Yoshi arrives on Switch 2 to cap off an outstanding first half of the year for Nintendo

Nintendo is the great company most inclined to experiment with the limits of the medium. Trying things, experimenting, seeing what is possible to do within the video game without it ceasing to be one. Furthermore, in recent years they have decided to try to give a unique personality to each of their characters and franchises. Mario is for platforming, Zelda is for adventures, Donkey Kong is for action, and now Yoshi seems to be for exploration and experimentation. Or at least that is what its new and fascinating game suggests. A game that is a natural encyclopedia Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is the new […]

Nintendo is the great company most inclined to experiment with the limits of the medium. Trying things, experimenting, seeing what is possible to do within the video game without it ceasing to be one.

Furthermore, in recent years they have decided to try to give a unique personality to each of their characters and franchises. Mario is platforms, Zelda is adventures, Donkey Kong is action, and now Yoshi seems to be exploration and experimentation. Or at least that is what their new and fascinating game suggests.

A game that is a natural encyclopedia

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is the new game from Nintendo and offers us a truly unique experience: filling the pages of a book that has lost its memory, named Mr. E. But it is not just any book. It is a natural encyclopedia that contains a whole world inhabited by all kinds of adorable, terrible, and dangerous creatures that we must study and investigate to refill its pages. A feature increasingly.

How do you do that? Like any scientist would: by experimenting. Like Yoshi, being able to choose from eight of them —although the only thing that changes is their color—, we have to delve into each of the worlds and discover the different particularities of each of the little creatures we encounter. What happens if we eat them, if we stomp on them, if we throw them into the water or the mud, if we feed them apples or chilies, or if they interact with some of the other creatures.

The whole game is based on that basic principle. The empirical experience. We must ensure that we try to discover everything we can about each creature by exposing them to different situations and trying to find out how they behave and react to them. This will allow us to fill back the pages of Mr. E.

It seems childish, but it is not

This may make it seem like a children’s game or focused on a younger audience, but in reality, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a family game. Suitable for all audiences. Although children of a certain age will enjoy it, the game requires a methodical and constant approach that, while rewarding curiosity, remains purely scientific. It requires constant experimentation and trying to discover what is possible to do and what is not with each of the creatures given the elements of each of the scenarios. Or taking into account Yoshi’s own abilities.

Because this second aspect is also a key part of the matter. Although the base difficulty is practically nonexistent, as you can’t even die in most levels, there are intense spikes of difficulty in the game. If we try to achieve 100% on each page, the game will require us to platform and master the skills relatively intensely, as well as pay much more methodical attention to the environment. Additionally, after finishing the game, a whole series of activities will be unlocked that will challenge us in a way that the rest of the game did not.

This makes the game interesting and never feels easy or tedious. There is always something to do and always a challenge to overcome. Adding a constant layer of discovery and challenge.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is one of the great surprises of the year that, perhaps due to its childlike appearance and coming from Nintendo, will go unnoticed by many people. But it is a game as brilliant as it is adorable that will delight anyone looking for a game that goes beyond traditional video game design. If you ever dreamed of being like Darwin and cataloging creatures in a lost land based on their behavior and environment, this is your video game. Because there is no other like it.

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Mario will not be alone: these iconic characters from another Nintendo saga will appear in his next movie

In a few weeks, theaters will welcome Super Mario Galaxy, the highly anticipated sequel to the successful feature film starring the iconic Nintendo character. The movie, produced by Nintendo and Illumination, promises not only to bring Mario back to the screen but also to introduce new characters from the childhood franchise of many. Next Pikmin movie? Recently, a promotional teaser revealed a disturbing yet fascinating surprise: the inclusion of the Pikmin, the adorable creatures from another popular Nintendo franchise. This fleeting appearance of the Pikmin has taken many fans by surprise, who did not expect the movie to […]

In a few weeks, theaters will welcome Super Mario Galaxy, the highly anticipated sequel to the successful feature film starring Nintendo’s iconic character. The movie, produced by Nintendo and Illumination, promises not only to bring Mario back to the screen but also to introduce new characters from the childhood franchise of many.

Next Pikmin Movie?

Recently, a promotional preview revealed a disturbing yet fascinating surprise: the inclusion of the Pikmin, the adorable creatures from another popular Nintendo franchise. This fleeting appearance of the Pikmin has taken many fans by surprise, as they did not expect the Mario movie to integrate characters from another universe of the company. However, this decision makes sense, given that the Pikmin have made cameos in various Nintendo titles over the years, creating a background connection that appeals to nostalgia.

The appearance of the Pikmin is not only based on their popularity, but it could also hint at broader plans from Nintendo. Recently, the company released a short focused on the Pikmin to announce its new movie division, which has led to speculation about a possible animated film featuring these characters in the future. Considering the close relationship of Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Mario and Pikmin, with both franchises, these cameos could be a bridge to a future where the Pikmin have their own starring role on the big screen.

With Super Mario Galaxy, Nintendo continues to expand its cinematic universe, and the inclusion of the Pikmin could be just the beginning of an ambitious plan that could lead to more animated adaptations of its vast library of iconic characters. Fans, therefore, have reasons to be excited about what could come in this new era of video game-based cinema.

At Nintendo, they believe that Mario can remain popular for 100 years and they know how to achieve it

Super Mario ha alcanzado un hito significativo al cumplir 40 años desde su lanzamiento en 1981. A lo largo de estas cuatro décadas, este icónico personaje ha dominado múltiples franquicias, desde carreras en Mario Kart hasta aventuras intergalácticas con Super Mario Galaxy, e incluso ha dado el salto al cine con el reciente lanzamiento de … Continue reading “”

Super Mario has reached a significant milestone by turning 40 years old since its launch in 1981. Throughout these four decades, this iconic character has dominated multiple franchises, from racing in Mario Kart to intergalactic adventures with Super Mario Galaxy, and even made the leap to film with the recent release of Super Mario Bros.: The Movie. Despite his long history, Nintendo assures that its protagonist will not only remain relevant in the market but aims for Mario to celebrate his centenary in 2085.

Un personaje cuyo propósito es la diversión

In a recent book from the Nintendo Museum, key figures from the company, such as Takashi Tezuka, an executive at Nintendo, emphasize the importance of the constant evolution of the franchise. “One might think it would be a miracle if Mario is still here after 100 years,” notes Tezuka, who adds that the key lies in maintaining fun: “If it’s not fun, you’ll get bored.” This approach highlights Nintendo’s commitment to innovate and adapt to new forms of entertainment without losing the essence of the game, which has always been running and jumping.

Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the character, also supports this perspective. Commenting on the future of the franchise, he indicates that Super Mario will continue to incorporate digital technologies and expand into new fields, including movies, while always maintaining the interactive aspect. “I believe Mario will be with us for a long time,” Miyamoto assures, reaffirming that the essence of the character will be key to the enjoyment of new generations of players.

Además, los videojuegos de Mario han logrado unir a diferentes generaciones, permitiendo que tanto padres como hijos disfruten de las aventuras del famoso fontanero. Nintendo es optimista sobre el futuro de Mario, prometiendo que continuarán creando juegos que ofrezcan diversión y adaptabilidad a medida que evolucionen las tecnologías y los gustos del público.

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The final enemy of 'Donkey Kong Country' was about to become a star of Nintendo, but at the last moment they decided to modify it

I believe there is no doubt that Donkey Kong Country is a masterpiece of video games. Not only one of the best titles released on Super Nintendo, but a key piece of history with a unique visual style, an exciting level design, and managing to revive Donkey Kong from that early saga of the early 80s that had been stuck in a drawer for ten years. In the end, the gameplay didn’t offer much more, and both Donkey Kong 3 and Donkey Kong Jr. Math ended up mortally wounding everyone’s favorite ape… for a while. […]

I have no doubt that Donkey Kong Country is a masterpiece of video games. Not only one of the best titles released on Super Nintendo, but also a key piece of history with a unique visual style, an exciting level design, and managing to revive Donkey Kong from that early saga of the early 80s that had been sitting in a drawer for ten years. In the end, the gameplay had reached its limits, and both Donkey Kong 3 and Donkey Kong Jr. Math ended up mortally wounding everyone’s favorite ape… For a while. Rare had ideas to bring him back to life, but before they could achieve it, they encountered an impossible wall to overcome: Nintendo itself.

From Bananas to Troublemakers

We all know the story of Donkey Kong Country: King K. Rool and his Kremlings steal the bananas from Donkey and Diddy, and they go after them to get them back. The problem is that, obviously, it won’t be that easy. And Rare had in mind a much more ambitious crossover with Nintendo, and, as can be seen in the early designs of the game, they wanted the villain of the moment to be one that had just debuted on Game Boy: the one and only Wario.

In 1992, Super Mario Land 2 saw the birth of Mario’s nemesis, an evil character that we could control shortly after in the fantastic Wario Land, just a couple of years later. However, Rare was already fascinated by this character and intended to give him a whole storyline in Donkey Kong Country: in it, Wario would create a futuristic ray gun, turning Mario to stone and getting rid of him to become the king of “Nintendo Land” (nothing to do with the game that appeared much later). However, a parrot would see what happens and warn Donkey Kong, starting the game as we know it.

Interestingly, since at that time there was still no color palette for Wario, who had only been released in black and white, Rare drew him with blue overalls and a yellow jacket, leaving the iconic purple for a cape on his back. The game, by the way, was not going to be called Donkey Kong Country, but Donkey Kong vs Super Wario. Nintendo was notably horrified by the proposal and asked Rare for what freelancers fear the most in the world: to give it another go.

This is how the entire mythology of King K. Rool and the Donkey Kong Country saga was born, which would have been very different if Big N had decided, for a moment, to let go and allow them to do whatever they wanted with their licenses. In the end, Donkey Kong and Mario crossed paths countless times, while Wario gradually built his own myth thanks to both Wario Land and the incredible Wario Ware saga. Now, 33 years after this incident, no one imagines Wario in the jungle among floating letters, bananas, and punches.

By the way, if you’re curious about how the rivalry between Mario and Wario began, there is no game that explains it, but there is a comic from 1993 where we discover that it is simply pure envy… And, possibly, that Mario was mean to him in school. Are there schools in the Mushroom Kingdom or in “Nintendo Land”? Well, apparently there are. What one learns from gamer archaeology.

Peach was about to be a playable character in New Super Mario Bros, but Nintendo encountered a problem

In the vast universe of Mario, the famous plumber has been the undisputed protagonist of most platform video games. However, a little-known aspect of his story is Nintendo’s decision not to include Princess Peach as a playable character in certain titles, such as the acclaimed New Super Mario Bros. Wii. This game, released for the Wii console, allowed up to four players to control Mario, Luigi, and two Toads, but left Peach out of active gameplay. Peach was not designed for the capabilities of that console Shigeru Miyamoto, the renowned […]

In the vast universe of Mario, the famous plumber has been the undisputed protagonist of most platform video games. However, a little-known aspect of his story is Nintendo’s decision not to include Princess Peach as a playable character in certain titles, such as the acclaimed New Super Mario Bros. Wii. This game, released for the Wii console, allowed up to four players to control Mario, Luigi, and two Toads, but left Peach out of active gameplay.

Peach was not designed for the capabilities of that console

Shigeru Miyamoto, the renowned creator of Mario, revealed in an interview over 16 years ago that he had considered including Peach as a playable character. Nintendo saw this decision as an opportunity for the princess to showcase her bravery, aligning with the evolution of female characters in video games. However, this idea was ultimately discarded due to complications in animation design. Peach’s dress, which is an iconic aspect of her character, significantly complicated the creation of smooth and effective animations.

Thus, instead of choosing Peach as one of the four playable characters, Nintendo opted for the Toads, whose appearance similar to Mario made the animation work easier. The real reason behind Peach’s exclusion is due to the technical challenges posed by her dress, which led the company to choose a simpler option. However, this limitation has been overcome in later titles such as Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, where the princess was finally able to play an active role.

The story of Peach in video games is a clear reflection of the evolution of character design in the industry, where technology and the perception of gender roles have changed significantly over the years.

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March 10 is the official Super Mario Day, but why?

The emblematic Mario, whose first appearance dates back more than 40 years in the Donkey Kong arcade machine, has transcended his role as a mere mascot of Nintendo to become the most recognizable face of the video game industry. Initially known as JumpMan, ‘Ossan’ or Mr. Video, the plumber acquired his famous name in honor of the landlord of the Nintendo of America offices in New York. A pun with a lot of history March 10, known as Mario Day, is celebrated in tribute to this iconic character. This event, which derives from a […]

The iconic Mario, whose first appearance dates back more than 40 years in the Donkey Kong arcade machine, has transcended his role as a mere mascot for Nintendo to become the most recognizable face of the video game industry. Initially known as JumpMan, ‘Ossan’ or Mr. Video, the plumber acquired his famous name in honor of the landlord of the Nintendo of America offices in New York.

A word game with a lot of history

March 10, known as Mario Day, is celebrated in honor of this iconic character. This event, which is derived from a play on words with the date (Mar. 10), was officially adopted by Nintendo in 2016, and since then has served as a platform for promotions and special activities. The fan community, which has kept the tradition alive, has declined its influence over the years, creating a cultural phenomenon around the character.

Since 2017, Nintendo has started to implement a series of activities that have evolved, from events in the eShop to notable collaborations like the LEGO Super Mario line, introduced in 2020. This year, the promotion “Your game continues with Mario and his friends!” will offer discounts on various Mario video games, including the recent Princess Peach: Showtime! and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, in an effort to celebrate his legacy.

The future of Mario looks bright, with a Nintendo Direct scheduled for April 2, where significant announcements about the Switch 2 and other projects are expected. Additionally, a new animated movie is anticipated that could bring the plumber back to the big screens once again. Without a doubt, Mario continues to be a pillar of digital entertainment, reminding us of the timeless influence he has had since his creation. Happy Mario Day to all fans!

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The new trailer of the movie Minecraft horrifies fans of the game

La próxima película basada en el popular videojuego Minecraft ha generado una fuerte ola de críticas y decepción entre los fanáticos. Estrenándose el 4 de abril, la adaptación cinematográfica ha sido objeto de burlas, especialmente por su representación de los aldeanos, que ha pasado de la estética encantadora y pixelada del videojuego a un…

The upcoming movie based on the popular video game Minecraft has generated a strong wave of criticism and disappointment among fans. Premiering on April 4, the film adaptation has been the subject of mockery, especially for its portrayal of the villagers, which has transformed from the charming, pixelated aesthetic of the video game to a hyper-realistic style that many have described as disturbing. Initial analyses suggest that these creatures have lost their characteristic charm and resemble more “flesh monsters” than the endearing villagers that players know.

A critic has expressed frustration by unfavorably comparing this adaptation to other successful video game movies, such as Sonic and Mario. The concern is that, despite the talent of the cast, which includes well-known actors like Jack Black and Jason Momoa, the artistic vision of the film has failed to capture the essence of the source material. The public’s reaction to the first trailer has been particularly negative, with comments describing the visuals as some of the most depressing seen in a recent film.

A movie that is not winning fans with its trailers

This unease is manifested in comments that compare the portrayal of the villagers in the film to a “rotten potato,” indicating that they have managed to transform what should be a visually appealing experience into a product that does not convince even the youngest fans. Even with its imminent release, the expectation surrounding the film is low, hinting that it could be a disappointment after a long wait for an adaptation that, financially and artistically, should have been a resounding success.

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That time when Nintendo licensed Mario to make absolutely terrible computer games

The original ‘Super Mario Bros’ for NES ended up on Atari, Spectrum, Amstrad, and Commodore 64 in frankly worse but unique versions, considering what we’ve seen.

It is Nintendo’s mascot, and it is impossible to imagine it outside of Switch, Nintendo DS or GameCube, but for a while, the Japanese company decided that its character could also be exported to other platforms. Just look at the ‘Super Mario Bros’ from NES that ended up on Atari, Spectrum, Armstrad and Commodore 64 in versions that were frankly worse but unique, as seen. But the big N not only licensed games: in addition, Mario himself starred in exclusive adventures for PC and CD-i. And the results were disastrous.

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Mario teaches you

It was 1993, and educational games were a business in themselves, even though it’s hard to believe now. That’s why Nintendo America decided that their characters could appear in a few games, just to see what happened. Thus, The Software Toolworks first released ‘Mario is missing!’, a kind of ‘Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?’ in which Miyamoto had no say. In Nintendo Japan, it didn’t sit well because they believed it could be confused with a “real” game of the character.

The idea was that this ‘Mario is missing!’, starring Luigi, would not pose any kind of challenge and was intended, as is, for young children. It was a relative success, and it started a new series of games that, after going through the PC, Nintendo brought to its own consoles: ‘Mario’s time machine’ taught about different periods of history, ‘Mario’s Early Years’ were three games for preschoolers, ‘Mario Teaches Typing’ was designed to learn typing (and was a resounding success)…

‘Mario’s Game Gallery’ was already far from what Nintendo wanted to do with the character, and it was a compilation of classic board games (checkers, dominoes, etc.) with the excuse of having beloved characters there. Nobody liked it too much, and the Japanese company began to distance itself from this type of concessions. It was 1995 and Mario stopped appearing in formats other than Nintendo’s own.

Helped, of course, the reception of the live-action movie ‘Super Mario Bros’: no matter how much money they could make, if the character wasn’t treated correctly, what was the point? Bread for today and hunger for tomorrow. Another game would still come, this time for the failed Phillips CD-i console (which you may know from the Zelda games that became a meme): the infamous ‘Hotel Mario’.

Although apparently Miyamoto and company ended up approving this game, shortly after, and due to the console’s poor success, two others were canceled: ‘Super Mario’s Wacky Worlds’, which was going to be a platformer in the style of the classic saga, and ‘Mario Takes America’, which, luckily, we never got to see. So you know: the next time you control the Italian plumber, think that, as bad as the game may be… it could always have been worse. Mamma mia!

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This movie destined to fail has ended up being a box office success

This film destined to fail ended up being a success at the box office, proving that video games work very well in the cinema.

It’s always said that film adaptations of video games aren’t successful. Not only are they considered cinematic disasters with low quality, but they also fail to draw audiences to theaters. However, this year both Mario and Sonic have proven this notion wrong. Yet, many might argue that they still need to show they can sell outside the family market. For those individuals, there’s news that will disappoint them greatly. Because the surprise hit of the year is a horror movie adapting a video game.

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Five Nights at Freddy’s, the incredibly popular horror video game franchise by Scott Cawthon, has not only been a tremendous box office success but has also become the biggest hit in the history of its production company, Blumhouse.

While its debut set a record in its opening weekend, it’s now solidified its position as Blumhouse’s most successful film. Specifically, Five Nights at Freddy’s has grossed around $136 million in the USA and nearly $147 million elsewhere globally, reaching a staggering total box office figure of approximately $283 million. This sum is astounding for a mid-budget production, surpassing the previous record of the studio held by M. Night Shyamalan’s Split, which grossed $278.4 million during its theatrical run.

These figures might seem relatively modest to those accustomed only to Disney and Warner’s numbers. However, they are anything but modest for an independent horror film production company like Blumhouse. Especially considering that Five Nights at Freddy’s cost just around twenty million dollars to make, turning out to be an absolutely lucrative venture.

Considering it’s still in theaters and has only just started selling in home formats in some markets, it’s expected that this figure will continue to grow over time. But what’s evident is that the era when video game movies didn’t sell is no longer ours.

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Super Mario Bros. Wonder is Mario just as Miyamoto conceived him: with bites on the butt

Super Mario Bros. Wonder has made a significant change to Super Mario that has been over 30 years in the making, and it has to do with biting

Super Mario Bros. is a foundational game in many ways. Besides creating the basic principles of what a good platformer should be, it has given us iconic characters, incredibly recognizable tunes, and so many games that we can’t even remember them all anymore. None of that means Miyamoto has been able to do everything he wanted in Super Mario. Not until now. Because for years, one of Mario’s enemies hadn’t done what they were supposed to do: bite Mario.

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This might sound strange. But let’s put it into context. All of Mario’s enemies have always had a way of hurting us that was consistent with their design. Turtles used their shells. Spiked enemies used their spikes. Hammer Bros threw their tools at us, piranha plants tried to eat us, and Chain Chomps just wanted to know how we tasted. But what about the Goombas? Why did colliding with these basic, brown, oddly shaped enemies hurt us? Well, Super Mario Bros. Wonder has answered this question. They give us a bite.

This is something Masanobu Sato once learned from Miyamoto himself, who said that Mario takes damage after colliding with a Goomba because he is indeed harmed by it. Why haven’t we seen this until now? Initially due to technical limitations, but later out of habit. The original way of representing it was that upon collision, Mario would turn around, seemingly satisfied, implying that after the bite, the Goomba felt satiated.

All of this seemed very interesting to Sato, but not enough for Super Mario Bros. Wonder. That’s why he decided to add a new animation where, when a Goomba collides with our beloved plumber, Mario bites it and then immediately grins from ear to ear. Saito explains this in depth in a hilarious and incredibly interesting interview that will leave you even more eager to get your hands on this potential game of the year.

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