The experience was delightful. It encompassed elephants, adorable slime creatures, and a groovy soundtrack. Yet, amidst my gameplay, a lingering sense of incompleteness persisted. “It’s peculiar,” I pondered, drawing inspiration from Wonder Woman 1984, “but it could be even more bizarre.”
You might rightfully inquire, how could it possibly get stranger? Well, allow me to elucidate: peculiar minigames.
The Mario Wonder title on DS failed to leave a lasting impression in the franchise. While visually appealing and a commendable departure from the norm (kudos to Nintendo for not overusing the style for nearly two decades), my focus isn’t on the primary game but rather on poker.
Indeed, ‘Picture Poker’ was a minigame featured two years prior, yet it resurfaced (alongside several others) in the 2D DS platformer, where I first encountered it. After all, where else can one inject personal anecdotes if not in a Soapbox segment?
Nonetheless, the inclusion of poker in Mario Wonder did not satiate my appetite. Surprisingly, it lacked any peculiar minigames like ‘Hide and Boo Seek,’ ‘Trampoline Time,’ or ‘Wanted!’. While it hinted at such amusement through its whimsical Wonder effects, it failed to deliver the same level of quirkiness. I yearn for the return of such minigames.
Could it be posited that ‘Picture Poker’ acted as the catalyst for my current Balatro fixation? Possibly.
Let’s align our perspectives. Both Super Mario 64 DS and New Super Mario Bros. boast an array of engaging diversions to keep you entertained for hours on end. The former offers 36 unlockable minigames, while the latter presents 29 — with many being carried over from the 64 version, albeit with entertaining versus modes for multiplayer enthusiasts. Furthermore, New Super Mario Bros. allows players to engage in a series of minigames consecutively, akin to having a miniature Mario Party integrated into the main gameplay!
Similar to Mario Party, some minigames are best left untouched — I distinctly recall nearly passing out while striving for a record time in ‘Balloon Racing,’ which required blowing into the DS microphone to elevate an on-screen Yoshi. However, amidst the challenging ones, there were undisputed gems waiting to be discovered.
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The diversity is truly remarkable!
‘Picture Poker’ kickstarted my fondness for these games (and taught young Jim an early lesson on the house always prevailing). ‘Wanted!’ became my go-to choice, engaging my mother and me in a riveting hunt to spot a miniature Mario visage among decoys before the other. ‘Run, Bob-Omb, Run!’ introduced me to the bullet hell genre, albeit briefly, but its presence was appreciated.
Nothing can ever be sufficiently peculiar.
Undoubtedly, I cherished these minigames. Could ‘Picture Poker’ be attributed as the initial spark that ignited my current passion for gaming? Perhaps. Nonetheless, I undeniably invested more time in these minigames than in the primary quest.
So enamored was I with these diversions that I naively assumed every Mario installment thereafter would offer a similar experience. Imagine my disillusionment upon playing Wonder and realizing that, enjoyable as it was, there was no moment of gambling escapades with Luigi.
To its credit, the series has endeavored to recapture that enchantment. Certain titles featured side modes in specific worlds (such as ‘Fluzzard Gliding’ or the vexing ‘Bob-Omb Blasting’ in 1), and one could stumble upon activities vaguely resembling minigames in Odyssey’s Jump-Rope, RC Challenge, and the like.
Image: Zion Grassl / Nintendo Life
Nonetheless, nothing has succeeded in reviving that enchantment. Nothing has been sufficiently peculiar.
Both New Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario 64 DS possessed a unique charm in their additional game modes. These diversions, independent of the main quest, were what made them truly exceptional. If platforming with power-ups grew wearisome, players could seamlessly transition into rounds of Mario Party-esque frivolity without even touching the game cartridge.
Subsequently, the ‘New’ 2D series grew stale, and these games vanished. However, with the resurgence of peculiarity, why not inject some eccentricity back into the game modes? Come on, Nintendo. Wonder managed to rekindle a sense of nostalgia; now, it’s time to reintroduce the quirkiness of the somewhat contemporary era.
Would you welcome the revival of peculiar Mario minigames? (137 votes)
- Yes! Yes! Yes! 66%
- Yes, but with more in-world activities akin to Odyssey 18%
- No, reserve it for Mario Party 13%
- Other (share your thoughts below) 2%