Last week, we shared some of the changes we’d like to see in the upcoming Switch versions of Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon. But these aren’t the only Wii U titles that are likely to be making the jump to Switch.
If Nintendo keeps rolling with the idea of updating and re-releasing Wii U’s best offerings, it’s only a matter of time before Super Smash Bros. and Super Mario Maker join the list. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is still young, and as Masahiro Sakurai’s swan song for the series, it deserves to live on in perpetuity. As for Super Mario Maker, even though technical disparities may complicate a transition to Switch, it was a game-changer for Nintendo, and it simply needs to find footing past the current generation of hardware.
If (or when) these games do make their way to Switch, we hope to see some substantial updates. Here are some ways Nintendo could make these re-releases much more than simple port jobs:
Super Smash Bros.
by Ben Fruzzetti
Nintendo’s premier crossover fighter was one of the Wii U’s biggest titles: boasting the series’ largest roster to date and having gameplay that struck the fine line between Melee’s hyper-technical play and Brawl’s strategic floatiness. While it was one of the system’s most successful titles – not to mention the bolster from sales of its 3DS counterpart – the chances that many missed it are high.
While no Switch port for Smash 4 has been confirmed, it has been heavily rumored since… well, a long while back, given both the success of Smash throughout the years and the relatively small amount of time since Smash 4’s release. While the idea of an upscaled port with all DLC included and the Switch’s portability would probably be adequate, Nintendo could do so much more:
- New characters, stages, items, etc. – The obvious answer right out the gate. Smash is a franchise that thrives in large part due to its immense cast of Nintendo characters (along with a few guests), so adding more fighters to a Switch port would help immensely in drumming up interest. Whether they be returning veterans such as Snake or Ice Climbers or frequently requested fan favorites such as King K. Rool or Isaac, some fresh blood would excite the fanbase and bring the cash flowing in. New stages, items, Mii costumes and more would help as well. They could even go so far as to add skins for characters, like pajamas for Ness or a Dry Bowser outfit. It also opens up the possibility for further DLC down the line, something which likely proved lucrative for Nintendo the last go around.
- Better single player offerings – Smash 4 was a pretty excellent game, but it had arguably the worst single player offerings of the whole series. Classic mode in the Wii U version was odd, Master/Crazy Orders grew tiring fast, and there weren’t many events to sink teeth into. If the Switch port added in a mode similar to Melee’s Adventure, or Brawl’s Subspace Emissary, or some other sort of substantial single player experience, it would improve the one serious flaw Smash 4 has. Adding some other multiplayer modes wouldn’t hurt too, of course.
- Flexibility in rules online and offline – Smash already has quite a few ways to customize matches as is, but they could go farther. How about the option to turn hazards off in stages, so you can play on some of the more chaotic levels in a tournament setting? Or an offline tournament mode like in previous installments, so you can easily pit your friends against each other? Maybe a online mode that incorporates these ideas to form a competitive mode that’s like For Glory but with more variety? There’s a lot that can be done here, but I encourage Nintendo to try and innovate in the ways we can customize our match experiences, especially if the rumors of Smash heading in the eSports direction are true.
- More tools in the editor – Most of the elements you’d ever want to see in a Mario level are already in Super Mario Maker’s editor, but there are still some holdouts that could make things a lot more interesting. A few more things we’d like to play around with are slopes, soundtrack control, more functional Mario suits and the most terrifying enemy in the history of Mario games: Angry Sun.
- More aesthetics and tilesets – The majority of Mario’s most iconic games are represented in Super Mario Maker, but not all of them. We think it’s finally time for Nintendo to drop the ultimate fanservice on us and add Super Mario Bros. 2’s unique world to the game. We’d love to see Game Boy’s Super Mario Land represented, too. There are also a few key tilesets missing from the game, like forest stages and ground levels with Cheep-Cheep infested waters below.
- Super Mario Worlds – This is by far the most requested feature that Super Mario Maker is lacking, and it’s the one that would take the entire game to a whole new level. Creators have been making themed levels, worlds and even entire games within the game since Maker came along last September, but there’s still no easy way to string these bite-size masterpieces together. We would love to see Nintendo add a world editor, complete with world maps, shortcuts, secrets and everything else that makes Super Mario games whole.
Super Mario Maker
Super Mario Maker is, by far, one of the most interesting detours that any of Nintendo’s franchises have taken in years. It’s the Mario game that we didn’t know we needed, providing a literally endless supply of entertainment, through both creation and play.
This cycle of tinkering and playing was custom-built for Wii U’s hardware. Bouncing back and forth between editor and playtesting via touchscreen and big screen remains Nintendo’s best justification for its waning console. Switch, on the other hand, is a single-screen experience, and as such Maker’s controls and interface would need a dramatic overhaul. Even so, we’re convinced that this IP needs to forge onward.
If it happens, a move to Switch would be the perfect opportunity to expand Mario’s toolkit and perhaps even add some features that completely change the way we see this brilliant new Franchise. Here’s what we’d like to see:
Switch is already set to carry on the Wii U’s underappreciated legacy with Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon, and we’re confident that Nintendo has plenty of other surprises in store for us next year. Here’s hoping that brand new versions of Super Smash Bros. and Super Mario Maker are among them!
Written by Brittin Shauers
Brittin literally grew up with Link, Mario and Samus. These three characters and their worlds collectively capture everything that he loves about video games.
