March 10 marks the annual Super Mario appreciation day: MAR10 Day! This year, Nintendo marked the big day with an offering of Switch game discounts – but why can’t they go a little further? Last year marked the 35th anniversary of the Mario franchise, but funnily enough, 2021 also marks 40 years of the Italian plumber himself! So that’s cause for a real celebration.
To mark this milestone, here’s six Mario games that need a re-release!
Super Mario Galaxy 2
An instant classic 3D platformer, Super Mario Galaxy 2 was noticeably absent on the 3D All-Stars collection. A 2010 sequel to the first game, it might just be a whole bunch more of the first Galaxy title, but with gameplay and level design this solid, there’s nothing wrong with that. Galaxy 2 also added Yoshi segments, as well as up the difficulty for veteran 3D Mario games.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 got a second life on Wii U – but let’s be honest, what kind of life is that? This much adored Mario game deserves the Switch re-release treatment, so the generations that weren’t around for the Wii don’t miss out.
Mario Strikers Charged
Okay, cards on the table, I have never played Mario Strikers Charged. However, that is all the more reason for a re-release – I need to experience this game and its wild aesthetic. The entire cast look perpetually angry – as if the only thing stopping them from squaring up to one another is that the prison system in the Mushroom Kingdom is pretty rough. No, they have to channel this aggression through soccer, leading to less sportsmanship and worse attitudes than anything I’ve ever seen – and I’ve seen English football.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
No one talks about the Super Mario RPGs nearly enough, but the lack of attention Partners in Time receives is nothing short of criminal.
This prequel to Superstar Saga was initially released for DS in 2005, and sees you take control of both the Mario Bros…and their baby forms. With the adults and babies able to access different bits of the overworld, there’s a heavy puzzle element as you control all four, navigating your way through levels, and fighting enemies. But the real main attraction is the dialogue – the normally silent cast never keep quiet here, and it makes for some of the funniest lines in the series. Except that one boss that calls Mario and Luigi “noobs”, that was very 2005.
Luckily, Partners in Time did receive a Wii U re-release in 2015. However, with the Switch proving infinitely more popular, it’s time to bring this fun and quirky RPG to a new generation.
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
If you’re aware of my ongoing feud with GameLuster’s Luke as to what the best Mario Kart is (it’s Mario Kart Wii, in case you were wondering), you’ll know how much this hurts to admit: but Double Dash is the most deserving of the remake/re-release treatment.
Mario Kart Wii got its time in the sun with addictively fun online, so Double Dash deserves some love in that department. So far, it’s the only Mario Kart game that allows two players to control the same kart. Sure enough, in the original game, this was little more than a way to distract a younger sibling, since the player in control of firing the weapons couldn’t do a whole lot. However, with a bit of reworking, the second player could be given separate screen to their teammate, and actually be able to face backwards and aim the shells they fire with more precision. Imagine that online – you’re on the wheel, playing a racing game, while your buddy is on the back, playing a third person shooter.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Admittedly, it might be a bit of a stretch to call this a Mario game, but he’s featured so heavily in the promotional material, and his franchise got the most love in the character roster, so I’m just going to roll with it.
While Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a good time, there’s a reason why the Melee has stood the test of time for many, and has held on to a thriving competitive gaming scene – it’s just such a solid fighter. While not intentional on Nintendo’s part, techniques such as wavedashing (a much quicker and more versatile form of dashing) and dash-dancing (a way to bait your opponent into attacking) make Melee a game with an incredibly high skill ceiling, and near-limitless potential to those with a love of fighting games.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars
Was this petty? Kind of. But no more petty than making one of the most anticipated re-releases in gaming history a timed release – with even the digital version of Super Mario 3D All-Stars disappearing March 31.
The whole concept of only having this compilation title available to purchase for a few months goes against the entire purpose of game preservation. First-party Nintendo titles are notoriously difficult to (cheaply) get hold of legitimately once they’re a console generation or two behind, and this doesn’t exactly address the problem. Super Mario 64, Sunshine and Galaxy are some of the best gaming experiences out there, and every young gamer out there who wasn’t around for release should get to play them, even if they don’t have an older sibling holding onto some older copies.
With any luck, Nintendo will at least put all the games individually on the eShop – but come on. Let people play your games! They’re actually kinda good, you know?
Stuck for ideas on how to celebrate MAR10 day yourself? Check out our list of pandemic-friendly ways to mark Mario’s big day!