Maybe because, exception of the NES(which does have that kind of emblematic “start of the franchise deal”) this timeline seem to exclusively focus on consoles generations?

Honestly I could see them doing that, especially if the “Collection” itself sells enough.

Sell the -collection- as a limited time exlusive, then after the deadline is over start selling them separately as eshops-exclusives?

Honestly technically it’s a year/anniversary that only just began so while I’m perfectly fine with the current selection, I’m not putting it into the domain of the impossible for them to release more Mario-related news later.

This basically was just a mini-Direct rather than full-fiat so if a full Direct ever…

Mostly because they seem to have focused on generations rather than titles proper. Like they’ve shown Mario 1-2-3 because they’re emblematic but also likely because they’re all on the All-Stars collection that re-released on the SNES Online Service app. 

Tbh, this was basically what I expected of a 35th anniversary Direct. The only thing I could have asked more myself would have been news related to a remaster of Mario RPG or Paper Mario 64/Thousand Year Doors but any of those three had always been one heck of a long shot and thus unlikely to happen by default.

As it…

I’m basically just waiting for the moment I can make an actual pre-order for the physical version of that 3D All-Stars collection.

Plus, though that was from the era of “retail only”, the previous releases of the All-Stars collection were always kind of limited “anniversary year only” kind of deal iirc? So if anything it would be them keeping with tradition though it feels weird it affects the digital release as well(but then again, the free…

Tbh as I was saying I could see that. A N64 online collection tied to the online subscription releasing after the end period, followed by more Gamecube ports as stand alone retail/digital releases?

Otoh, wasn’t the original Mario All-Stars kind of a similar deal in that it was ONLY sold during a limited period originally or something like that?

I recall the Wii’s re-release of All-Stars being similarly limited. It does feel weird in that the eshop release will -also- be affected by that but I guess it’s to drive…

“The only benefit to them acquiring Rare was that Nintendo had fewer exclusive.”

Sadly I can picture this as well enough in the eyes of a corporate exec to be the point of it.

Really cool!

This said one thing I just noticed, and I just realized was the case for Paper Mario... that’s now two reveals where:

-There’s no Direct, even mini. But more importantly...
-Not even any single announcer speaking or any sort of voice recording during the trailer as we normally see to hype up a title.

That…

On re: Mario’s Boot/Mario’s Hammer I think they might be more than option... they might potentially even be gear of all thing. The full trailer showed Mario performing the same (now standard?) line jump attack on a row of boos but the text calling the attack was specifically “Shiny Boots”... which doesn’t sound like a…

It is! And if you look closely, at the start of the battle there’s prompts for the X/Y/B buttons in the lower right which, on an english screenshot, were “Hint”/”Cheer”/”Run Away” iirc.

Cheer sure as hell sounds like a return of Thousand Years Door-style audience-wooing mechanics.... and Hint sounds like a return of…

It does! Plus what’s notable is not what’s “new” but... what isn’t.

And by this, the closer I look at details on the sideline, the more I see we might be indeed seeing a stealth return of classic Paper Mario gameplay against all expectations the first look give.

The circles manipulation threw me off for a while, but…

I.... think you actually got what you wanted there, even if without realizing it. As in, when looking closely the battle system seem less weird than it looks.

The ring manipulation is just one phase of action. What follows after, with the action menu lacking any set of cards whatsoever but only having “Hammer” and…

Judging by the leftover space for more potential actions, I think there’s indeed going to be more options or even skills as you progress. Perhaps even a return of badges you equip to determine what additional skills you bring to battle?

Also TTYD-style audience seem to be back and I’m sure I saw an english screenshot…

Actually I think you just use the same in-game coins you get from stomping enemies with your attack judging by the prominent coin counters. And that timer seem exclusively active only for the phase of the battle where Mario is seen rearranging the rows of the circle... meaning that once you’re done setting up the…

I could be wrong, but the time seem to be specifically active during the lane manipulation? The timer ends specifically as soon as the player is ready to make their action which means that by then you have all the time you want to choose what skill/etc to make use of..

Action menu also had only “Hammer” and “Jump…

The lack of DKC/Mario RPG/etc makes me wonder if we may not actually have some surprises left on that front.

After all, why release the “old” if there could be a possibility of releasing a “remake” later down the line? Mario RPG feels unlike now that we know Paper Mario is a thing this year... but at the same time…

Honestly this. Levels “components” are nice for sure, but what was missing was a level -progression- mechanic to have a mean of chaining levels into a fashion where the player can register a form of progression while they play. I found more enjoyment just from some of the rushedly uploaded worlds today, and being able…