Shock of shocks! Hot on the heels of The Super Mario Bros. Movie making—conservatively speaking—a s**t-zillion dollars earlier this year, it seemed only reasonable for Nintendo to keep that ball a-rolling. However, while an animated Mario movie was a sure bet, the next project might prove a bit trickier. In Japan on Wednesday, Nintendo announced it will develop a live-action film of The Legend of Zelda, arguably the game manufacturer’s second most important property. The franchise began in 1986 and has continued to this very year with Tears of the Kingdom.

The news is very scant at the moment. Nintendo’s Representative Director, Shigeru Miyamoto, will produce the movie alongside Avi Arad’s Arad Productions. Arad’s name should be familiar to our readers, having executive produced all of the Spider-Man films, many of the X-Men films, and a number of other Marvel properties. Nintendo will co-finance the movie with Sony Pictures Entertainment, with Sony handling worldwide theatrical distribution. The press release also points out Nintendo will put up “more than 50%” of the money for the movie, assuring they retain the most creative input.

The release also mentions director Wes Ball, of The Maze Runner movies and the upcoming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, will direct. However, no word yet on a writer, cast, or any of the other fun stuff.

Over the years, many Zelda films and TV series, both live-action and animation, have been in development. None have managed to make their way much beyond that point. This, however, feels a bit different. Nintendo is in its own driver’s seat and coming off a monster global hit movie. The big question is which of the many Zelda games will be the basis of the film, or if it’ll end up as a totally separate story that doesn’t remake or contradict any previous game. The Legend of Zelda game timeline is one of the most complex in gaming, so probably they’d be smart not to mess with that.

And as long as we don’t get a Link saying “Well excuuuuuuuse me, Princess,” we should be in good shape.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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There are some things you just can’t get enough of, like lazy weekends, donuts, crisp fall mornings, and a good sitcom. I’d dare say that many of us would also include LEGO sets in that list. The company can release a zillion of them in a year and we are sure to buy at least a handful (or two). There’s something incredibly calming about tuning everything out and focusing on a build. The satisfaction of completing it is a truly unmatched burst of joy. LEGO is adding yet another Super Mario Bros. set to its collection with a figure that we all recognize. The LEGO Super Mario Bros. Piranha Plant set won’t consume our bodies but it will consume our time and energy in the best way. 

This fun Piranha Plant set is the latest addition to the LEGO Super Mario Theme for Adults collection. It boasts 540 pieces that come together to craft the iconic video game plant in vivid detail with 23cm high x 11cm wide x 17cm deep dimensions. The build starts from the bottom up as the Piranha Plant comes to wonderful LEGO life straight out of its green pipe.

Once completed, the builder can move the Piranha Plant’s head, mouth, stalk and leaves to create various poses. If you’re someone who lacks a green thumb, this plant can hang out in your home or office and you don’t have to worry about killing it. Will it try to kill you? Probably not, but keep your eyes open just in case. You can’t ever trust a plant with sharp teeth, after all.

The LEGO Super Mario Bros. Piranha Plant set will be available on November 6 and cost $59.99. Go ahead and add it to your holiday list for yourself because, well, you deserve good things.

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie was an international smash with a lot to love, including some serious action moves from Princess Peach. She’s been a part of this universe for a long time but hasn’t gotten a lot of time to shine as a main character… until now. Princess Peach is getting her own video game on Nintendo Switch in March 2024. Get ready for Princess Peach! Showtime and check out the first trailer for this Princess Peach game below.

The description for Princess Peach! Showtime shares more about what we can expect from the new game. It notes:

The wicked Grape and the Sour Bunch have taken over the Sparkle Theater, and now it’s up to Peach and the theater’s guardian Stella to save the play––and the day! Peach can transform and use fantastic showstopping abilities to face off against the Sour Bunch.

As teased initially, Peach is going to the theater. There she’ll team up with its guardian Stella, who will help Peach transform to go on many adventures. Peach will have guises like Detective Peach, Swordfighter Peach, and Patisserie Peach to help her save the day and the various shows that are trying to be waylaid by evil.

We’re glad that Princess Peach will get to go on a variety of adventures (and kick some serious butt) in this new game. Having our heroine run around Mushroom Kingdom and take down her foes is all the plot we really need. And the theatrical conceit will give Princess Peach a lot of space to shine.

It’s about time too because Princess Peach hasn’t starred in her own game since 2005’s Super Princess Peach. For such a main character, she’s only had a few outings. We can’t wait to play this Princess Peach-starring game when it releases on March 22, 2024.

Originally published on June 21, 2023.

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For nearly 40 years the Super Mario Bros. franchise has sent its iconic plumber to countless worlds with a myriad of art and game styles. But Nintendo’s latest entry in the series is a throwback to its roots, a trip it hasn’t made in 10 years. The first trailer for Super Mario Bros. Wonder on the Switch is a return to 2D side-scrolling fun. And while it captures the spirit of Mario’s earliest adventures, there’s plenty of new creatures, levels, graphics, and strategies for both old and new fans alike to discover.

That includes turning our favorite plumber into a big powerful elephant.

The first 2D-side scrolling Super Mario Bros. game in a decade will introduce some pretty big advancements. And we don’t just mean more detailed graphics. Forget plants that give you fire power. The next big vegetation in the world of Super Mario Bros. is the Wonder Flower. Nintendo says when players touch one it will unlock” the wonders of the world that will alter gameplay in “unpredictable ways.” That might mean “pipes could come alive” in the level, “hordes of enemies may appear,” or “characters might change their looks.”

Super Mario Bros. Wonder‘s Characters

While the game will definitely remind original fans of the franchise’s first home release, you’ll have way more character options to run through levels than you did in 1985. You can opt to be Princess Peach, Princess Daisy (Daisy!!), Yoshi, Mario, Luigi, or Toad (two versions), and Toadette. All these characters will offer the same kinds of gameplay and won’t have different abilities. Nabbit and Yoshi can also be played but will not take damage—they’ll feature a more easygoing gameplay experience. Yoshi can also flutter jumps, eat objects, and spit them back at enemies.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder‘s Settings

The Flower Kingdom will feature six distinct worlds that circle the Petal Isles, offering seven areas for players to explore. These are Pipe-Rock Plateau, Fluff-Puff Peaks, Shining Falls, and three unknown areas which feature a desert, a mysterious forest, and a volcanic magma-filled world. Talking Flowers along the way may give you hints or coins.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder‘s Power-Ups and Badges

The most exciting new feature, though, is also the actual biggest. The game will introduce an all-new power-up that is already one of our favorites ever: Elephant Mario! We love him already.

Other characters will also have elephant forms, of course. Additionally, nifty new power-ups Bubble Flower and Drill Mushroom will let you bounce and dig your way through the game. Trap your enemies in rainbow bubbles and use them travel; meanwhile, drill down deep to hide from enemies or crash into them.

Finally, The Wonder Flower will completely transform levels and change the gameplay in many fun and strange ways, not all positive, though, so beware. Collect a Wonder Seed to return the course to normal.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder will also introduce badges into its gameplay. These unlockable badges can be equipped to enhance gameplay.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder‘s Release Date and More

We also love the local multiplayer option the game will include once we can get back in on that side-scrolling fun. Up to four can play this game locally on the same Nintendo Switch system. If someone is a Yoshi, you can jump on their back and ride around them. Online, you can see other players playing around you. Although you will not play directly together, you can bump into a ghost to get back into the game. Nintendo will even celebrate the release of with a new Nintendo Switch OLED model Mario Red edition.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder arrives on Nintendo Switch later this fall on October 20, 2023. You can pre-order your copy now at Nintendo.com.

Originally published on June 21, 2023.

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It’s-a sad day for fans of Nintendo, and plumbers. The gaming giant has confirmed Charles Martinet, who has given voice to Super Mario since 1991, will step back from character work. They do explain that he’ll step into a new role. “Mario Ambassador,” a thing that they invented just for him. Mario Emeritus, if you will.

Martinet also confirmed the news on his own Twitter (which is what we’ll call it forever) saying:

“My new adventure begins! You are all Numba One in my heart! #woohoo !!!!!!!”

In addition to Mario, Martinet has provided the voices of Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi. He’s pretty much the entirety of video game plumbers. He has appeared in 151 games to date, plus he had a couple of cameo voices in the recent Super Mario Bros. Movie. Chris Pratt infamously took on the Mario role for that film, with Charlie Day as Luigi. Martinet was not involved in the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Wonder game for Switch, according to Variety. Thus, the movie is his final voice role for the storied franchise.

Nintendo’s statement went on to say, “[H]e’ll continue to travel the world sharing the joy of Mario and interacting with you all! It has been an honor working with Charles to help bring Mario to life for so many years and we want to thank and celebrate him. Please keep an eye out for a special video message from Shigeru Miyamoto and Charles himself, which we will post at a future date.”

Any time you’ve heard “It’s-a me!” “Let’s-a go!” or “Woohoo!” in the past three decades, it’s been Charles Martinet. His gentle, exuberant delivery and charmingly ridiculous stereotypical Italian accent has become part of the fabric of Nintendo. His work on the games will be missed, but he’s going out absolutely on top.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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It’s only been out for a little while, but The Super Mario Brothers Movie might already be a frontrunner for the Oscars. Well, for at least one category, anyway. Via Variety, we’ve learned that Bowser’s power ballad “Peaches,” sung by Jack Black in the Mario movie, will be eligible for Best Original Song at next year’s Oscars. The song is an ode to Bowser’s unrequited love, Princess Peach. Jack Black co-wrote this little ditty, along with the film’s directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic. Eric Osmond and John Spiker also contributed. If you haven’t heard it yet, you can watch the two music videos for “Peaches” and a live performance of the Super Mario tune from Jack Black right here:

The live version of “Peaches” is amazing. Jack Black performed it at the Game Awards 10-Year Concert. And as the above tweet notes, it was absolutely a highlight. But, of course, we love the music video version as well. Since the release of “Peaches'” official music video on April 7, The Super Mario Bros. Movie‘s song has received over 61 million views on YouTube. Incredible.

It even hit No. 2 on the trending page for music—over some pretty big pop acts, at that. And “Peaches” also emerged on the Billboard charts; the Mario song debuted at No. 83 on the Billboard Hot 100.

It seems no one can stop the power of Jack Black in a silly outfit doing an over-the-top power ballad.

Yes, Bowser’s song is very brief. It seems they know there’s such a thing as “too much of a good thing,” But regardless of how short it is, Jack Black manages to belt out the names of almost all the main characters in the movie. In “Peaches,” he sings “Mario, Luigi, and a Donkey Kong, too. A thousand troops of Koopas couldn’t keep me from you.”

If “Peaches” gets an Oscar nod, it would not be the first time the Academy acknowledged a song at this level of silly. Back in 2000, they actually nominated “Blame Canada” from South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut for Best Original Song.

It didn’t win, losing out to Phil Collins’ song from Disney’s Tarzan. Here’s hoping this silly The Super Mario Bros. song receives a nomination in 2024 and that “Peaches” actually wins. If only so that we can hear a Jack Black acceptance speech at the Oscars.

Originally published on April 10, 2023.

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It’s been a good year for Mario and friends. He has the biggest movie of 2023 thus far, and Nintendo has just announced an expanded lineup of Super Mario games for the Nintendo Switch. that The lineup of Mario games for the Nintendo Switch system has expanded. We learned about the return to 2D side-scrolling with Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a Princess Peach game, and more—including a Super Mario RPG remake!

Originally released on Super NES as Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, the remake looks like it will respect the original while updating it with a new look. The above footage shows a number of familiar faces.

A release from Nintendo says:

Originally released on Super NES, Super Mario RPG has been overhauled with new graphics! Join Mario, Bowser, Princess Peach, and original characters Mallow and Geno, in an RPG filled with twists, turns and treasure. Mario must team up with his allies to face down a menacing force known as the Smithy Gang in order to recover seven stars and repair the Star Road. Whether you played the original game or have yet to take the journey, you can dive into this Nintendo Switch version of the very first RPG in the Super Mario series!

Super Mario RPG launches for Nintendo Switch on November 17.

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Hard-boiled noir fiction doesn’t get much softer or brighter than Nintendo’s Detective Pikachu, a game which saw a behatted, chatty Pikachu solve Pokemon mysteries in Ryme City with his trusty human sidekick, Tim Goodman. That game, a major departure from the regular “Gotta Catch ‘Em All!” narrative, was popular enough to branch out into a feature film. Now, as part of this week’s Nintendo Direct, we know the adventures in the game world won’t end. Check out the trailer for the aptly named sequel Detective Pikachu Returns.

Pikachu, who makes sure to tell everyone he’s a great detective, finds himself on several new mysterious trails in the game. We don’t know exactly what, but we see tons of different Pokémon that could easily be in trouble and/or evil. Mewtwo also rears his purple head in the Detective Pikachu Returns trailer. If Mewtwo is around, trouble can’t be far behind. Luckily, Detective Pikachu has Tim again, in his “iconic red hoodie.” You didn’t know a hoodie could be iconic, eh? But it is.

Pokémon is one of the most recognizable and popular video game brands in the entire world, and I love that it isn’t content to stay in its one lane. The first Detective Pikachu offered fans a look into the world of the pocket monsters they’d never gotten before. This new game seems to be more of that, and that is definitely not a bad thing.

Detective Pikachu Returns will hit the Nintendo Switch on October 6, 2023.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Nintendo Switch’s Online + Expansion Pack will include a trio of beloved throwback Super Mario Game Boy Advance titles. Super Mario Advance, Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, and Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3 will all be available for download on May 26. (Thanks to Polygon for alerting us to this news.) Check out this fun trailer for the announcement.

Of course, there will not be an extra cost for these Super Mario Game Boy Advance games on Nintendo Switch. The $49.99/year price tag for the aforementioned pack is the only gateway players need to access retro games.

Super Mario Advance brought 1988’s Super Mario Bros. 2 to Game Boy while Super Mario Advance 2 remade the SNES game Super Mario World. So those two games are certified classics for fans, who are still hype about The Super Mario Bros. Movie. It’s exciting to once again get a taste of nostalgia with a fun upgrade through Nintendo Switch.

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The beauty of modern video gaming is all the many layers of fun players can make for themselves. You have the intrinsic joy of playing the game as intended. That is, after all, what the devs toiled over for sleepless nights on end. Next is the goofy fun of finding unintended styles of play that nevertheless work out in your favor. Then there are the people who are so godlike they manage to break the game the day it comes out. Yes, someone has already beaten Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, by most estimations a 70-80 hour game, in just over 90 minutes.

We saw this first at VideoGamesChronicle. The gamer gymnast86 posted their playthrough of the newest open-world Zelda game mere hours after release. In just that time, they already found a speedrun path to completion. They did not use an amiibo for this playthrough, either. The gamer notes that many of the glitches present in Breath of the Wild are not in Tears of the Kingdom. Those glitches helped speedrunners decimate that massive game in a matter of minutes. So while 94 minutes seems incredibly fast, especially in the first 24 hours, gymnast86 hastens to add this number will only go down.

Spoilers follow in the video:

The speedrunning community has come to the fore in the past decade-plus. People spend hundreds of hours practicing with games to get the runtime of any individual playthrough as low as it can get. It never ceases to amaze me. Any little misfire can end a run in failure. We should note, it is, like Breath of the Wild, possible to go straight to the final boss in Tears of the Kingdom. You can do it; just most people will die from under-leveling. But if someone can beat it in 94 minutes on day one, just think of how fast it’ll be next month.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie is here to say, “It’s-a-me, Mario, a billionaire!” Because 26 days after its April 5 opening, The Super Mario Bros. Movie has crossed the awe-inspiring $1 billion mark at the box office globally. According to Variety, that makes the video-game-based movie one of only five pandemic-era movies to join the Billionaire’s Club. It holds the coveted title alongside Spider-Man: No Way Home, Top Gun: Maverick, Jurassic World Dominion, and Avatar: The Way of Water—that’s-a-some good company.

Although fans initially raised their eyebrows at the casting of Chris Pratt as Mario, there was no stopping the beloved characters from winning over hearts and minds. And the (billion-dollar) success of this faithful retelling likely ensures we will see many more cinematic outings for our favorite Mario characters and other familiar Nintendo faces. Video game adaptations have been hitting it out of the park recently, and this latest achievement is the cherry on top—especially considering the last Super Mario Bros. theatrical outing did not go over as well as hoped.

Mario and Luigi may want you to think they are but humble plumbers, but we know the truth. Cue the sound of Mario’s golden coins, mountains and mountains of them.

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Thanks to a Seth Rogen performance in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Donkey Kong is getting some new appreciation. As well he should, since the big ape was headlining his own arcade game years before Mario and Luigi. In honor of that iconic 1240 pound gorilla, the folks at LEGO are releasing brand new sets of the Nintendo legend this summer. These will include Donkey Kong’s Tree House Expansion Set, Diddy Kong’s Mine Cart Ride Expansion Set, Dixie Kong’s Jungle Jam Expansion Set, and a Rambi the Rhino Expansion Set. You can check out some early images, and read the full descriptions for each set, down below:

Donkey Kong’s Tree House LEGO Expansion Set  

Use LEGO Mario, Luigi, or Peach figures to jump onto Donkey Kong’s back and explore this colorful tree house. You’ll find a buildable TV and radio, the option to play the conga drums, or even visit Cranky Kong to earn some digital coins. Look closely and you may discover a secret compartment. If you get tired after all the exploration, there’s a comfy hammock for Donkey Kong to have a nap in.  

Diddy Kong’s Mine Cart Ride Expansion Set

This incredible 1,157-piece set features one of Donkey Kong’s most iconic locations and challenges. Place a LEGO Super Mario figure in the mine cart to ride around the track. Flip the Snaggles out of the way, fix the broken section of track, defeat the Mole Miner, and “explode” the rock to reveal a bunch of bananas. Will you “eat” them or gift them to Diddy Kong or Funky Kong? The fun doesn’t stop there, you can buy balloons from Funky Kong’s airplane shop and fly the plane too! 

Dixie Kong’s Jungle Jam Expansion LEGO Set

Get ready for some musical fun with Dixie Kong’s Jungle Jam Expansion Set. LEGO Mario, LEGO Luigi, or LEGO Peach can take center stage and perform with Dixie Kong and Squawks, the parrot, all set in vibrant and fun jungle surroundings.  

Rambi the Rhino Expansion Set

LEGO Super Mario figures can jump on Rambi’s back and ride into action. Listen out for fun sound effects when Rambi walks, charges into the included stackable rock elements, or makes other movements. 

The new LEGO Super Mario Donkey Kong Expansion Sets will arrive on August 1, 2023 via LEGO stores, Lego.com, and certain retailers. For more information, head on over to the official LEGO site.

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It’s-a coming! Our favorite video game plumber has leveled up to the big screen in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. If it’s as successful as we think it will be, it won’t be the last animated film starring Nintendo’s iconic character. Especially it seems clear that the Mario franchise is tailor-made for the age of expanded cinematic universes. The cast and crew certainly want to make more of them. But which The Super Mario Bros. Movie spinoffs do we most want to see teased in the film’s post-credits scene we know we’re getting? Let-sa go list the seven Mario movie sequels and spinoffs we want Nintendo and Illumination to hit play on.

A Mario Party Spinoff Movie Could Offer Variety

A board game-style entry might not seem like an obvious choice for a movie adaptation, but that’s what makes it so good. One of the best sub-series in the Super Mario Bros. franchise can go in any direction, from a lighthearted Cannonball Run-style story to a Saw-inspired horror parody. Between all the different levels, mini-games, and boards there’s so much fun stuff to pull from Mario Party. And a big screen version might finally allow us to actually see someone collect all the Miracle Capsules. We have our fingers crossed for a Mario Party spinoff movie.

A Big Screen Luigi’s Mansion Would Give Us Chills

Speaking of horror, Luigi’s Mansion is a no-brainer Mario spinoff. Luigi himself, Charlie Day, is on board for the film already. Why wouldn’t he be? His adventures in a haunted mansion would easily translate into a movie. This could be the franchise’s answer to Ghostbusters, Poltergeist, and a million other films it could take inspiration from.

Charlie Day Wants a Donkey Kong Country Mario Movie Spinoff

Charlie Day isn’t the only cast member angling for a standalone spinoff. The voice of Donkey Kong, Seth Rogen, wants his own Donkey Kong Country spinoff and we hope he gets it. We know it already got its own TV series in the past, but that’s no reason not to have the big guy reunite with his nephew Diddy Kong in this new cinematic franchise. Action, adventure, comedy, and all the Kongs you could want? The question isn’t whether Nintendo should make this film—it’s why isn’t it already in development?

Super Smash Bros. Would Bring All Our Favorite Franchise Characters Together

We don’t want to see a Super Smash Bros. movie. We need to see a Super Smash Bros. movie. We’ve been dreaming about one for so long that we even came up with our dream cast for a live-action adaptation. But we’ll happily take an animated version, too. Think about how many great characters it could introduce to the big screen. Kirby, Fox McCloud, Samus, Captain Falcon, Ness, Link! The list goes on and on, and it only gets better the longer it does. This spinoff movie could be The Super Mario Bros. movie franchise’s Infinity War.

Let the Villains Shine in a Wario World Movie

Why should the good guys have all the movie-making fun? Some of the best characters in the world of Super Mario Bros. are villains, and few are more capable and worthy of headlining their own spinoff movie than Wario. The premise of Wario World could allow for a film to explore the character’s inherent madness and comedy. Watching him fight his own castle is everything we want from him. Plus, giving Wario a starring role in his own movie would keep him from owning our souls on the racetrack.

Super Mario Galaxy Needs to Take a Spinoff Movie to Space

Eventually, every—okay, many—great movie franchise goes to space. Well, Mario and Luigi already have a space adventure on their resume. That’s where Super Mario Galaxy takes place. This Mario spinoff movie could be the franchise’s sci-fi entry, with a universe full of possibilities for them to explore and run around.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

The only place better for those Super Bros. to go besides space is back in time. From meeting and working with their baby selves to hopping around levels from older games, this might be the single most fun Mario spinoff movie idea. We could even see Mario travel back to lower-bit versions of himself. And the game’s “time holes” could even be used to introduce more future spinoffs.

Bonus Levels/Super Mario Bros. Spinoff Movie Ideas

Here are a few more ideas we have for the SMBU for Phases II and III.

Mario Golf: Mario’s long and storied athletic career deserves a sports film spinoff. A golf course makes for a better setting than a tennis one.

Super Mario Maker: Think of how much fun it would be to see a villain creating the most elaborate/ridiculous courses for Mario to survive.

Yoshi’s Island: Give our favorite egg-laying, enemy-eating dino and his brethren their own Jurassic Park vehicle. It’s only fair after all these years of using Yoshi as our own vehicle.

Super Princess Peach: We’re confident Peach is going to get her own Mario spinoff movie eventually. We just hope it brings in even more of the franchise’s great women characters.

Paper Mario: The Origami King: We love the Paper Mario games. We also love the idea of seeing its animation style translated to the big screen. So, anyone up for another multiverse?

Super Mario Odyssey: Mario and Cappy, a sentient hat that lets Mario possess other characters and objects, is the big-screen duo we deserve.

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle: This Super Mario/Raving Rabbids crossover would make for a very fun spinoff movie, one that offers something wholly different in terms of story, characters, and visuals.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker: A perfect vehicle to let both Toad and Toadette shine in a plot easily adaptable for a longer narrative.

Mario Kart: The only reason this didn’t make our top seven potential spinoffs is because it will play a big role in the upcome The Super Mario. Bros Movie. But that doesn’t mean the racing game can’t be the focus of a future installment.

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It wouldn’t be a franchise movie without a post-credit tease! Even animated family films can’t resist the urge to tease. And as merely the first in a years-long plan for Nintendo films, The Super Mario Bros. Movie sets up a universe rather nicely. We already know a reported spinoff for Seth Rogen’s Donkey Kong is in the works. But what of a second Mario Bros. movie? Well, the very brief post-credits scene gives us a little idea of at least who to expect.

With Bowser captured, shrunk, and Peach’s royal pet, what problem could Mario and Luigi have to deal with in the sequel? After the credits, we the camera flying through the endless web of pipes in the sewers under Brooklyn. (I’d like to speak to the city planner about this, by the way. Seems like a labyrinth was a weird choice.) Eventually the camera finds the green pipe which sucked Mario into the Mushroom Kingdom in the first place. In front of it, we see a familiar white egg with green spots. It begins to crack open when we cut to black.

Now, obviously this points to Mario’s second green ally, Yoshi. The dinosaur conveyance first appeared in the 1990 game Super Mario World and has since been a mainstay of the franchise. That game moved the action from the Mushroom Kingdom to Dinosaur Land, which had its fair share of dangerous enemies and villains. This isn’t the only appearance of a Yoshi in the movie, of course. Earlier, during Mario, Peach, and Toad’s journey, they pass a herd of multicolored Yoshis out in a field. But none of them were the Yoshi.

Super Mario World, and Super Mario Bros. 3 before it, also featured Bowser’s seven kids as world bosses. It might be a good way to up the ante with all of them trying to free their dad and Mario and company needing a Yoshi for help. Not to try to write the next movie, but that’d be pretty rad.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is in theaters now.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Nintendo has worked tirelessly over the past 30 years to fend off the grimy funk of the first Super Mario Bros. movie. Though that dark and drastic take on the material has its defenders (I like it), you can’t deny it’s not the same as the games at all. Ever protective of its enormous library of IP, Nintendo and Shigeru Miyamoto made sure the next Mario movie would be faithful. And Illumination’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie is absolutely a Nintendo game brought to dazzling life. It’s got the characters, world, and adventurous spirit right on the money. But those expecting something akin to The LEGO Movie might be left a bit cold.

Given the roster of comedy actors in the voice roles—especially Chris Pratt as Mario—one might be forgiven for thinking it would hew closer to the massively media literate humor of LEGO. But the jokes in the movie are much more straightforward and clearly aimed at a younger audience. Oh, old-school Nintendo fans will surely squeal at the sheer amount of Easter eggs and references to other titles and bits of Nintendo ephemera. But the story itself is right down the middle, true-blue hero stuff.

The movie opens with Mario (Pratt) and faithful if nervous brother Luigi (Charlie Day) trying like heck to get their new plumbing business off the ground. When a massive pipe bursts in the sewers of Brooklyn the brothers decide to fix it and make their name. Down in the bowels of the city, they find a pipe that sucks them into a magical new world. Luigi ends up in the realm of Bowser (Jack Black) and his Koopa army; Mario finds himself in the bright and cheerful Mushroom Kingdom. Bowser is en route to take over said kingdom and it’s up to Mario, a brave Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) to retrieve Luigi and save the Toads. (Luigi is the damsel in this one rather than Peach, which is excellent.)

In order to achieve this goal, the Princess needs to recruit the Kong army. Cranky Kong (Fred Armisen), the ruler of the Jungle Kingdom, refuses unless Mario can defeat his son Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen) in single combat. Badda bing, badda boom, you get a Mario Kart sequence, you get platforming and power-ups, and you get all the sounds and sights you’d expect and hope for in an animated Nintendo movie.

Illumination is the perfect choice to make Mario movies. The animation is absolutely stunning, perfectly embodying the spirit of the games’ worlds. Several frenetic sequences bring what fans of the games know as core Mario stuff to life. We even get several fast-paced action beats that emulate the original 2D side-scrolling games. All of the settings look real—like it’s stop-motion. The colors pop, the action cooks, and you’ll never tire of looking at the whole frame.

Still, I was a bit surprised at how, sort of, unsurprising the movie is. At only 92 minutes, we don’t have much time for anything outside the main plot. The filmmakers packed a lot of Nintendo in that short runtime, and they want to make sure we see all of it. So we only have time for the broadest of story beats. Mario wants to make his family proud; Peach wants to save her people; Donkey Kong wants to prove he’s not just a meathead. It’s very by-the-numbers hero’s journey stuff. Not a complaint, just an observation. I’ll say it again: this isn’t The LEGO Movie. The most out-there stuff happens with Black as Bowser, who sings several love songs about Peach.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a very solid IP-driven animated movie. For Nintendo kids, I think it’ll scratch that itch very well. It’s got all the things. For anyone who doesn’t know or doesn’t care that much about Mario, you might find it little more than a colorful kids movie. And that’s fine! It’s fun, bring your children, bring your inner child, have a good time.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie ⭐ (3 of 5)

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Mario has worn many hats over the years. Plumber. Fighter. Lover. Soon, he’ll be a movie star too, in the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Movie. But let us not forget that Mario is also a fashion icon. After all, those big old shoes of his are pieces of iconic footwear. For all of you out there who have wanted to know what Mario’s badass boots would look like in real life, now you can, thanks to Red Wing Shoes. They’ve created a special pair of Mario boots, just in time for his new animated film.

You can read the official description for the Mario boots from Red Wing Shoes below. Plus, the footwear company shared a video on how they constructed the plumber’s shoes.

Using legacy methods and innovative materials, Red Wing’s skilled craftspeople have brought some of the magic of the Mushroom Kingdom to real life. Mario’s boots are expertly crafted from Red Wing leather, with a reinforced toe box and rounded heel. The heel pad is made with state-of-the-art mushroom-infused materials celebrating Mario’s signature abilities.

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These special Mario boots are a prototype. Red Wing revealed them to the world at Nintendo New York on the occasion of MAR10 Day. According to the release, Red Wing “worked with the film’s creative team to translate every on-screen pixel into a real-life stitch.” They include “durable, natural leather and slip-resistant treads.” These boots will be on display at Nintendo’s New York store through April. Right now, these are a one-of-a-kind creation. But who knows? Maybe someday soon, you can put these on and walk around town, with old-school Nintendo game music blasting in your earbuds, imagining yourself as Mario saving the Mushroom Kingdom.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie hits theaters on April 5.

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If California is a journey for you, but you’re a super fan of Nintendo, you can rest easy today. Because the highly-anticipated US version of Super Nintendo World won’t only come to Universal Studios Hollywood. No, Super Nintendo World is crossing the country and will also open at the Universal Orlando Resort. So get ready to battle Bowser and enjoy all your Nintendo favs, this time on the east coast. It will be part of Universal’s upcoming Epic Universe park.

Mark Woodbury, Universal Parks & Resorts Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, made the announcement. He called it “the worst-kept secret in history.” That might be true, but we always love confirmation. In addition to the Hollywood Super Nintendo World, which opened on February 17, a Super Nintendo World exists in Japan, and one is also in the works for Singapore, per Deadline.

There’s no word yet on what the Super Nintendo World themed area in Orlando will officially entail. But there will likely be some similar elements to the Hollywood version, which, among other things, has the Toadstool Cafe, which pays homage to Chef Toad, and the Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride. This “groundbreaking ride with cutting-edge technology” takes you straight into the world of Mario Kart.

We also don’t know when the Super Nintendo World in Orlando will arrive either. But, fingers crossed, we won’t have to wait too long. In the meanwhile, The Super Mario. Bros. Movie releases in theaters on April 7.

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If you’re still pining for the Nintendo GameCube and Super Smash Bros. Melee, there’s a new controller for the Nintendo Switch you might recognize. It blends the perfect mix of nostalgia with updated technology. And of course comes in indigo. The NYXI Wizard sells for $69 and will compliment the most frenzied of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournaments. And, unlike the official Nintendo Joy-Con controllers, this one won’t drift over time.

The NYXI controllers use something called Hall effect sensors instead of the fragile potentiometers in some joysticks, including Nintendo’s Joy-Cons. It means they’re much less prone to damage and drift, even under heavy usage. Another cool feature of this throwback controller is that you can replace the rings around each joystick. The circular and octagonal shapes switch out quickly, allowing for distinct styles of movement as needed while playing different types of games. 

Video game controllers have evolved over the decades and there’s a lot of love for the retro versions, even if they are clunky in comparison to newer ones. Incorporating an older Nintendo console’s design for a newer controller is especially fun for long-time gamers. Since this one from NYXI, which we saw on Nintendo Life, is designed for the Switch, it has to slide apart into two pieces. Those can be used separately and also fit into the grooves of the Switch screen for those who play that way.  

There’s plenty of ways to switch things up when it comes to game controllers. Adding a bit of whimsy or nostalgia to the mix is certainly nothing new. We enjoy seeing DIY mods, like the Fisher Price controller that really works. It’s certainly more user-friendly than the build that turned every pad into a joystick. It’s also less terrifying than the Frankenstein Furby controller that someone made.  

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth.

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A new ride at a major theme park is always cause for excitement. A new entire land? Now we are so happy, we do the dance of joy! Universal Studios Hollywood will officially unveil Super Nintendo World in February, but Nerdist got to take a look at the gorgeous new area along with a small group of outlets last week. VP of Universal Creative Jon Corfino took us on a guided tour of the land, which may be relatively small in terms of square footage but is massive when it comes to theming and immersion.

When I say “immersion,” I mean it. As soon as guests walk through the entry pipe and see a bit of classic Nintendo-style castle bricks, they come out into a huge circular plaza with height making up for any width. Everywhere you look, you’ll see familiar characters, images, and lettering. You’ll see a Spiky on top of one mountain and a walking Koopa Troopa on top of another. And yes indeed, Bowser’s castle looms the largest, because of course it does.

Like the Wizarding World area, Super Nintendo World is AR compatible. Any guest who wishes to take part in the “game” of it can purchase a Power-Up wristband that will keep your score as you move around the area. You can hit question blocks and POWs and the world will react to you. Throughout the hallways you’ll find little M-emblazoned circles that if you tap with your wristband will light up with an 8-bit rendering of a character. (We saw Luigi and Bowser in our tour.)

The land also has interactive elements called Power-Up Band Key Challenges. These include things such as a crank where you have to be faster than a goomba; or a timing game where you have to bounce a Koopa Troopa; or a rhythm game where you have to keep a piranha plant from waking up and eating you. Each of the animatronic elements involved is enormous and makes you—and especially the younger members of your party—feel like you are indeed inside a Nintendo game.

Click To View Gallery

The largest of these interactive elements will, of course, be the augmented Mario racing ride, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. While we didn’t get to go on the ride, Corfino told us it will involve racers wearing goggles and getting into go karts. As the ride goes around the track, you’ll see various things from inside the game in your goggles. The goal is to shoot shells (just by looking) and get the highest score. Guests will see things in any direction, making it unlikely to have the exact same experience as someone else. Corfino said he’d ridden the ride 200 times for testing and just the day of the tour got his high score.

In addition to the ride and the challenges, Super Nintendo World also has the required gift shop (called 1 Up Factory), and an eatery (called Toadstool Cafe).

We cannot wait to return once the land is fully operation and get immersed in Super Nintendo World. The land will open at Universal Studios Hollywood on February 17, 2023.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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We’re living in a time of Super Mario overload. Not that we’re complaining, it’s a great time to be a fan of the classic franchise. Along with the upcoming movie and theme park openings, there’s now also new LEGO sets. The latest seven releases include interactive Super Mario builds that involve collecting coins and bonking bricks, just like the video games. There’s expansion packs like Conkdor, a lava wave, and a snow adventure. Or you can try your luck with the character sets. The eight possibilities include some deep cuts. There’s Birdo, Green Toad, Ice Bro, Bramball, Cat Goombas, Blooper (including baby Bloopers), Sumo Bro, and Spike. Unfortunately, they come in boxes now so you can’t just feel through the bag and try to get your favorite. All the new Super Mario sets are now available on LEGO’s website. 

Click To View Gallery

We came across these new LEGO offerings on Polygon, which points out that Waluigi still hasn’t made an appearance. His popularity in Mario Kart and memes hasn’t yet translated to so much as a LEGO minifig, much less a whole set dedicated to the popular villain.

Since LEGO sets sometimes include details from a film before it’s come out, we’re wondering if any of these tie-in with Super Mario Bros. Movie coming out in April. The first trailer involved the penguins after all, and there’s at least one in the snow adventure set.  

You can build your own interactive levels by connecting these latest sets to other expansion packs like Bowser’s airship and Sky World. Or if you’d rather have a more traditional Super Mario LEGO set, you’ve still got options. There’s a massive Bowser build and a Question Mark Block that are perfect for adults showing off their fandom. And if you’re looking for even more Mario in your life, don’t forget about the theme park land opening soon at Universal Studios.

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth.

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If you’re excited for the Super Mario Bros. Movie coming in April 2023, you’re not alone. If you’re in it for the nostalgia factor, you’ll definitely want to check out the recut trailer below. Super-fan and YouTuber King Bob Gaming recreated the movie’s second trailer shot for shot in the style of Super Mario 64. While we’re looking forward to the smooth visuals promised by the real movie, seeing it in clunky 3D is undeniably familiar to those of us who suffered through the dark days of mid-’90s gaming. Let’s just say the transition from 2D to 3D was not without its rough patches. Most notably, in the N64 version of the Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer below, the characters’ mouths don’t move. But somehow, that only seems to make Chris Pratt’s Mario voice work a bit better with the character.

If you’re not familiar with the Super Mario 64 version of Mario, Luigi, Peach, and the others, it’s never too late. You can play the game on Nintendo Switch, along with a few others from the good old Nintendo 64 days. Even the gorgeous Mushroom Kingdom and those adorable Toads are a bit off in blocky 3D. We came across this trailer thanks to ComicBook.com. It is a good reminder to be grateful that we’re getting an animated movie now rather than back in 1996. And we’ve all collectively agreed to block out the live-action one from 1993, right?

Super fans of Super Mario 64 may also want to snag the 25th anniversary LEGO set with the iconic yellow Question Mark Block. One lucky (and rich) person even found an unopened copy of the game that recently sold at auction for over a million dollars. Maybe they didn’t know they could play it on the Switch. Or get a free nostalgia boost from watching trailers like this one. 

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth.

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Here we go! The countdown to the opening of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood is almost over! The themed land officially opens to the public on February 17, 2023. Which is so soon! Until now, we had only been told “early 2023.” We cannot wait to finally race an IRL version of Mario Kart on one of the best tracks ever, Bowser’s Castle. Who doesn’t want to navigate the land of Koopas, Piranha Plants, and wonders of the Mushroom Kingdom? February 17th can’t come quickly enough!  

The good news, which we saw on GameSpot, also includes more about the interactive elements of the land. You can buy Power-Up Bands to rack up coins and punch Question Mark Blocks. That’s something we’ve never considered doing in real life, but now we can’t wait to make that famous jumping motion and see what we get. Based on the video below, it looks like you can represent Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Daisy, Princess Peach, or Toad. 

The announcement also includes details about food and retail shops. At the Toadstool Cafe, you can sit on a small mushroom under tall mushroom umbrella to chow down on the themed food. If the menu is anything like the Japanese park, we can’t wait to see what the options are. And it’s a sure bet that we’ll be buying merch and gifts at the 1-Up Factory.   

There’s tons of little details that are sure to make a visit to Super Nintendo World fully immersive. You even enter through a Warp Pipe! Character meet and greets include Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach. We also spotted Goombas, Thwomps, and Chain Chomps lurking in the preview video above. The Japanese park opened to rave reviews in 2021. Versions in Singapore and Orlando, Florida are also on the way. Let’s-a go!

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She is SO excited to visit Super Nintendo World! Melissa also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth. 

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Let’s a-go, Mario fans! The latest trailer for the Super Mario Bros. movie is here and it gave us our best look yet at Donkey Kong, Princess Peach, Luigi, and plenty of other deep-cut characters. Follow Dan down the warp pipe as he breaks down everything you might have missed and why Rainbow Road might be essential to Bowser’s plans on today’s episode of Nerdist News!

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I think many of us had the same reaction when we heard Chris Pratt’s voice in the first trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie: “Mama mia!” His interpretation has been about as popular as a Killer Koopa wandering through Peach’s Castle. But look, it’s just one teaser. And it was only a few lines. By the time we actually see the animated film we might love everything about it, including his performance. Even if we don’t, though, the movie has already given us something to appreciate. Someone remade the classic Nintendo game in Unreal Engine with Pratt as the iconic plumber. And you don’t need to hear his Mario to enjoy it.

The YouTube channel Re-Imagined Games shared a trailer for their own take on the original Super Mario Bros game. This version (which we first learned about at Kotaku) took months to make in Unreal Engine. (Which they made while learning Unreal Engine “from scratch!”) And while there are still some kinks to work out—like how to render Jack Black’s Bowser—the results are already incredible.

It places Chris Pratt into the game as Mario, all set against photorealistic backdrops. There are also all of the elements you know and love from the game. It features warp pipes, enemies, power-ups (and their accompanying clothing), gold coins, mystery boxes, and even a flag to nab at the end of the three playable levels. But just because it looks good doesn’t mean it’s easy. Especially not when you’re used to playing it as a two-dimensional side-scrolling game.

While Re-Imagined Games says they have plans to make the game even better, all of the known bugs only make us appreciate it more. Or, at least that’s what we’re telling ourselves in case we can’t get past the voice we hear in the actual animated Mario movie. But mama mia! No matter how that turns out, at least we’ll always have this version to enjoy.

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Thirty years ago, the world of Super Mario Bros. came to the big screen, in a big budget live-action film. And, sadly, it didn’t go so well with the critics or the box office. It’s taken a while to bring the classic Nintendo game back to the big screen, but it’s finally coming as an animated film. Chris Pratt leads the all-star cast, voicing Mario. And we finally have the first teaser trailer for the Super Mario Bros. animated movie, along with the a new teaser poster for the upcoming film. Nintendo debuted the first look at the film at New York Comic Con and online. Watch the Super Mario Bros. trailer:

Here’s the official synopsis for the Super Mario Bros. animated film:

Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (collaborators on Teen Titans Go!, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies) from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel (The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, Minions: The Rise of Gru), the film stars Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong, Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek and Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike.

All of these talented folks have contributed to some truly great animated films over the past few years, so here’s hoping they can bring that same magic to this iconic universe. Ever since 1985, the Super Mario Bros. game franchise has maintained its status a staple of pop culture. It’s high time it came back to movie screens the right way. We imagine many elements introduced in the film will find themselves working their way into the Super Mario World lands at the Universal Studios theme parks in the near future.

Super Mario Bros. hits movie theaters on April 7, 2023, in North America.

Featured Image: Illumination

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During the Nintendo Direct Livestream event, the voice cast was announced for the upcoming Super Mario Bros. animated film. The movie is a co-production between Nintendo and Illumination Entertainment. Although the release date for the film has now been delayed, moving from December 2022 to April 2023, we can still take a look at what’s in store. The voice cast for the movie is pretty incredible. And it’s got us genuinely excited for the film. Read on for the full cast list.

Superstar Chris Pratt is playing Mario himself. Given how great he was in the LEGO Movie, we hope he also makes everything awesome in Mario’s world too.

Nintendo

Anya Taylor Joy is playing Princess Peach, which also seems like a match made in video game heaven.

Nintendo

Another LEGO Movie alum Charlie Day is also on board, playing none other than Luigi.

Nintendo

Nintendo

Jack Black is Bowser, a.k.a. King Koopa. This means that we live in a reality where Black and Dennis Hopper have played the same role in different projects. Who would have ever thought?

Nintendo

Keegan-Michael Key plays Toad, Princess Peach’s most loyal attendant. Given how great he was in Toy Story 4, this seems like a perfect fit.

Nintendo 

Veteran voice actor Kevin Michael Richardson plays Kamek, and Sebastian Maniscalco is our Spike. And there will be surprise cameos from Charles Martinet. (Which, we guess, is now not such a surprise).

Oh yeah, and even Donkey Kong will make an appearance, played by Seth Rogen. And Fred Armisen is our Cranky Kong.

During the live stream event, Mario-creator Shigeru Miyamoto said “This is a very collaborative project between Illumination and Nintendo. and I myself have been enjoying a creative process that is a little bit different from making games. It may be awhile before we can share more updates, but we hope you can look forward to it.”

Hopefully, this animated Super Mario Bros. movie will fare better than the ill-fated live-action one from 1993. But hey, it’s been long enough that a do-over is called for. Super Mario Bros. hits movie theaters on April 7, 2023, in North America, a slightly delayed date from its originally slated release on December 21, 2022.

Originally published September 23, 2021. 

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There are LEGO sets and then there are LEGO sets. And it’s no surprise that the latest collaboration between Nintendo and LEGO is a powerful one, or should we say, super? Or perhaps, mighty? Super Mario‘s latest LEGO set has been revealed and it brings to life The Mighty Bowser in fine form. Bowser has been depicted in LEGO form before, in the Bowser’s Castle Boss Battle Expansion Set. But never quite like this.

The king of Koopas is getting his full due. This Bowser LEGO set contains 2,807 pieces. And it also uses brand new LEGO elements to create Bowser’s spikes and other nuances, including his fireball launcher and head and neck movements. Not only is this Bowser huge, but he’s also innovative. And that’s only right. His arms and fingers even move.

That’s right, you can control Bowser’s head and neck with a button that lives under his shell. His mouth also opens and closes, and his arms, hands, legs, and tail are all poseable.

LEGO Bowser is also an interactive fella. With a very friendly demeanor, for sure. Bowser has a fireball launcher built into him. And he can activate that to shoot out a little friendly fire at other Super Mario LEGO characters, like Luigi and Peach. Bowser also comes with towers for him to knock down, so you don’t have to worry about his aggression building up too high.

Right now, you can pre-order LEGO Bowser ahead of this Super Mario set’s release on October 1. He’ll only set you back a few shells. Approximately $270 of them. But how can you say no to Bowser’s LEGO face? He has LEGO spikes for crying out loud. This definitely feels like one LEGO set that Nintendo fans will want to add to their collections.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 2 star Ben Schwartz sits down with Hector Navarro to talk video games as the actor busts out his collection of retro classics. From Super Nintendo to the classic Game Boy, Chrono Trigger to The Legend of Zelda, Ben breaks down his all-time favorites on today’s bonus episode of Secret Obsession!

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Numerous people on countless occasions have called me the “coaster police.” I’ve also been called much worse when it comes to protecting the sanctity of a vulnerable surface. My friends and family never say those things as compliments. Much to their chagrin, though, that’s exactly how I take them. But that doesn’t mean I want everyone that comes to my home on high alert about where they put their drink. I still want them to have fun. The problem is that it’s a fine line making sure your guests have something under their cocktails while also having a good time. Fortunately, Vat19 has exactly what I need to walk it. With a coaster set that looks like cartridges for classic Nintendo games.

Vat19‘s cardboard NES Cartridge Coasters collection brings those vintage games to your coffee table. Each is die-cut to resemble the shape and design of original Nintendo cartridges. They aren’t the exact same size, though. Every coaster measures 3.5-inches by 4-inches across. And they come in at 1/8-inch thick. That way, they better match your drink of choice. The company promises you don’t have to blow on them to get them to work, though. (If you’re having something like a hot toddy, though, you should still blow on that.)

The officially licensed set features the covers for some of the most iconic games in the system’s history. The eight-piece collection recreates the cartridges of Donkey Kong, Excitebike, Metroid, Duck Hunt, The Legend of Zelda, and Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, and 3. The coasters also all have Nintendo’s gold seal of approval. You can get your own for $9.99. And if you’re planning to give them as a gift and want to create a whole theme for the present, a Nintendo cartridge flask makes for a perfect pairing.

Do I want these in my house? Obviously. I respect wood. I respect fun. And I respect the NES. The only problem is these are so nice I’m not sure I’d want to risk someone ruining them with a drink. Of course, anyone who knows me won’t be surprised when the coaster police also polices which coasters they can actually use.

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By 2029 Chris Pratt will voice every iconic animated character for both film and television. By 2037 he’ll voice every animated character in every medium period. And by 2057 every human will sound exactly like him. That is unless we stop him now. Because after finding box office success as the voice of Emmet in The LEGO Movies, Hollywood decided he’s the only person it should hire to play famous animated characters. He’ll soon play both Super Mario and Garfield in new feature films. We don’t have to await, though, to imagine what he’ll sound like as that famous Italian plumber. Somebody has created a playable mod of the original Mario Bros. game that features the Pratt’s voice.

And it’s the first time in our lives we’re rooting for Bowser.

Game developer Woe Industries woke up one day and chose violence. It used GameMaker: Studio
to create Chris Pratt is Super Mario. (Which we first saw at Polygon.) It’s is a simple keyboard-playable run through of the real game’s first level. Exactly what you’d find if you plugged in your old Nintendo. Only, any time Mario does something you hear a line of dialogue from the Marvel and Jurassic World star. It’s a pretty funny bit for the most part. With a genuinely funny ending that works perfectly for both the game and the new Mario. And since the whole thing is quite (literally) playful, it isn’t inherently violent.

But since they made it so Pratt yells “jumping jacks” literally every single freaking time Mario jumps, this game will make you consider jumping into the ocean and swimming away from the internet forever. That will be the only way to ensure you don’t hurt someone (like me!) for telling you about this game. It’s not merely annoying. It’s aggressively infuriating. If this game had a second level our computer would be broken into many pieces already.

This maddening game does more than just give us a rage headache. It proves scientists are right. If one day Chris Pratt voices every single animated character none of us will survive the future.

Mamma mia! We must stop him now.

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Good news and bad news are on the horizon for Animal Crossing lovers. Good news first. Nintendo will soon release a big free Animal Crossing: New Horizons update and a new paid DLC. Bad news? In news we first saw on IGN, the company will only support minor updates to the beloved game after this update.

But let’s not focus on the sad parts. While more updates may not be coming, this isn’t goodbye by any means. Players can continue to enjoy the game and all the new Animal Crossing: New Horizons updates coming in November. Here’s more about what’s in store.

First comes the free update. Among other things, in Animal Crossing: New Horizons Version 2.0, you’ll be able to visit a familiar face at a coffee shop. The Roost is now a location that players can engage with, and it comes complete with Brewster. Players can also take a Kapp’n Boat Tour to visit new islands. These islands will feature different weather, wildlife, seasons, times of day, and more. Harv’s island also makes its return. Harv is building a plaza with shops, and you can contribute bells to the cause. Island visitors will eventually set up different shops in the plaza, and you can even get your fortune read by Katrina. Gyroids will return to Animal Crossing: New Horizons as well. And if you want, you can partake in group stretching with your island’s villagers.

Other new features include the ability to cook with your own vegetables and other food items, new and expanded storage options, and even an enhanced camera app for better photo taking. These updates and more promise better gameplay and will introduce new, fun things to do on your island.

The Animal Crossing: New Horizons free update will release on November 5.

The paid DLC Animal Crossing Happy Home Paradise offers an even more significant update to your game. In Happy Home Paradise, players will assist Paradise Planning, a resort developer, in designing vacation homes. You’ll be in charge of coordinating dream lifestyles for characters. Characters with dreams come to visit, and it’s your job to make them the home they want. You can select an island for them, then start designing. You can design and develop their home inside and out. Eventually, you’ll be able to take new design knowledge you gain back to your own island. Partition walls, counters, pillars, lighting, soundscapes, and more can come home with you.

Animal Crossing Happy Home Paradise will also release on November 5 and will cost $24.99. We wish all players their dream islands and homes.

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If there’s one game we really needed to hear announced, it’s a new Kirby game. Ask, and you shall receive as they say! Kirby and the Forgotten Land releases Spring 2022 on Nintendo Switch. Nintendo announced this adorable game as part of their recent Nintendo Direct panel.

The game’s official description reads:

In this new unforgettable 3D platforming adventure, Kirby explores a mysterious world full of abandoned structures from a past civilization. What surprises await the pink puffball?

What surprises indeed? The game’s trailer walks us through a tease of what’s to come. And its serene music and gorgeous animation put us in a great mood. Waves crashing, blues skies, and adorable pink Kirby marching off to new adventures.

Kirby bounces off this new world with his traditional beeps and bops. He runs into a pack of ducklings. Kirby and the Forgotten Land feels like the absolute sweetest. Kirby even takes the time to ride around on a star in a manner befitting their majesty. But, of course, not everything can exist in perfect harmony. In the trailer, we do see some gameplay. Including Kirby fighting with some equally adorable dog-like creatures. And, of course, Kirby’s traditional move appears as he swallows his foes. It seems not all is perfect, even in Kirby’s world.

Nintendo

But not hungry crocodiles nor thorny porcupines can stop Kirby on their quest. If there’s one lesson we’ve learned, it’s don’t mess with Kirby. Small, pink, and cute often means extra powerful.

In the presentation, Nintendo shares this about Kirby and the Forgotten Land:

In this new game, you can freely move around in 3D areas using familiar Kirby moves. The setting also appears to be mysterious filled with abandoned structures from a past civilization, what lies in store for Kirby.

We can’t wait to hear more about this game and see what exciting surprises lie in store for Kirby in Kirby and the Forgotten Land.

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Many famous franchises are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. Among them? Super Mario 64. That’s right, this famous game is a quarter of a century old. And what better way to celebrate all our Super Mario favs than with an awesome LEGO set? So LEGO and Nintendo are bringing you the LEGO Super Mario 64 Question Mark Block. (We first saw this news on Gamespot.) A truly worthy homage to the game! 

This set takes the shape of the iconic yellow question mark box. And naturally, the box is full of surprises. It opens up to reveal four of the game’s most famous levels. These include Peach’s Castle, Bob-omb Battlefield, Cool, Cool Mountain, and Lethal Lava Trouble.

But the fun doesn’t end there; the official release shares:

As well as including levels from the Super Mario 64 game, the ? Block set includes several microfigures of iconic characters that can be placed in the detailed scenes, such as fan-favorites Mario and Princess Peach. For interactive play, fans can also add their LEGO Mario or LEGO® Luigi™ figures for unique music and sounds from the video game, plus seek out the hidden Power Stars that reveal secret reactions from the figures.. Hints for how to find the Power Stars can be found in the Building Instructions.

Mario, Yoshi, Princess Peach, and King Bob-omb are all included in the LEGO Super Mario 64 set. Additionally, you can play with Chain Chomp, Big Bully, Mr. I, Lakitu, penguin, and baby penguin. With the ability to customize scenes, this build really feels “playable.” And it sounds like fans can take it a step further and engage in truly interactive play. There’s even the option to unlock a kind of “secret bonus.” (Though it will require you to purchase more Super Mario LEGO sets, of course!)

LEGO

Pablo Gonzalez Gonzalez, Senior Designer at the LEGO Group, had this to say about the LEGO Super Mario 64 release:

“We know how much Super Mario fans have loved the LEGO Super Mario experience, and wanted to tap into even more elements of the traditional gameplay capturing the immersive play experience of Super Mario 64. It’s difficult to imagine the Super Mario Universe without the classic game’s iconic levels full of discovery and secrets. With this amazing set, we’re building on the exciting play experience of LEGO Super Mario, both to bring a bit of nostalgia for those who played the Super Mario 64 video game, but also to introduce these wonderful levels to a whole new audience of Super Mario fans.”

The LEGO Super Mario 64 Question Mark Block releases on October 1 and costs $169.99. It’s steep, but if you’ve waited 25 years, this could be your moment. Personally, we can’t wait to see what the 50th-anniversary celebration set of the future will look like.

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As we first saw via the Associated Press, an unopened Super Mario 64 cartridge became quite a hot commodity at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas on Sunday. The game had been up for bid between July 9 and July 11; by the latter date, it had sold for a record-breaking price tag of $1.56 million.

Nintendo

That’s a hefty sum more than the previous record for a single video game: $870,000. Funnily enough, that record was established only a few days prior, on July 9. The game in question: a rare copy of The Legend of Zelda for NES. According to Kotaku, this particular copy of Super Mario 64 had maintained pristine physical condition, hence such a high price. (As if resisting the urge to play the thing wouldn’t entail enough discipline already!) Kotaku cites a 9.8 rating on the Wata Scale for the cartridge, which is an exceptionally rare superlative.

We have no details at present regarding the parties responsible for the colossal purchase. Will the Super Mario 64 buyer try to make a profit off the trade? Or will the mint condition cartridge hold a place of honor in a personal museum? The only thing we’re fairly sure of: no one will be cracking open this game to beat Tall, Tall Mountain any time soon.

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As advertised on Nintendo’s website, the new contraption boasts: “A vibrant 7-inch OLED screen, a wide adjustable stand, a dock with a wired LAN port, 64 GB of internal storage, and enhanced audio.” Among other conclusions, this means a larger screen without resorting to a much larger product overall. Some might call that the best of both worlds. However, per a supplemental tweet from The Verge, the OLED Switch “does not have a new CPU, or more RAM, from previous Nintendo Switch models.” Can’t win ‘em all, I guess.

Nintendo

Though not a matter of utility, the shades-of-black color scheme brings a new ‘tude to the Switch OLED; this thing feels constructed with high-grade serious gameplay in mind. (Not that we weren’t already enjoying some pretty intense experiences on the Switch to date. But there’s just a little more punch involved in this design, isn’t there?)

So when can you get your hands on this thing? The Nintendo Switch OLED Model will become available for purchase on October 8. As for price, it will run you $349.99.

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The last new Metroid game of any sort was Metroid Prime: Federation Force in 2016, a spinoff from the offshoot 3D Metroid Prime series. Metroid Dread is different. This will be the first 2D, side-scrolling game in the original 1986 universe in 19 years. As we can see from the footage, in addition to full, gorgeous 3D cut scenes (and I’m guessing there’ll be quick time events? Perhaps?), the gameplay is very much in the two-dimensional platforming style that fans know and love from the original Metroid and Super Metroid.

Nintendo

It reminds me a lot of Capcom’s Mega Man 11 from 2018. While the characters and environments are fully rendered 3D objects, the perspective is a wide, side-scrolling view. For me, this is the purest version of the Mega Man experience; same applies to Metroid. We want to see Samus Aran take on aliens, figure out puzzles, and unlock doors.

Metroid Dread has an expected release date of October 5. In addition to the game, Nintendo also announced a special edition that includes the game, steel game case, artbook, and art cards covering all five main series games. It’s pretty gorgeous.

And not only that, but later in the E3 presentation, we got a full history of Metroid Dread‘s development, which is very fascinating.

We can’t wait to check out Metroid Dread and see what horrors and nightmares await Samus (and us) on October 5.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!

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The history of Nintendo is long, rich, and widespread. The Japanese electronics and video game company gave the world the gifts of several iconic franchises like Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Super Smash Bros., and more. Nintendo’s games define several generations around the world as they grew up with different consoles and iterations of their favorite characters. Now, the legendary company will get proper honor with its own expansive gallery in Japan.

This news, which we discovered via Mashable, feels like it’s been a long time coming. Museums and galleries exist for pretty much everything. So, it makes sense to have one for Nintendo too. The “Nintendo Gallery” (a working title) will show off products throughout the company’s history.

Many fans may not realize that Nintendo predates the video gaming era, stretching back to 1889 when its products were playing cards. The company’s press release doesn’t give any details about what fans might see; however, it promises that there will be different exhibits and interactive experiences.

Nintendo

Nintendo Gallery’s future location is in Kyoto, the same location as its first headquarters. The Nintendo Uji Ogura Plant and its surrounding area will serve as the site for this gallery, which is set to be complete by March 2024. Of course, we can expect more details about an official opening date closer to that time. But at least we have plenty of time to plan a trip to see what it’s all about! Just imagine the consoles, prototypes, and other cool things for display.

And, while we are there, perhaps we can head over to Super Nintendo World in Osaka. (The city is about 27 miles away from Kyoto.) The Universal Studios Japan attraction opened in March 2021 with an interactive Mario Kart ride among other things. So go ahead and start squirreling away your coins for a fun future trip.

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When people lament the quality of video game movies en masse, they point to one example above others. The Super Mario Bros. movie met with sour reviews and meager box office returns in 1993; what’s more, it hasn’t exactly accrued esteem—barely even what you’d call cult favor—in the three decades since. But if nothing else, the movie remains a beacon for impassioned hypotheticals. What would a good Super Mario movie look like? How about if things had just gone a bit differently on the set? What if, dare we wonder, the film was just a little longer? We’ve got the answer to that one, in any case.

Buena Vista Pictures

As we learned from GameSpot, an extended cut of Super Mario Bros. has existed for years; directors Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel completed this version before the ultimate draft found its way to theaters. This is not at all unusual, nor is the nigh oblivion to which this longer edit has been fated. But given the reputation of the movie in question, this never-seen version has earned an air of intrigue. So much so that a cabal of fans has devoted itself to restoring and releasing the so-called Morton-Jankel Cut*. And their toils have proved fruitful; members of the Super Mario Bros. Archive community and restorationist Garrett Gilchrist have indeed reproduced the extended edit of the ’93 Super Mario Bros, and you can watch it right here.

*A moniker created by the fans behind the endeavor; neither director has formally signed off on the project to date.

Among the amendments to this version, you’ll find multiple extended scenes as well as some entirely new sequences. (Including, as GameSpot’s interview with the aforementioned Gilchrist highlights, a rap.) The final product clocks in at 124 minutes long, a full 20 minutes longer than the formal cut. When you get a spare two hours, check it out and see if it revamps the reputation of the Super Mario Bros. production. Maybe this is the Mario film we’ve been longing for all these years.

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I never would have guessed a 30-year-old eight-bit handheld gaming device would still be interesting in 2021. But fans keep finding new and better ways to improve upon Nintendo’s original Game Boy. Recently a programmer turned one into a spite machine. He transformed his into a pixelated mobile movie screen for Tenet. Another person also built the world’s smallest working version. It doesn’t even measure an inch in size. Impressive, but not much fun to play. That’s definitely not the case with the newest fan-made modification, though. Meet the Game Man, a giant version of the classic Game Boy.

YouTuber Grumpy Modeler has built something that would make any gamer happy. His Game Man (which we first came across at Gizmodo) is, quite literally, a huge upgrade over Nintendo’s Game Boy. That original machine measures 5.8-inches tall, with the screen taking up just 1.9-inches. The full color LCD screen of the Game Man alone comes in at 5.6-inches. It’s also a massive upgrade in pixels, with 640×480 compared to the Game Boy’s 160×144. This monster machine also has a 1/4-inch output jack that lets you turn off audio and LCD if you connect your Game Man to another screen.

There are some drawbacks to this giant version, though. While the controls on these are described as “very good,” it’s hard to hold “A” and “B” at the same time. Unlike Nintendo’s version, it helps to have big fingers when using this.

The Grumpy Modeler

The video also includes a link with instructions on how to make your own. As you might imagine, building ones takes a lot of work. You’ll need access to a 3D printer to make the case, an NES gamepad, a whole bunch of other parts to make everything simpatico, and a lot of personal skill. But as you can see, if you pull it off you’ll end up with something that Nintendo might actually sell.

We wish they did. We would buy it. Over the last 30 years our hands have grown, but our love of the Game Boy has never diminished.

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The announcement trailer revealed Pac-Man‘s release date and time: April 7 at 6 p.m. PT for Nintendo Switch Online members only. The clip explains the differences between the classic game and this amped up version. Players who eat a ghost will send a Jammer Pac-Man to an opponent. If the competitor touches the Jammer, they will not be able to move as quickly as they could previously.

Players can eat Sleeping Ghosts to make a line of them to eat; this action will wipe out your enemies with lots of Jammer Pac-Men. The clip does a solid job of showing off the game while giving a really great explainer for curious players. It all sounds like the definition of chaotic fun and possible annoyance over a swarm of Jammers.

There have been a couple of Pac-Man battle games before this one, including Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle and Pac-Main Battle Royale. But, Pac-Man 99 will certainly stand out on the ever-popular Switch, which has the full attention of avid Nintendo gamers and casual players alike. It’s not clear if this game will be a limited release but hopefully it will stick around for a while.

Nintendo

Perhaps Pac-Man will become the face of Nintendo now that Mario is dead. Anyway, Switch fans can get ready to chop and chase ghost in hopes of basking in their enemies’ frustrated tears.

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Remember being a kid and and wanting a new video game? But your parents said it was too expensive? You should definitely send them this story. It will show them that, relatively speaking, literally any game you ever wanted was. And it will also let them know they might have missed out on the investment of a lifetime. Because mamma mia! A sealed, nearly flawless copy of Nintendo‘s original Super Mario Bros. just sold for a record-shattering $660,000.

Heritage Auctions recently put the “finest known copy of the oldest sealed hangtab Super Mario Bros.” cartridge up for bid. (Which we first heard about at Gizmodo.) The game, originally purchased in December 1986 as a Christmas present, sat untouched in a drawer for 35 years before it was recently discovered. (The rare case of a forgotten gift working out for the best.) That timeframe is partly why this copy is so special.

Heritage Auctions

“This particular copy was produced in late 1986, and it was one of the earliest copies produced that had plastic shrink wrap, rather than sticker seal.” said Heritage Auctions Video Games Director Valarie McLeckie in a statement. “By early 1987, Nintendo was producing a version that had another new variation to their original packaging (an additional ‘code’). Since the production window for this copy and others like it was so short, finding another copy from this same production run in similar condition would be akin to looking for single drop of water in an ocean. Never say never, but there’s a good chance it can’t be done.”

What also made this sealed game so much more valuable was its impeccable condition. Wata scored it a 9.6 A+. That’s the highest rating for any copy ever put up for auction. It’s rarity and unparalleled condition combined for a big final price tag. That $660,000 winning bid destroyed the previous record for a video game. That title belonged to another copy of Super Mario Bros. It sold in 2020 for the comparably affordable price of “just” $114,000.

By this measure, the games you wanted were peanuts. So why did parents refuse our requests? Unless they didn’t… Maybe they did buy games as a surprise, but then forgot to give them to us. That’s the best reason to send them this story. Hidden video game treasure might be sitting in an old drawer right now.

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Nintendo

Well, not really. Despite what some have been saying, Mario did not depart for that Ultimate Castle. Nor did he go to Hell for his sins against Koopas. (Not yet at least.) As we covered on Nerdist News, his impending demise has been a joke among fans ever since Nintendo announced it was pulling some of his titles from their store on March 31. That day has since been treated as the day Mario will be executed. And now that it’s here, his “death” has led to some hilarious tweets. Here are Twitter’s best reactions to the day the plumber died.

It was apparently a painful death, as per tradition.

Yeah, things got bleak REAL FAST.

Especially because some seemed to be taking great joy in Mario’s doom.

But who would do this? And why? Maybe we always should have known there was one “among us.”

Or maybe the question we should really be asking about Mario’s death is this: who benefits from it the most? Maybe someone who has forever stood in his shorter brother’s long shadow?

Definitely suspicious. But Luigi isn’t the only person we should look at.

Actually, forget the investigation. It’s too much fun seeing how people react to the fake death of a video game character.

Mario is gone too soon. He will be missed by everyone, except for Wario, Bowser, and Donkey Kong.

But don’t despair. If there’s one thing we know about Mario, it’s that he always has extra lives.

Featured Image: Universal Pictures/Nerdist

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Mama Mia! Is the Mushroom Kingdom’s favorite plumber meeting his demise next week? According to the internet, March 31st will mark the death of Mario. Why is Nintendo concluding Mario’s 35th anniversary celebration with a murder most foul? What games are disappearing from the Nintendo eShop forever? And didn’t they already kill Luigi previously? Dan breaks down all the latest on today’s episode of Nerdist News!

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We owe great appreciation to the music of the Super Mario video game franchise. Some compositions spring to mind the moment you hear that plucky little plumber’s name; his bouncy main theme, for one, and the moody number that underscores many a subterranean level in the Mushroom Kingdom. But even the franchise’s less immediately recognizable compositions—say, those from Super Mario RPG or the Paper Mario games—deserve our admiration. (And regular listens.) Taking this matter to heart, a group of musicians has devoted their energy and talent to a cover of the Paper Mario: The Origami King soundtrack. If you’re already a fan of the game’s musical arrangement, you’ll find this production quite a treat.

Paper Mario pal Olivia introduces the video, which we found at Boing Boing, with great enthusiasm. She explains that “Line Them Up! A Paper Mario: The Origami King Concert” combines the labors of over 160 musicians, arrangers, videographers, and animators. She also does a bit of fairly cute shtick ahead of the concert, which is good for a smile. But the real entertainment picks up when the music begins just shy of the two-minute mark, and extends all the way through the 40-minute video. Take a look and a listen for yourself.

The video runs through different songs from the Paper Mario: The Origami King soundtrack in no particular order. It begins with “Red Streamer Battle” before bobbing over to “Picnic Road” and “Autumn Mountain,” and then carrying forth through dozens of other tracks. What’s cool about this production is that it name-checks every single musician as they perform; the orchestra encompasses many different instruments, and even some enchanting vocals.

Nintendo

Given the constraints of the coronavirus pandemic, “Line Them Up!” is even more impressive an undertaking. Red hats off to these talented, hard-working musicians; we’re thankful for their love of music, performance, and squashing Goombas.

Featured Image: vgmtogether

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Nintendo

As in many RPGs, your party in SMRPG expands as you progress through the game. In time, Princess Toadstool and foe-turned-ally Bowser both join forces with Mario. But before either, comes Mallow, a so-called frog of unknown origins. Mallow, who looks like a tiny cloud with arms and legs and striped pants, is an emotional wreck with a heart of gold. When you first encounter Mallow, you immediately discover the power of his outbursts. He covers entire landscapes in rain when he cries. (A skill that later comes in handy when he rains HP down on your party in battle.)

Mallow never really loses his sensitivity, but his character does become more dynamic over the course of the narrative. Part of that pertains to his true origins. Though it’s immediately obvious to the player, Mallow is distraught when he finds out he’s not a frog; he was merely taken in by the frog sage Frogfucius, who found Mallow in a river as a baby. After telling Mallow the truth, Frogfucius encourages him to join your party. Mallow does so in hopes of finding his family and, naturally, helping Mario.

Nintendo

For some time, Mallow’s lineage remains a mystery. The moment you hit Nimbus Land late in the game, though, and see that he bears a striking resemblance to its cloud-like residents, you can piece together where he came from. Mallow is, in fact, the Prince of Nimbus Land. His reunion with his parents is predictably emotional, and when Mallow learns he’ll have a home to return to after his adventure with Mario is done, he becomes empowered. He’s braver and sassier; though you may not be putting him in battle too often, his dialogue is consistently fun, and his interactions with NPCs are downright delightful.

Geno’s origins are simultaneously more complicated and less important than Mallow’s. They don’t inform his character to the same extent, in large part because there’s not a lot to his character. He’s largely motivated by his mission: to restore the Star Road, which the Smithy Gang destroyed in their attack on Bowser’s castle. The attack scattered the titular Seven Stars you’ve been tasked with retrieving throughout the world; this made it so that wishes, which land on the Star Road, could no longer be granted.

But for a prolonged period, none of that really matters. What matters is that Geno takes the form of a toy wizard, enters the Forest Maze—the game’s most extensive puzzle, accompanied by the game’s best music—and, once found, joins your party. As you share the same goal of defeating the Smithy Gang, he’s set to accompany you through the rest of the game.

Nintendo

The moment Geno joins you in battle, it’s much easier to defeat opponents that would otherwise pose major problems. Geno’s special attacks set him apart from your other party members. If you can time your hits just right with Geno, you can dole out damage that outclasses what Bowser and even Mario can manage. (Unless you equip Mario with a fiendishly hard-to-find armor/weapon combination, but that’s a story for another time.) In an objective sense, Geno is an essential party member. And subjectively, he’s my favorite character in SMPRG. As is the case with every loose thread in the game, Geno’s story comes to a satisfying conclusion. But it also has the most intriguing, enjoyable beginning. With the punches he packs and his distinct appearance, he’s just plain fun to have around.

To date, Mallow and Geno haven’t appeared as playable characters in any other Mario game. Given their respective richness and abilities, that’s a shame. They do both pop up in Super Smash Brothers Ultimate as spirits; but how much more fun would it be if you could cry your way to higher HP in Ultimate with Mallow? Or wield Geno’s star gun in the next incarnation of Mario Kart? If nothing else, both boys would be a natural fit for a Paper Mario adventure. Until that happens, at least we have their origins, the option of returning to them on Wii U, and the kind of game-specific nostalgia that never really goes away.

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Nintendo

Nintendo’s triumvirate consists of a portly Italian man, a yellow mouse that channels electricity, and a sword-wielding elf wearing green. Mario and Pikachu are inarguably some of video games’ biggest icons. To a certain population, Link and Zelda are nothing more than spammy projectile characters in Super Smash Bros. As pop culture celebrates 35 years of Hyrule, however, apathy toward the franchise allows for examination untinged by nostalgia. Fandom is not a prerequisite for respect. You don’t need to obsess over Link, Zelda, and the rest of Hyrule in order to appreciate this intrepid franchise. 

Shigeru Miyamoto—the creative mind behind Mario, Donkey Kong, and others—sought to imbue 1986’s The Legend of Zelda with the sense of excitement and wonder he felt exploring the Kyoto countryside as a child. This makes Link’s adventures through Hyrule perhaps Miyamoto’s most personal creation. Childhood sensations, such as the euphoria of discovering something new in your environment or the frustration of getting lost, are in the franchise’s very DNA. For those who aren’t diehard fans of the series, however, it is possible to push those intimate origins aside. And also to appreciate the contributions to the global zeitgeist that have made it so indelible for 35 years. 

Nintendo

When The Legend of Zelda released in 1986, it fully utilized every technical advancement that video games had to offer at that point and provided an experience unlike any that had come before it. Before then, no console game allowed players to save their progress on the game cartridge and The Legend of Zelda’s battery-backed RAM storing completely changed the at-home gaming experience. Suddenly, you were able to play games over the course of days or months, across multiple sessions. This only added to the weighty, epic feel of Link’s adventure across Hyrule. People take it for granted, but a generation of gamers has The Legend of Zelda to thank every time they save their progress.

Nintendo

 Over the years, Zelda games have explored the interactivity of their medium in ways that few others have. Modern AAA titles like The Last of Us and, more recently, Cyberpunk 2077 are heavy on plot, characters, and exposition which at times just makes them feel like interactive movies. Zelda rejected traditional storytelling techniques and, instead, presented a simple, trope-heavy plot and a voiceless playable character named after the link he represents between player and game. Legend of Zelda stories always boil down to some variation of Link saving some variation of Princess Zelda.

The game’s puzzles and dungeon crawling aren’t for everyone.  Still, they provide an unparalleled way for players to insert themselves into the narrative. They can choose their own way to traverse through the world. Events in Zelda games don’t happen because you walk up to the correct waypoint and trigger a cutscene; everything that occurs results from players’ interaction with Hyrule and its denizens. 

Phillips/Nintendo

One of the most under-appreciated watershed moments in Nintendo’s history came in the early 1990s. The company partnered with Philips Interactive Media to co-develop a CD-ROM attachment for the SNES. The add-on never hit stores. Still, the companies’ partnership did allow Philips to use Nintendo characters in some early CD-i games. Hotel Mario, Link: The Faces of Evil, and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon may be mostly lost to history, but the admittedly cursed FMV games represent a divergent point for the two Nintendo franchises.

Nintendo moved on from this licensing snafu forever playing it safe with Super Mario—the franchise most synonymous with the company. They only the kinds of highly polished, meticulously-designed titles fans have come to expect. This is why they remain gaming’s gold standard. The strange, charismatic spirit of King Harkinian lives on in the Legend of Zelda franchise, however. Nintendo continues to prove they aren’t afraid to take bizarre, sometimes gimmicky swings with those titles.

Nintendo

The franchise’s exploratory spirit is apparent from a meta level, too. Through its developers’ desire to test the medium’s potential limits and push video games in new directions. For example, 2007 saw the release of the Wii Zapper, a gun shell peripheral for the Wii remote. Yet, when making the pack-in game for this unremarkable piece of video game history Nintendo didn’t dare risk tarnishing its perfect plumber’s image. Instead, it was Link who would explore the Wii Zapper. The pack-in game Link’s Crossbow Training is a prime example for how Nintendo is willing to take experimental risks with The Legend of Zelda that the company won’t take with other properties.

Other examples of The Legend of Zelda being used to promote and explore Nintendo hardware include the Wii Motion Plus as a requirement to play The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and the Sheikah Slate in Breath of the Wild resembling the Wii U gamepad or Nintendo Switch, depending on the version.

Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda hasn’t only been a trial balloon for Nintendo hardware. Creative risks have also come to define the franchise. A pair of 2019 games exemplify the adventurous spirit that people outside Zelda fandom can appreciate. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening for the Nintendo Switch is a remake of the 1993 Game Boy game of the same name that features a retro-modern, dioramic art style that’s unique within the series.

Even bolder is Cadence of Hyrule—a crossover with 2015’s popular rhythm-based roguelike Crypt of the Necrodancer. Cadence allows fans of the series to incorporate its legendary soundtrack into the game’s actual gameplay; it’s a unique experience that represents how Nintendo’s most critically-acclaimed franchise isn’t afraid to be unabashedly quirky.

Nintendo

Everyone knows that Frankenstein isn’t the name of the monster; Ratatouille isn’t the name of the rat; Zelda isn’t the name of the sword guy in The Legend of Zelda. Perhaps most impressive about the idiosyncratic franchise is the way its adventurous spirit pervades pop culture. 35 years of The Legend of Zelda has given everyone some kind of familiarity with iconography like the triforce, and Ocarina of Time’s popularity is why a whole generation knows what an ocarina is in the first place. You don’t need to play a single Zelda game to reap the continued benefits of the beloved series.

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In 2020, Nintendo shared several mini Direct presentations. That changed on Wednesday afternoon when the game company dropped a 50-minute Nintendo Direct. They previewed a number of titles coming to the Nintendo Switch console in 2021 and 2022 and dropped some news for existing games. We’ve rounded up all the Nintendo Direct highlights and trailers for you so you can catch up on what you missed. Like a new Star Wars video game, a Legend of Zelda port for the Switch, and a new Splatoon game.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

First up, Nintendo revealed that Pyra and Mythra are joining the popular Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. They’ll arrive in March.

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

It’s happening. I feel like I’ve heard tons of folks discussing this massive multiplayer game, and now Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is coming to Nintendo Switch in summer 2021.

Outer Wilds

Annapurna  Interactive

Outer Wilds will also arrive on the Switch in summer 2021.

Murder Mystery Games

Two Japanese murder mystery games are coming to the Switch: Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir and Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind.

Samurai Warriors 5

Koei Tecmo America

The latest entry in the Samurai Warriors franchise debuts on the Nintendo Switch in summer 2021.

Legend of Mana

How about a little remaster action? The classic and beloved Square Enix RPG is getting an update—including the ability to turn off random encounters. It will drop on the Switch on June 24.

Monster Hunter Rise

Capcom developed the latest installment of Monster Hunter exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. It arrives on March 26.

Mario Golf: Super Rush

Head to the greens! Mario Golf returns with Super Rush. The game will come with a story mode where you can develop your golfing skills and interact with Mushroom Kingdom characters. It adds new gameplay for multiplayer modes as well as having the familiar play. It’s available for pre-order now and out on June 25.

Tales from the Borderlands

Telltale’s Tales from the Borderlands is set between Borderlands 2 and Borderlands 3. All five episodes will premiere on Nintendo Switch on March 24.

Arcade Classics

Thirty-two of Capcom’s classic games, such as 1943, Ghosts ‘n Goblins, Street Fighter II, and more are on Nintendo Switch today as part Capcom Arcade Stadium. Soak in all that nostalgia.

Rebel Without a Pulse

Stubbs the Zombie is back, this time in Rebel Without a Pulse. This port of the original 2005 game has some new flair and will be available on March 16.

Neon White

What if you were an assassin hired to exterminate demons in heaven? That’s the premise of Neon White from Annapurna Interactive, coming in winter 2021.

DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power

DC Super Hero Girls have appeared in animated series, in books, and in comics. And now they’re coming to a video game on the Switch. DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power features Batgirl, Wonder Woman, and more. It premieres on June 4.

Miitopia

Go ahead and Mii it up with Miitopia, a Mii-powered RPG. This game was originally released for Nintendo 3DS in July 2017. But now it’s coming to Switch on May 21.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons x Super Mario

Turn your island into the Mushroom Kingdom! Super Mario furniture pieces and outfits are coming to Animal Crossing: New Horizons soon. You can dress like Wario, which you should do all the time. The coolest part is you can acquire warp pipes and use them to travel between two points on your island. The Super Mario additions will be part of the free update on February 25; then they’ll be listed in Nook shopping beginning March 1.

Project Triangle Strategy

Here’s something new with some rad Final Fantasy and Fire Emblem vibes. Project Triangle Strategy (working title) won’t arrive until 2022. The title is a tactical RPG made by the Octopath team. The story is set decades after the Saltiron War, a war that ended with a truce… but trouble is in the air. You can play a demo now.

Star Wars: Hunters

Hello, Star Wars game on the Nintendo Switch. Set between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, this third person shooter is coming to the Outer Rim and to Switch in 2021.

Knockout City

This one’s another new title, and it’s from EA. Knockout City is multiplayer, tactical team-based game. Players can expect third-person shooter mechanics and dodgeball, kinda? Characters run around a city and throw balls at each other, basically. Watch the trailer above and play on May 21.

World’s End Club

What do you get when you combine an underwater theme park and a Japan landscape where everyone’s vanished? World’s End Club. The game, arriving May 28, will have players fight for their lives and feature a little side-scrolling action.

Hades – Physical Release

Hades, the instantly popular roguelike, has only been available digitally. That changes in March. Nintendo will drop a physical copy of the game on March 19; it will come with a PC download code for the Hades original soundtrack and a full color character compendium in addition to the game itself.

Ninja Gaiden Master Collection

Get caught up on all things Ninja Gaiden with remasters of Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Sigma 2, and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge. The collection debuts on June 10.

The Legend of Zelda

With 2021 marking the 35th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, fans expected some kind of Zelda update from the Nintendo Direct. And they got it. Nintendo announced that Skyward Sword HD is coming on July 16. The game debuted on the Nintendo Wii in 2011. This port will come with optimized updates for the Switch. For example, players can use the Joy-Con controllers as if they’re Link’s sword and shield. And if you really want to commit to that bit you can get Nintendo’s special edition Zelda Joy-Con controllers.

Splatoon 3

Last but not least, the Inklings of Splatoon will have a new realm to fight in with Splatoon 3, on the horizon for 2022.

Featured Image: Nintendo

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of The Jedi Mind, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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I have played a lot of Mario Kart in my life. If I had dedicated even a fraction of that gaming time to going to the gym I would now be giving Chris Hemsworth advice on getting in shape. Unfortunately for me, sitting on the couch and swearing about the Rainbow Road doesn’t do much for my waistline. But it turns out it doesn’t have to be that way at all. Someone has connected an exercise bike to Mario Kart and Smash Bros.

“Hardware hacker” and Nintendo aficionado Mike Choi was unhappy with the company’s attempts to combine gaming with working out. So he decided to take it upon himself to find the right balance of fun and physical exertion. He transformed Nintendo’s Labo and Ring-Con systems into a full body experience. His “Labo Fit Adventure Kart Kit” for the Switch (which we first came across at Kotaku) allows players to steer their player with the Ring-Con controller while they keep their car moving in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe by pedaling his Labo Bike-Con.

Using his unique system is a real commitment. Players don’t have the option to pass on the pedaling if they want to win. As Choi says, if you want to stay in the race you’ll “have to keep up the pace.” His kit can also be used to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. However, the limited button choices of his system will put you at a disadvantage in that game. The real fun is on the track.

Mike Choi

Choi showed how he created his system, step-by-step, on YouTube. It has all the instructions you’ll need to build your own. It requires a 3D-printer and a whole lot of skill. I don’t have either, so this is definitely beyond my capabilities. But the idea behind this system is not.

I know I need to work out more. This system would let me do that without cutting back on Mario Kart. Well, right up until I’ decide I need to find a different video game and end up looking like Thor in Endgame.

Featured Image: Mike Choi

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If you’re a child of the ’90s, chances are some of your favorite holiday memories involved getting the latest The Legend of Zelda game as a gift, and then promptly playing it for the rest of the holidays and ignoring the rest of your family. The holidays and characters like Link and Ganon are tied together in the memories of so many. So it’s only fitting that someone finally release a proper The Legend of Zelda Christmas album. Honestly, how did this take so long?

Materia Collective

The folks at Materia Collective are mashing up classic Christmas carols with the world of the classic Nintendo game for A Merry Hyrule Christmas. Produced by Eric Buchholz (Hero of Time) together with a merry band of arrangers, this festive collection is sure to bring a smile to your face. These clever arrangements will bring cheer to both Christmas music lovers and fans of the kingdom of Hyrule. With grandiose orchestra and choir combined with epic rock stylings, A Merry Hyrule Christmas has something for pretty much everyone.

The full tracklist is as follows:

1. Kakariko Village
2. O Sacred Light
3. Clock Town Sleigh Ride
4. Silent Knight
5. Carol of the Goddess
6. Dragon Roost Hymn
7. Din Rest Ye Merry Deku Scrubs
8. The Twelve Days of Christmas

In a statement, producer Eric Buchholz said “A Merry Hyrule Christmas is the first album to combine music from The Legend of Zelda franchise with classic holiday tunes of various genres. We have Zelda music with a Christmas twist, as well as Christmas music with a Zelda twist!. My goal was to create an album of videogame music that could blend in seamlessly with classic holiday tunes. I love the idea of folks being able to ‘trick’ their parents, grandparents, and family into listening to videogame music—without them realizing it!”

A Merry Hyrule Christmas is now available on all storefronts and streaming platforms.

Featured Image: Materia Collective

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Over in Japan, work has kept going on the much-anticipated Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios. Earlier this year, we saw some of the first images of what this amazing expansion will look like when completed. You can see those below. But first, we’ve got a new video tour of the park, led by none other than Super Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto.

Miyamoto leads viewers through various corners of the park. He shows off the Princess’ castle and plains and dungeon areas that’ll look familiar to any longtime fans of Mario games. The video shows different ways park visitors will be able to interact with park features, like power-up blocks and minor baddies. (A marching Koopa, snoozing Piranha Plant, and exploding Bob-omb make brief cameos in the video.) Miyamoto also makes mention of a face-off with Bowser Jr himself.

Thanks to some aerial photographs posted on social media, fans are getting a glimpse at what the nearly completed Super Nintendo World will be like. Even from these images of an incomplete themed land, you can see it really does look like an old Mario game come to life. We spotted several overhead shots at themeparX.

From the looks of things, many of the rumored locations from the beloved Mario games will indeed be a part of the land. Look closely at the aerial photos and you can make out Peach’s castle and Bowser’s castle. We can see Piranha Plants and Question Mark Blocks. In short, for anyone who grew up playing Super Nintendo Games, this land will be a dream come true. You’ll feel like you can drop into a Warp Pipe.

Nintendo

Video captured by Twitter user @29QuP2 shows some animated aspects of the new land. Yoshi circles a tree, coins rotate, koopa shells spiral, and more. Watch the above video to get a glimpse of how cool Super Nintendo World is going to be.

We also have our first look at the Mario Kart ride called Koopa’s Challenge, which takes us inside Bowser’s Castle. The ride uses “AR headsets” according to Polygon. But it’s not a free-wheeling ride—it’s on rails. The ride begins in the castle but also races through a lava world and the famous Rainbow Road.

Super Nintendo World is one of the most anticipated expansions in Universal Studios Japan‘s history. It reportedly cost nearly $600 million to build. Similar to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, this isn’t a theme park unto itself, but a separate land within an existing park. They announced this new land back in 2015. They intended to open at the same time as the Olympic Games in Osaka. But with the games now postponed, Super Nintendo World’s opening date could be pushed back too. Judging from these early images however, it looks darn near finished. And if it’s not, Super Nintendo World will be worth the wait.

Originally published on May 28, 2020 with updates on December 1 and December 21. 

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