If you like a vintage platformer, especially Super Mario Bros. 3, there very well may be a pleasant surprise waiting for you. The more interesting comparison, however, is to a new game coming to Nintendo Switch on October 28, 2024: The Legend of Santa. 3 vibes. Although the game has been on Steam since November 2023, its Switch debut is set to make a fairly big splash among those who yearn for the bygone days of 2D platformers.
What’s even more interesting? Nintendo doesn’t appear to be worried, however, considering how much that looks like one of their most iconic titles. Fans were understandably intrigued and excited to see what The Legend of Santa was going to be.
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The Legend of Santa: Homage to Mario or Too Much?
Super Mario Bros. is no stranger to this secret either. It is rated as one of the greatest platform games ever made. Certain fans even claim it to be the best Mario game ever. Sure enough, developers at Plow Games knew this all too well, which is why The Legend of Santa takes its inspiration from it.
The game has the typical side-scrolling style but with a Christmas theme. Instead of playing as Mario, it casts players in the role of Santa Claus who are parading through winter-themed levels stepping on enemies breaking blocks, and picking up power-ups.
The Legend of Santa has scored largely positive Steam reviews, so it looks like they might be onto something with this formula. The game has been raved about for its nostalgic feel and holiday cheer, and Switch people want a piece of the action. Fans of 2D platformers – well, this could be a lovely holiday present.
Nintendo’s Surprising Silence
Nintendo is also well-known for protecting its IP so fans are questioning how The Legend of Santa slipped by on their watch. The game looks strikingly familiar (as many have pointed out) to something like Super Mario Bros. 3, especially in the way the levels are designed and look visually. The mechanics in the game, albeit set in a winter wonderland feel almost too familiar for some of the die-hard Mario fans.
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But then again, The Legend of Santa does appear to be just original enough to be plague-free. First, we have a four-player multiplayer, which itself would bring a new wrinkle to the game. There’s also seasonal variance in the location of Santa, levels aren’t by default just snowy outdoor landscapes. The gameplay also sees the players scouring the maps for caves and tunnels in other varied locations.
This spin on Christmas could work
And finally, the most appealing thing about this product has to be its Christmas theme. Christmas-themed games are few and far between – not only on the Switch but pretty much ever, so The Knight Before Christmas is a unique festive addition to the console’s roster. With its seasonal setup and cute graphics, it might be a go-to for holiday-season gamers.
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The Legend of Santa is an excellent game for those who like Mario-like platformers and want something with a holiday feel. For fans of Christmas (or people who just like pixelated dinosaurs in Super Mario Bros. 3, this game brought a unique twist to the otherwise beloved formula.
Should Nintendo Be Concerned?
Although it is obvious that The Legend of Santa was created as a parody of Super Mario Bros. 3, where it stayed on the right side of the infringement line. We will have to wait and see if Nintendo, which is notorious for cracking down on any games that come too close to copying their IP, has anything to say about this. Maybe they think the Christmas theme and the optional multiplayer make it a sufficiently far cry from Mario Land?
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The Legend of Santa is a win-win for Plow Games and Nintendo fans if it happens end up coming to fruition. It scratches that classic platform itch while also introducing us to new content – all wrapped up in the Holiday season. It could also bridge a divide in the market for Christmas games, of which there are few on the Switch.
A Must-Play for Platformer Fans
With The Legend of Santa aiming for that October 28, 2024, Switch sale date, the hype train shows no signs of slowing. Greats for your Super Mario Bros.-loving fan of 2D platformers. If you’ve exhausted everything in your Famicom library and it mostly consists of no. 3, this might be a fun AGTP seduction for the weekend. Everything fired on all cylinders in that trailer, but it should be a jolly trip down memory lane come Christmas − with great early reviews.
Save the date and join our jolly jingle jam of a Christmas, sugarplums in toe.