Super Mario 3D All-Stars
Image Credit: Nintendo
Super Mario 3D All-Stars does a fantastic job of preserving the nostalgic titles included in the bundle, but this release does not fit in 2020. In an age where remasters/remakes of beloved games and franchises have dominated sales figures, like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, it was an odd choice for Nintendo to simply release these classic games without any apparent upgrades or changes. This bundle includes Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy almost entirely in their original form. Besides the necessary Wii remote changes made for Super Mario Galaxy, these are exactly the same games you remember. Even down to the wonky camera from Super Mario 64, which should have been the first thing they changed. In addition to the odd choice to not improve these games, Nintendo is also enacting a forced scarcity model on this title by only selling it until March 31st, 2021. We are not making this up.
This isn’t some remarkable collectors edition that comes with limited edition art or a cool steel case. This is a glorified emulator for two of the best games ever made and one okay game. Forced scarcity is a weird thing in the era of digital gaming. Do you expect me to believe that there is some bigger reason, beyond greed, that you can’t keep a digital game on your store longer than 6 months? All of this complaining and I haven’t even touched on the actual games yet, but for the most part, these are the same exact games that existed on their original consoles, good and bad included.
The likelihood that this review enlightens you on some new aspect, of these two amazing games and one okay one, that hasn’t been covered over the last 20+ years is low. These games are markers for generations of gamers and signify the leaps we have made. They've driven the video game industry forward and laid down the framework for 3D platformers. Super Mario 64 signaled a change for what video games could be and the fact that it is included in this bundle elevates it to high levels. Even with Super Mario Sunshine trying to pull it down. To clarify, Super Mario Sunshine is not a bad game when compared to most 3D platformers. It is just an okay Mario game, especially in contrast to its successor, Super Mario Galaxy.
Super Mario Galaxy revolutionized what a Mario game could be and it's an absolute delight to play. It's a whimsical and beautiful adventure through space that replicates a lot of the magic felt in Super Mario 64. It is worth noting that this was my first time playing Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy, and let me tell you, playing Super Mario Odyssey before these two paints them in a much different light than they were originally played in. Galaxy still has unmatched gravity mechanics and world design, but Sunshine falters significantly when it comes to creative environments and enjoyable move sets.
The most stark realization after playing these three classics, in contrast to Super Mario Odyssey, is how unenjoyable it is to be taken out of a world after acquiring a star or shine. Odyssey beautifully maintains momentum when playing through worlds by allowing you to continue your adventure in the same location after obtaining a moon. This momentum is critical in a grueling game like Sunshine, where the difficulty level was turned up to 11, and the temptation to throw down your controller and turn off the console is high. For the most part, these three titles hold up very well, but they also highlight the masterful evolution that is Super Mario Odyssey.
In summary, Super Mario 64 is as good as you remember, barring the camera issues. Super Mario Sunshine is still the black sheep of the Super Mario 3D family, though offering some interesting mechanics that are worth trying if you’ve never touched the title. And Super Mario Galaxy holds up pretty well as one of the best 3D Marios, even though it can feel awfully linear at times. Super Mario 3D All Stars is exactly what it is described as and nothing more. That being said, we discussed on a recent podcast episode who the demographic for this game is. We do not recommend this bundle to those who did not grow up with nostalgia for it, but would rather suggest Super Mario Odyssey for a new Switch owner. For those of us who have nostalgia for these titles, like the BLG team, we definitely recommend this. These three games are must haves for any fan of the classic 3D platforming genre. At the end of the day Busch League Gaming gives this a very nostalgic, biased 8 out of 10.
Listen to our podcast episode for a full breakdown of the game!
Buy this game if you enjoy:
Super Mario 64
Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Odyssey
