Top 5 Mario Games

First of all let me say sorry for the lack of posts last week. I know this happens from time to time, but sadly this can't be avoided. Still this week there should be a steady stream of content on this blog.

So let's start with a Toplist that has been on my mind for a long time. After talking about my Top 5 Zelda Games a while ago it is now time to give Nintendos Mascot the Spotlight. Mario is probably one of the most universally well known fictional characters of all time. You'll hardly find anyone who can't whistle along with his iconic theme tune. And although his looks were more a product of technical limitations during the early 80s it has become truly iconic.

Now with Mario slated to make his triumphant 3D return later this year in Super Mario Odyssey I thought it would be nice to take a look back at what he has accomplished in his more than 30 years of jumping on Gumbas. So here is my selection for the 5 best Mario Games of all time.

Oh and just to make everything clear, I'm only considering mainline games for this list. So no Spin-Offs like Mario Party, Paper Mario or Mario Kart and sadly no Yoshis Island.

5: Super Mario Bros. 3

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While the true Super Mario Bros. 2 (release in the US and Europe as The Lost Levels in Super Mario Allstars) felt more like a level pack for the original game, rather than a full blown sequel, Super Mario Bros. 3 blew everything out of the water.

Truly unique Level designs, a new graphical style and innovations left and right set the standard on how Mario Games had to look like in the future. If you directly put the original Super Mario Bros. against this game it's not even comparable. An overworld, Items, Toad Houses, a huge selection of Power-UPs and unique Boss fights. This game wasn't a step, but a leap forward.

Sadly I wasn't around when it released, but I can imagine how mind blowing the experience must have been.

Also Power-UP wise this game had one of the biggest selection in the history of all Mario titles. Not only did classics like the Fire Flower or the Power Star return, but it also introduced new fan favorites. The Leaf and Tanuki Suit, for the first time, allowed Mario the take flight and introduced a new dimension of conquering the stages. The Hammer Bros. Suit allowed Mario to experience the awesome Power of his most hated enemies. And the Frog Suit and Gumba Shoe introduced new ways of traversing the dangerous terrain of the levels.

Another strong point of this game is that Miyamoto and his team had truly managed level design by this point. You can see their inherent greatness in the levels of the original Super Mario Bros, but it was still rough around the edges. With Super Mario Bros. 3, however, they had finally mastered the art of creating the perfect 2D Jump'n'Run Courses. The level design in this level is simply great. Varied and never unfair, it will always challenge you. This fact and the many standards this game set (World 2 is always a desert World) earn the Number 5 spot on this list.

4: Super Mario Bros.

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What marks a great game? If it's fun to play more than thirty years after its initial release. And Super Mario Bros. fulfills that criteria, even without Nostalgia goggles. The game shows that a simple, but perfected game concept is truly timeless. The genius of Super Mario Bros. is that it effortlessly brings together casual friendly gameplay and a high skill ceiling. Later iterations have improved and build on this foundation, but it's all there in the very first game of the series. Even a person, who has never played a game before, will manage World 1-1 after a couple of tries. The game teaches you all tools you need to survived directly at the start. But to beat all eight worlds you have to fully understand Mario and his controls and then master them.

I don't think I have to repeat how ground breaking Super Mario Bros. was when it first released. This game single handily carried the NES and revolutionized the Video Game market. It's influence cannot be overestimated.

And apart from his historic importance it is a damn good game. It overs a nice variety in level design and a near perfect difficulty curve. If you take a look at other games from that time it is mind blowing how much content Super Mario Bros. offered. Eight Worlds with four levels each, hidden warp rooms and a full blown story.

And while his historic importance would be enough to warrant a spot on this list, it can't be stressed enough that today still the game plays absolutely fine. The 8 Bit graphics and tunes are timeless and the level design, while not as fleshed out as in later titles, is still brilliant. Even today, nearly 32 years after its first release in Japan, Super Mario Bros. is a lot of fun to play.

3: Super Mario 64

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Now on to a game that hasn't aged quite as well, but is just as groundbreaking as its ancestor. And while the graphics took quite the hit, the gameplay is still top notch. Several series struggled transitioning into the 3D era, but Mario not only made the jump, he set the rules for how such games have had to look and play. Today the worlds of the game may seem small, but in 1996 they truly seemed endless. And you could literally go anywhere.

Of course it helped that the gameplay was also transitioned into 3D perfectly. Controlling Mario and navigating him through the obstacles inside Peachs Castle was a blast. But enough about the impact the game had. Let's talk about the game itself. It is still the blueprint for the perfect Mario 3D adventure, and while another game takes a higher spot on this list, the focus on exploration makes this game something special. Not without a reason Super Mario Odyssey wants to got back to that kind of Mario experience.

Being able to find Stars purely by accident in the vast levels of the game was one of the greatest feelings I had as a kid. The worlds of Super Mario 64 felt truly alive, instead of being segregated experiences. It was not like with the Galaxy games where each Star was it's own Test of skill, but they felt connected. You had the feeling that you could go anywhere and tackle the challenge with different approaches. To this day Super Mario 64 still feels like the most open Mario game.

This game didn't only lay the groundwork for 3D games in general, but also for Open World adventures. It belongs on any Toplist and is more than worthy to take the 3^rd Spot in my Top 5 Mario Games.

2: Super Mario World

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From the game that revolutionized 3D gaming to the perfect 2D Jump'n'Run. And while other series also achieved those heights Mario did it first. Once again he proved that he alone is more than enough to sell a system. After he starred in the perfect sequel Super Mario Bros. 3 everyone was wondering where Mario would go next. The answer was Dinousaur Land. Bowser had once again kidnapped Peach and so Mario headed into his biggest adventure yet. 96 levels and several worlds awaited him. For the first time in the series history there was also a full overworld map. Secret Exits and two hidden worlds (Star Road and Special World) waited to be discovered. It marked the first appearance of Yoshi and the Ghost Houses, two staples of the series to this day.

But the game was also the perfect 2D Mario experience. The controls in Super Mario World are simply, well, perfect. Never before had you been able to control Mario as precise as here.

And while the Power Ups had been tuned down from the predecessor Super Mario 3, the newly introduced Cape was a step up from the Tanuki. It's glide mechanic offered a deeper gameplay than the simple function of the Tanuki Suit. This game also featured the best Bowser fight, so there is that.

Super Mario World is hard to describe. Like many Mario games you have to play to truly appreciate it. But let me say this. From all the games on this list so far this game has aged the best. Not only does the presentation still look top notch, also the controls and gameplay itself still hold up in direct competition with current Jump'n' Runs. Also this game features Yoshi, so there's that.

1: Super Mario Galaxy

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One of the best games ever created. Period. Across all genres and platforms.

Super Mario Galaxy is simply the best Mario Adventure. Yes even though it's a 3D game it doesn't focus on exploration, but instead feels more like a series of obstacle courses. But if the obstacles are presented in such a grand fashion and with such perfect gameplay I'm willing to ignore the flaws. And to be honest there aren't any flaws. This game provides you with 3D platforming of the highest caliber.

It's also the Mario game with the deepest story so far (something they sadly scrubbed from the direct sequel). Rosalina and the Lumas provide an intriguing and emotional background for your journey. I have often talked about my lover for Rosalinas character in earlier posts, so I won't repeat that here, but to put it simply. She is by far the most fleshed out and best written Mario Character.

The Game itself also doesn't need to hide. It's Mario so you know the gameplay is going to be Top Notch. The courses of the game, while often pretty linear, are some of the greatest thins you can experience on the Wii. They are grand in design and presentation. The orchestral music also elevates the experience to another level.

And while the levels aren't as open ended as in Mario 64 and you always can only gather one specific star, once you play the game all this criticism is forgotten immediately. Instead you simply have a great time. And honestly this is the biggest compliment I can give this, and in fact any, game.

Super Mario Galaxy is a lot of fun.

So what are your favorite Mario Jump'n'Runs? Maybe you prefer the GameBoy Titles over some of my pics? Or do you love the actual releases? Whatever the answer is let me know it in the comments.

And as always

thanks for reading

Top 5 Challenges in Mario Games

Mario Games are known for their imaginative level design, perfect platforming and overall great gameplay. They're hardly ever mentioned in Lists containing the hardest games though. Still the original Super Mario Bros. 2 was deemed to hard for the West back in the day. That's why we got a reskin of a different game sold to us as Super Mario Bros. 2.

From that well known anecdote you can tell that Mario and difficulty isn't mutually exclusive. In fact some levels in the modern Mario games rank among the hardest platforming challenges you can face.

The great thing about these is that they are often optional. You don't need to complete them to face off against Bowser and safe Peach, but if you want to complete the Game 100% then there is no way around it.

So while Mario is normally seen as child and family friendly, today I want to focus on his other side. The dark depths of countless hours and lifes lost in the most brutal challenges the Mushroom Kingdom has to offer. These Challenges are the crowning Achievement towering over their games as final goals to conquer.

5: Super Mario Galaxy 2: The Perfect Run

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Super Mario Galaxy 2 improved a lot of things over it's predecessor. There were some really great ideas in this sequel and the Levels, even though they focused even more on the obstacle course platforming, were great.

On of the biggest improvements however was the ''Post Game.'' While in the original Galaxy game you had to collect all 120 Stars again with Luigi, this time you got 120 completely new Green Stars to find. Given these were only hidden away in the existing levels and not as fleshed out as regular Stars. Despite this fact the Galaxy wide scavenger hunt was a lot of fun. And as a reward for finding all 120 Green Stars you unlocked the Grand Master Galaxy.

This Galaxy offered two final Stars. One for the regular Run and one for the Perfect Run, where you only had one Hit Point and no Checkpoints.

The Perfect Run is the crowning Jewel in the Crown that is Super Mario Galaxy 2. It demands you to use everything you have learned over the course of the game perfectly. There is hardly any room for mistakes.

After an initial two Parts where you can use Yoshi you then reach the first challenge. A room full of Lasers and Wind, where you have to use the Cloud Suit to carefully maneuver around. It's important to take a fresh Cloud Suit with some Charges left into the next section, because it makes everything a lot easier.

The following part is the one I always struggle the most with. Switch Platforms, difficult jumps and a bombardment from all sides make this a nightmare without the Cloud Suit to help you out.

The Run ramps up the difficulty in each section until you reach the final nail biter against a gauntlet of Hammer Bros and the final three Boomerang Bros.

Beating the Perfect Run will give you a huge feeling of accomplishment because it is literally a perfect run. You beat the hardest level in the game without getting hit once. And all that just to meet Rosalina... what we do for women.

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4: Super Mario Sunshine: The Poison River

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I hate this Shine so much. It's by far the hardest Shine in the whole game and it's just not fun. In comparison to the Perfect Run, which ramps up it's difficulty over time this just slaps you in the face with the worst kind of Trial & Error. It is just brutally punishing.

Your goal is to collect eight red coins scattered across a poisonous river. Doesn't sound so bad? I thought so too until I played the goddamn thing. You see there are several hiccups, which complicate the whole process. First you only have one chance to collect the Coins. If you reach the goal without all of them, you lose. Theoretically you can go back before reaching the goal and collect the missed coins, but two factors pose a problem to that. First going against the flow of the river is extremely hard and second the water lily you use to traverse the river doesn't last forever before it disintegrates into the poisonous water.

And the last small problem you'll face is that Mario can't touch the water. At all. One dip into it and you're finished.

So you have a hard to control ''vehicle'' and a zero tolerance for mistakes. The perfect recipe for an unforgiving, hard and merciless challenge. I know several people, who never fully completed Super Mario Sunshine because of this Shine Sprite.

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3: Super Mario 3D World: Champions Road

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Super Mario 3D World got a lot of flak during it's unveil because it was a continuation of Super Mario 3D Lands style of Gameplay. Upon it's release most of the critics shut up however, because the game was just superb. There was only one criticism that kept popping up then and now. The Game was to easy. And they where kinda right. Apart from one level the road to the final Bowser Fight was pretty chill. But that only takes half the game into account. Because after you beat Cat Bowser (Meowser) you then travel to a whole new world. In the truest sense of the World.

The Post Game content in Super Mario 3D World is among the best in any Super Mario Game. The Game offers you three Worlds filled with new Levels as well as remixes of old ones. And to top it all of, once you've collected all Stamps, Green Stars and Level Exits, you can then head to the true final World.

World Crown offers a challenging Toad Stage, a brutal Mystery House and the final level of the game.

Champions Road is a curious case because honestly it could fit in at any place on this top list. The reason for that is that you can make the level tremendously easier by heading in with two Power-Ups. So if you start the level with a Tanuki Suit and a Cat Suit the experience is completely different than if you tackle it in your base form. This means that the player decides how hard the challenge ultimately will be. So with Power-Ups it would feel comfortable at the Number 5 spot, while it can also easily claim the top spot without them.

Also the level has only two truly challenging parts in my opinion. The second part with the Disco Blocks and the key collection at the very end.

But it can't be denied that this level is among the hardest in any Mario Game and finishing it, alone or with your friends, is a tremendous accomplishment.

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2: New Super Mario Bros. 2: The Impossible Pack

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New Super Mario Bros. 2 was a curious case. This and New Super Mario Bros. U were released back to back and as result they hit franchise fatigue quite hard. Also it didn't help that the game was generally very well made, but completely unremarkable.

The main theme of the game took the challenge completely away because you always had more than enough lives and the normal levels weren't really challenging to be honest.

But Nintendo offered a solution for all masochistic Mario Fans out there. New Super Mario Bros. 2 offers a Coin Rush Mode. The goal there is to complete a level as fast as possible while gathering as many coins as possible. And for that Mode Nintendo offered a DLC package called the Impossible Pack. And well... they delivered.

The Impossible Pack features three extremely difficult stages. Unlike other Coin Rush stages there are no coins inside the levels themselves, so the only way of earning some is through the time bonus when you complete a level. So not only are these stages extremely hard, but you also have to rush through them to reach the 100 Gold goal of these stages.

The Impossible Pack demands you to use every move in Marios Toolkit to utmost perfection. You need timing, precision and good reflexes to survive the courses. If you want to test your mastery of Marios Moveset then there is no better (and harder) set of levels for you.

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1: New Super Mario Bros. U: Don't. Touch. Anything.

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Now the Impossible Set tests your mastery of Marios moves to the utmost, but what if there existed a challenge that did that and also wanted you to ignore everything you about the basics of Mario that you know? Well ask no further because this challenge exists.

New Super Mario Bros. U, just like new Super Mario Bros. 2, didn't really offer anything new. It was a well made 2D Mario Game, but nothing to brag about. But that is not entirely true because it did offer something new. Something exciting. Something that was one of the best additions to any Mario Game in a long time. It offered a Challenge Mode. This was a separate mode with different challenges, for example collecting a lot of One Ups, Time Attack or survival.

One set of challenges was the Con Collection in which you had do collect a certain amount of coins within a time limit. Until you reached the last challenge in that set.

Don't. Touch. Anything is, like the Name implies, a challenge where you aren't allowed to touch anything. Touching an enemy or collecting six coins immediately fails the stage. So you have to fight your internalized urges to stomp Gumbas and collect coins, while maneuvering through the level. All the while several Lakitus throw down Spinies from above.

Completing the level alone is extremely hard but to earn a gold medal you're truly not allowed to touch anything.

This stage will test your mastery of Mario to the utmost, while also demanding you to ignore your trained reflexes. If you can manage to get a Gold Medal here, then you're a true Mario Master.

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So what stages always give you the hardest time in Mario Games? Anything in particular where you always get stuck? Let me know in the comments.

And as always

thanks for reading

Nintendo Switch: The Good, the Bad and the Verdict

It has been nearly a week since the final presentation of the Nintendo Switch and many of us are still unsure if we can call it a success or not. Kimishimas first big public appearance answered many questions, but did also raise some issues.

What can be said without a doubt was that the presentation was very Japanese. It was clean, correct and there wasn't too much hype material. But overall it was a good presentation which got the point of the Switch across splendidly. So before we jump in let us recap some of the cornerstones of the Switch Presentation. Oh and if you haven't seen it so far, feel free to catch up.

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The Data:

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The Nintendo Switch will launch worldwide on 03.03.2017 and will sell for a suggested retail price of around 299$ (in Europe it's probably a little bit higher, but more on that later). The console bundle will include the Nintendo Switch Console, a left and a right Joy-Con controller, a Joy- Con grip to connect the two when playing at home, the Nintendo Switch Dock, an AC-Adapter and a HDMI-Cable. It will however not include any game at all. So if you want to play Zelda you'd have to pay 360$ for the whole package.

The Nintendo Switch will offer local and internet Multiplayer. Locally you can play on one Switch or even connect up to 8 consoles. This, for example, allows local 4on4 matches in Splatoon 2, which is one of the games announced for the System.

On the other Hand Nintendo finally joins Sony and Microsoft in asking you to pay for Online gaming. After an initial free period this paid online will start in fall 2017. From then on you'll have to pay 5$ a month to enjoy online multiplayer, but the system also comes with several perks. Each month you'll get a free SNES or NES game to play, but the game is only available for that month. Also the system will feature online lobbies and voice chat via a special designed app for your phone. And of course you'll get special deals for your digital purchases.

Gamewise there were several great announcements for the Switch, but they were mostly Nintendo exclusives. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is in development as well as a Fire Emblem Warriors game. There was also a new interesting Ip (ARMS) announced. The obvious highlights are, of course, Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2 and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Apart from Nintendos own series, which were a given, the 3^rd Parties also announced several games. Ubisoft will launch Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition as well as the extreme sports game Steep. Bethesda will give us Skyrim and EA has promised a FIFA game.

Still the strongest support is coming from Japanese developers. Square Enix and Atlus both will bring exclusive games to the Switch. (Project Octopath Traveler and Shin Megami Tensei)

Lastly the Joy-Cons and their functions were introduced to us. The right Joy-Con features a NFC Reader as well as a sensor which can track motion and distance. The left Joy-Con features a share button with which you can share screenshots or videos in social media.

Both of them can be used for Motion control with their build in sensors. And both also feature the new Rumble HD feature, which allows the Joy-Cons to simulate different feelings. For example they can simulate the feeling of holding a glass with Ice Cubes in it and can even simulate water getting poured into the glass.

The Good:

Like I said earlier I think that overall the presentation of the Switch was done very well. Especially the Joy-Cons turned out to be the huge show stealer. I'm really looking forward to seeing what Nintendo comes up with to utilize their unique properties. Because otherwise they will turn out to be another Wii-U Gamepad, which would be a damn shame.

Still the new Rumble HD feature could turn into a huge boost for game immersion. Simulating the feeling of holding a Wheel in your Hands during a racing sim or the recoil of a weapon in a First-person shooter is exactly the kind of ''casual'' immersion the Media needs. What I mean with that is the fact that many people are still kind of overwhelmed with VR Gaming. It is complex and has a big financial threshold.

Of course I'm not saying that Rumble HD is on the same level as PlayStation VR, but it serves the same purpose. Make you forget everything except the game you're playing. And while visual stimulation is certainly stronger than physical Rumble HD offers exactly the cheap and easy to grasp experience that could help further establish the importance of immersion.

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The other point which convinced me across the board was the games shown of. Well I need to specify a little. The Nintendo games shown.

For me, who owns a good PC for Third Party games, the first Party offerings of a console are the main selling point. Of course it was obvious that Nintendo would not disappoint in that regard, but seeing Splatoon 2, Mario Odyssey, ARMS, Zelda and possibly Xenoblade Chronicles 2 in the first year reassured me that Nintendo is fully behind the Switch.
Overall I was satisfied with the Wii-Us offering of first party software and with Nintendo mastering HD development the Switch should surpass it's predecessor in that regard.

Also something that should be mentioned is that for almost all games on the Switch Nintendo is targeting 60fps and 720p (Handheld Mode)/1080p (TV Mode), which is great news. And looking at the polish they gave their Wii-U Titles I think that they'll achieve that goal for almost all games. Because we all know that 30fps is not more cinematic.

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Lastly the concept itself is just genius. And this time they made it clear from the get go. No more is the Wii-U a new console or just a Wii addon bullshit. From the initial unveil of the Switch in October on they made clear that this is a Home Console, which you can take with you. It is a system that allows you to play wherever you wand, however you want.

The Presentation reassured this statement and showed us that they will keep their promise. The Battery life of 3 to 6 hours depending on the game you play is more than enough, even for longer travels. It is truly a new means of gaming on the go. And that's great news.

The Bad:

So now with the positives out of the way, let us talk about the negative points of the Nintendo Switch. Don't kid yourself, you all knew that there is more than enough to criticize.

First of all the third party support is sketchy at best. They stated that there are over 80 games in development for the Nintendo Switch and I don't doubt that, but they didn't specify how many of those games are small scale or Indie titles. Now don't get me wrong. Indie games are great, but they don't offer the WOW Factor that you need to sell a console. The casual fan is buying a console because of Battlefield or FIFA or Call of Duty or any of those big budget games, which trailers he has seen on TV.

And looking at the Switch from that perspective it doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence that only Bethesda and EA were present at the conference. And one only brought the Port of a six year old game, while the other announced that at least one of their most milked series will release on the Swtich. And looking at EA we shouldn't forget that even the Wii-U got FIFA 13.

Now Reggie addressed this in several interviews and said that they should have communicated a clear message that the Third Parties are fully behind the Switch, but from the announced game Line Up so far I honestly don't see it.

Like with the Wii-U we only get Ports from older games for the Swith launch and so far none of the bigger titles on the horizon have been confirmed for it. If For Honor or Read Dead Redemption got a release for the Switch I would put all these worries at ease. But for now we only have the promise by Nintendo that the Third Party developers will support the Switch. And we already got this promise once with the Wii-U.

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Now the Third Party support is something that can't be entirely blamed on Nintendo, but the debacle surrounding Paid Online can. Sadly it was only a matter of time before Nintendo would also hop on that bandwagon and I can understand that move. That, however, doesn't justify the sloppy and downright insulting implementation of the concept. The free game program they offer is laughable. One has to come except a certain level from Sonys PS+ Service and X-Box Live Gold. And even though Nintendo likes to act like it, they don't exist in a Vacuum.

I can totally get behind the initial Idea of offering Virtual Console titles as a reward. Nintendo doesn't like to ''devalue'' their actual games by giving them away for even a reduced price. And with the VC people would be able to experience some classics, which may spark their interest for actual entries in that IP. But the fact that you not only don't get to keep the game, but are only able to play it during that one month were it's free is simply beyond dumb.

I don't get why they do this. It would have been so simple. Just let me choose one free Virtual Console Game each months, which I get to keep as long as I stay subscribed. That way I can pick games that interest me, and won't feel cheated like when my monthly game is from a genre I have zero interest in.

The other problem with their online infrastructure is that they try to outsource it. One of the features of Paid Online will be Voice Chat and Lobies for the games you play. But Voice Chat and Lobbies won't be included in the Switch, instead you'll have to download a special Phone app to use them. Now if these app was optional, or for example, only necessary if you'd want to use those features away from home, I could understand it. But making their use unnecessary complicated only further proves that Nintendo still hasn't fully grasped the Online age.

One thing is clear. If Nintendo wants to justify Paid Online they have to step up their game considerably, but from what we know so far I can only say that this isn't worth any money.

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The Use of Micro SD Cards as storage solution is also a little bit worrying. The problem with this form of storage medium is that it's very slow in comparison to regular hard drives and laughable in comparison with SSD hard drives. And that is only if you buy one of the top end Micro SD Cards. So if you buy a regular priced one to store your digital games, you're going to have speed problems. Load times will be an issue with these things. So if you plan on going fully digital with the Nintendo Switch this is one thing to keep in mind.

Another problem with Micro SD Cards is their durability. They have a tendency to break down during extended use, for example when your constantly reading data from them because you're playing a game. So you shouldn't expect them to last five to six years. That is a problem.

If the storage is unreliable this means there are going to be data losses and if Nintendo doesn't offer a modern cloud storage for save files this is going to be a huge problem.

The Verdict:

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Now like I said I was mostly satisfied with the Nintend Switch Presentation and I will happily buy the console when Mario Odyssey releases, but that doesn’t mean I close my eyes before the problems of the Switch. Some things, like the Paid Online Concept, can still be fixed and/or improved and we fans should pressure Nintendo to listen and do something about it.

Generally said the Nintend Switch seems to be an improved Wii-U, where Nintendo at least attempts to get some Third Parties on Board. If this concept ends up fruitful has yet to be seen, but I'm quite confident that it will work out. At the very least we'll some great Nintendo Exclusives and for me that is more than enough validation to buy the Switch.

So what are your final thoughts on the Switch? Are you happy with the console and the concept? And what would you like to see improved?

Let me know in the comments below.

And as always

thanks for reading

Top 5 Reasons to be excited for the Nintendo Switch

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The Switch event has come and gone and now we are at least a little bit wiser about what we can expect from Nintendos newest Home Console. And while the Event was far from perfect and the console looks like it's going to have some flaws, overall I'm pretty excited for the Nintendo Switch. But, and that has to be said too, no excited enough to buy the system at launch. Still I'm going to buy it eventually. At the latest when Super Mario Odyssey releases.

Generally the reception of the Switch has overall been positive. Except for a few hiccups it looks like the console has the potential to be a success. So what actually is there to get excited about? Let me tell.

Here is my selection of five reasons to be excited for the Nintendo Switch.
Oh and before anyone asks, these reasons have to be specifically for the Switch. So, while Breath of Wild would otherwise be a clear Number One pick, it's not on this list because it also releases for the Wii-U. But if you don't own a Wii-U then feel free to tack Zelda on as Number 0 or S or whatever is better than the Top spot on a list.

5: No Region Lock

To fans of other consoles this may seem like a silly point, but as a Nintendo only console gamer (I still own a PC for all the Third Party Games that interest me) it has been frustrating waiting months or even years for game releases. An example for this frustration has been Operation Rainfall, where fans had to petition Nintendo of America to release Xenoblade Chronicles, The Last Story and Pandoras Tower in the US, when it had been released in the EU for months. This games were fully translated and voice acted. Without region lock it would have been easy to import those games from the UK, but because of it American fans had to wait several months and then only got a very limited release, which saw prices for these games skyrocket immediately.

So after dealing with these frustrations for years upon years it's simply great news that Nintendo has finally decided to get rid of region lock. Of course this doesn't make up for the years they ignored their fans plea, but I take it as a sign that maybe they start to listen and open up.

4: Local Multiplayer

Nintendo is the last of the big three console manufacturers that still believes in local multiplayer. They proved this with the Wii-U and they're proving it again with the Switch. You can link together up to eight Swtich systems for local multiplayer battles. Or you can hand one of the Joy Cons to your friend and play together on one system. This is great news for all of us who enjoy Mario Kart, Smash Bros., Mario Party and Co. with our friends.

I had some of the most fun with my Cousin and Friends spending our evenings racing in Mario Kart or fighting in Smash Bros. and it's great news that Nintendo enables today’s children to experience this joy too, as well as giving us ''Oldtimers'' the possibility to relieve such memories. The Age of LAN Partys may be mostly over, but at least Nintendo is still holding up for local multiplayer.

3: The Promise

Today I visited a GameStop with a good friend of mine, who is a pretty casual gamer. He enjoys gaming greatly, but is not near as invested as I am. There it was the first time he saw the Nintendo Switch announcement trailer from last October and he was blown away by it. The Promise of a console, which you can take with you wherever you want without too much of a hassle, was just blowing his mind. The Possibility to play however and wherever you want with the Swtich and the detachable Joy-Con controllers is simply genius.

And from the presentation we know that they really intend to keep this promise. Personally I was positively surprised about the battery life of the Switch. Three to six hours depending on the game you play is a good time. Even three hours is normally enough for any public transport and the like. And if you travel longer, for example by train, then there is often a way to charge your devices.

The Nintendo Switch truly delivers on the promise they first showed in that announcement trailer. Play wherever you want however you want.

2: The Games

While the Third Party support is once again questionable. A late port of a great game and the announcement of a Fifa for the console are not enough to quench my doubts. But otherwise I'm pretty satisfied with the Game line up. The launch has a system seller with Breath of the Wild and Splatoon 2, ARMS and Mario Odyssey are coming across the year. There's also a lot of unannounced games still in the pipeline for the system. But let's focus on what the Switch will provide.
It is a given that the Switch will offer great Nintendo games, but the Wii-U did the same and we saw that alone is not enough. Still Mario Odyssey alone is reason enough for me to buy the system.

But what the Switch will also be getting is a great support from Indie developers. During the Wii-U era Nintendo has build a great reputation with Indies and we saw the release of many outstanding games like Shovel Knight, Fast Racing Neo or Runbow. And now with the Switch, which is reportedly easier to develop for, this trend will surely continue.

And lastly third party support. This will be largely dependent on the Switchs success. But because the console is easier to develop for than the Wii-U the threshold, where game ports for the Switch become profitable is probably not as high. So the chances for a good third party support are much better than with the Wii-U.

1: The Joy Cons

These things are simply great. I never really had a problem with the motion controls on the Wii, but I have to admit that they sometimes can hinder a games enjoyment. For example the controls dampened Star Fox Zero quite a bit.

Still the Joy Cons look absolutely great. From the way they are presented they just scream comfortable. Holding them in your hands without being attached to anything while laying on the couch is surely a great feeling.

Motion controls are also much easier to enjoy if you're not holding a massive Gamepad or have a cable between the parts like with the Wii. The controls should always be easy and intuitive and the Joy Cons deliver on that promise.

And lastly let us talk about the great Rumble HD feature. It's puzzling why Nintendo isn't focusing on this more, because it hast the potential to be huge. This amount of precision is exactly what the next step of gaming should feel like. It's the possibility of creating immersion for everyone. With Rumble HD the Joy Con can accurately simulate the feeling of one, two or more ice cubes in a glass or the fact that water is poured into this glass. I hope Nintendo uses the possibilities that Rumble HD provides. Getting exact feedback for all of your actions will change the way we play games. Or at leas I hope so.

In the end it all depends on the developers and how they use the tech they are given. As seen with the Wii-U that isn't always a given.

So what are the reasons you are excited for the Switch? Or are you disappointed by the offering of Nintendos newest console?

And lastly will you buy a Switch at launch or wait a little before you get one?

Let me know in the comments

and as always

thanks for reading

Trailer Watch: Super Mario Odyssey - Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017 Trailer

You know getting up at 5am to watch the Switch event after going to sleep not even 4 hours earlier is really hard. But now after two coffees and a walk in the snow I'm ready to welcome you to this first Trailer Watch of the Weekend. While some may think the Switch event was underwhelming, especially if you believed the countless rumors beforehand, I was pretty happy with it overall. And what's most important, we got a lot of great game trailers.

I'd like to start with the game that looked the most unusual. Super Mario Odyssey takes the well known Plumber on a Journey into unknown worlds. Seeing Mario jump around between ordinary people was pretty strange, but the trailer still made it look cool. Generally this trailer made the hype for this game go from zero to hero in less than one minute. But I jump ahead. First let us take a look at the unveil trailer of Super Mario Odyssey.

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Right from the get got we start with a shot of New Donk City. The Influences of New York are apparent, but the more interesting aspects is where they differ. New Donk City is named after Donkey Kong. If this is not apparent enough then you can spot on the sign at the bottom of the picture that the Name of the Street we pan over is Dixie St. It's interesting that they choose such a ''realistic'' approach for a city named after Donkey Kong, but also fitting in a way. This City is probably the place where the events of the original Donkey Kong took place. Yes I'm talking about the Arcade with Pauline, Jumpman and Donkey Kong. If this assumption proves true then I hope we also get to see Marios first girlfriend. Also this could mean that Mario Odyssey takes us to long forgotten areas in the Plumbers past, so maybe we'll visit Sarasaland and the Island from Super Mario Land 2.

Also another thing, that can't be missed, in this picture is the huge advertisment for Crazy Cap. In fact I think this is the entrance to the Crazy Cap shop in this City. Later in the trailer we see Mario enter such a shop in the Mexican looking world. As we know Marios Cap is alive in this game, so maybe in this shops you can buy upgrades for it.

Did you spot it? On the upper right edge of the screen we can see Marios Airship, which he uses to travel between the different worlds. Don't worry we later get a better look at it.

But whats also interesting in this picture is the green billboard in the upper right part of it. You can see a skeleton wearing a sombrero on it. Later on we see that this creatures are the inhabitants of the Mexican looking world. So maybe the billboards in New Donk City advertise later stages of the game.

Here we get another confirmation that this is truly the City of Donkey Kong. On the lower right side we can see an advertisement for Diddy's Mart.

Also if we remember the billboard with the Mexican skeleton from earlier, the billboard seen here, advertising, what seems to be called, Kogwhld (maybe it should spell Kogworld) could also show of a later world in the game. Especially since the yellow thing right above the letter L on the billboard looks a lot like the robots seen later in the forest looking stage of the game.

Of course the other two billboards, which can't be seen fully, would also advertise later stages of the game. This could mean that New Donk City takes place early on in the game, or that it's just used to show that this is one huge World Mario is exploring.

And here is our hero. Ready to jump into action.

Now we get a different angled view of the city. Notice the green billboard on the upper left side of the screen. Yes it's the same one as in the previous shoots. Below you can see the other two billboards, which were partially obstructed in the previous pictures. This gives us a rough idea where Mario is now. But that is not all we can see in this picture. Directly above Mario on the other side of the street you can spot two Purple collectables on a balcony. From later in the trailer we know that these aren't classic coins, but triangle shaped.

We also can see some coins and a huge crate on the side of the red building slightly left of Mario.

It still seems rather strange seeing moderately real looking people in a Mario game.

This screen proves that Mario can literally bounce of anything and gives us a first glimpse into his new moveset.

If you look closely you can spot a Checkpoint Flag on the Plaza ahead. Does this mean that the game has a set start and Goal, just like with Super Mario 3D World and only the way you arrive at that goal is open ended? Or maybe it's a way to save during a rather long hunt for a particula Power Star. Anyways its presence in the level is intriguing.

Yes Mario can now wall jump. Also if you look in the background you can spot a red scaffold reminiscent of the original Donkey Kong, which makes me further believe that this is the City where the original Arcade Game took place.

Calling this game Assassins Mario now seems rather fitting.

A look at the landing platform where Mario has parked his airship. If this is the start or the goal of the level (or both) I can't say.

And now an overview shoot of New Donk City. Or at least the explorable part of New Donk City. The cut of edges look rather bad to be honest and overall the level is not as big as I hoped, but there are still enough things to explore.

On the tall building to the right upper side we can once again spot the purple triangle coins.

So this is the airship Mario will use to travel between worlds. The Hat theme is quite apparent. Aside from the airship itself even the lantern next to Mario is shaped like a Hat. What's more interesting is the checkpoint flag and the globe. Why would there be a checkpoint on the ship? Well my guess is that it's not really for any gameplay reason, but because at the start of the game your take the Airship from Bowser. As we see later on he is also sporting a new Look and cool Hat, so maybe he uses the Hat Power (Yes I know how that sounds) for sinister purposes. And at the start of the game you take the Airship from him and now hunt him around the world.

The globe is most probably a means to select your next travel goal.

Now we leave New Donk City and instead take a look at this Mexican Desert Ice themed world. We can see that all the Water in this World has been frozen, and for some reason is staying that way. Also we can spot a Checkpoint Flag at the entrance to the small village. Interestingly this is right at the start of the level, so why they put a checkpoint there eludes me. But maybe this isn't a traditional checkpoint, but more a sign that this world is still under Bowsers control.

Oh and we see one of Marios new moves. He can now roll around like a ball. Cool.

Now we get a closer look at these Purple Triangle Coins. Mario collects some next to the frozen fountain in the center of the town. By the way this game looks absolutely phenomenal.

This brooding forest level is probably called Kogwhld (or Kogworld) as we know from the billboard in New Donk City.

Here we see some coins on the top of a tree right of Mario as well as the yellow robot inhabitants of this world. Whats most interesting however is the sign for Crazy Caps on the left side. As I speculated earlier this seems to be an upgrade shop that is present in every world of the game.

This Scene probably taking place in the same brooding forest world. The central red pillar matches the look of the tower on the billboard in New Donk City.

Before Mario dives into the awesome looking water take a look at the purple bolt nuts behind him. Maybe the Purple ''Coins'' have a different shape depending on the level. It could also mean that you have to collect them for something special to happen. Kogwhld has the feeling of an old abandoned factory inside a forest. Maybe you need to collect the purple bold nuts to repair some of it's machinery.

And here we have the confirmation that this world is the one advertised on the billboard in New Donk City. The huge central building is unmistakable. Behind Mario we also see a P-Switch, as well as another one a little bit further down.

Also the boss fight, which we get to see later in the trailer takes place atop of this structure.

What comes now is probably the most Mario looking course so far and it heavily reminds me of Sweet Sweet Canyon from Mario Kart 8.

Interesting is that each world seems to have non-hostile NPCs inhabiting it. The Humans in New Donk City, the Skeletons in the Mexican looking level and now these Fork People. Maybe they'll even give you tips, Quests or otherwise interact with you.

Apart from the NPCs we can also spot a rabbit on the huge orange apple directly above Mario.

Here we get another look at the rabbit from behind, while Mario carries a Turnip above his head, reminiscent of Super Mario Bors. 2. We also can see something purple just behind the apple, further solidifying my theory that every course will sport those collectables.

Generally this world especially looks very abstract and dream like. And guess what game was entirely a dream? Super Mario Bros. 2. So maybe this is a return to that place which would mean we'd get Phanto in 3D.... so hopefully I'm wrong

Also something that isn't shown on the Picture, but the Rabbit immediately runs away when Mario comes close. So it seems they serve the same purpose as in Super Mario Galaxy and 3D World.

Now it's finally time for the enemies to give their debut. Mario is attacked by a, well I think you'd call him, Pan Bro and a Spiny. It's nice how they adapted the Hammer Brother to fit into this specific level. On some promotional screen shots we can also see that the Gumbas in New Donk City wear construction helmets.

I think this is a nice touch which gives the world and enemies more character.

I really like this scene. Not only does it show a lot of character with Mario and his expression, but it also proves that the Worlds will have a Day/Night cycle. If this does more than just change the look and feel of level slightly remains to be seen. But I think it's very possible that some Stars are only obtainable during the Night and others only during daytime.

I'm sure this scene doesn't have any deeper meaning, but it shows that the Developers try to make the worlds feel alive. Instead of obstacle courses for Mario to conquer these are organically designed Worlds to explore.

Back to the food/dream land and we get a slightly different angle of the (what I assume to be) first area in this world. On the right side we can spot, what seems to be, a shop. What is sold there is anyone’s guess however.

Hot Soup is hot. This scene is accompanied by the unmistakable sound of Mario losing some of his HP. Also in the background we can spot the purple collectables once again.

These Crazy Cap Shops are most certainly going to play a big role in the game. Next to this shop we can say many Caps stapled atop of each other. Maybe Mario can buy them or at least get their properties for his hat. For example the Football Helmet would allow him to break walls with his head. The huge Sombrero could be used for gliding. Etc.

Bowser truly has style. After rocking the Cat look in Super Mario 3D World he now shows off his fashion sense. Also Peachs new Tiara looks lovely.

This scene probably takes place at the start of the game. From the way it's cut and Peaches scream for Mario it seems as if Mario is thrown off the Airship by something. Probably Bowsers Hat.

Yes Mario has a cool new move. He can now throw his hat and use it as a bounce pad. This gives him even more varied possibilities of traversing the open worlds.

And he even gets to ride a cat. Now I'm a little envious. There are several interesting sights in this picture. Of course the huge locked chest next to Mario is an eye catcher. But what's also interesting is the sign just behind him and the cat. This seems to be some kind of Bus Station. The two benches further solidify this look. So maybe you can only mount those cats at these specific places.

Also the huge upside down Pyramid in the background seems to have some story relevance. Later in the trailer we see it in a more dramatic scene.

Peach doesn't look too happy about this wedding. More interestingly this shows that there isn't only a day/night cycle but also that the weather can change. If this happens dynamically or only for specific scripted circumstances remains to be seen. Anyways New Donk City looks amazing in the rain.

No Koopa Kids. Instead we get evil looking wedding Bunnies. They all have a rather interesting design and all wear a unique Hat, further strengthening the theme of this game. Maybe you unlock their Hats (and powers) after you beat them.

It seems as if each and every world will have it's unique boss. This huge bird is obviously the enemy in the dream/food world.

Like I said earlier the boss fight of Kogwhld takes place on top of the huge central structure against the most Bowser Looking of the four Rabbits. His poison ability looks rather interesting.

And this is the Boss fight of New Donk City it seems. And from the looks of it, it would better fit into a Bayonetta than a Mario Game. I'm really intrigued how Mario aims to defeat this beast with only jumps and maybe Hat throws.

And that concludes this Trailer Watch for now. I hope that together we could get a little more insight into Super Mario Odyssey and if I missed something then please point it out. Also let me know your Observations about Marios newest Adventure in the comments.

And as always

thanks for reading

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