Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Getting An Update?

When the Super Mario Bros Movie was announced a few years back, no one could’ve predicted how things would’ve turned out. No one could’ve predicted that the movie would gross over a billion dollars at the global box office and become one of the biggest hits of 2023. No one could’ve predicted that a song called “Peaches” would take the world by storm. No one could’ve predicted that this may truly be the start of the “Nintendo Cinematic Universe,” and yet here we are. While most agree the movie wasn’t perfect, it clearly worked and got audiences to watch it over and over again.

There was a lot to love at yesterday's Nintendo Direct, but one game that's caught my eye is an intriguing reimagination of my favourite game to come out of the battle royale boom.

Nintendo has finally confirmed that Sora will be getting his own amiibo figure.

If it hasn’t been made clear by now, Masahiro Sakurai takes every aspect of video game creation very seriously. We’re not just saying that because of his beloved “Creating Games” YouTube Channel, but instead, we’re saying that because the videos within that channel highlight many experiences he’s had that indicate just how seriously he takes things. For example, he’s talked multiple times about music on his channel, and his latest video highlighted a pair of songs that required both his input and a true understanding of music. An understanding that even Sakurai admitted he misunderstood for one piece he wanted in Super Smash Bros Ultimate.

With the likes of Mortal Kombat 1, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Alan Wake 2, and many others still in the pipeline, 2023 has plenty more major releases for players to look forward to. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is, of course, high on that list as well, and following its recent gameplay blowout via a dedicated Direct presentation, the excitement surrounding the 2D sidescrolling platformer is seemingly mounting.

Check out this hefty chunk of gameplay from the first section of Mario Wonder.

If the last six months or so of gaming have taught us anything, it’s that the “rivalry” between the three main gaming publishers is still going strong. That might be sad to say or hear, but it’s the truth. Sony sued Microsoft for anti-trust reasons basically, and during those proceedings, neither of them wanted to admit that Nintendo was a “true rival” for them due to the Switch’s price point, of all things. These three have been going at it for a long time, yet Phil Spencer found time to go and play Super Mario Bros Wonder at the recent Nintendo Live event.

Last week, Nintendo revealed a host of new gameplay and details on Super Mario Bros. Wonder in a dedicated Direct presentation. The publisher has also followed that up with an extensive new gameplay showing for the upcoming 2D sidescrolling platformer.

Many people have Super Mario Bros Wonder on their minds, given that the title just had a significant Nintendo Direct that broke down the various elements of gameplay, plot, and the new kingdom players will be in. As if on cue, the floodgates opened after that, and the team talked about everything to do with the game, including the parts of its development process. For example, the team wasn’t rushed to develop something special early on, as the producer wanted them to make something special. But a question about what Mario’s creator had to say about the game has popped up.

One of the biggest complaints in the video game community is that certain developers are so driven to get their video game titles out that they’re willing to rush through development. That’s a problem, as it can leave games feeling incomplete, or they can be so rushed that it leaves a ton of bugs and glitches in the title. Nintendo has always been a company that has prioritized a game’s quality over everything else more times than not. That was apparently the case with Super Mario Bros Wonder, as the team wasn’t rushed during the early stages of development.

Nintendo outlined Super Mario Bros. Wonder in a recent Direct, with the various courses, mechanics and new features showcased in glorious detail. However, it’s interesting to note that when the platformer was in the prototyping stage, it didn’t have a due date or deadline.

The director of Super Mario Bros Wonder says Nintendo has to try harder to surprise players these days.