Nintendo's NES home console launch in 1983 led to the birth of numerous icons who are celebrated to this day. The latest Nintendo event was Pokemon Day 2022 (though this franchise is developed by Game Freak), held on the anniversary of Pokemon Red and Green's February 27, 1996 release in Japan. The next event of note is MAR10 Day, held on the conveniently descriptive March 10, when Nintendo is bringing attention to a number of titles under the Super Mario banner.
The official Nintendo of America Twitter laid out a Super Mario sale for the Switch eShop on March 7, scheduled to run until March 13. This MAR10 Day sale affects seven titles: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Luigi's Mansion 3 (plus its Multiplayer Pack), Yoshi's Crafted World, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. With few first-party Nintendo games ever going on sale this is a good deal, but especially for Mario + Rabbids being around 80 percent off rather than 30 percent like the others. However, it would be better if Nintendo brought Super Mario 3D All-Stars back to celebrate.
The Short-Lived History of Super Mario 3D All-Stars
Super Mario 3D All-Stars was, at its core, a dream collection for long-time sandbox platformer fans. Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy are roped into one package for Switch, making them all portable for the first time. Nintendo announced the collection on September 3, 2020 during a Direct marking the 35th anniversary of the franchise. Also included in this Direct were announcements like Super Mario 35, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, and a themed Game & Watch.
However, this was not met with universal acclaim. Beyond internal issues with Super Mario 3D All-Stars; including the lack of additional content beyond soundtracks, some technical hiccups, and Super Mario Galaxy 2 being ignored; the collection was slated to be a limited-time offer. Physical and digital copies released on September 18, 2020, but were only officially available through March 31, 2021. Fans may be able to find a physical copy of 3D All-Stars at local storefronts, but the collection is unavailable through the Switch eShop.
Despite this, it has received more recent updates. For example, Super Mario 3D All-Stars added N64 controller support in November 2021. Super Mario 35 suffered a similar fate, as did the limited-time Switch anniversary release of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light. Yet other Switch titles released to coincide with anniversaries, such as Super Mario 3D World or The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, are readily available.
Bringing 3D All-Stars Back on MAR10 Day Could Improve Scarcity Arguments
On one hand, it's understandable Nintendo wants some scarcity for products intended to celebrate anniversaries. Yet this is easier to excuse for more niche products and merchandise, such as the limited-run Game & Watch. Taking away access to games that are otherwise unavailable is not only bad business considering the Switch continues moving new units, it's also detrimental to preservation efforts - an especially pressing concern after Nintendo announced its 3DS and Wii U eShops will shut down next year.
The decision is more baffling after Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack debuted with N64 games such as Super Mario 64. There's no reason the version of that classic title bundled with other Super Mario platformers should be unavailable. If Nintendo is intent on keeping it a limited-run product, perhaps the best solution would be to only put more copies in the wild during special events like MAR10 Day.
Not having the collection available at all times still isn't great, but waiting until a year after the initial run was discontinued to bring 3D All-Stars back would give new fans who bought the Switch for games like Pokemon Legends: Arceus a second chance. If Nintendo went a step further and brought the game back around once a year for each MAR10 Day , alongside whatever sales are ongoing, it would give everyone something to anticipate rather than fostering more limited availability criticisms.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars is available on Nintendo Switch, but not actively sold.