Everyone knows that Nintendo shows favoritism towards Japan. The company provides Japan-exclusive items that are not available anywhere else – circumscribed edition gadgets and accessories, exclusive events and, of course, games. It wasn’t effortless for players and collectors. The good news is that Nintendo has finally released the platformer that was previously exclusive to Japan Mario and Wario worldwide on Switch as part of the NSO SNES Collection.
The 32-year-old game stars a magical fairy named Wanda who, in each level, must guide a temporarily blinded Mario through a series of obstacles that are not actually there by accident, given that Wario has set traps and is responsible for the objects obstructing Mario’s vision. You can unlock the option to play Peach and Yoshi who have different speeds, thus modifying the difficulty of Mario and Wario. The game was created by Game Freak, which, as you probably know, has humbly engaged in the development of a little-known, multi-billion dollar franchise called Pokémon.
The title joins two more games that have just been released in NSO’s Classics collection, with the reboot of the cult platformer Bubsy in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind and the fighting game Fatal Fury Special, both added alongside Mario and Wario. The only bad news is that there is a little catch. Frustratingly, Mario and Wario require mouse controls to play – which of course is only available on the Switch 2. Both Bubsy and Fatal Fury are fortunately available on the original Switch consoles and are a real treat.
While Bubsy has been out for a while now, it’s a particularly great title to have on current consoles. Although initially met with bland reception, the game has become a beloved title over the years. The half-Sonic, half-Mario hybrid platformer uses a combination of speed and item collection to keep things fun, with plenty of animated backgrounds and a fun soundtrack. If you’re like me and constantly bathe in nostalgia, you should consider checking it out.
In terms of the broader implications of Mario & Wario’s release, substantial things could happen right now. Ever since Nintendo’s first console, the NES, the company has had a tendency to release its products in Japan months or years before they hit the rest of the world.
It made sense in the beginning – it was a compact company and there was no certainty that Nintendo would be able to grow – but in recent years it seems to have been built on tradition. Could the release of Mario & Wario be part of the shift towards globalization of everything? Mouse controls on the Switch 2 certainly play a substantial role in the game’s global launch, but whatever the reason, I hope to see more previously exclusive games coming soon.
For now, though, get ready for upcoming Switch games by pre-ordering Pokémon Legends ZA and check out our guide to the best GBA games on a trip to retro town.
