The 35th anniversary of the Mario franchise debut is here and with it comes a variety of announcements. Early in September, Nintendo announced multiple games and hardware in a Mario-themed Direct to celebrate the mustached icon's birthday.
Some of the big announcements include a collection of Super Mario hits in Super Mario 3D All-Stars and an augmented reality Mario Kart game called Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit. When Nintendo drops a Direct like this, it is sure to get fans talking. Not only did it spark intense discussions online, but the meme game from fans has been incredible to watch.
10 At Long Last
Ever since the Nintendo Switch came out, many fans of the Mario series have wanted to see older games in the series be brought to the console. Three of the most beloved games in the franchise are Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy.
It is no wonder that, when the collection was announced, it sparked plenty of excitement. This also isn't the first collection game Nintendo has put out, as this meme shows here with two earlier iterations of Super Mario All-Stars.
9 Comparing Collections
Unfortunately, the announcement of Super Mario 3D All-Stars didn't come without its problems. Many fans were disappointed by the games not being a full remaster, especially Super Mario 64. There is also the limited release window which is forcing consumers' hands to buy the game within the next six months.
During the same direct, the original Super Mario All-Stars was re-released for free on Nintendo Switch Online. It includes remakes that are fully revamped and different from the originals, and it even includes a game that wasn't initially released in North America.
8 Price Problem
One more major complaint about Super Mario 3D All-Stars is the price tag. Although players are ultimately paying $20 per game, it is understandable for fans to feel cheated in buying the same games over and over again that have barely changed.
This pales in comparison to the recent release of Spyro: Reignited Trilogy. The three games in this collection were completely remastered with a whole new look and only costs $40, which is just over $13 per game. Nintendo fans will still buy the game, but they aren't happy about the price tag.
7 Left Out
It was easy for Nintendo to choose which games to re-release for Mario's anniversary. Super Mario 64 is one of the best games of all-time. Super Mario Sunshine didn't reach that level of hype, but it still has a strong following. Super Mario Galaxy was among the more popular titles on the Wii.
But, there was another game on the Wii that got a lot of love when it was released but was left out of the collection. Super Mario Galaxy 2 may seem like just an expansion to its predecessor, but it's just as beloved. It's strange how it didn't make the cut.
6 Forgetful Nintendo
With Super Mario Galaxy 2 being the glaring omission of Super Mario 3D All-Stars, speculation began to run rampant within the community as to why Nintendo left the game out. One common reason people point to is that Nintendo may have forgotten the game's existence.
There could be some truth to this as the game was omitted from the Mario montage at the end of the anniversary Direct video. This is probably not the case, but it's hilarious to think Nintendo is just forgetting about one of their more popular games.
5 A New Mario Kart?
While Super Mario 3D All-Stars was the talk of the Nintendo community following the slew of announcements, it's worth highlighting some of the other notable creations Nintendo is bringing to fans. While Mario Kart fans have Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to tide them over, there are some that are hoping for a new Mario Kart announcement.
Well, they got one in the 35th-anniversary presentation with Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, a toy that can be driven around at home using augmented reality to create a race on the Switch.
4 Mario's Battle Royale
Battle royales continue to be all the rage in the video game world. Nintendo has already dipped its toes in with Tetris 99, but now it's bringing an original Nintendo IP into the genre. With Super Mario Bros. 35, players will be able to play the original Super Mario Bros. game with the added twist that they will be playing alongside 34 other people.
The layout is reminiscent of Tetris 99, with boxes on the left and right off the screen showing the other players. The goal is to be the last person standing in the platforming levels.
3 Switching Music Players
One of the strangest Nintendo business practices that remain to this day is the company's unwillingness to release their music on multiple platforms. Instead, the company is insistent that players instead use their Switch as a music player.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has a collection of music that players can listen to on-the-go, and now Super Mario 3D All-Stars will also have a music player. It is understandable that Nintendo wants its fans to use their console at all times, but it is frustrating for fans who want a simpler way to access these great tunes.
2 Sunshine Request
With Super Mario Sunshine coming to the Switch, nostalgia for the GameCube era has come rushing back through the veins of Nintendo fans. The company has somewhat catered to this nostalgia in the Switch era. When Super Smash Bros. Ultimate released, the company also released a Gamecube controller that was compatible with the game.
Considering it has all of the classic buttons, wouldn't it be wonderful for Nintendo to allow fans to use that controller while playing the re-released game on the Switch? The ball is in their court.
1 Fan Backlash
Nintendo fans can be rather critical of their beloved company. This was evident during the Mario 35 announcements as fans nitpicked a lot of the new content the company was bringing to the table. Super Mario 3D All-Stars was one of the biggest receivers of that criticism, with plenty of understandable reasons for the complaints.
However, it is strange that some fans were upset that they were getting a port while a game like this had been in high demand from the moment the Switch was released.