Yes! Thanks very much for this Nintendo, a near perfect selection of three all-time classics for the Nintendo Switch. Hurray!

Super Mario 3D All-Stars

Announcing this rather suddenly in early September 2020, the arrival of three 3D Super Mario platformers in one is very good news indeed.

Well, it’s out now. It launched on 18th September 2020. And it features three classics in one—along with their respective soundtracks.

Obviously, the collection was always going to be great based off the strengths of each title.

However, one minor criticism is the obvious lack of any additional content. Some features and bonus games would make for a great addition.

Can’t grumble too much about that, though, as here we have three stellar Mario games that showcase Nintendo’s creative genius in full.

Super Mario 64

Ah, Super Mario 64. In the UK this hit the shelves on 1st March 1997 as a hotly anticipated landmark title.

It was an immediate classic for the Nintendo 64. The type of launch title its rivals could only dream of.

These days its difficult to imagine its impact, but it transformed the games industry. With its remarkable graphics, scale, and imagination it was like nothing else.

Of course, Nintendo and other developers have since bettered the title. What remains is a highly engaging 3D platformer that just grabs you with its sense of fun.

Within 10 minutes we were hooked again and by the end of the day had wracked up 40 stars.

Some areas show their age. The camera system is far from ideal. The goal is also to collect 120 stars, but some of the star missions are lifeless and mechanical (collect eight red coins etc.)

But on the whole, Super Mario 64 is a classic that’s full of the joys of life. With its charming sense of fun and beautiful soundtrack, we do love it.

Super Mario Sunshine

Super Mario Sunshine didn’t quite receive the critical acclaim as its predecessor. At least not at first.

Some people were bloody harsh on it, in fact, especially toward’s the game’s camera.

We revisited it in 2019 and enjoyed it a lot. Playing it again over a year later and we do still love the game. It’s essentially Super Mario 64’s sequel, with a major graphical overhaul and improved star missions.

That’s fine by us. The game is stunning to look at, it oozes joy, and it’s a real challenge.

It’s also very bloody frustrating and fiddly. This is for two reasons:

1. The game is surprisingly glitchy (far more than we ever remember), which can prove frustrating when you die because of a bug.
2. It’s just tough—some of the star missions require a great deal of skill.

There’s a mission at a dock, for example, where you have to scale some massive scaffolding to jump into a cage. Difficult!

However, the big thing with Super Mario Sunshine is the arrival of FLUDD. A water device that lets you blast away graffiti and hover about. It’s a great fun addition.

Also a great laugh are the FLUDD-free levels, where you must traverse an obstacle course. We love all that.

Overall then, not the crowning glory in the Super Mario series. But it’s a highly enjoyable title that shines with Nintendo’s typical genius.

Super Mario Galaxy

The trilogy builds towards what, in 2007, was something of a crowning masterpiece for Nintendo. “How could they ever top Super Mario Galaxy!?” Was the feeling.

Well, they did with the sequel to it (controversially missing from this collection). And again with Super Mario 3D World in 2013 (in our humble the best Mario ever).

But this game is quite brilliant. A really joyous affair, with its wonderful orchestral soundtrack.

You blat about the galaxy at quite the rate, collecting stars, seeing the sights, and zooming about the place.

Nintendo’s imagination here was off the charts. And although the camera system can be a bit off at times, it’s no big surprise Super Mario Galaxy blitzed most Game of the Year awards in 2007.

Super Conclusion 64

Right! Three brilliant games in one. You can’t argue with that and for any Nintendo Switch owner this Super Mario 3D All-Stars thing is a must.

It’s like a time capsule that lets you leap from one generation to the next, each 3D platformer five years on from the last.

However, we’re disappointed Nintendo didn’t bulk out the experience with bonus content.

Other than the three soundtracks, there’s nothing else. This doesn’t mean there won’t be DLC in the future, but at the same time we’re not exactly expecting anything.

So it feels a bit of a shame to skip out on a bunch of bonus features. But never mind.

It doesn’t dampen the experience much. As here we have three absolutely wonderful games and they’re now here to play whenever you want to.

Good? Yes. That is indeed good.