It feels like the reactions to theNintendo Switch 2have been all over the place. I’d say “mixed”, but that implies a muted, somewhat ambivalent response as opposed to “super excited” or “absolutely furious.” On one hand,early impressions say that the system looks greatand new games likeDonkey Kong BananzaandMario Kart Worldare incredible.
On the other hand, folks areless than thrilled that those games are going to cost $80, some older games won’t be compatible at launch, and that the battery life seems to only contain about 1.5 sessions ofBalatro. But the one thing that both sides of the aisle are ignoring is that the lack of a new Mario Paint game is an act of pure cowardice and we shouldn’t stand for it.
A Mouse Gives The Switch 2 Way More Possibilities
Look, I know it’s early to complain. It’s easy to whine about what we haven’t seen when there’s only a small slice of what we have. There has been only one video that really shows off what the Switch 2 has to offer and roughly half of it wasmarveling at the idea of a conference call. At the same time, that video showed that there is a lot coming for the system and there is a lot to be excited about.
There is no better time to be aKirbyfan than now, even if right now there is no worse time to be anyone else on Earth. And one of the things to also be excited about is that the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con, other than that it sounds like a series of words that activate the Winter Soldier,is the mouse functionality. That’s the thing I’m almost the most excited about with the Switch 2, because I’m a sicko.
With that mouse functionality there should come Mario Paint. And you know I’m serious when I write the words “come Mario Paint” and don’t make a joke about that phrase. Sure, it’s possible that the original Mario Paint was just an elaborate software demo to push the Super NES Mouse on fans. But it’s also possible that Mario Paint is the only game most people remember actually using the Super NES Mouse.
Although it is funny that Switch 2 will have mouse support forCivilization 7and the last time aNintendoconsole did that was for Civilization on the SNES. Funny in a ‘that’s interesting’ way, not a ‘I’m laughing here’ way. Regardless, if Mario Paint is specifically the game people remember about that peripheral, maybe - I dunno - it’s worth a comeback? Only the craven and the cruel would deny this.
The World Needs Mario Paint Right Now
“Why would they put out a new Mario Paint? Everyone has access to real art tools now!” Who cares? I don’t. That’s why I had to make up someone saying that so I could say I didn’t care. Mario Paint isn’t about learning how to do graphic design, it was about screwing around with different art tools and creating animation in what’s still one of the simplest animation tools I’ve ever seen.
There was no goal in the game besides messing around with the tools and swatting down some flies in a minigame that I feel like more people have seen in WarioWare than they have in Mario Paint. If that game could help me make an animated Christmas card on my Super Nintendo when I was seven, I can’t imagine how good it could be now. Probably pretty good. Eight out of ten.
I know I sound like I’m joking - and I’m somewhat am - but God, I’d love to have some weirdo creativity around that new Switch 2 mouse feature. Is the new Joy-Con going to be comfortable as a mouse? Don’t know, don’t care! If it isn’t, someone will make some cheap plastic shell you can put on it so it feels better. Life, uh, uh, uh, finds a way.
But imagine Mario Maker with mouse support. I’m sure it’s coming someday but (claps hands) let’s get a-moving! Same goes for Game Builder Garage, a great idea that didn’t quite land because it’s harder to make a full game using just a controller. Even a day one upgrade to the original Switch versions of either would both fix me. Or, at least, entertain me for a weekend.
The thing is, Nintendo is already demonstrating that it’s excited to use the mouse in new and unusual ways, like inDrag x Drive. It’s clearly happy about it. So let’s get some Mario Paint. Let’s get some new first party creativity apps/games/whatever before the eShop is filled with pre-emotive knockoffs.
Let’s get a Switch 2 app explicitly designed for me to make silly crap (animations, levels, full games) and put it online. Nintendo’s creativity apps often felt better on the DS and 3DS (and, ugh, Wii U) because they were easier to work with. That’s no longer a real issue. We’re back, baby. We got a mouse built right into the console. So use it! And if you won’t do that, could you at least do me a solid and put the SNES Mario Paint on Nintendo Switch Online? I’m dying here, man.
