The superstar plumber in Nintendo’s universe, Mario, turns 35 this year. And you know what that means. (Besides the obvious fact that a lot of us retro gamers are old.) Ever since his debut in the original Donkey Kong, Mario has been turning heads with a number of classic favorites. And with this year, Nintendo is celebrating in a number of ways. Along with the Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit that we cover in another Game Butler piece, Nintendo also announced a number of games and cool items that are sure to be big hits with his fans throughout the world. Though we will have to wait a while for everything to pan out (damn COVID), here’s what all is coming our way!
Hey Now, You’re All Stars!
In an effort to reintroduce fans to the classic Mario adventures of old, Nintendo announced Super Mario 3D All-Stars. It’s a compilation that features three of his greatest hits, remastered for play on Nintendo Switch. These include the N64 favorite Super Mario 64; the quirky GameCube favorite Super Mario Sunshine; and the globally phenomenal Wii game Super Mario Galaxy. Alas, there’s no sign of Super Mario Galaxy 2 anywhere, but there’s always hope we’ll see it sometime in 2021.
The game will make its debut on September 18 – just two weeks away! – and will only be available for a limited time through March 31, 2021. That date could change, but collectors may want to go ahead and get in their orders for the digital and physical editions now, before it’s too late.
In other news, Switch owners can go ahead and experience the classic SNES favorite Super Mario All Stars, consisting of remastered versions of the first three NES Mario games, along with the difficult The Lost Levels. It’s available for play now on Nintendo Switch Online!
Not Just Game, But Game and Watch!
In addition, Nintendo also announced a special edition of its classic Game and Watch handheld, which features a number of Super Mario Bros. classics, along with a remix of the classic Ball game, where you juggle as long as you can. This little handheld can also work as a clock, so you can leave it on display when you’re not getting your game on. The Game and Watch is set to debut on November 13, priced at $49.99. It’s a must-have if you’re a collector of Mario things.
It’s a Brave New World
One of the most popular Wii U games featuring our heroic plumber is readying for its Switch debut! Super Mario 3D World brings all the action from that classic favorite to the platform, complete with on-the-go play, local and online multiplayer, and a number of other features. What’s more, it will also come with a new expansion, Bowser’s Fury, that will take the game into darker territory. New Amiibo figurines featuring Cat Mario and Cat Peach will also be on hand, for those that need a little bit of a boost.
But you’ll be waiting a little while longer, as the game won’t arrive for Switch until February 12, 2021. That gives you lots of time to practice up in the original edition, at least.
Just How Good Are You At Super Mario Bros.?
Nintendo hasn’t shied away from competition in games in the past – just ask anyone that came across a copy of Tetris 99. But now we have the Mario edition with Super Mario Bros. 35, which will allow 35 players to compete together in the classic side scrolling game. As they play, they’ll throw obstacles and power-ups at one another, in the hopes of being the last Mario standing!
The game will only be available for a limited time as a Nintendo Switch Online exclusive. It’ll launch on October 1 (free of charge!) and be available through March 31, 2021. Time to see who’s the king (or queen) of the old school!
