A Mario and Donkey Kong video game in 2022? - The Lakitu Sachet
All this preamble to say that, although the present is rosy, the future is somewhat uncertain: we do not know when the successor of Switch will arrive, as it will be called, if it will be preceded by a transition platform (the infamous Switch Pro). We have some certainties and one of these is represented by a very rich 2022: even too rich, to be a potential "last year" (in March 2023, Nintendo Switch will turn six). We will have Kirby and the Lost Land, Bayonetta 3 and Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Splatoon 3. In theory, the ultimate heavyweight should also arrive and that is the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. A year that would be second - perhaps - to only 2017, the launch date of the Nintendo Switch.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2: it could arrive in 2022 a Super Mario. It is not known how long the Switch will last and a lot of internal games have already been announced (a lot considering that it will be the fifth year of the console): there would be no valid reason, in theory, to hope / believe in the return of the Italian plumber. . Yet things are not exactly like this and to understand it you need two different points of view from those of the "simple" video game enthusiast: one who observes the situation from the outside, the other who scrutinizes it as an obsessed Nintendo.
Let's continue our column from this last point of view.
The time is ripe for a new Mario
Super Mario Odyssey: the last original Super Mario , released in 2017 Analyzing the usual Nintendo development times, which given the pandemic situation may not be reliable, two Super Mario games could be released in 2022. Let's clarify the situation for a moment: within Nintendo there are two groups that we could define as "team Mario". One is EPD 8, the Tokyo team responsible for the three-dimensional chapters of the series (such as Super Mario Odyssey, to name the latest addition). The other is EPD 10, which takes care of the two-dimensional chapters, in detail the saga of New Super Mario Bros. and that of Super Mario Maker.We had talked in this episode of La Sachet of Lakitu about a potential collaboration between the two parties, with a view to developing a new two-dimensional game. Let's briefly summarize the question: we know that both teams, thanks to official communications on the Japanese Nintendo website, are looking for personnel: EPD 10 for a "two-dimensional action game", EPD 8 instead for a "two-dimensional action game" "than for" a three-dimensional action game ". Given that there could be three different projects, it is not even unlikely that they are collaborating in the making of the "two-dimensional action game": they have already joined forces in Super Mario Maker 2 and without a shadow of a doubt EPD 8 could help the cousins to sculpt a two-dimensional title that is in step with the times and not a simple homage to the past.
Both teams have not published for several years. EPD 8 is extremely late: they usually released at least one game every three years, while four have already passed since Super Mario Odyssey. They collaborated on the Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury expansion, but the main labor was entrusted to Nintendo Software Technology (Redmond team). In short, in 2022 they should be ready to publish another game: they are already late, after all.
The same thing can be said for EPD 10, which tends to be even more prolific than the Edochian colleagues. Remake and adaptations aside, they have not released anything original since 2019 and in particular from Super Mario Maker 2: they too, in essence, may be able to publish something in 2022. Whether it is together with EPD 10 or not.
The movie
Super Mario Maker 2: the first collaboration between EPD 8 and EPD 10 The other point of view, the one more external than the "normal" video game enthusiast, suggests instead that not only a new Super Mario game is possible in 2022, but it even makes sense. We talked a few days ago about the Super Mario movie coming at the end of next year: we will not go into details here, we will only remember those that interest us. First of all, it is important to understand how much Nintendo is seriously focusing on this feature film, which represents a key step in the strategy of expanding its brands outside a purely videogame context. He points us so much that not only is the film the project in which Miyamoto (in recent years) has been most involved, but even Chris Meledandri, the CEO (and founder) of Illumination Entertainment, the studio responsible for the production, is there. the only Westerner on the Nintendo board of directors.To bet so much on such a project, without publishing a themed video game together with the feature film, would be very strange. And we doubt Nintendo will let the opportunity slip away: so it's possible that EPD 8 and / or EPD 10 are not only making a Super Mario video game, but they're creating one specifically for the movie. We do not know what it will talk about, nor where it will be set: however we have some clues.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze: the last original platformer on the gorilla Nintendo First of all, we know that the Super Nintendo World (the theme park ) will soon be expanded with an area dedicated to Donkey Kong. And the gorilla, we believe not by chance, will also be present in the animated film that will be released next year; he will be voiced by Seth Rogen. You all know that Donkey Kong was originally Super Mario's opponent (a brutal summary, forgive us); a role then occupied by Bowser, with Donkey Kong who would find a new youth and a new trend to follow, through the works of Rareware (before) and Retro Studios (after). We refer, of course, to Donkey Kong Country.
In the film the two will meet again. And they will not find themselves like in Super Smash Bros., they will find themselves in a shared context, in a common universe in which there will be Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong and Bowser. The gorilla will be brought back to his homeland and, considering that no software house takes care of his adventures anymore, it could represent a new beginning for him.
Donkey Kong
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury: a collaboration between NST and EPD 8 From here we enter pure speculation. Already in the last Super Mario Odyssey the shadow of the gorilla was glimpsed: through the name of a stage symbol of the game (New Donk City), through the polygonal return of the damsel (now mayor) he kidnapped, Pauline. The last step would be to bring Donkey Kong back to the same universe as Super Mario.A risky step, but probably sensible. Rare is gone (or rather, it is no longer with Nintendo) and Retro Studios is back to take care of Metroid Prime: there is no longer a team reserved for the development of the adventures of Donkey Kong. And Donkey Kong is too important and prestigious a brand to be locked in the closet.
Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze: Cranky Kong will also be in the film! At this point, at the risk of making a colossal fool, we just have to add up what has been said so far, and draw conclusions. Does it make sense for a Super Mario game to come out with the movie at the end of 2022? Absolutely yes. Is this possible or not based on Nintendo publications? Not only is it possible, it is very likely. The two "Mario teams" have not published anything for years. Will Donkey Kong be in the film? Yes, it will be. Well, if the "movie game" actually exists, Donkey Kong will also be in that game.
We have no concrete basis for speculating whether it could be a three-dimensional or two-dimensional project, or somewhere in between. the two; the fact is that, in our opinion, hoping that our motivations have convinced you, we should not be surprised if next year, close to the film, Mario and Donkey Kong were to reunite in a high-budget modern video game.
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