Super Mario 3D All-Stars was one of the worst kept secrets of the year. For months, fans were anticipating the release of a 3D Mario collection as a celebration of the 35-year anniversary of the plumpy plumber. When 3D All-Stars was finally revealed over the summer during a Nintendo Direct, fans rejoiced that they would finally be able to play some of their favorite Mario games of all time. Super Mario 3D All-Stars has indeed arrived, and the games inside are exactly as remembered, which is both a good thing and a slightly disappointing revelation.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars comes packed with Super Mario 64 (released originally in 1996), Super Mario Sunshine (released in 2002 for the Gamecube), and Super Mario Galaxy (the 2007 Wii title). Individually each game is great, but the issue with the collection as a whole is that the games are ports more than remasters or even remakes. If Nintendo wasn’t going to full-on remake these three iconic Mario games (like it did with Link’s Awakening, for example) it was expected that they would do a bit more than simply touch up the games, both graphically and perhaps even with the systems within (like it did with both Wind Waker and Twilight Princess).
When comparing the originals to the 3D All-Stars versions, it is clear that the games look better, with Mario 64 losing the “blur” and Mario Galaxy being able to shine on an HD console, but the games are basically slightly prettier ports. What this does is highlight the shortcomings of the original games. A title like Super Mario 64 may be a 5/5 type game in 1996, but that exact version in 2020 has some issues with precision controlling and camera wonkiness. Even if Nintendo didn’t want to overhaul and update the camera system of Mario 64, it would have been appreciated if it stretched the game to a widescreen ratio, to fit modern screens and even the Switch in handheld mode.
Along with the three games, Super Mario 3D All-Stars also comes with over 170 songs that fans can listen to. Not only is it wonderful to hear the marvelous creations by Koji Kondo in-game, but it is also enjoyable and appreciated to be able to listen to them at any time. The music feature is about the only thing in this Mario 3D collection that feels like Nintendo living up to the 35th anniversary, something that feels like more than the bare minimum. The rest of the package is simply the games themselves, which certainly isn’t a bad thing.
Super Mario 64 set the standard for open and exploratory 3D platformers when it launched in 1996. In many ways, Nintendo never fully realized Mario 64 vision again until Mario Odyssey. The strengths of Mario 64 bursts through the screen, as Nintendo hit a home-run with a simplistic art-style that still looks nice today and catchy music.
Mario is incredibly fun to control in Mario 64, with fluid movement and a variety of jump combinations. The only issue with the controls comes down to small precision-based moves where Mario needs to navigate a very small space or plummet to his doom. In 1996 the camera in Mario 64 was as good as it gets, but today it is limiting and occasionally frustrating.
The level design in Super Mario 64 still reigns supreme. There are 15 areas to explore, not even including Bower’s levels and secrets hidden throughout Peach’s Castle. There are only a few clunkers when it comes to the stages in Mario 64, but in general, the level design is close to flawless. Not only is each area unique, but also finding the seven stars in each stage is a joy.
Super Mario Sunshine may be the weakest of the three games in the collection, but it still is fun to play. Aspects of the game simply feel off in Sunshine, like the ugly character design of Pinatas and new enemies that have not been seen again in Mario games since (for good reason). The story is also extremely odd thanks to scenes like Mario getting thrown into prison or Boweser Jr. calling Peach “mama.” Mario’s movement feels extremely quick and twitchy, which is very fun, but the F.L.U.D.D mechanics slow everything down and true platforming takes a back seat to the need to spray everything in sight. Sunshine almost feels like the black sheep of the 3D games as a result.
Super Mario Sunshine‘s small level count compared to Mario 64‘s 15 and Mario Galaxy‘s 42 makes the game look lackluster. Add in the fact that levels all have the same tropical island vibe and the experience starts to feel more repetitive than the average Mario game. The gimmick of F.L.U.D.D can allow for some interesting platforming moments, finally riding Yoshi in 3D is great, and exploring Delfino is enjoyable. And in terms of its art, Sunshine still looks pretty, especially when water is a focal point, and although the songs get a bit repetitive, there are some definite classics.
Super Mario Galaxy is the title that holds up the most in the package. Because the game had motion and pointer controls on the Wii, this version has been updated to allow for multiple styles of play. Players can use Joy-Cons to control Galaxy very similarly to the original with the Wii-mote. This is arguably the ideal way to enjoy the experience, but it is also possible to play in handheld mode, as Nintendo added the ability to touch the screen to gather Star Bits or hook onto blue Pull Stars. A Switch Pro controller can also be used, but the motion moments in the game (like manta-ray surfing in Loopdeloop Galaxy) don’t translate well to the traditional controller.
Mario Galaxy‘s controls and classic movements are tight and precise, and the extra “spin” jump that Mario can pull off in Galaxy is excellent for hitting enemies, but also for adjusting a jump in mid-air. In 2007, the idea of roaming around a small globe as gravity pulls Mario towards the center was remarkable and awe-inspiring; in 2020 it’s just as special. The art-style is phenomenal in the game as well, and the fully-orchestrated music composed by Mahito Yokota and Koji Kondo is some of the most powerful and beautiful in gaming.
The Mario Galaxy approach to the 3D Mario games is unlike any other. While games like Mario 64, Sunshine, and Odessey have a smaller amount of specially designed worlds to explore, with secrets hidden everywhere, Mario Galaxy is a rush of nonstop and countless obstacle courses to run through, and this makes it a unique treasure.
After replaying these classic 3D Mario entries, there is little doubt that Nintendo knows how to make 3D platformers, and that Mario is and always will be fun. It is disappointing that Nintendo chose not to update the titles in Super Mario 3D All-Stars for 2020, as some of the blemishes in the design of the three games are made more obvious so many years after their initial releases. That being said, the games are still excellent, with Super Mario Galaxy feeling like a perfect game. Additionally, the nostalgia of childhood gaming will likely allow players to look right past any small hiccup, as it is still a joy to explore Peach’s Castle, hover over Delfino Plaza, and fly throughout the Galaxy.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars is available now for Nintendo Switch.
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