Earlier this morning, Nintendo released a new video presentation to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the release of Super Mario Bros. Among the company’s birthday plans are a collection of classic 3D Super Mario games for Switch, an augmented reality Mario Kart game with radio-controlled cars, and a brand new Game & Watch.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars
Headlining the 35th anniversary announcements is Super Mario 3D All-Stars, which brings Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy to Nintendo Switch, together in one package. All three games will have improved resolution, optimisations “for a smooth gameplay experience on Nintendo Switch”, and an in-game music player that can be used with the Switch screen off.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars launches on September 18 for AUD $79.95 / NZD $89.95. Oddly, though, it’s a limited-time release—the packaged version will have a limited print run, and the digital version will only be available to purchase until the end of March 2021.
Pre-order Super Mario 3D All-Stars from Mighty Ape [affiliate link]
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
Next up is Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, my personal favourite announcement from the presentation. The game uses radio-controlled karts equipped with cameras to create an augmented-reality Mario Kart experience. It lets you set up a course in your home (or anywhere) and use your Switch to control an RC kart, with all the usual Mario Kart elements layered over the camera feed. It’s going to require a lot of space, but looks like a really cool way to bring Mario Kart to life.
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit launches on October 16 for a suggested retail price of AUD $149.95. There’ll be two versions available, one with a Mario kart and one with Luigi.
Pre-order Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit from Mighty Ape [affiliate link]
Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros.
Probably the least-expected announcement was the first new Game & Watch console in almost 30 years. Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. is a handheld game device with Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, and a Mario-themed version of the first-ever Game & Watch game, Ball. The console is based on the original Game & Watch devices, but with a colour screen and modern +Control Pad, and it also has “35 little touches to discover, including some guest appearances from Mario’s friends and foes.”
Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. launches on November 13 for a suggested retail price of AUD $79.95.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
Super Mario 3D World is one of the few first-party Wii U games that hasn’t made the jump to Switch, but that’ll change next year with Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury. This is an enhanced version of the Wii U game will support for both online and local co-op multiplayer, with other details to be revealed later. It’s due out on 12 February 2020.
Pre-order Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury from Mighty Ape [affiliate link]
Super Mario Bros. 35
An “online battle game” that sees 35 players all racing to be the last Mario standing. Each player will have their own instance of the game, with defeated enemies dropping into other players’ games to throw them off. It’s not my jam, but I’m just glad that Nintendo saw better than to try and call it a “battle royale”. Super Mario Bros. 35 comes out October 1 as part of Nintendo Switch Online memberships, but it will only be available until March 31.
Super Mario All-Stars
The original Super Mario All-Stars for SNES is now available on Switch as part of Nintendo Switch Online’s range of classic games. Originally released in 1993, it includes upgraded versions of Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Super Mario Bros. 2, and Super Mario Bros. 3.
Super Mario events
And finally, Nintendo also has a bunch of events planned planned from now until March 31 next year as part of Super Mario‘s 35th anniversary celebrations:
- A Super Mario Kart Tour event for Mario Kart Tour, with guest appearances from the Super Mario Kart versions of Mario and Donkey Kong Jr. Runs from 4:00pm AEST / 6:00pm NZST on September 9 until 4:00pm AEST / 6:00pm NZST on September 23.
- A 35th anniversary Ninji Speedrun course for Super Mario Maker 2, available from November.
- A Super Mario-themed online tournament for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, running across November and December.
- A Super Mario-themed Splatfest for Splatoon in January 2021, with themed T-shirts coming to My Nintendo stores.
- Super Mario-themed furniture for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, coming in March next year.
