This is an odd, strange direct .... and I don't know how to feel about it exactly.
On the one hand, it's certainly the best Direct we've gotten in a long while, and I think what impresses me is how Nintendo basically catered to every corner of the Switch with it. It's not like you just get the 3D Mario collection, or the 3D World port, you also get an AR Mario Kart game, a 2D Mario All-Stars port, and a battle royal NSO game. Nintendo didn't really have to do any of this, but I think it was smart to do it and I'm glad they recognized there's a demand in an all of these weird niches. Basically every way the Switch could be used (a Wii U port machine, emulation, original online-only NSO content, AR gimmick games) was addressed, and at least thematically that's pretty cool.
On the other hand, it's kind of disappointing in ways where Nintendo just failed to address important things. Why isn't Galaxy 2 in the 3D Collection? There's really no excuse for that. Why isn't Mario 64 in a widescreen aspect ratio? I get creating a toggle for people who want a 4:3 mode, and for all we know maybe that's what they've done, but forcing this would be stupid. Why wasn't effort put behind Mario 64 in general? I'm fine with older graphics, but if you're going to treat this like a significant release in the year, why not remake 64? Or at least fix some of the gameplay problems that people have with Sunshine? It just seems like this is so rushed. Like I said I didn't expect 3D World, but if you're going to put so little effort in the other games in the collection, why not at least include that to make up for it? Yea yea it's Nintendo ...
And I know that a lot of times the internet makes up buzz-words and oversells concepts that don't really exist within the industry. But man ... the fact that this isn't even a Holiday title, and that it releases in two weeks, just makes it feel even more rushed. Sure, the game is a limited release that's launching just a few months before holiday, and I think that's the reason they made it a limited run, to get people to go out and buy a Switch so they can hurry and play a collection. And if a popular game releases a few months before holiday, on a system that's already in demand, it's basically a title that will push holiday sales already. But it just feels like such a strange admission of normalcy .... even with an entire direct behind it. I have a feeling that Nintendo at this point is just looking to see how far they can push sales for their games while spending relatively little time marketing them, because then they also spend less money than they would over a longer period of time.
Also I know I'm going to come off like a crotchety guy, but the fact that they didn't celebrate with a Mario Maker event or update at all is very sad to me, feels like the final fuck you to me personally as a human being. Yea they didn't really do that with Paper Mario, but I think that's more understandable because that's not a live service game (yea I hate myself for calling Mario Maker that too don't worry).
And the fact that it's a limited run release ... jesus christ ...
I'll still probably buy it because well, I just haven't played these legendary games, or at least I barely played Galaxy as a kid and I haven't played the others. And I'll definitely buy 3D World eventually, I want to have a good Switch-graphical-fidelity 3D Mario on the system and Odyssey simply doesn't cut it. But I still feel for people frustrated by the type of release it is, and how it doesn't even do a good job of homaging the 3D games when Galaxy 2 isn't there.
Honestly if I had any self-respect, which I don't because I lost it a long time ago, and I was a Mario fan (*cough cough* talking to you-know-who-you-are *cough cough*) I would be honest and treat this more like the Pikmin 3 Deluxe it is and less like the Kirby's Dream Collection it isn't. Actually wait no, Pikmin 3 Deluxe has actual new content and improvements. Nevermind. Lesson: don't be a drone.
Last edited by AngryLittleAlchemist - on 03 September 2020
