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.

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?

Even when I go back to play the older entries, I find myself loving the implementation of the good old Animal Buddies. So, with that in mind, I thought I would share with everyone my personal favorite buddies from the original trilogy. Without further ado, as they say.

Expresso the Ostrich

Expresso is quite an interesting companion because you only see him in the first game. Most of the other animal friends show up more than once. Honestly, this makes Expresso feel like arguably the most organic Animal Buddy in the entire franchise. His ability to practically infinitely fly and run extremely fast made it so you never wanted to lose him.

Squawks the Parrot

Alright, so here’s the deal with Squawks. Specifically, in the second game, he typically is involved with some of the hardest levels in the franchise. I used to hate his guts, honestly. But he’s grown on me over the years, and I can honestly say that his sections are challenging, yet very fun to traverse in. Except for “Animal Antics,” of course, that section’s a nightmare.

Enguarde the Swordfish

There are a lot of fans and speedrunners that don’t like Enguarde. In fairness, his mechanics got better with each game. In the third game, he’s pretty much unstoppable. Even in the first game, though, I love using him. Anything that can assist in underwater levels in platformers is a win for me. And Enguarde would be at the top of my list.

Squitter the Spider

You’ll hear speedrunners refer to him as “Shoes the Spider,” as he’s literally wearing shoes, but his official name is Squitter. And he’s my favorite Animal Buddy of all-time. It’s my hope and dream that he one day comes back in a new entry. His speed, platforming, and ability to shoot webs make him a dynamic force. It also helps that the levels he’s associated with are always amazing.

Really, Animal Buddies are a lost idea. Whenever we get a new game in the franchise, the hope is that they’ll have more of an impact again. I couldn’t tell you how exciting it would be to see some of these Animal Buddies in the newest generation of gaming. I’m salivating just thinking about it.

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.

This is clearly evident, at least to me, with their last two Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase events. On a side note, if they’re truly going to continue these ridiculous presentations, can they at least change the name? Get rid of “Direct Mini” and just simply call them Nintendo Partner Showcases.

I digress, but did you guys see the latest Partner Showcase that Nintendo just showed off? Yes, it was only the second broadcast and it’s true that they could improve down the road. However, with what we’ve seen in the first two, pretty much nobody will be looking forward to any more of them.

Showing Off Highly Niche Games

I will be the first to tell anyone that I’m not highly knowledgeable about too many video game franchises. I also don’t play a wide variety of genres. In other words, I do have a limited video game collection and am limited in what I’m appealed to. Still, with normal Nintendo Directs, there always seems to be a little bit for everyone.

With what we’ve seen in the Partner Showcases, though, only certain demographics will enjoy the content. Now, if you happen to be somebody who has actually gotten a lot out of these presentations, that’s great. Yet, it doesn’t change the fact that a majority of fans are craving and starving for first-party blockbuster titles.

What we see in these events is just kind of silly, mobile-type games. Again, not trying to offend anyone, but the majority of the games that are discussed are eShop exclusives that do nothing more than kill time.

We Still Don’t Know the Holiday Lineup

This leads to a larger complaint, what on earth is Nintendo doing for the holiday season? Are they honestly just going to release Pikmin 3 Deluxe and call it good? Sure, Switch’s are still selling like mad, but for those of us who’ve already owned one for years, there’s really nothing new to be excited about.

Considering ports and remasters are just getting out of flipping hand for the Switch, it would be nice to see some original, big-time games for the holiday season. Nintendo is running out of time to get everyone prepared and excited for what they will deliver in the coming months, though.

There Are More to Come

Do you want to know what the bad news is? It doesn’t seem that Nintendo is going to be done with these Partner Showcase events. You know, it wouldn’t be so bad if they would last a little longer and maybe show off some of their different IPs. As is, however, I will not be looking forward to another Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase. Gosh, that tagline is too obnoxiously long.

If you discount the port to the Switch, it has actually been over six years since we were able to enjoy some new Mario Kart action. Now, there have been some rumors circulating over the year about a potential new installment. However, they are just that, rumors. A new entry has to be coming, though, as Nintendo understands just how much money the franchise brings in every year.

Yet, I am of the belief that Nintendo could be looking to switch it up. If you remember, in Mario Kart 8, there were a lot of additions outside of what you would typically see in the series. Whether you want to talk about outside characters (such as Link) or special guest tracks (such as F-Zero), Nintendo began to expand the lore of the Mario Kart universe.

What if they decided to take the full leap in the next installment? What if the newest title was simply dubbed Nintendo Kart? It’s not too crazy to believe, and here’s how cool the game could end up being.

It Could Include All Major Nintendo Characters

Basically, the roster for this game could resemble what you see in Super Smash Bros. Think about it, a Nintendo racing game with literally all the major stars. From Mario to Link to Samus to Kirby to Fox McCloud to Captain Falcon to King Boo (had to give love to my boy), the list goes on.

While the roster couldn’t be too bloated, Nintendo could easily put 50 to 70 racers in this game. Yeah, that seems like a lot but as long as they don’t unnecessarily repeat characters (they never do that) it shouldn’t be too big of a deal.

Imagine the Track Designs and Vehicles

Not only could this game include all major Nintendo characters, but it could also include unique track designs based on the franchises of said characters. This is what really gets me excited, as the opportunities are endless for mind-blowing and enthralling tracks. There are many that could be held in space, some held in Hyrule Kingdom, and others in the good old Mushroom Kingdom.

Along with that, however, should come unique vehicles a la Diddy Kong Racing. The vehicles could be exclusive to the specific tracks that are being raced. Of course, you would also have a huge variety to choose from as that has become a staple of the franchise.

Even More Weapon Variety

The weapon variety in the franchise has always been really, really good. However, when you start throwing characters like Kirby, Fox McCloud, and Samus into the mix, the variety could be even more impressive. It really would be crazy to see Mario and friends using copy abilities and gun-type weapons, but it also could add a breath of fresh air into the gameplay.

Here really is the million-dollar question, is this something that Nintendo is actually developing? If I had to guess, I would say no, but that’s just because some of it seems too far-fetched. Even if they’re only making a regular sequel, I’ll still be happy. As long as they’re making something new!

The games that have come out of the franchise, dating all the way back to the SNES, have filled us all with joy, excitement, and adrenaline. The franchise has produced some of the best 2D platformers known to man, but what’s the deal in the modern generation of gaming? Where’s Donkey Kong been for the last number of years?

It’s Been Over Six Years Since the Last Major Game

The last major game in the series was Tropical Freeze and this released way back in 2014 for the Wii U. Sure, it was eventually ported to the Switch (like every other Wii U game in existence), but it remained the same game (more or less). I’m not counting minor games or games where DK himself makes an appearance, either. I’m talking about full-fledged DKC games, it’s been a long while.

There Have Been Rumors Here and There

If you follow the world of video games, then you understand that you can’t look too much into the rumors. A majority of the time, they end up being false or they at least exaggerate what actually happens. Regardless, though, they’re still fun to speculate about and, sometimes, they wind up coming true.

Well, here and there, there have been some rumors regarding a brand-new game in the franchise. The most interesting one, by far, happened several months ago. A Twitter user posted what the Nintendo Switch lineup would be in the year 2020 (this year):

A New Donkey Kong Country will be one of the bigger games for Nintendo Switch next year. This time Retro Studios is not behind.

— markomaro (@Newmarkomaro) November 3, 2019

And they made a specific mention about a new DKC in a follow-up tweet. As you can see on the list of games, the user has correctly predicted more than a few of the games. So, maybe there’s hope?

Retro Studios is Apparently Not Behind This One

This is where things really get interesting. At the end of their second tweet, this Twitter user noted that Retro Studios would not be developing the new entry. This makes sense, as they took over development for Metroid Prime 4. So, they already have their hands full. It’s entirely possible that Nintendo decided to hand over the IP to another company.

Yes, this rumor does happen to be a little old, but it remains interesting, nonetheless. 2020 is not over yet, so Nintendo could still surprise us all with a reveal for a brand-new DKC game. I would love nothing more than for that to happen. Again, it’s just been too long without using the tie-wearing ape in action. He always delivers classic games, and the hope is that he’s about to produce yet another one.

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?

Understandably, COVID-19 has impacted everyone around the world. Nintendo hasn’t been immune to the impact of this pandemic. Yet, my problem with the whole situation is look what Sony and Microsoft have been doing. Along with Nintendo, these are the juggernauts in the video game industry. Unlike Nintendo, however, those two companies have given all their fans reasons to be excited for 2020. But what about us Nintendo fans, what do we have to look forward to?

Xbox Series X and PS5 Have Been Revealed

In the gaming world, the hype is off the charts. Both Sony’s new flagship console, the PS5, and Microsoft’s, the Xbox Series X, have been revealed to the general public. Most fans are certainly excited for those two gaming consoles and all the games they’re bringing with them. When you look at this through Nintendo’s point of view, they have to be wary of all the attention going away from their system.

Non-Stop Rumors Virtually All Year Long

For those of you who have followed Nintendo this year, I have too, it feels like it’s been one rumor after another. It’s important to point out that they are not responsible for these rumors, so I’m not blaming them at all for them. Yet, at the same time, while the rumors have been close to accurate, there still hasn’t been a full-on Direct since last year. No, Minis are not full-on Directs, I don’t care what anyone says.

I would be fine with this, as would others, if we still had an idea of what to expect for the rest of 2020. The 2020 lineup has already been less-than-solid (no, I don’t like Animal Crossing) but a big holiday lineup could change all that. The problem is we don’t know what the heck is happening from here on out, and that’s a big problem in my eyes.

Hope for August?

Truth be told, I’m sick to death of getting excited for a potential Direct. Especially when you consider what Nintendo presented just the other week. Don’t ask me why it was called a Direct, as it was far from that. Looking forward, could August finally be the month? Well, I’m sure rumors will start circulating real fast about the potential of that happening.

For now, I’m just going to sit here with my tail between my legs patiently waiting for Nintendo to give me something exciting to wait for. Sounds like a whale of a time, doesn’t it?