The release of Super Mario 3D All-Stars is less than two weeks away and Nintendo has teased the additional content the collection will bring for Mario fans on September 18th.
The collection, which may have been originally planned to release earlier in the year, will bring Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy to the Nintendo Switch. Super Mario 3D All-Stars will also feature a music player with songs from all three titles, similar to the collection of songs found in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The in-game music player will feature over 170 songs celebrating 24 years of 3D Mario history. Players will be able to listen to songs like Dire, Dire Docks, Bianco Hills, and Honey Bee Kingdom on the go.
Meanwhile, Super Mario 3D All-Stars has already become the second-best selling game on Amazon this year. Only a few days since its announcement, the game has already outsold Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Pokemon Sword and Shield, and The Last of Us 2 and is quickly on the trail of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. While the limited time availability of the game has caused much ire from fans, it seems to be paying off.
The limited availability of the game is somewhat baffling. Though physical quantities can sometimes be sold out, the digital version of Super Mario 3D All-Stars is also available for a limited time. Scalping has already become an issue with Super Mario 3D All-Stars prices on eBay already well exceeding the suggested retail price. While Nintendo games being sold at high prices is quite common, it seems like a forced limit to drive sales numbers of the game.
The 35th anniversary collection may also be a sign of things to come from Nintendo with its other franchises. Next year, The Legend of Zelda also celebrates its 35th anniversary with the original game releasing on the NES in 1986. Earlier in the year, a listing for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was found on Amazon UK, but the listing was removed just as quickly as it was found, possibly hinting at the game being brought over to the Nintendo Switch in the near future.
Nintendo has previously remastered several games in the series with Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD releasing for the Wii U while The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask released for Nintendo 3DS. With some games announced at the Mario Direct being limited until March, it could be a sign of Nintendo changing focus to The Legend of Zelda's anniversary shortly after in 2021.