Retro|Spective 075R: Super Mario

[Nu-Eclipse]

It sounds awful but the amount of Mario themed... filler games is really making me reflect on how much I previously thought Nintendo curated the franchise really strongly. Now, it's more they've done a good job of constantly putting out games that use the brand and get by just by not being awful. There's a mountain of unremarkable stuff as the years grow more recent

Once again: It looks like that because you clearly haven’t covered just “Super Mario” games.

But you already know this.

[Neon Ignition]

Game 134 - Mario Kart Arcade GP VR
The fourth and most recent entry in the arcade line of racers, this supports up to four players who take on the role of either Mario, Luigi, Yoshi or Peach and race on a single circuit that lasts a single lap. The view is fully from the players perspective and players physically use their hands to reach out and to deploy the weapons that hang above the course.









Did you ever experience the joys of Mario Kart in VR?

[Nu-Eclipse]

Genuinely interested to know if anybody on here has played Mario Kart VR. As far as I'm aware, it can be setup to play at home with the correct software and hardware set-up...

Also...do we think it would have ever been possible at any time for Nintendo to utilise Labo to be able to bring a version of this to Switch? Or is that just way too far for the tech?

[Neon Ignition]

I have, they have it set up at the Trafford Centre. To be honest, I don't think there's any reason why it couldn't work fine with a home VR unit, it's surprising that it hasn't leaked its way online already. Thanks the scale of the objects on the track and the simple, clean visual style it's impressive to see in motion. The main trouble with it is that it's typically an expensive attraction that lasts a very short time. The single lap you do goes through a Mushroom Kingdom section, gliding through a cloud based part, underwater and Bowsers Castle but whilst you are steering and using weapons there's minimal sense of control over the outcome of the race or of the kart itself beyond moving left and right.

In terms of Labo, if it replicated the headset and a joycon in each hand was used to grab weapons... I could see that working pretty well

[Asura]

Also...do we think it would have ever been possible at any time for Nintendo to utilise Labo to be able to bring a version of this to Switch? Or is that just way too far for the tech?

Nintendo do some real techno-wizardry sometimes, but I'm willing to assert the answer to this is "no", if it looks anything like the videos I've seen. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe pushes the Switch to its limit (which is why, admittedly, it's one of the better looking games on the platform). But VR's gotta do stereoscopic rendering, for a start. Plus... As someone who tried a fair bit of Google Cardboard back-in-the-day, it wouldn't have been comfortable. The Switch has no 6dof tracking method (gyro is barely accurate enough for a reasonable 3dof).

That's not to say you couldn't have made some sort of Mariokart game for Labo. But I think you would've had to compromise it so much that it just wouldn't be worth it.

[dataDave]

I saw it at the Trafford Center last year as well, surrounded by RAW THRILLS and ticket machines in Namco Funscape, which is now about as Namco as Jacob Rees-Mogg.

It also looked total ****ing **** and not worth the time.

[Neon Ignition]

Game 135 - Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
A partnership wit Ubisoft resulted in this cross brand tactical RTS which saw Mario and the Rabbids join forces to save the Mushroom Kingdom. Using turn based combat, players move their characters whilst considering defensive positions and their attack plans to take down enemies and bosses as they work through multiple worlds. Reviewed very well and a sales success, the game seemed positioned to add another franchise to the Mario arsenal.




A Great Addition or Left You Foaming at the Mouth?

[Asura]

I just couldn't get into this. I tried the demo, but got nowhere.

[Neon Ignition]

I went into a bit wary, I'm not fussed about the Rabbids so if it wasn't for the Mario element I'd have probably skipped it. Absolutely adored it in the end though the difficulty can get a bit prickly in places toward the end. I'm in the camp though where as much as I liked it and as much as I like the look of the sequel it felt like enough so I've not yet felt the pull to do the second one.

[Nu-Eclipse]

I enjoyed Kingdom Battle a lot once I got past the slow-burn start and learnt about how the gameplay and powering-up worked. Rabbids and soundtrack way more charming than I thought they would be, although from what I read of the sequel the former has been ruined by allowing the Rabbids to talk with proper voices.

Also, it has to be said that the RRPs set for both Mario + Rabbids games have been shambolic across the board and have probably played a large part in ensuring that Sparks of Hope has had poor sales figures. I didn't buy the Gold Edition (complete) of Kingdom Battle until it went below £30 and I have no plans to do so with Sparks of Hope until it touches a similar figure.

[Neon Ignition]

Game 136 - Mario + Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions
The 3DS recieved this remake of the RPG entry that also added another storyline focused on Captain Goomba searching for the missing Bowser. Keeping sprite based visuals, the game featured several QOL improvements and better lighting to update the original for a new audience.




As the last Mario + Luigi series release, was it a fitting finale?

[Nu-Eclipse]

Excellent if you've never played Superstar Saga before.

Pointless if you played it first time around - the "Bowser's Minions" storyline adds nothing.

The Mario & Luigi RPG games probably should've been ported to Switch in all honesty.

[Neon Ignition]

Game 137 - Super Mario Odyssey
Already six years old this year, the 3D platforming entry saw Mario return to full 3D gameplay aided by a living cap that could be used to manipulate objects and to possess things. Another critically acclaimed entry, it is also one of the fastest selling ones as well. The main focus on this entry was an effort to move away from the often linear design of the Galaxy games and 3D World and to return to the more open design contained in Mario 64 and Sunshine.




Your peak of the Mario 3D platformer odyssey?

[Atticus]

I think Odyssey is close to perfection and one of the (if not the) best games ever made. It's wall to wall joy from start to finish, secrets everywhere, every trip off-piste rewarded. Little things like leaving an area to head to a new one, Mario's little airship chuggs by and the haptics subtly kick in and it feels like a proper voyage of discovery. Love it

[Asura]

I enjoyed it, but am I the only person who thinks it was a bit short? When I got to the last level, I kinda wondered if this was the end or the end of the first third of the game (based on how I feel about Mario64).