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Mario

Get Super Mario And Kirby Switch 2 Wireless Controllers For Up To 50% Off

by admin October 3, 2025

With Nintendo’s official Pro Controllers for Switch 1/2 now priced at $80/$90, it has become quite expensive to pick up first-party gamepads for Players 2-4. Thankfully, there are officially licensed third-party controllers with lower prices and Nintendo’s seal of approval. And ahead of next week’s Prime Big Deal Days sale, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 owners can save big on over a dozen wireless controllers produced by PowerA, Nintendo’s most prolific official partner.

Most of the controllers on sale are themed around popular Nintendo franchises, with plenty of Super Mario and Pokemon models discounted by up to 50%. Arguably the best design on sale–and currently the top seller of the bunch–is the ultra-cute Kirby Mouthful Wireless Controller for $30 (was $50). You’ll also find Princess Peach and Super Mario versions for $30 each. For King Koopa fans, the Bowser-themed wireless controller with back buttons is only $27 (was $45). You can check out those three models and more with huge discounts in the gallery below.

$30 (was $50)

Inspired by Mouthful Mode in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, the adorable design makes it appear as if Kirby just inhaled your Nintendo Switch controller.

This is a standard PowerAo Wireless Controller, which means it uses AA batteries (included) and doesn’t have back buttons. You can get up to 40 hours of game time before needing to swap out the batteries. We’d recommend grabbing a pack of rechargeable batteries such as this popular 8-pack with a charger for $22 (was $29).

PowerA’s Switch controllers offer great ergonomics and solid performance for the price. The Kirby Mouthful Controller has six-axis motion controls, but it doesn’t have rumble motors, an IR camera, or an NFC reader for Amiibo.

Note: PowerA’s Enhanced Wireless Controllers have two remappable back buttons and charge via USB-C. The Bowser controller and this Legend of Zelda controller split the difference by having back buttons and AA batteries. You’ll also see a couple Enhanced models with PowerA’s Lumectra RGB lighting effects. All of the controllers have very similar form factors with the exception of the Mario Victory Nano Controller, which has a compact form factor and is on sale for 50% off.

While none of the controllers in our gallery have the Switch 2’s new C button for GameChat, PowerA is releasing three wireless models in its Advantage line with the GameChat button and Hall Effect sticks on October 30.

If you like having back buttons on your controllers and want even more customization options, we’d highly recommend checking out 8BitDo’s Ultimate and Pro series. 8BitDo released new iterations of both this year. The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller is on sale for $60 (was $70); if you prefer aligned thumbsticks like a PlayStation controller, the 8BitDo Pro 3 Gamepad with GameCube-inspired color schemes is up for grabs for $63 (was $70). Check out our story on the Ultimate 2 for more details.

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October 3, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

New Sora 2 AI Mario And Pikachu Videos Seem Primed For Nintendo Lawsuits

by admin October 3, 2025

Nintendo has earned its reputation for being fiercely protective of its IP, including the Mario characters and the Pokémon universe. However, OpenAI’s newly released Sora 2 has included so many Nintendo characters that it almost seems like it’s inviting a legal response from the Japanese gaming publisher. Sora 2 is an AI-powered video and audio production tool, meaning that you can feed a prompt in, much like similar image generators, to create a video from your description.

According to The New York Times, OpenAI has reached out to major copyright holders and Hollywood stars about being retroactively removed from Sora 2. It’s not clear if a similar effort was made to reach out to Nintendo, but the sheer volume of Pokémon and Mario-inspired Sora 2 content suggests that the AI model was heavily trained on Nintendo’s IP.

i got into sora 2 and the only conclusion I can draw is openai is trying to get sued. this is like 99% of what it shows you immediately upon entering the app pic.twitter.com/BkAXqchK2T

— George Crudo (@GeorgeCrudo) October 1, 2025

Nintendo’s properties aren’t the only ones that appear to have been fed into Sora 2. Others like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Portal have been mashed together as well.

How will Nintendo respond? It was only a year ago that Nintendo went after AI-generated Mario pictures. It seems unlikely that Nintendo will let Sora 2 pass without taking action, especially since the company is famously litigious.

A report earlier this year suggested that Disney is in talks with OpenAI, but the house of mouse decided to sue Midjourney over allegedly misappropriated movies and images. George R.R. Martin and a handful of other authors have previously launched their own lawsuit against OpenAI.

While more Japanese gaming publishers are embracing AI in game creation, OpenAI, Midjourney, and other AI-related startups aren’t acting in partnership with the affected companies. Nintendo has taken a cautious approach to AI, and Shigeru Miyamoto has said that the company won’t rush into AI like other developers. Outgoing Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser has stated that he believes AI will play a role in the creation of games, but he has also stressed the importance of maintaining a “human touch” in game development.

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October 3, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Super Mario Galaxy Collection Buying Guide – Get Overnight Delivery With Amazon Prime

by admin October 2, 2025

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 is available now for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. If you didn’t preorder the $70 collection and want a physical edition, Amazon is offering free same- or next-day shipping for Prime members. The physical edition is also available with fast shipping from Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and GameStop. Each game is also sold separately for $40 on the eShop, so you’re saving $10 by opting for the bundle.

The impressive remasters run in 4K resolution on Nintendo Switch 2, so the first Mario Galaxy is markedly better than the version in Super Mario 3D All-Stars. Plus, both of these Wii-era hits hold up extremely well. If you love 3D platformers, both Mario Galaxy games are must-play adventures that are in top form on Nintendo’s new hardware.

While you’re picking up the Super Mario Galaxy game collection, don’t forget about the upcoming physical edition of Rosalina’s Storybook (November 25) and the new Mario and Luma Amiibo and Rosalina and Lumas Amiibo (April 2, 2026).

$70 | Available Now

The Switch 2 upgrade is available to anyone who purchases physical or digital editions of Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2.

In docked mode, the games run in 1080p on Switch and 4K on Switch 2. Each game supports conventional button/stick controls as well as motion controls for those who want to stick with the original experience from the Wii games. Like several other modern Mario games, Assist Mode has been added to make these platformers more approachable for newcomers and youngsters.

$25 | Releases November 25

Mario Galaxy fans can preorder the physical edition of Rosalina’s Storybook at Amazon, Walmart, Bookshop.org, Books-A-Million, and Barnes & Noble. The hardcover book releases November 25. Note: Amazon’s listing has been jumping between in stock and sold out pretty much since preorders opened.

Nintendo partnered with Dark Horse to release the in-game book Rosalina reads from in hardcover. The 112-page book includes full-color illustrations and every chapter from the original Wii game.

Heads up: The in-game book in Super Mario Galaxy has a new chapter in the remastered collection, but that chapter isn’t found in the hardcover edition.

Super Mario Galaxy Amiibo

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October 2, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2’s ports bring two all-timers to the Switch 2, but I wish Nintendo made that just a little easier to celebrate

by admin October 1, 2025

While Super Mario Galaxy has appeared on Nintendo Switch before, via 2020’s Super Mario 3D All-Stars, this week’s re-release is still momentous. For one, 3D All-Stars was bizarrely only for sale for a limited time – so this will be the first time this game has a ‘standard’, ever-available Switch version. More importantly, this is the first time that Galaxy 2 is on Switch, meaning we now have one of gaming’s finest duologies reunited and available on modern hardware. All of this is great news.

Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2

Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Played on Nintendo Switch 2
Availability: Out 2nd October on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2

Having spent a fair chunk of time with each of the new ports, I’m looking forward to an inevitably reignited debate about which of these two games is better. The rare Nintendo direct sequel, Galaxy 2 is doubtless more refined, tightly organized to push its best ideas early and hard before offering up bold experimentation and fiendish late-game challenges. But that game can only exist because of the original Galaxy – experimental, charming, and wildly atmospheric.

The two form a fascinating one-two punch in this sense. Take the core structure of the games: Galaxy goes all-in on breezy hangouts in an attractive and story-rich but relatively inconsequential hub world. Galaxy 2 jettisons that for a very simple hub with a dialed-back narrative. The first title generally channels the levels of Super Mario 64, with multiple run-throughs and the like – Galaxy 2 embraces more of a linearity reminiscent of Mario’s 2D outings, in turn allowing for more attempts at joyous one-off level design spectacle.

Image credit: Nintendo / Eurogamer

Anyway, I digress. The funny thing about writing about a new release of games such as these is that there’s little point in litigating about the quality of the work. These are undeniably classics. The march of time is not going to change that for the Galaxies any more than it has for the very first Super Mario Bros. With that said, there are curious wrinkles in how these titles play that are only now visible because our minds have been collectively rewired by Odyssey – ways in which you realise Odyssey’s physics are slightly superior, its narrative waffling better delivered, and the game’s visual identity more refined. I feel if you showed that trio to somebody who had never seen them before, they’d easily identify which game is the newest – but none of this takes away from the brilliance of the Galaxy games.

What is more important, then, is the quality of the port. And it’s, you know… it’s fine, right? We know that Nintendo can port over GameCube and Wii games well enough to new hardware. Titles like the 3D Mario games have an art style that ages and scales exceptionally well, too. There was a time when this primarily benefited emulation enthusiasts who were running Wii or 3DS Mario games at much higher resolutions – but now, Nintendo can also reap such benefits first-hand.

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Both games run at 1080p on Nintendo Switch and 4K on the Switch 2. Things like the user interface have been tidied up, and everything is smooth. It’s nice, and from that perspective doubtlessly the new definitive way to play these games. I’m less enamored with the control setup, however.

The Mario Galaxy games were built as system-defining, hardware-shifting tentpoles for the Wii, and so they ooze that 2006 energy. The menus are all designed for the pointer interface, for instance – all great big buttons and the like. These of course can be navigated more traditionally and the UI has been subtly adjusted, but the design hasn’t fundamentally changed. The same is true of the game proper, which assumes you’re playing with a Wii Remote and a nunchuck – your right hand free to point at the screen to pick up or fire off starbits, or in Galaxy 2 to interact with the environment using Yoshi’s tongue.

You probably sense where this is going. If you want to play these games in handheld mode, or with a Pro Controller – in a more traditional way, more reminiscent of Odyssey – the act of controlling all of Mario’s skillset becomes uncharacteristically hard work. Some mechanics naturally fade to the background, which naturally is a shame. On the other hand, the Joy-Con is not a Wii remote. The gyroscopic-style cursor control is not as natural or as immediate as a sensor-powered pointer.

Image credit: Nintendo

Image credit: Nintendo / Eurogamer

Image credit: Nintendo

Again, it’s fine and you do get used to it. You’ll gradually dial into a ‘zone’ where it becomes more natural over time, too. Still, it’s undeniable that this isn’t as intuitive or as good as on the Wii. I’m reminded of 3D All-Stars and its version of Super Mario Sunshine, which without the GameCube controller’s analogue triggers works just fine but is nevertheless somewhat compromised. In that case, support for the triggers was later patched in – but obviously, there’s no Wii Remote support on Switch, so that’s impossible here. What we have is what we’re going to get.

There’s also a sadly missed opportunity here, which is in the lack of mouse controls. The Switch 2 might not have a proper pointer, but it does have that going for it – but it’s unused! Or, well, not exactly. In a classic baffling Nintendo move, the Joy-Con 2 mouse is supported for the second player in the co-star mode, where a second player can join in the fun in a limited way – but the mouse can’t be used in any form when playing solo. It was probably deemed too awkward, given how your right hand also needs to liberally use the analogue stick to control the camera (though this is less important in this game, as the originals lacked camera control in the first place) and of course use those all-important action buttons. At the same time, I could easily see a scenario where a split Joycon player might seamlessly transition to temporary mouse control for pointer-intensive moments. No such luck.

I’d be more inclined to accept all of this without comment, by the way, if these were particularly cheap re-releases. At £34 individually and almost sixty quid for the pair, however, I’d expect every stop to be pulled out and a bit more bespoke tailoring to fit this Wii experience to the Switch machines. The one thing these joyous games aren’t remotely is cynical – but these releases might just be, a bit.

Image credit: Nintendo / Eurogamer

It has to be said that Nintendo has made smart changes, too. Assist Mode is lovely, and makes the elements of these games that did get surprisingly punishing a bit more accessible without damping the ‘core’ experience. The visual improvements are good, the new storybook stuff is cute, and while the soundtrack and amiibo support additions are basic, I appreciate them nevertheless.

So now I sit back, and scroll up, and think to myself: Oh. That’s a lot of negative words about perfectly fine ports of two of the greatest games of all time. And I suppose that’s the thing: these games are so good, and were so perfect in their original forms (we’re talking a pair of Eurogamer tens – remember those? – and a Eurogamer Game of the Generation) that to some extent all one is left with is nitpicks, frustrations, and unfavorable comparisons to near-perfect originals and an even-better-still successor in Odyssey.

And that’s the rub, really. The only thing one with any real light in their heart can do is to fully and loudly say that these games deserve to be played. They are always and forever an instant recommendation and a vital piece of platform gaming history. These ports are solid enough, and the best new, easily accessible way to play these games. So of course it’s a recommendation, in the end. I just wish the journey of my feelings to get to that recommendation were a little less complicated.

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October 1, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 review: The Switch 2 versions are the definitive way to play some of the best platformers of all time

by admin September 30, 2025

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It is hard to overstate how magical the original Super Mario Galaxy felt when it launched on Wii back in 2007. Gravity-defying levels, soaring orchestrated music, and a sense of wonder that still stands out alongside the other staples in the platforming genre, almost 20 years later.

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: October 2, 2025

In celebration of the Italian plumber’s 40th anniversary, Nintendo has re-released this classic alongside Super Mario Galaxy 2 on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 in one enhanced package.

I was curious to see if these classics could shine just as brightly two decades later. The good news is they’re as magical as ever, offering the same incredible journeys now with gorgeous visuals and the ability to play the sequel on the go for the first time ever.

Cosmic performance

On Switch 2, both games look fantastic. Docked, you get crisp 4K resolution that makes every planet sparkle. Handheld mode delivers smooth 1080p visuals that feel perfectly tuned for portable play.

I encountered no performance hiccups across either adventure. Frame rates remain locked, load times are snappy, and the vibrant art style still feels timeless. These games were stunning on Wii, but the extra fidelity here makes them genuinely pop on modern displays, like my Samsung S90D OLED TV.

It is worth noting that Super Mario Galaxy did appear on Switch once before, as part of the limited Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection. That version didn’t reinvent the wheel, but it gave Switch users access to the game alongside Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. Unfortunately, Nintendo no longer sells 3D All-Stars, an odd choice that has led to inflated prices on the second-hand market.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

This new Switch 2 release offers the same core experience, now enhanced with sharper visuals, better performance, and bundled alongside Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the first time on modern hardware. For fans who missed out on 3D All-Stars, or who simply want the most definitive way to play, this collection is a clear step forward.

The sound design has also aged remarkably well. Koji Kondo’s orchestral score is given room to breathe with a cleaner mix, and it feels cinematic in a way that very few modern platformers achieve.

Hearing the soundtrack through my Sonos Arc Ultra is a reminder of just how ambitious Nintendo was with these titles and genuinely brought me back to my childhood.

In my time playing this game, I’ve been listening to both games’ soundtracks on repeat as I work. In fact, as I write this review, I’m bopping my head to Gusty Garden Galaxy – gorgeous.

Galaxies intertwined

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The core adventures remain intact, so if you’ve played through either game recently, you might not want to jump back in. Nintendo has a solution, however, offering both games as a complete package or as individual titles, perfect for those who luckily own the aforementioned 3D All-Stars.

Super Mario Galaxy’s planet-hopping platforming eases players into its gravity-bending tricks, while Super Mario Galaxy 2 embraces creativity and challenge right from the start. Having them bundled together only highlights how well the sequel doubled down on experimentation.

Galaxy 2 adds Yoshi to the mix, alongside power-ups like the Cloud Flower and Rock Mushroom, each of which introduces new mechanics that feel clever even today. Returning to these levels reminded me how bold Nintendo was in the Wii era, layering complexity onto Mario without losing accessibility.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Nintendo has added some small but welcome touches for this new release. In Super Mario Galaxy, there is an additional chapter in Rosalina’s picture book that fleshes out her story in a way longtime fans will appreciate.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 goes a step further with a completely new tale in its own picture book, offering fresh lore and a reason to revisit the Comet Observatory between levels. These are not game-changing additions, but they add warmth and make this edition feel more than a simple upscaled port.

Wii controls reimagined

As someone who hasn’t played 3D All-Stars in nearly five years, one of my biggest questions going back to these games was how well the controls would translate to modern hardware. The original games were designed with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk in mind, leaning heavily on motion controls.

Best bit

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 have some of, if not the, best video game soundtracks of all time. It has been a magical experience reliving my childhood through gorgeous orchestral music that makes me feel just like that famous scene from Pixar’s Ratatouille.

On Switch 2, motion is still present with the Joy-Con, but it feels far less intrusive than it once did. You can play comfortably in handheld, docked, or with a Pro Controller, and I found myself gravitating to the latter for longer sessions.

All you need to do is hold down ZR and use the gyro in the Pro Controller to pick up Star Bits. In fact, I much prefer it to the Wii experience, but that might be my cynical 30-year-old brain that no longer appreciates a gimmick.

A trip down memory lane

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The biggest compliment I can give Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 on Nintendo Switch 2 is that these adventures feel as fresh today as they did at launch in 2007 and 2020, respectively.

The level design is inventive and playful, constantly surprising you with new mechanics that rarely outstay their welcome. Few platformers manage to strike the same balance of accessibility and depth.

Nintendo has not tinkered much beyond resolution, performance, and the new story content, but that restraint works here. The design is so strong that all it needed was a modern coat of paint.

Mario’s journey through the stars is still a cosmic marvel

While part of me would have liked to see some new content like we’ve seen in the past with the addition of Bowser’s Fury in the remaster of Super Mario 3D World, I’ve just enjoyed the simplicity of replaying these classics in 4k.

If you have never played Super Mario Galaxy or its sequel, this is the definitive way to experience them. And if you have, the combination of rock-solid performance, upgraded visuals, and new story content makes these experiences worth revisiting.

Few platformers feel as inventive, joyful, or downright magical as Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2. Nearly twenty years on, Mario’s journey through the stars is still a cosmic marvel.

Should you buy Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Accessibility

Not much to write home about in terms of accessibility. Both games include an Assist Mode, which increases your life and bounces you back from falls.

Settings allow you to change the way you interact with the camera via thumbsticks and motion controls.

It would’ve been nice to see more additions to accessibility, but it appears as if Nintendo has kept even the settings faithful to the originals.

How I reviewed Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

I played around 25 hours total, split between both games, and used my OLED TV for a full 4k experience. I played Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition in a mixture of handheld mode on the Nintendo Switch 2 itself and on one of the best OLED TVs, the Samsung Q90D, using the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.

I had previously played both games on the Wii and had experienced Super Mario Galaxy on Nintendo Switch as part of Super Mario 3D All-Stars.

First reviewed September 2025

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2: Price Comparison

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September 30, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Mario Kart World’s New Patch Improves Free Roam, Online Races

by admin September 24, 2025

Mario Kart World is being patched to 1.3.0, and with the rounder number comes a more significant update. It introduces a new way to play online with friends, a bunch of improvements in Free Roam, and yet again halfway suggests it will boost the frequency with which you’ll encounter three-lap races, but still in frustratingly ambiguous language.

Nintendo’s update notes for game patches are notoriously sparse. The most recent system update for the Switch 2 came with the legend, “General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience,” offering not a single extra detail. Mario Kart World‘s 1.1.2 patch notes were similarly a single sentence long. So 1.3.0’s detailed list is of some significance.

So the headline here is you can now join your friends online when playing Knockout Tour, alongside regular Race and Battle modes. There’s another nice touch that if when trying to join friends for Knockout Tour, Race or Battle online and the game is full, you and one other person can play Free Roam together while you wait. That’s a lot better than staring at a queue.

Talking of Free Roam, the new patch improves the map show it will finally show you the locations of P Switches you’ve already found, and the Peach Medallions you’ve previously claimed. Given how ubiquitous these are, and how (annoyingly) similar they can be, this’ll make it far easier to know if you’re just repeating yourself. Also, all those previously discovered P Switches will act as quick travel points, if a little unspecific—the notes say it’ll “move to a location near the P Switch.”

When it comes to the actual racing itself, one key improvement is a slight speeding up of the replenishment rate of item boxes, meaning a new one will spawn in more quickly after the previous is nabbed by an opponent, along with an increase in your time spent invincible after being spun out or crashing.

But most importantly, when playing “wireless” races there’s another increase to the frequency with which three-lap courses will appear. That was a common lament when the game was first released, first supposedly addressed in a patch at the end of July, although this didn’t do much to ease people’s frustration, and many suspected didn’t actually affect online racing at all. Hopefully this latest tweak will make a more noticeable improvement, although it’s worth noting that yet again the patch notes speak only of “wireless” and not “online,” and no one knows if this is a deliberate distinction. God knows why Nintendo won’t just let it be a fixed toggle we can flip on—clearly World‘s new contiguous races have so enamored Nintendo that it isn’t able to let go of them properly, much to the ongoing frustration of players.

The notes also come with changes to UFOs in Free Roam, and a bunch of fixes for some niche issues. We’re obviously still a fair way off the time when updates will include new and classic courses getting added, which is when things get much more interesting. You can read all the patch notes below:

General

You can now join friends playing “Knockout Tour” by selecting “Friends” from “Online Play” “1p.”
Up to 2 players can now play “Free Roam” while waiting if the game was full when trying to join friends playing “Race,” “Knockout Tour” or “Battle” in “Online Play.”
The “Free Roam” map now displays the locations of P Switches you’ve run over and Peach Medallions you’ve obtained.
- You can now select a P Switch from the map and move to a location near the P Switch.
In “Free Roam”, you can now transform into the character pulled into the UFO.
- If “Dash Food” in “Settings/Controller” is set to “Doesn’t transform” then you will not transform.
It is now easier to encounter UFOs in “Free Roam.”
The conditions for the appearance of some Peach Medallions in “Free Roam” have been adjusted.
When spectating in “Knockout Tour” or “Balloon Battle” in “Online Play” or “Wireless Play”, you can now choose who to watch, even if you are holding the Joy-Con 2 or Joy-Con horizontally.
Decreased the time between when an item box is taken by someone and the next time it is revived.
Increased the invincible time after spinning or crashing during a race.
Reduced the force of jumps when landing on a rival from above.
Decreased the amount of time between when you finish and when spectating begins in “Knockout Tour” or “Balloon Battle” in “Online Play” or “Wireless Play.”
Decreased the amount of time between passing through the checkpoint and when the ranking is displayed in “Knockout Tour” in “Wireless Play” and “LAN Play.”
Further increased the frequency of lap-type courses appearing in the selection when choosing the next course in “VS Race” and wireless races.

Fixed Issues

Fixed an issue in “Online Play” and “Wireless Play” where the ranking would sometimes become incorrect if a player went off course at the same time as reaching the finish line.
Fixed an issue in “Grand Prix”, “Knockout Tour”, and “VS Race”, where the CPU’s ranking would sometimes drop after reaching the finish line.
Fixed an issue in “Knockout Tour” in “Online Play” where other players’ ratings would sometimes appear as “0” on the results screen.
Fixed an issue where a Spiny Shell would sometimes pass the first place player in “Wireless Play” or “Online Play.”
Fixed an issue where players would sometimes be sent flying backwards a great distance when hit by a Spiny Shell.
Fixed an issue where the second item in an item slot would sometimes not disappear when hit by Lightning.
Fixed an issue where hitting the base of a pillar in mid-air would sometimes cause a large jump.
Fixed an issue that sometimes caused movement to become unstable when doing a wall ride on water.
Fixed an issue where players would sometimes be swept away strongly after landing when doing a mini jump while going up a river.
Fixed an issue where players would sometimes pass through the ground when hit by a car driving on the road.
Fixed an issue in “Free Roam” where players would sometimes be unable to enter pipes correctly after exiting a trailer.
Fixed an issue where the results screen would sometimes become distorted after spectating “Balloon Battle” in “Online Play.”
Fixed an issue where the game would sometimes not proceed to the course selection screen after exiting a pipe during “Free Roam” in “Online Play.”
Fixed an issue where Bullet Bill would sometimes slip through walls when used in “Sky-High Sundae.”
Fixed an issue where players would sometimes get stuck on a wall at the start of the race heading from “Airship Fortress” to “Shy Guy Bazaar.”
Fixed an issue where players would sometimes get stuck in walls when using a Bullet Bill in “Bowser’s Castle.”
Fixed an issue in “Cheep Cheep Falls” where item boxes were sometimes difficult to pick up when Smart Steering was turned on.
Fixed an issue in “Knockout Tour” “Spiny Rally” where sometimes there was an item box buried in the ground.
Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

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September 24, 2025 0 comments

The Super Mario Galaxy games are coming to Switch consoles in £60 double pack

Game Reviews

Nintendo is facing continued backlash for its pricing, but are the new Mario Galaxy re-releases on Switch really too expensive?

by admin September 21, 2025

Hello and welcome to another entry in our “The Big Question” series, in which we present an argument to you, the Eurogamer community, for further interrogation. This week: are the new Mario Galaxy re-releases on Switch really too expensive?

We’ve become accustomed to things becoming cheaper over time, to the extent that it feels like a right. Don’t buy a car brand-new, fresh off the manufacturing line, wait for it to be traded in a year later and then buy it for huge savings. Who hasn’t scoured the sandwich chiller at the supermarket for a ropey wrap massively reduced in price because they are nearing their sell-by date? And I’m not sure there’s ever been a bigger moment in UK gaming than when Gamestation reduced the price of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim to about £20, in December 2011, less than one month after the game was released. Things should get cheaper if you wait, right? Right? I’m not sure. Let’s say it’s complicated.

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The examples above aren’t exactly equivalent – a slightly stale onion baji sandwich made three days ago isn’t the same as a car being driven for 8,000 miles (mainly motorway), I know. But I think the point should be somewhat clear. Games start at one price, then get cheaper, and cheaper, until they sell for pennies. Unless you are Nintendo.

Let’s look at Nintendo’s Switch (and Switch 2) re-releases of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2. £34 to buy each digitally on their own, or £59 as a bundle. This has been met with the expected amount of derision online, with the sentiment among many essentially boiling down to: How dare Nintendo charge this much for games which are 18 and 15 years old, respectively. Games which are not receiving massive overhauls, at that.

These people are wrong. Sorry. Taken at face value, games becoming cheaper is wonderful, and if a publisher wants to market towards a different audience through budget lines (RIP, PlayStation Platinum range), I think that’s great and an avenue that makes sense for certain games. But Nintendo setting the price of two iconic, borderline immaculate video games, and people arguing they aren’t worth that much money, is a very different matter. Small extra point: £34 today is about £22 in 2011.

As much as I would love all Nintendo games to reduce in price over time and save me money (a lot of money, now exacerbated by my son also wanting games), I firmly believe that Nintendo is right to keep its prices relatively high – not just with Mario Galaxy but pretty much all its first-party games. The very best games don’t age. They don’t get worse. They stand as tall today as they did on release.

I gave Mario Galaxy (the Switch version included in the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection from 2020) a whirl last night, just to make sure I wasn’t being a victim of nostalgia goggles, and I was right – this is still 100 percent an incredible game, with an art style that belies its age and a joyousness in design that I think only its sequel has bettered. Frankly, £34 is a bargain that only ceases to be as such when your view on the industry is one you’ve lived through from generation to generation to generation. Present someone new to video games with Mario Galaxy and a bunch of other recent 3D platformers, and I’d be astonished if 95 percent of those surveyed didn’t pick Nintendo’s micro-planet-hopping adventure as the best and most-deserving of its price tag.

If we compare all this to how re-releases are handled in the film industry, well, you might not want to read on if you find Nintendo’s pricing policy to be too cash-grabby. As someone who has owned movies from VHS through to Ultra HD Blu-ray, on digital, and everything in-between, I’ve bought some films six times. VHS, DVD, higher-bit-rate DVD, Blu-ray, Apple TV, and Ultra HD Blu-ray. These films, mostly released back in the 80s, aren’t getting cheaper each time they release – they aren’t even getting improved that much, at least not these days when we aren’t seeing anything like the eyebrow-raising leap from VHS to DVD.

Should a game be cheap just because it’s old? | Image credit: Nintendo

You do have options, of course. You aren’t required to buy re-releases and, unless you go back a very long way or are trying to get hold of rare games, you can fairly easily pick-up classics for way less than the marginally improved versions releasing on new hardware. The Galaxy games are not hard to buy for under £15 each. I can buy The Matrix on DVD for about the same price as a small bottle of Pepsi Max, but on Ultra HD it’ll set me back over £20. If we say the Wii is DVD, Switch is Blu-ray, and Switch 2 is UHD, and the improvements from one the next is largely in image clarity, I think the comparison stands.

My point, really, is that quality should come at a price and Nintendo has no reason to devalue its most celebrated works of art. You can argue that Nintendo has become more money-grabby of late, both in terms of pricing its Switch 2 games higher than on the Switch, and in squeezing money out of players on DLC – both its recent Donkey Kong Bananza and Switch 2 Edition upgrades to the likes of Mario Party 8 have been criticized. While increasing game prices is arguably simply adapting to market conditions, there’s a good case for the DK Island & Emerald Rush DLC feeling like it should have been in the initial game’s release.

And yet, none of this makes me think the Super Mario Galaxy releases on Switch and Switch 2 are too expensive. Great art is expensive and ultimately the argument comes down to what consumers are willing to pay to get it. Given that these two games rank among the very best ever made, and Nintendo knows this, I don’t think they are going to have any problem convincing people to part with their money.

The big question, then: are the new Mario Galaxy re-releases on Switch too expensive?

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September 21, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart Bundle In Stock At Amazon With Same-Day Delivery

by admin September 19, 2025

If the recent Nintendo Direct has you thinking about upgrading to the Switch 2, it just became easier to buy the new console from Amazon. The online retailer has removed its invitation system from the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle ($499) and the standalone Switch 2 console ($449). Up until this week, Amazon required customers to request an invite and then wait for an approval email. The invitation sometimes arrived the same day, while other times you had to wait a week or longer (if you received an invite at all). But now you can purchase either model just like any other product, and both editions are eligible for Prime shipping; you may even be eligible for same-day delivery.

The removal of the invite system comes a week after Amazon opened preorders for the Pokemon Legends: Z-A Switch 2 Bundle. The new bundle retails for the same price as the Mario Kart edition and launches alongside the brand-new Pokemon adventure on October 16.

Check out all three Nintendo Switch 2 console options at Amazon below. And if you want to pair your new console with more Nintendo games and gear, take a look at our roundup of Switch 2 games and accessories available at Amazon.

$499 | Available Now

The Mario Kart World launch bundle comes with the Nintendo Switch 2 and a digital copy of the exclusive kart racing game. Since Mario Kart World is one of the few Switch 2 games with an $80 MSRP, this bundle saves you $30 compared to buying the standalone console and game separately.

The Mario Kart console bundle is expected to be discontinued this fall. Nintendo hasn’t stated an exact end date for the bundle, but we imagine once retailers sell out of their current stock, it will be gone for good.

There are two versions of the Mario Kart Bundle in the US: This one has printed artwork on the box, while the other one is a regular Switch 2 box with a sticker. Most people probably won’t care too much, but if you like displaying your game console boxes, this version looks nicer.

$500 | Releases October 16

The Pokemon Legends Z-A Bundle effectively serves as the replacement for the Mario Kart World Bundle. Nintendo hasn’t revealed how long this one will stick around for, but it’s likely considered a 2025 holiday bundle.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A retails for $70 on Switch 2, so you’re saving $20 versus buying the console and game separately. But unlike Mario Kart World, Z-A will also launch on the original Switch for $60.

The Pokemon Switch 2 Bundle has printed artwork on the front and sides of the box. Inside the box, you’ll find a voucher to redeem the digital version of Pokemon Legends: Z-A from the Nintendo eShop.

$449 | Available Now

If you really aren’t interested in Mario Kart World or Pokemon Legends: Z-A, the Switch 2 console on its own is available for $449 at Amazon.

Here’s a list of what comes with all three editions of the Switch 2:

Switch 2 with 7.9-inch LCD display
Joy-Con 2: Left and Right
Joy-Con 2 Straps
Joy-Con 2 Grip
Dock for TV Mode
Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable
USB-C Cable
60W AC adapter

And here’s a quick rundown of the Switch 2’s key specs:

Screen: 7.9-inch LCD touchscreen
Video:
- Handheld: 1080p with HDR10
- TV: 4K with HDR10
Refresh rate:
- Handheld: Up to 120Hz with VRR
- TV: 120Hz up to 1440p / 60Hz in 4K
Audio: Stereo
- Linear PCM 5.1ch surround sound
- Built-in monaural microphone
Storage: 256GB UFS
- Expandable with microSD Express
Ports:
- HDMI
- USB-C (x2)
- USB 2.0 (x2)
- 3.5mm audio
Controls: Joy-Con 2 with magnetic connectors
- Accelerometer / Gyroscope
- Mouse Sensor
- HD Rumble
Battery: 2-6.5 hours
Dimensions: 4.5 x 10.7 x 0.55 inches
Weight: 0.88 pounds

Heads up for new Switch 2 buyers: All physical editions of Switch 2 exclusives include the full game on the card, but most third-party titles utilize Nintendo’s Game-Key Cards. These look like regular cartridges, but they are simply unlock keys. You will still need to download the full game if you purchase a Switch 2 physical game marked on the front of the box as a Game-Key Card.

The Switch 2’s onboard 256GB storage can be filled quickly with AAA third-party titles. Many Switch 2 players will need to expand the console’s storage space with microSD Express. You can double your storage with the officially licensed Samsung 256GB microSD Express Card for $59. Alternatively, you can snag the 512GB SanDisk Gameplay microSD Express Card for $78 at Walmart.

Sign up for GameSpot’s Weekly Deals Newsletter:

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September 19, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

With players stuck in lengthy queues for online-only Skate, those who made it in are comparing its bouncing, belly-flopping traversal to Mario 64

by admin September 19, 2025

EA’s Skate has now released into early access and has already proven so popular there are long queues to get in, with the team fixing ongoing outage issues.

Yet when players do get in, they’re discovering skating isn’t actually the optimal way to get around. In fact, videos on social media make the game look more like Super Mario 64.

One player shared a video of their character rolling and jumping without a skateboard to overtake traffic and speed around the city.

skate. | Live Action Trailer – “Drop In”Watch on YouTube

Another player responded with a video of their character similarly rolling and jumping before belly flopping to slide over the ground.

Yet another player has found jumping from their board and flying to be an optimal way to build up speed.

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It’s clear, then, Skate is not quite performing as expected. But for now, the studio is busy improving wait times, with the team “hard at work adding more servers and getting more skaters into San Van”, it wrote on social media. “We appreciate your patience.”

As per the game’s subreddit, many players have been sitting waiting in queues, while others have joined a session but been shortly kicked out due to server issues.

The gameplay so far
byu/BittaminMusic inSkateEA

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As a result, many players have complained about Skate’s online requirement. Developer Full Circle confirmed back in April the game would require an online connection.

“The game and city are designed to be a living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox that is always online and always evolving,” it wrote in an FAQ. “You’ll see bigger things evolve, like changes to the city over time, as well as smaller things, like live events and other in-game activities. In order to deliver on our vision of a skateboarding world, the game will always require a live connection.”

Still, that only works if players are able to get in, for which the studio is at least prioritising a fix.

For more on Skate, check out Eurogamer’s interview with Skate’s executive producer Mike McCartney on its iconic Flick-It trick system.

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September 19, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

Mario Kart World’s NPCs are secretly stealing cars in their own game of miniature GTA

by admin September 19, 2025

It turns out Mario Kart World’s NPCs are basically playing their own game of Grand Theft Mario.

A video shared on social media by Supper Mario Broth explains how NPCs can actually steal a car belonging to another character.

Specifically, the video shows a green Shy Guy parking a vehicle and walking away. A Toad NPC then saunters up to the vehicle, jumps inside, and drives off, leaving the oblivious Shy Guy plodding down the road. Incredible!

Mario Kart World Review – Is It The Perfect Launch Title?Watch on YouTube

Supper Mario Broth explained there are a few scenarios for the Shy Guy after this: the NPC will either keep walking until the player leaves and they despawn; they’ll enter a building to despawn; or they’ll steal a car themselves.

In Mario Kart World, NPCs will park their cars, exit them, and walk around. However, the game does not actually keep track who each car belongs to. As such, a different NPC than the owner may drive away with a car, seemingly stealing it. pic.twitter.com/KTXsDHXwiL

— Supper Mario Broth (@MarioBrothBlog) September 16, 2025

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As much as Mario Kart World is full of these little details designed to make its open world feel alive, jacking cars seems very un-Nintendo for such a family-friendly game. Children, avert your eyes!

Have you spotted NPCs stealing cars in Mario Kart World?

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September 19, 2025 0 comments