Category Archives: Wii U

3DS, amiibo Training, Angry Rant, Essay, Informational, Switch, Wii U

A complete history of retailer-exclusive amiibo figures

Leave a comment

Store exclusives. If you’ve been in the amiibo hunting business for a long time, all it takes is those two words to bring back painful memories. After the release of Super Smash Bros. 4’s first wave of amiibo figures, it became incredibly clear to collectors that certain fighters would be tough to get. At first, it was Villager, Marth, and Wii Fit Trainer – referred to as a “holy trinity” of sorts due to their rarity – and then it was Captain Falcon, Pit, and Little Mac from Wave 2. Though each these of trinkets was rather difficult to find, none were store exclusives — the real nightmare would begin on February 1, 2015 with the release of the gigantic Wave 3.

Continue reading A complete history of retailer-exclusive amiibo figures →

Angry Rant, Essay, Opinion, Paper Mario Series, Super Mario Series, Wii U

The problem with Black Paint in Paper Mario: Color Splash

Leave a comment

Paper Mario: Color Splash is a game that nobody talks about (except for me on Twitter, and it usually doesn’t end well). And honestly, I can see why. It was released just four years after Paper Mario: Sticker Star, a game that essentially killed the Paper Mario franchise in the eyes of former fans of the series. At first glance, it didn’t fix very many of Sticker Star’s main problems. Mario’s attacks are still disposable, Thing cards are still required for boss battles, and almost every NPC is a Toad. All of these issues added up to one of the worst-selling Mario games in recent history.

If you’ve read my review on Paper Mario: Color Splash, then you know that I really like this game for some reason. But it’s got a ton of problems, and the one I’m going to discuss today is its storyline. It’s better than Sticker Star’s, sure, but it’s still pretty bad on its own. Specifically, I take issue with the concept of black paint that the game introduces about six hours in. There will be full Color Splash spoilers here, so if you’re trying to avoid those – first, what? – and second, steer clear until you’ve beaten the game. Continue reading The problem with Black Paint in Paper Mario: Color Splash →

3DS, amiibo Training, Essay, Informational, Super Smash Bros. Series, Wii U

The best Figure Player characters in Super Smash Bros. 4

Leave a comment

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s amiibo metagame has completely blown Super Smash Bros. 4’s out of the water. From an objective point of view, Ultimate’s Figure Players are stronger, more versatile, and more fun to watch. So what are we doing talking about an outdated game, then? Well, Smash 4 began the trend of amiibo training as we know it. Like it or not, it’s history! And we’re here today for a bit of a history lesson.

By the way, to those of you still playing Super Smash Bros. 4, did you know we have a complete set of amiibo training guides for that game? They’re kind of well-hidden, so if you didn’t know they existed, I don’t blame you. Still, though, if you’re bored and have a Wii U, you could probably kill an hour or two training an amiibo just for fun. It’s much different than training an amiibo in Ultimate, so you might find it a little jarring. Regardless, let’s begin our lesson! Today we’re talking about which characters were best in the Smash 4 amiibo metagame as per our tier list.

Continue reading The best Figure Player characters in Super Smash Bros. 4 →

Essay, Opinion, Review, Super Mario Series, Switch, Wii U

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – As Good As New?

Leave a comment

If there’s one thing we can all agree on regarding the New Super Mario Bros. series, it’s that they aren’t all that new anymore. In fact, the New branding is kind of ironic, given that each title in the series is very much the same as the last. New Super Mario Bros. U was initially released as the Wii U’s flagship launch title way back in 2012. Seven years later – in 2019 – the game was re-released for Nintendo Switch as New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. The release of Super Mario Maker 2 – specifically its inclusion of the New Super Mario Bros. U theme – makes paying $60 for New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe a steep task. All these years later, does this game still have legs to stand on (figuratively speaking)?

Continue reading New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – As Good As New? →

Gamecube, Nintendo 64, Super Mario Series, Switch, Wii, Wii U

Super Mario 35th Anniversary games revealed

Leave a comment

Nintendo has finally lifted the lid on their plans for Super Mario’s 35 anniversary. Among other things, we’re getting two brand-new games (and by that, I mean they’re not brand-new): Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury. The former releases later this month (September 18) and the latter releases in February 2021 alongside new Cat Mario and Cat Peach amiibo. We have no idea what they do, but hey — they’re still making new amiibo!

Super Mario 3D All-Stars includes high-resolution versions of Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury includes the main game, a new expansion, and online multiplayer. Preorders are available for both, but you’ll have to act fast: for whatever reason, Super Mario 3D All-Stars is only available for purchase until March 2021. That means you won’t be able to buy it afterward, but you will be able to keep playing it. And you’ll be able to redownload it from Nintendo eShop. Gotta love placing false scarcity on games.

Super Mario All-Stars (the one that already existed) is now available on Nintendo Switch Online’s SNES app. It’s free for anybody who already has a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. They also announced that Super Mario furniture is coming to Animal Crossing: New Horizons soon. Fun! And a new Splatoon 2 Splatfest. Either way, there’s just a few weeks until 3D All-Stars is released! Feel free to watch the full presentation by following this link.