After months of rumors and speculation the next compilation in the All-Stars series is here in Super Mario 3D All-Stars featuring three generation defining Mario titles; Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy. These titles while not necessarily remakes are somewhat remasters with all three having 720p output in handheld mode and Super Mario Galaxy & Super Mario Sunshine having full 1080p output in docked mode.

Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a 2020 action-adventure compilation game, it is developed and published by Nintendo. It is available exclusively on Nintendo Switch and will be time limited to purchase by March 31, 2021.

Editor’s Note: This review covers the compilation itself and is a seldom game by game review of the titles featured from within. Some spoilers for each game may be present within this review.

Finally, Nintendo begins the long-awaited process of bringing more of their 3D classics to the Switch.

If you had told me a year ago that a rumor would sprout of a Super Mario 3D collection on Switch would come and it’d be real I’d probably laugh at you. Yet here we are six months later and the rumor was indeed fact. 2020 has been a fairly insane year for gaming rumors most of which have come true thus making 2020 one of if not the most accurate year of gaming news reporting. This announcement was originally scheduled for E3 2020, but due to the current issues surrounding coronavirus those were unfortunately put on hold. Nintendo just weeks prior to launch would announce the port collection on a Mario 35th Anniversary themed Nintendo Direct to the surprise of millions. Each game has been remastered to 1080p in TV mode with the exception Super Mario 64 being limited to 720p.

Play three mainline 3D Mario games remastered in one near complete package.

THE GOOD: It’s not very often we see Nintendo releasing compilations of their games. While this has been far more recent the last several years the previous compilation title from Nintendo is still more often than not far from reach in release of the previous. Because of this the rarity of these games alone is a bit of a selling point, but in an industry where backwards compatibility is still a very much requested feature having universally acclaimed titles on the next, following, etc console is always good if it’s within reason. While I can’t say Super Mario 3D All-Stars is fair in its pricing and limited time purchase window, I can say that content wise this is one of the greatest game packages you’ll probably ever get this gen (excluding Xbox Game Pass).

Two out of the three contained titles are 1080p in dock mode.

If you’ve (for whatever reason) never played any of the titles featured within the compilation story wise most of it is your standard Mario affair. Bowser attacks, Peach is taken hostage, Mario (and sometimes Luigi too) goes off to rescue her. While the same is true for 64 and Galaxy, Sunshine does actually deviate from the usual formula. For one of the few times in the series Peach isn’t in danger she’s on vacation with Mario and co. and he has to help the locals with dangerous gunk that’s threatening their home using a water canon backpack. Though all three are similar in plot what makes the 3D Mario games so unique is artistically and thematically they vastly differ. 64 focuses on the classic castle aspect but Mario goes from world to world through paintings within the castle, Sunshine is based mainly within a single island, Galaxy is….I mean I’m sure you can figure that one out. Gameplay is more or less the same for 64 and Galaxy the same typical run, jump, spin, etc. Sunshine has this as well but the water canon not only adds to the standard combat but also plays a heavy role in travel. Galaxy in contrast allows Mario to use the environment around a weapon in certain scenarios. Each game has several similarities and varied differences that make each one feel special and it’s the creativeness going into these games that allows Nintendo to continue to use these characters without feeling the need of developing new IP as much as Sony or Microsoft do.

A rare, but long-desired Nintendo compilation title is here.

THE BAD: As great as it is Super Mario 3D All-Stars does have its flaws like with most things in life. I have to admit I’m kind of scratching my head at the decision to not remake at least one of these titles for an even better selling point. Opting for just solid remasters seems odd considering they went hard for the anniversary elsewhere. Super Mario Galaxy 2 one of Nintendo’s stronger sequels is also missing leaving this collection filling a bit incomplete. That being said I have a theory that Nintendo plans on releasing a true remake for the title standalone at a later date.

While on a time window, hopefully Nintendo will at the very least release each title individually.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Super Mario 3D All-Stars is another reason for Nintendo Switch hold outs to finally pick up the hybrid title. Though disappointing that there isn’t a full remake of at least one of the titles packed in and one game missing in Super Mario Galaxy 2 it’s one of the strongest compilation games in quiet some time due to the resolution updates, graphical changes, and the simple fact that these games are once again available to play on modern hardware. Hopefully Nintendo will withhold the limit on said availability or at the very least release each title individually at a respectable price once it expires.