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I reviewed Super Mario 3D All-Stars, and while all three of its games are still a joy to play, it’s easy to be disappointed that Nintendo hasn’t done more with this pack.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars debuts today on Nintendo Switch. Includes remastered versions of Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy. These are some of the best 3D platform games ever made. Super Mario 64 and Galaxy are two of my favorite games of all time. So of course I have a lot of fun playing this collection.
But I wish Nintendo had been more ambitious. Perhaps Crash Bandicoot-style remakes were never on the cards. But there’s still a lot that Nintendo could have done to make these remasters (or fancy ports) more modern and exciting.
Frame rates and resolutions
Super Mario Galaxy runs at 60fps and widescreen in this collection. Looks great. It can also make the other two games feel slow in comparison.
Nintendo made the effort to put Super Mario Sunshine on wide screen, and it’s one of the biggest improvements you’ll see in any of the games in this collection. The extra space makes it easy to reach Sunshine’s expansive levels. It also gives the HUD more room to occupy. In the original 4: 3 version of Super Mario Sunshine, the HUD took up a large part of the screen. That is no longer a problem here.
Above: The HUD should be less obtrusive than in the original version of Super Mario Sunshine.
Image Credit: GamesBeat
But this version of Super Mario Sunshine only runs at 30fps and it’s a missed opportunity. After playing Galaxy, I really missed that more fluid movement. Yes, the GameCube version of Super Mario Sunshine was also at 30fps, but it seems that Nintendo missed an opportunity to really improve this experience on the Switch.
Then there’s Super Mario 64, which is neither widescreen nor 60fps. The 30fps in this one doesn’t bother me as much as in Sunshine (maybe I’m more used to the original Super Mario 64, which I’ve played a number of times). However, the lack of widescreen is a bummer. Again, it seems like an obvious thing Nintendo could have done to make this new version special.
Choices
If you are looking for ways to improve or change the way you play these games, you won’t find much. If you want to do something as simple as inverting the camera controls, you’re out of luck. This is especially a problem for Super Mario 64 and Sunshine, which changes the reversal of the original camera controls.
Now, I’ll be honest: this is not something I have noticed. I am usually able to adapt to whatever camera scheme a game presents to me. But it can drive some people crazy, like my colleague Jeff Grubb. It’s also a shame to see the lack of accessibility options, even something as simple as a color blind mode.
Above: Ew, black bars!
Image Credit: GamesBeat
Historic context
This collection is supposed to celebrate Super Mario Bros. ’35th anniversary, but it does nothing to further that story.
I would have loved for Nintendo to include some behind-the-scenes extras, even just a gallery of concept art from the series. Why not create some interview videos with Shigeru Miyamoto and some of the other Nintendo employees responsible for these games?
We’ve seen a few remasters that include in-game commentary in recent years. You probably shouldn’t expect Nintendo to go the extra mile, but how much fun would it have been to have a mode where you can run around Peach’s castle while listening to translated voice clips from Super Mario 64 designers?
We got what we got
I still have a lot of fun with Super Mario 3D All-Stars. These are three amazing games. And few as they are, the improvements are nice. Sunshine’s widescreen looks great. The updated HUD elements in all three games are a huge improvement. The increased resolution makes all three games look sharper and more vibrant.
But it’s a shame Nintendo didn’t take this opportunity to do more for its main character’s big anniversary. Or, you know, at least it includes Super Mario Galaxy 2.
RetroBeat is a weekly column that looks at the past of video games, delves into classics, new retro titles or looks at how old favorites, and their design techniques, inspire the market and current experiences. If you have any retro-themed or scoop projects you would like to send me, please contact me.
