Nintendo is full steam ahead with all things Mario. During last week’s Nintendo Direct, they celebrated its 40th anniversary with a slew of announcements, including a title to their next movie: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Shortly after that, Nintendo announced a port of both Super Mario Galaxy games as a bundle. However, many balked at the $70 (USD) price tag. Is $70 fair for a bundle with video games that are 18 and 15 years old?
Credit: Nintendo
Pricing is a touchy subject especially among gamers and the topic of remasters or ports of older gen video games. As the prices are rising for both consoles and games, many people sour at the thought of paying premium dollar for an old title. Currently, we see most AAA video games priced between $70 to $80 (US) dollars. For Nintendo, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was their first major step moving their first-party titles from $60 to $70 in recent times, and despite the massive scope of the game, many people (of course) complained. Prices of ports and remasters, on the other hand, have varied.
For example, Metroid Prime Remastered, which released in 2023, retailed at $40 USD. This was initially a Game Cube title and received a nice little glow up while keeping the base game pretty much the same. Many fans were pleased at the lower-than-average price for a first-party port, although some would argue that Metroid is not a “top tier” franchise. On the other hand, we also remember when Super Mario 3D All-Stars released in 2020 to the fine tune of $60 USD. This contained three Mario titles: Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy. None of these games were touched up or upgraded in any way, shape, or form, and many were disgruntled not only at the full price but also the limited quantity.
Now back to the lasted port and bundle: Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2, which is set to release on both the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 this October. It will be priced at parity with other new first-party titles at $70; however, we also know that these titles–unlike 3D All-Stars–will feature improvements and add-ons such as enhanced resolution (1080p on Nintendo Switch and 4K on Nintendo Switch 2), improved UI, extra Storybook Chapters, and Assist Mode. You do have the option to purchase them separately at $40 each, but with the $10 savings with the bundle, I’m not sure who would purchase them individually.
For the most part, I do feel that old games that are ported to modern consoles generally should be cheaper than a brand-new AAA title; however, there are always exceptions and nuances. Not everything is black and white. You need to take into consideration franchise popularity, the state of the industry market, and whether enhancements were made.
Mario is the flagship franchise for Nintendo, and inarguably one of the most iconic mascots in video games. In addition, we are living in an unstable market that recently experienced price hikes. Moreover, these are two full games that each received enhancements and additional modes. The extra work allows for a modernized experience, and it would only be reasonable for Nintendo to make some coin from this bundle. And yet, one could argue it’s still a rip-off due when Nintendo Switch Online exists. While Wii and WiiU games are not available on NSO (yet), we can extrapolate this discussion to the availability of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. These two retro Mario titles are on NSO+ Expansion Pack, and yet, they make up two of the three games in Super Mario 3D All-Stars for $60. So, would we eventually see Super Mario Galaxy 1 and/or 2 in a future update for NSO? Maybe. Maybe not.
With all that said, $70 for two video games that are over a decade old are a hard sell. It may seem “unfriendly” to consumers and the idea of video game preservation with a focus on profit. On the other hand, I keep in mind that Nintendo is a business, and a successful and respectable one at that. They are bringing back classics for players new and old, and they even put a little work on it. If that’s the case, I can’t say that it is unfair. If you don’t want to fork up the $70, then don’t buy the game(s).
What are your thoughts on the $70 price tag of Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 for the Nintendo Switch systems? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
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