For as robust as Super Mario's 35th anniversary was, its celebrations are coming to a close. Nintendo has decided to arbitrarily limit the time that many of Mario's new products are on the market for. Of course, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury is sticking around, but the lion's share of Mario's celebratory content will disappear on March 31. However, there are some analogous products that players can check out as a consolation.
Of course, there shouldn't be any need to try and find similar products. Nintendo's choice to sell certain games for limited periods of time, even digitally, is antithetical to how game preservation should work. Unfortunately, this practice isn't even limited to Mario. The English translation of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light is also going away on March 31. But Mario is losing significantly more content.
Admittedly, the physical anniversary releases make the most sense to sell only for a limited time. From hats to shirts to pin sets, Nintendo created a lot of unique Mario clothing and accessories. The shirts are especially neat, as many reference core Mario platformers and come in boxes shaped like the games' original cases. These are all fun collectables, but they're certainly tied to the moment.
De-listing them makes sense, but also means that these probably won't be available again. Now is the time to buy. That said, Nintendo's online store is always full of Mario clothing, so those who miss out will still be able to find something great there once the anniversary ends. Plus, anyone located near Nintendo NY in New York City should certainly check for merch there. Pound for pound, that store has the best official Nintendo clothing around, both for Mario and other franchises.
Much like the clothing line, delisting the Game & Watch is understandable as well. This is a very specific and boutique Nintendo collectable designed for the anniversary, and a lot of its appeal comes from its status as a limited time anniversary piece. A throwback to Gunpei Yokoi's handhelds from the early '80s, this Game & Watch adopts the traditional form factor and even features a version of the classic game Ball, alongside ports of Super Mario Bros. and The Lost Levels for the NES.
While the Game & Watch likely won't see re-release, its software is readily available. Of course, The two NES Mario titles are easily accessible on Nintendo Switch, as they're both included in the NES Online app. Game & Watch: Ball is a bit harder to access, but Nintendo 3DS owners can purchase its DSiWare port for $1.99 on the 3DS eShop. This isn't the same experience, but fans can get close.
One of the most baffling limited-time releases is Super Mario 3D All-Stars. This game is a three-title compilation of Mario's classic adventures, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy, all cleaned up and presented on Switch. Losing access to these is disappointing. While the package lacked the bells and whistles of the SNES original Super Mario All-Stars compilation, 3D All-Stars is arguably the definitive way to experience its three games.
Since these versions were retooled for Switch, they very well might return down the line. If that happens, they'll most likely be sold individually. Of course, these three titles are already available elsewhere. That said, Sunshine is tricky to find. Super Mario 64 has been re-released digitally on Wii and Wii U, and Super Mario Galaxy was ported to Wii U digitally as well. However, the only way to play Sunshine is on original hardware, which can be expensive.
This is certainly the biggest loss at the end of the month. Super Mario Bros. 35 was another Nintendo battle royale, following up the popular Tetris 99. As a free bonus for Nintendo Switch Online members, Mario 35 is a fun remix of the original Super Mario Bros, and a neat competitive title. While it could've used a bit more depth, it was a great anniversary treat.
However, when it's gone, it's unlikely to come back. It certainly should, though, and with content based on later Mario titles like Super Mario World, it could be a wacky and fun multiplayer game with staying power. Since it's leaving so soon, ideas like this will never come to fruition. There isn't even be anything to directly fill this void since Mario 35 was so unique. So, unlike the other anniversary content, there isn't a good analog to this game.
With any luck, Nintendo won't make a habit of this release model. All it does is motivate people to buy based on a fear of missing out and arbitrarily limit content. It's bad for players. With so many anniversaries in 2021 from The Legend of Zelda to Metroid, only time will tell if Nintendo has learned its lesson. However, since 3D All-Stars sold so well, Nintendo might've learned the inverse, and may be planning more limited-time titles. Hopefully that isn't the case.
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