However, we’re quickly reaching the point where a new 3D Mario game needs to be announced. Notice how I said “needs,” as it definitely needs to happen. The Switch is still firing on all cylinders and there are some heavy hitters that are on the horizon. However, the new 3D Mario game has got to be close.

It’s Been Almost Four Years

Super Mario Odyssey was released on October 27, 2017, and that was the last 3D Mario game the world got. Yes, I’m aware that Bowser’s Fury was an extension that was developed for Super Mario 3D World. Yet, that was an extension and not its own game, let’s just be real. We’re less than two months away from Odyssey being four years old.

Now, if you look at the history of the 3D Mario franchise, four years between installments is not unheard of. The thing that’s peculiar is the fact that Nintendo hasn’t dropped even a little news on when we can expect the next installment. Given that they, typically, like to reveal the newest 3D Mario close to when it will actually release, it’s not too far-fetched to expect it by the end of 2022.

2023 is the Most Likely

With how stacked 2022 is looking for Nintendo, it’s probably a good guess that the newest installment is not going to be until 2023. As for what it is, it has to be the sequel to Odyssey. Unless Nintendo plans to wait until their next console to release the new one (which would be absurd), this is the only logical assumption.

To be honest, the point of this article was just to remind all fans that 3D Mario is still a thing. I wish there was more news that could be detailed, but there has been virtually nothing. A September Direct has been rumored for quite some time, but at the time of this writing, Nintendo hasn’t confirmed anything.

However, I wouldn’t expect to see anything related to this at the Nintendo Direct. Hopefully, they reveal news on the new game during E3 of 2022 or something. That could be their major reveal. Until then, fans like me are going to continue to wait in anticipation for the famous plumber to finally jump into a new 3D adventure again. It’s just a matter of when, not if.

For the record, golf is my favorite sport, and Mario is my favorite video game franchise. So, I feel my opinion on Mario Golf: Super Rush does have some validity. It’s also worth mentioning that Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (which was made by the same company) is probably my favorite Mario Sports game of all time.

Anyway, I want to detail the many reasons why I feel the way I do about the most recent Mario Golf entry.

Lack of Content

This has been a major issue for modern games in the Mario Sports genre. Perhaps it’s because we live in an era of DLC where content can be released post-game. Regardless, this is just another game in the genre that simply doesn’t have a ton to offer. This is especially true when compared to Toadstool Tour. That entry had game modes galore and did so without a true story mode (which this version actually has).

Speaking of the story mode, it gets old in Super Rush in about 30 minutes. Nope, I’m not exaggerating as the cringy voice acting and the repetitive gameplay gets very tiresome very quickly. I guess this would be a good time to mention the new “Speed Golf” mode. To be honest, I feel the game was built around the concept and really tailored to it.

I like to take my time while playing golf, but I can see where a group of friends would find a lot of enjoyment in speed golf. My lack of care for this mode is probably a huge reason why I don’t like it, honestly.

Game Mechanics

Now, to those who’ve played this game, this might come as a surprise. The game mechanics, on the surface, are very clean and well-executed. So, what’s the problem with them? It’s quite simple, actually, the game mechanics make the game way too easy. As a person who loves playing golf in real life, I understand that a video game will never be able to truly replicate the difficulty and fun of the real thing.

However, going back to Toadstool Tour, that game at least has game mechanics that are a little harder to master. In Super Rush, all you have to do is press a button. The former was just much more immersive. Additionally, all the pre-shot controls and options of Toadstool Tour are much better.

Course Design

Wow, the course design in this game is just bad. Now, the “New Donk City” course that was added looks really cool (I haven’t tried it yet because I couldn’t care less to play this game again). However, besides that, on top of having a very limited number of courses, most of their designs are pretty bland. Yes, golf courses can easily be repetitive, but “Camelot” was able to pull off some epic courses back on the GameCube.

Back when this game was unveiled earlier in 2021, I was extremely excited about it. Literally, five hours into the game, and I realized just how bad it was. Perhaps more and more updates will continue to improve the game, but is it really too much to ask to release a $60 game that’s actually good on day one?

He’s My Favorite Video Game Character

Yeah, this is pretty much the most biased way I could’ve started this. But, hey, we all have our favorites, and King Boo just so happens to be mine. I love all the Boos, but the King is just something special. He first debuted in Luigi’s Mansion way back in 2001. The first game in the Smash series, for the record, was released two years prior to that. What that means is both King Boo and the Smash franchise have been around for nearly the exact same amount of time. Think about that for a second.

He Would Add Something Different

It’s worth pointing out now that I don’t even like this franchise all that much. Heck, I don’t even own the newest game, which says a lot. If Nintendo added King Boo, though, I would be buying it in a heartbeat. Now, let me just say this, the cast of fighters in Ultimate is really, really good. Yet, most would agree that Nintendo needs to stop adding sword-based characters. King Boo, given his unique nature, would immediately be one of the most compelling, unique, and intriguing fighters to use.

Born in Nintendo

This is what really bothers me, honestly. Nintendo does a great job of adding third-party characters from other companies. Yet, you have a character sitting there that you created and own the rights to, and you still won’t add him. Seriously, what’s this disrespect for King Boo? Do they not think he would be a good character; can they not think of a move set for him? I wish I had the answers to these questions, but I’m as lost as the next guy.

It Could Help Other Games

The biggest game King Boo has been in during recent times is Luigi’s Mansion 3. While that game has been here for quite some time now, it would’ve been a great way to get more eyes on it to release the main villain in Smash. That’s the way my brain would think about it anyway, maybe I’m alone. Who knows, if they would’ve done that, it might not have impacted the sales of either game in the slightest. I highly doubt it, though.

Again, I don’t really even like this franchise, but if King Boo was added, Nintendo would have another sale for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It really goes to show the power of one character, and I’m sure others feel the same about different characters.

If someone has leaked rumors that ended up coming true in the past, their credibility is boosted. Yet, if some random nobody just decides to “leak” information, you have to expect that 90 percent of it is BS. Now, the reason I’m bringing all that up is just recently, somebody leaked out some major Nintendo Switch news, regarding software in the future.

I’m going to dive into it a little bit, and then assess whether or not the leaks are believable. So, right now, go ahead and check out the tweet that was sent out by @markomaro:

1H 2021
New Pokemon Snap (Spring)
Pokemon Collection (Feb)
Famicom Detective Club remakes (At least in Japan)
Zelda BOTW Sequel (April if is not delays)
Metroid 2D (If not more delays, already finished)
New IP (Not announced yet)
Fire Emblem Remake (Spring-Summer)

— markomaro (@Newmarkomaro) November 19, 2020

Now that you’ve seen it, let’s talk about it.

Is it True?

Yeah, might as well start with this, right? A user on Reddit went ahead and shared this tweet looking for some information on the leaker’s credibility. If you scroll down in the comments section of the post, you’ll notice that many people aren’t buying this one at all. It’s worth pointing out that not all Reddit users can be taken seriously, but when this many people are calling out the leaks for being fake, it’s alarming for sure.

The sad part is the information that was leaked is insane. If even half of this were to be true, Nintendo Switch owners would be in for a heck of a future. Though I’m starting to believe that 90% of it isn’t going to happen (at least in the manner the games were predicted). Here’s what I’d be most looking forward to on the list:

Donkey Kong Country 6

Without question, this is what piqued my interest in this leak in the first place. It’s been so bloody long since we had a new entry into the DKC franchise that I’m starting to wonder if we’re ever going to get a new one. Clearly, if there was a game in development, it’s most likely not going to be called Donkey Kong Country 6, as that would most likely be just a placeholder name.

There are no more details about it, however, which is unfortunate. I’d love to see it, but I’ll only believe it if and when Nintendo confirms it.

The BOTW Sequel in April

The likelihood of this happening is very, very slim. You even will see some commenters in the Reddit post mocking this prediction. We all know the BOTW sequel is coming, but to expect it as early as April of next year would probably be pushing it. This is Nintendo we’re talking about here, as they have historically done this with Zelda. With that said, we’d all lose our marbles if we actually had the chance to play this game that soon.

It Just Seems Like Too Much

Someone made mention of this in the Reddit post. It just seems like there are too many games on this list for the information to be accurate. How could someone know that many games in the coming future are coming to the Switch? It just seems fishy for sure, but I wanted to share it anyway. Leaks are fun to speculate about, and all we can hope for is that some of the information turns out to be true.

Yes, we got Super Mario 3D All-Stars, but that was honestly kind of a disappointing release. Additionally, it didn’t offer anything new (outside of being able to play the first three entries in HD). What we really want is an actual new entry in the franchise, but what do you think that’s going to be? Today, I want to talk about that a little (no rumors will be present, this is all for fun).

Super Mario Odyssey 2

Out of all the possibilities, this one is the most likely. Honestly, it’s really only because Nintendo seems bound and determined to support the Switch for another couple of years at least. And there’s no way they’d wait all the way until their next console to release a new 3D Mario game. It also seems unlikely that we’d see a brand-new game. The safe bet is on the sequel to Odyssey and, personally, that’s the entry I want it to be the most.

Super Mario Galaxy 3

For whatever reason, this game has been speculated and wanted for literally a decade. Now, I’m a huge fan of the Galaxy games (the first is arguably my favorite 3D platformer of all-time). However, if I’m being brutally honest, I just don’t see the point in making a 3rd. The time has come and gone, and at the end of the 2nd entry, I got the idea that Nintendo sort of ran out of ideas. Super Mario 3D All-Stars proved that a Galaxy game can run on the Switch, but I still don’t see a 3rd entry happening.

Super Mario Sunshine 2 / Super Mario 64 2

I just figured I’d talk about both of these at the same time. Again, this is a list of what new entry you’d want in the franchise, and many would be eating these two up. Personally, an actual sequel to Super Mario 64 would be insanely cool. We’re not going to talk about the other game, as I’m not that big of a fan of it. Both of these, however, seem highly unlikely. This is especially true considering both of the original games finally landed on the Switch. Both of these would probably be pipe dreams.

A Brand-New Idea

Outside of a sequel to Odyssey, I would just prefer a brand-new concept for the next game. Yet, why waste this on the Switch? I feel Nintendo will wait for their next console to create a brand-new game. Plus, with as amazing as Odyssey is, I really want to see what they could do in a sequel. So, you know my two cents, what’s yours?

Now, virtually everyone has already played the three titles in this collection. So, I’m not going to waste your time and review each of them separately. Instead, I’m simply going to list for you my main likes and dislikes about the game. Unfortunately, it wasn’t very hard for me to come up with my dislikes. That said, I still enjoy the collection, as a whole. But enough small talk, let’s get into the beef.

What I Like: Super Mario Galaxy

Alright, so let’s get this out of the way first. Super Mario Galaxy is my favorite platformer out of the three in this pack. It’s actually not even close, either, as it’s arguably my favorite 3D platformer of all-time. However, after I finally upgraded to a QLED, 55-inch, 4K HDTV, I noticed that 480p, Wii content doesn’t look too amazing.

So, no doubt, this is the game I was looking forward to the most. Outside of the utterly amazing visuals (seriously, Galaxy literally looks breathtaking in this collection), the reworked controls are actually very nice. I never had an issue with the motion control in the original, as I thought it was executed very well.

Yet, I have to admit, using the Pro Controller to play this game is a wonderful experience. Sure, there’s still motion control required, but remapping the spin/shake to a button was a brilliant idea. To me, it worked out better than I could’ve imagined.

What I Don’t Like: The Bare Bones Menu

Oh boy, I knew the menu system was going to be lazy, but even I was surprised. I know complaining about the menu seems to be nitpicking, but I think it’s fair game. What I was hoping for was some type of overworld to explore. In this overworld, in my mind, you would have the three games in different locations. Heck, this could’ve even included a museum celebrating the history of the franchise.

Instead, Nintendo did what Nintendo does. They slapped a bland menu system with the ability to select between the three different titles and their respective soundtracks. Yippee, so freaking exciting.

What I Like: The Visuals

This was touched on with Galaxy, but really each of the three titles here look fantastic. Nintendo nailed that aspect of this collection, which was one of the main points of doing it. Some people have complained that Super Mario 64 wasn’t expanded to a 16:9 aspect ratio. To me, though, it’s not too big of a deal because the game plays well at 4:3.

What I Don’t Like: Little to No Improvements

As much as I want to say that the 3D Mario games are flawless, they really aren’t. Even Galaxy has its camera issues. Super Mario 64 still feels like the same clunky and somewhat irritating platforming experience. Nintendo could’ve done a couple of things. One, they could’ve at least attempted to fix the awful camera a little bit. Secondly, they could’ve made Mario feel smoother and more modern. Really, the same problems could’ve been fixed for Sunshine too.

Look, some will say that not doing this is a good thing as each game retains the same feel. This still could’ve been achieved with the addition of improvements. Yet, Nintendo went the lazy path again. Boy, that’s a real shocker.

Bottom Line: It was a Cash Grab

Yep, this game was a cash grab. With the limited availability added on to the fact, it becomes even more apparent. However, do I regret the purchase? No, I don’t. Despite the complaints I have, the collection is still pretty darn good. You get three of the most famous Mario games of all-time on one, modern platform. They all look really good, and you can even play them on the go now. More should’ve been done, but it’s still nice that Nintendo did deliver on them.

Even though the game is far from new, I decided I wanted to list my personal five favorite captures. After all, it’s not as if there’s anything to talk about regarding the potential sequel. So, we might as well keep on talking about the greatness of the first game, right?

5. Sherm

Out of all the enemies in the game, Sherm is arguably the most unique and unexpected (and that’s saying quite a bit). Sherm is the small tank enemy that resides in a few different kingdoms. It can shoot an infinite number of explosives and is rather fun to use. However, admittedly, the controls take a minute to get accustomed to. Once you get them down, you’ll be capturing Sherm just to mess around with its shooting prowess.

4. Bullet Bill

A classic and staple enemy throughout the years, finally being able to control a Bullet Bill was something special when I first played through this masterpiece. While you need to be quick on your feet after you capture one, the dynamics it adds to the gameplay can’t be understated. Capturing a Bullet Bill opened up so many different and unique platforming sections. For the Sand Kingdom alone, it made it so much more fun to traverse and explore.

3. Yoshi

Wow, do you want to talk about an unexpected surprise? What made capturing Yoshi even better is the fact that you had to go to the top of Peach’s Castle. Nintendo is so good when it comes to paying homage to their old games. As far as using Yoshi, this is the most fluid the green dinosaur has ever handled in a 3D environment. It’s such an enjoyable experience to capture him that you feel severely disappointed when you have to ditch him. Poor Yoshi, he’s always getting abandoned.

2. Cheep Cheep

Some of you may actually be surprised that I have this so high on my list. Let’s face it, though, water levels have always been something of a problem during the history of the franchise. The level design of most water levels throughout the years have been wonderful, but the mechanics have been frustrating at times. When capturing a Cheep Cheep, all these issues are resolved. Besides not needing to worry about health, you can move around seamlessly underwater with one of these bad boys. It makes all the difference in the world.

1. Bowser

Even though this is one of the shortest captures in the game, it easily remains my favorite. That moment when you realized that you needed to capture Bowser to save the world is one that I will never, ever forget. It was one of the most epic moments in video game history, forget just Mario. If there ever is going to be a sequel, let’s hope that we’ll be able to play as Bowser a little bit longer. Who doesn’t want that?

And, if you are a fan then you have no doubt heard the rumors and ramblings over the last several weeks. You guys know what I’m talking about; the rumors about a potential collection of remasters coming sometime in the near future. Nintendo clearly wants to do something big for the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros.

If you want my opinion, though, I’m not that excited at what might be a remastered collection pack of the 3D Mario games. Don’t worry, I’m going to explain myself.

Most of the Titles Were Optimized for Their Console

Outside of Super Mario 64, the other three titles being discussed for this supposedly remastered collection were all optimized for the controller of the system that they were made for. The first one, Super Mario Sunshine, required the use of the “R” trigger for FLUDD. The triggers on the Switch controllers probably wouldn’t work that well and remapping the button to something else would just feel odd.

Then, you have the Galaxy games. Sure, there are some people out there who would rather play them without the motion control, but you can’t deny the impact it had. Gamers complain a lot about motion control and I’m not too high on it myself. But, for the Galaxy games, it was virtually perfect and actually made the experience even better. The only solution I can think of is if Nintendo designs them specifically for the Joy Con controllers. Personally, I hate those controllers as they are way too small for average-sized hands.

I’m So Sick of Remasters

Alright, the video game industry is just out of control with how many remasters are being released. When they happen once in a while, I have no problems with them. But, it seems like every day there’s a new remaster revealed. After a while, the allure leaves. I mean, is it so hard for video game developers to actually come up with something new?

I’d Rather Have a Sequel to Odyssey

If you gave me the choice of being able to play all the 3D Mario games on the Switch or playing the sequel to Odyssey, I would choose the latter within a millisecond. Regardless of the time Nintendo puts into this collection (if it even happens), I’d rather see them spend their time designing Super Mario Odyssey 2. There’s so much potential in the sequel and I would be very disappointed (to say the least) if it’s not being created.

Trust me, I get the allure and excitement of a collection of this nature, especially if they are full-on remasters. For me, though, I just want to see Mario take on new platforming adventures. I guess that’s just me.

As fun as Multiplayer Versus can be (it’s actually one of the most entertaining modes in the entire game), it suffers from painful lag times. Now, it’s easy to think that the problem is me and my internet connection or the people I am playing with. But, this is a worldwide issue and when I play the game, I’m always playing with a fast, reliable, and stable internet connection.

What’s the Deal, Then?

It’s extremely possible that when I play the game, I am online with other players who suffer from terrible internet speeds. Yet, the problem is literally every single time I play Multiplayer Versus, there’s lag of some magnitude. I can handle a small drop in the framerate. However, there are times (and I kid you not), where the game runs at about two or three frames a second. It becomes downright unplayable at times.

I’ll be the first to admit that though I love Nintendo (and also hate them at times) they’re not exactly at the head of the class when it comes to this stuff. They tend to focus on the fun of gaming rather than technical performance. I have no issues with this, but sometimes they need to find a better balance.

Not all their games suffer from these dreadful lag times though. Take Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, for example. Every single time I hop on a tournament, the framerate remains stable and I’m able to enjoy the race. Quite frankly, I’ve very rarely noticed any performance issues while playing online in this specific game.

Yet, as soon as you play Multiplayer Versus in Super Mario Maker 2 and there are four players on the screen, the game literally can’t even.

Will It Ever Become Fixed?

Somehow, in the back of my mind, I feel as if this problem will never go away. Even though I mainly play this game to create levels and Super Worlds (thanks for that update, Nintendo), it’s still nice to dabble in the different modes it has from time to time. We as fans will just have to keep on trying to have fun playing online. For whatever reason, Nintendo either can’t fix the issue or doesn’t want to.

Either way, I’m assuming it’s going to remain like this until the end of time. But, who knows, I’ve been wrong plenty of other times before.

They released Super Mario Galaxy and then released the sequel around three years later (closer to two-and-a-half years). While I do think that both of these games are great, I believe the original to be an utter masterpiece. In fact, it’s my second favorite video game of all-time and what I believe to be the best 3D game ever made.

Maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but it’s just my opinion. But, what are my feelings about the sequel? Yeah, it holds up very well and is indeed a really good game. Yet, I personally find it inferior.

I Seem to Be Alone in This

Over the years, I have noticed that many, many fans seem to prefer the sequel over the original. In my opinion, there are really only two areas the sequel improves on. Firstly, the mechanics are more optimized and secondly, the power-ups are much better. Outside of that though, I can’t see where everyone calls the follow-up better. Let’s break down why I feel this way.

The First Has an Overworld

Super Mario Galaxy is the last true entry in the series to have a full-fledged overworld (that’s kind of crazy to think about). You could count Super Mario 3D World, but it’s not quite the same. Anyway, the sequel did away with this and went with an old-school world map to traverse around.

The problem with doing this in a 3D environment is it cuts away from the freedom you have. In the first, you can traverse around the homeworld and go to whatever galaxies you want (granted you have enough star power to get there). In the sequel, you can only go where the map takes you. It’s a dynamic that, to me, only works in the original 2D Mario games.

There Are Larger Galaxies in the First

One of my major issues with the level design in the sequel is its overreliance on smaller galaxies. In the first game, you visit a ton of galaxies that feature many different stars to collect. No, you can’t collect them out of order, but you can’t in the sequel either (unless you are talking about the green stars).

The first also has some smaller galaxies but the blend of scale is done so masterfully. There is little to no fluctuation of the scale in the second game, which makes a big difference.

The Original Simply Has a Better Atmosphere

Some of you may think I’m crazy for saying this, but the two games don’t compare in their respective atmospheres. In the original, you just get the feeling (with the amazing soundtrack and the ambiance) that you’re traveling through space on an epic adventure. The second just doesn’t give off those vibes for me. Maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t think so.

At the end of the day, I still enjoy the sequel quite a bit. When it comes down to it, however, it will always be inferior to the original. Both will always be classics, though, and will go down in history forever.