote. Super mario galaxy it is one of the best games released for Wii and overall one of the best Nintendo games of all time.

As the title suggests, this third 3D Mario game sends Nintendo’s beloved plumber into outer space. Galaxy takes us back to the family setting of a kidnapped Princess Peach and a marauding Bowser family that is hell-bent on ruining Mario’s good times.

This time, the princess has been taken to the center of the universe. To rescue her, Mario has to restore the power of a Comet Observatory by collecting a series of power stars that are scattered in 42 different galaxies. The observatory may not be mobile, but it still serves as the hub Mario uses to reach each of those galaxies.

The back-to-basics approach begins and ends with the story and basic construction of a Power Star chase. However, in all the ways that matter, Super mario galaxy it is something completely new. The level design relies heavily on the unique properties of outer space, so the gravitational pull of the various land masses you visit becomes a common consideration.

Super mario galaxy it is one of the best Nintendo games of all time.

Like Wii game, Galaxy made the most of the motion controls on the old Nintendo console. Those have been adapted, and in some cases improved, to play well with the Switch, but they will remain a hindrance for those who prefer to control their games with joysticks and buttons.

When you are playing Galaxy On a TV-connected Switch, the Joy-Cons take the place of the original Wii Remote and Nunchuk accessory. Mario is unique inGalaxy Rotating motion no longer depends on shaking the controller. You can, but you can also, in a blessed upgrade, just press Y instead. Other characteristics dependent on the sense of movement, specifically some of GalaxyAdditional challenges require you to use your Joy-Con as a pointer.

In handheld mode, most motion detection functions are connected to the touch screen. This can be tricky at times if you are not using a stylus, as your fingers are not the most precise instruments to use in a game that generally demands precision. I’ve spent most of my time playing the Switch version of Galaxy In portable mode, however, I still find it preferable to the old Wii setup. I never played more than a couple of hours of the original game because Wii controls specifically weren’t my thing.

The only trick is the camera, which dates back to Mario 64 Rotation focus in 90 degree increments. It is not a major problem in GalaxyHowever, because many of the puzzle levels and sequences employ an intentionally fixed camera that moves with you and automatically changes its orientation around each new challenge.

Summarizing everything

'Super Mario 3D All-Stars' for Switch: barely enough, but still a must

All three games in the pack look and play great on Switch. Galaxy and Sunshine they are the best as they are significantly newer games that were created in a post-widescreen television era. Mario 64 (thankfully) it’s not stretched to fit the Switch’s screen, but the original 4: 3 presentation leaves you with black bars on either side and makes the overall experience feel a bit more restricted.

However, it is not a big deal. Once you start playing it’s easy to fall Mario 64the spell again. It holds up very well, just like Sunshine and Galaxy. All three games in this pack have aged remarkably well, and all three are a testament to the timeless appeal of classic Nintendo games in general. Even in 2020, with newer and more sophisticated Mario games to choose from.

It’s a shame Nintendo hasn’t done more to enhance the 35th anniversary celebration vibes in this collection. However, as I told you at the beginning, Super Mario 3D All-Stars It remains a magnificent collection of classic games and a must-have for all Nintendo-loving Switch users.



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