Hello world, how are ya?
For the past few weeks, I've hardly lifted my head from my Nintendo Switch, after being granted the opportunity to check out three of the greatest Super Mario video games in history, in newly-released Super Mario 3D All-Stars.
This star-studded collection features Super Mario 64 from 1997; Super Mario Sunshine from 2002; and Super Mario Galaxy from 2007. Though the games haven't been remastered as was originally reported by many different news outlets, the ports have been optimised for Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers.
For the most-part, this works effortlessly and players will quickly be adept at jumping their way through these three memorable adventures. One of the places that Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine fall a little flat however, is with the camera control. There can be moments you're looking in the completely wrong direction and it can be incredibly frustrating to try and reframe without your experience being dampened.
Super Mario 64 was the titular hero's debut into 3D platforming, offering gamers a glimpse at what they could look to expect from his polygonal adventures of the future. The narrative was a familiar one: Princess Peach had been captured by the nefarious Bowser and it was up to you to save her. This takes Mario on a journey through some of the most colourful worlds he's ever explored, meeting some iconic characters along the way that have become a mainstay of the series. It's utterly charming from start to finish.
Mario found a new adversary in Super Mario Sunshine, that was first released on Nintendo GameCube. Despite going to the stunning Isle Delfino for a vacation, our popular plumber soon finds himself accused of bringing ruin to the location, forced to clean it up with his handy new water-blasting tool F.L.U.D.D. whilst working to expose the real culprit behind the destruction. Though it's got quite the cult following since its release, Sunshine is perhaps the weakest of the three games on offer here. That doesn't mean it's not enjoyable and worth playing; just that 64 and Galaxy blast it out of the (quite literal) water.
Finally, fan-favourite Super Mario Galaxy sees Mario team up with Rosalina to save Princess Peach from yet another assault by Bowser, but this time across the entire universe! Upon its release, the game was heralded as one of the most ambitious and successful Super Mario offerings the franchise has ever seen, and the game still manages to impress up to this day. If it weren't for the recent release of Super Mario Odyssey, this would without a doubt be lauded as the best game from the series in history. It's still a heck of a lot of fun, with replayability that goes unmatched by the majority of Super Mario titles.
Camera issues aside, those who love Nintendo and their mascot should absolutely pick up this collection while they have the opportunity. The three games included are likely going to be played over and over again for the foreseeable future, as players remember exactly how, when and why they fell in love with Mario. Long may he continue to entertain us all.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars is available to purchase now on the Nintendo Switch until March 31st, 2021. Limited physical editions are also available. A review code was given to Female First in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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