Best Boss Battles in Gaming History - Part Twenty

WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR THE FOLLOWING GAMES:

• God of War (PS4)
• Marvel's Spider-Man (PS4)
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (NSW)
• Yoshi's Crafted World (NSW)
• Mario Tennis Aces (NSW)

In four days, SuperPhillip Central's Best Boss Battles in Gaming History will celebrate its eighth anniversary. That's about three years shy of this site's founding. Throughout each and every edition of this long-running, ever-expanding series of articles, SPC has tried to select boss battles that are memorable, boss battles that are well designed, boss battles that have great stakes and weight to them, and/or boss battles that are just plain darn fun! This historic twentieth installment looks at some recent games of the past year-and-a-half, so be mindful of the spoiler warning above. 

Before we get into the new boss battles, here's a list of links containing the old:

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six 
Part Seven
Part Eight
Part Nine
Part Ten
Part Eleven
Part Twelve
Part Thirteen
Part Fourteen
Part Fifteen
Part Sixteen
Part Seventeen
Part Eighteen
Part Nineteen

The latest batch of five boss battles is beyond the break, so if you're so bold, feel free to indulge!

Review Round-Up - February 2019

"Boy, we both starred in SuperPhillip Central's Game of the Month AND Game of 2018."
That you did, Kratos, with God of War's excellent rebirth on the PlayStation 4.

While my birthday month of February might always be the shortest month of the year, this February was hardly short on reviews with nine--count 'em--nine different reviews posted. Let's review SPC's list of reviews for February with the Review Round-Up!

We started off big with three games that made it on SuperPhillip Central's Best Games of 2018 list: Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! & Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee! (A-), the SPC's Game of the Year with the incredible God of War (A), and the remastered, remade goodness that was the Spyro Reignited Trilogy (A-).

Following that was a series of Nintendo Switch-reviewed indie games, starting with Instant Tennis, which took the court for some accessible but not necessarily deep tennis fun. It got a C- grade. Then, The Legend of Zelda-inspired Reverie: Sweet As Edition brought forth a unique New Zealand-like island to explore, getting a B- for its efforts. Following that was the puzzle and platforming combination that was Elli, earning a C+, and then the game that I can't seem to stop reviewing: Trine 2, this time around with Trine 2: Complete Story on the Switch (B).

We wrapped up the month together with two reviews: Starlink: Battle for Atlas' Switch version, soaring through the Atlas system with flying colors and a B grade; and a multiplatform review with NBA 2K Playgrounds 2, taking it to the court and slamming it down the basket's throat for a B+ grade.

Check out every review ever posted on SuperPhillip Central with the SPC Review Archive!

Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! & Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee! (NSW) - A-
God of War (PS4) - A
Spyro Reignited Trilogy (PS4, XB1) - A-
Instant Tennis (NSW) - C-
Reverie: Sweet As Edition (NSW) - B-
Elli (NSW) - C+
Trine 2: Complete Story (NSW) - B
Starlink: Battle for Atlas (NSW) -  B
NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 (NSW, PS4, XB1, PC) - B+

The Pokemon: Let's Go games were a nostalgic trip through Kanto that
rekindled my love of the Pokemon franchise.

SuperPhillip Central's Top Ten Games of 2018

Great things come to those who wait, and that's SuperPhillip Central's mantra for its Top Ten Games of 2018. Now these don't necessarily have to be the absolute "best", but they are the ones most enjoyed by yours truly over the past year.

Due to the deluge of fantastic gaming titles over the course of 2018, I absolutely could not devote my life to playing all of them, but I'm overall quite satisfied with this year's list. Now, let's quit the jibber-jabber introduction and get to the jibber-jabber in SuperPhillip Central's Top Ten Games of 2018!

10) Dragon Ball FighterZ (Multi)

What the, what the, what!? A traditional fighting game is on a list of SuperPhillip Central's favorite games of 2018?! Up is down, east is west, and Goku is Ginyu and Ginyu is Goku. Seriously though, the accessibility of Dragon Ball FighterZ is where the game truly shines. Of course, those anime poetry in motion visuals certainly shine, too, but in a gameplay perspective, FighterZ allows players to pick up and enjoy the game without having to remember myriad button combos just to pull off cool moves. No, anyone can unleash savage blows, illuminating and devastating attacks, and eke out beautiful combo attacks. Despite the simplicity of pulling off moves, there's a skill and mastery level in FighterZ that keeps the game from being so accessible that anyone can win. Button mashers need not apply... or you can be like me, apply, and then get your face blasted into the next dimension. That notwithstanding, my experience with Dragon Ball FighterZ on both the PlayStation 4 and later the Nintendo Switch provided me with lots of fast, frenzied and frenetic battles both online and off.

9) Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (Multi)

Developed by the amazing Inti Creates, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is a 2D classic Castlevania-style game built in an 8-bit style. Having four unique characters that can be cycled between at any time, linear level design that harks back to its main inspiration in Castlevania III, superb and tight controls, a perfect degree of challenge, and tremendous boss battles, Curse of the Moon came out of nowhere and managed to wow me immensely. Really, if--and knock on a wooden stake this doesn't actually happen--Ritual of the Night turns out to be a less than sublime game, at least the marvelous Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon came out of the whole saga, as it's truly a terrific title.

8) Yoku's Island Express (Multi)

Platforming meets pinball is as simple an elevator pitch as you need for Yoku's Island Express, but leaving it at that for a Games of 2018 list would be underselling it quite a bit, wouldn't you say. Yoku's Island Express is a remarkable mashup between a Metroid-styled world to explore--filled with copious amounts of secrets and activities--solid pinball action, enjoyable platforming using the rolling mechanics of your dung beetle character, and a gorgeous art style to boot. Achieving the Platinum trophy in Yoku's Island Express was a delight, and I was so enamored with the world and the gameplay that I finished the game over several sessions over the course of but a few days. I couldn't help myself and keep myself from playing Yoku's Island Express, a true indie gem from last year.

7) Mega Man 11 (Multi)

Mega Man 11's sales apparently pleased Capcom, selling about 800,000 units worldwide. This, too, pleases me, as Mega Man 11 is a fantastic outing for the Blue Bomber. Rather than just bring Mega Man back with a fresh coat of paint and calling it a day, the developers of Mega Man 11 went further, making an all-new gameplay mechanic that not only enhanced the game but moved the series forward. This is the Double Gear system, providing players with the power to slow down time to properly avoid attacks, or giving them the ability to boost all of their attacks. Overusing gears means Mega Man overheats, making him vulnerable for a considerable amount of time. This brought a risk vs. reward component to gameplay, freshening the series' tried and true gameplay up, and presenting a stunning and quite challenging 2D platformer in the process.

6) Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition (NSW)

If the amount of time I put into a game in 2018 was the leading factor in giving a game the Game of the Year honors, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition would certainly be the Game of 2018. However, that's not how this list works, in spite of my 120 hours of playtime with this ultimate version of Hyrule Warriors. This Switch version contains all of the DLC of the Wii U and 3DS releases, now allowing for the latter to be shown in glorious HD and not on the rather unsavory and low-resolution 3DS screen. This meant all of the characters, maps, weapons, modes, and more were a part of Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, and it also meant that I spent a plethora of hours taking out enemy captains, mobs, and more, racking up quite the body count in those aforementioned 120 hours of quality time with The Legend of Zelda crew in Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition.

5) Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee! (NSW)

Up until Pokemon Black and White I was a devout Pokemon player. My fanaticism for the franchise constantly weened off more and more as new releases approached after the original 1999 Red and Blue games, but I still enjoyed playing them. I finally grew tired of the traditional formula and opted out of future generations. With Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, just when I thought I was out, Nintendo and Game Freak pulled me back in with a charming, nostalgia-filled adventure through familiar territory with the Kanto region. This time, however, it was in 3D, offered new quality of life improvements like the ability to see Pokemon on the field or in "dungeons"--a feature I greatly desire for all future Pokemon games--and a new Pokemon GO-inspired catching system. The new improvements and changes to the formula are ones that I enjoyed greatly, and the duo of Let's Go games reinvigorated my interest in the mainline games, while offering a more accessible entry point for new fans alike. Job well done, Nintendo and Game Freak.

4) Spyro Reignited Trilogy (PS4, XB1)

Spyro the Dragon was the only entry in the original PlayStation trilogy by Insomniac Games that I played, and even then, I didn't reach its conclusion. With Toys to Bob's remakes of all three games with Spyro Reignited Trilogy, I finally got to remedy that as well as get to play the other two games in the purple dragon's trifecta of titles. To say I am impressed by these games would be an understatement of a high degree. All three games are exquisitely designed with solid and tight controls, smart level design, clever secrets, and successfully show off the evolution of the series if one plays through them in order. While the third game introduces some gameplay elements and side content that doesn't handle as well as other pieces of the collection, Spyro Reignited Trilogy made me realize just how bad I missed out by not fully playing these excellent games as a kid. Then again, perhaps I'm even more floored by them as they are fresh games to me now.

3) Marvel's Spider-Man (PS4)

Speaking of Insomniac Games, while they have no hand in the Spyro series anymore--and haven't for a looong time--the studio has moved on to bigger and arguably better things. After all of these years, my favorite Spider-Man game in Ultimate Spider-Man was finally eclipsed by Insomniac's efforts with Marvel's Spider-Man. Not just my favorite Spider-Man game now, but it's most likely my favorite superhero game ever made, too. The story is a riveting one to follow along with, containing some really powerful, hard-hitting, emotional material, the swinging and battling mechanics are simple to learn and you feel like a powerhouse superhero taking down waves of enemies while deftly dodging their attacks, and the amount of side activities--while not all winners--adds even more value and content to this meaty Marvel game. Sure, some sections of the game don't have as much entertainment value to them than others, but all in all, Marvel's Spider-Man is one of my favorite games of the past year and I'd love to take another "swing" at the game really soon with New Game+.

2) Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (NSW)

Once again, if my time with and invested in a game was the major consideration for a Game of the Year award honors at SuperPhillip Central, then Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition would be battling it out for the top spot with this immense beast of a game, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Everyone is here--every character, mostly every stage, and a single player mode that I maintain to be the best the series has to offer yet. Everything about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is more--more characters, more stages, more content, more modes, more options, more--well, you get the general idea here. Plus, the actual fighting and smashing is a ton of fun and feels fast, fluid, and just fantastic all around. I've put so many hours into the game, whether online or off (mostly off due to all of the unlockables and things to earn from the in-game Challenge board and offline modes), and I don't see myself stopping anytime soon. Masahiro Sakurai and his team poured everything they had into this celebration of Nintendo and gaming alike, and it definitely shows.

And SuperPhillip Central's Game of 2018 is...


...


...



1) God of War (PS4)

Much like Kratos mellowed and matured from his Greek adventures, God of War as a series grew up and matured itself, too. While I would consider past God of War games to be enjoyable, well crafted "junk food" gaming experiences, this God of War is different. It's something truly special, offering a touching, heartfelt, emotional journey with Kratos and his son Atreus to reach a suitable place to lay the ashes of someone special to them both. Along the way the two's relationship goes through the necessary ups and downs and concludes in a seriously satisfying way. The gameplay eschews the faraway camera from past games, bringing forth an over-the-shoulder perspective instead, allowing for a more intimate approach. This perspective allows players to get more involved and invested with the brutality of battles, as well as invest in the jaw-dropping landscapes and environments God of War presents to players.

Like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild last year (which was SPC's Game of 2017), God of War has successfully taken its old, weary formula and reinvented it and the series as a whole. For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel I was going through the motions with the franchise. Instead, I was emotionally invested, I was yearning to explore every inch of the Norse world in the game, and I was wanting to play long after getting the Platinum trophy. It's all of this that makes God of War's 2018 release the Game of the Year on SuperPhillip Central, and quite honestly, one of the best games I've played in a long time.

850th Review! God of War (PS4) Review

It's a special occasion here at SuperPhillip Central--well, a MORE special occasion. It's the site's 850th review! Join me as I take a late look at one of 2018's best games, God of War for the PlayStation 4. Here's SuperPhillip Central's full review.

God of Wow

I've made it no secret that despite enjoying the God of War series in the past that regardless of the "M" for "Mature" rating these games have, they're anything but mature. However, like Kratos's arc in the latest in the series and the first on the PlayStation 4, simply titled God of War, the franchise has gone a long way to grow up and mature. What we have now is a more mellowed out Kratos, less motivated by hate, no sacrificing innocents to get through puzzles, no awkward and borderline offensive sex scenes--now we have a God of War that is actually for adults and not edgy teenagers.

But that's giving God of War's PlayStation 4 debut feint praise. The game does so much more than just present a more mature, more heartwarming story than past entries in the series. Now, Kratos is in Norse world, and he has a son, Atreus. The two recently lost someone special to them, Kratos' wife and Atreus' mother, and they seek to spread her ashes on top of the highest mountain in the land. I felt compelled to see the journey through, and like Kratos and Atreus, my motivation was to see this journey through. The levels of emotion displayed throughout the story and the evolution of the father and son dynamic in God of War are some of the most heartfelt I've seen in gaming in quite a while.

The past God of War games were tasty "junk food", but not this God of War.
It's still tasty, but is a lot more thought-provoking and engaging than past entries.

God of War not only does away with the infantile story and characterization of past installments prior to this PS4 masterpiece, but it also does away with the camera angles that originated in very first game in the series. Now, the player is directly behind Kratos in an over-the-shoulder perspective, and perhaps the most impressive part of this is that God of War's world is both interconnected and open, as well as taking place in one continuous shot. There are no loading screens to speak of between visiting new areas, and every story beat occurs with the player in Kratos' shoes. The only cuts in the action take place when Kratos dies and the game needs to reload to previous checkpoint or when you warp from one area to another via fast travel--which unlocks relatively late in the adventure.

No doubt you can believe that the new camera perspective presents a much more cerebral experience when it concerns gameplay, especially combat. Kratos' main weapon in God of War is the all-powerful Leviathan Axe. It's not just used to carve up enemies both small and behemoth-sized, but it also is used to solve puzzles. The axe can be chucked away from Kratos, and with the press of a button, it can be called back to his hand, slicing through any enemy that stands in its way in the process. As players gain experience from defeated enemies and completed quests alike, Kratos and his axe can be upgraded to enable more combat abilities and advantages in battle.

Want to be put out of your misery, you nasty-looking foe? Then, just "axe"!

Of course, Kratos isn't by his lonesome this time around, as Atreus is always nearby. While the game could have been one large, engaging escort mission, instead Atreus holds his own in battle and in puzzle thanks to both his smart AI and his near invulnerability. You can call on Atreus to fire arrows of various elemental properties at enemies to stun them or whittle away at their health to help out Kratos in battle, all the while being cognizant of the cool off period Atreus has to fire more arrows. The two are a force to be reckoned with, for certain.

As if the God of War series hasn't proven this multiple times already,
size really doesn't matter when you're up against Kratos.

Battles are engaging experiences due to each enemy being worthy opponents--and this goes for your typical human-sized encounters as well. There are seldom a time when an opponent will just stand there and take your attacks without countering back. Smart use of Kratos' Leviathan Axe, abilities, moves, and Atreus' assistance make the difference between an easygoing encounter and one that results in a sloppy execution, if not death.

Kratos and Atreus might not always get along, but when push comes to shove, they're one formidable duo.

While the fights against grunts and other ordinary enemies are thoroughly enjoyable and stand out on their own merits, it's the boss battles that the God of War series is known for--with their immense scale and high stakes--and this God of War continues that tradition superbly. The only real gripe I have with the boss fights in the game is that there simply aren't enough of them, but every other part of God of War lends itself so well to the overall game that I can't really complain too much. After all, what bosses there are indeed make for a riveting and explosive experience.

Yikes. I'm glad Kratos isn't MY dentist!

When they're not in battle, Kratos and Atreus explore the Norse worlds. As stated before, the game is open and connected--though not an open world in general. Areas seamlessly transition between each other without any loading screens or cuts, and the amount of exploration and chances for discovery in God of War's world is absolutely tremendous. The central area in God of War is the Lake of Nine, and this stellar and splendidly designed hub of sorts branches out between all of the other regions in the game. As you progress, the Lake of Nine's water level drops more and more, revealing new areas to visit and venture.

Just playing through the story and going to the mandatory sections of the Norse world will take about 20 to 25 hours or so. However, if you engage in the high number of side quests, optional areas to explore, and nonessential boss battles, you'll find yourself adding another 10 to 15 hours to that playtime. There is a lot to experience and enjoy in God of War, and all of it is rewarding and worthwhile--whether you're finding out a solution to a puzzle, discovering a well hidden treasure chest, or uncovering a wholly new region in the game world by accident.

Possibly the greatest game of 2018? We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

God of War is a jaw-dropping game graphically. The character models impress immensely in their own right, but combined with the drop-dead gorgeous landscapes, environments, and areas that ooze with personality, God of War is astounding, mind-blowing game to look at. Performance is relatively sound, though the atypical 30 frames-per-second--at least for an action game--might put some players off. Still, with only a handful of truly off-putting (but rare all the same) frame-rate drops throughout my time with God of War on my launch PS4 system, the game is a remarkable one on the technical side of things.

Those giant icicles here were formed by my frozen-over drool while viewing this graphically gorgeous game.

Like Kratos himself--away from the anger-motivated, woman-using, hate-filled caricature that was presented in past games in the series--God of War as a franchise has finally grown up and matured. This astonishing new direction for the franchise is more than welcomed, offering a deep and highly satisfying story, as well as delivering a wonderful amount of character development within its main cast, especially the father and son dynamic between Kratos and Atreus. Battles are more compelling and cerebral than ever, exploration is absolutely delightful, and God of War as a series has never been better. It's more than a great game in the series--2018's God of War is a masterful piece of design and storytelling that reaches magnificent heights as one of the best games of both the year and the generation.

[SPC Says: A]

Top Ten Most Anticipated Games of E3 2017

E3 begins very soon! Christmas for gamers, Dawn of the Final Day, and all that fun stuff! With it comes an enormous amount of details on games both new and already announced. Of course, the real fun generally comes from learning about new games that somehow didn't leak out in this digital age, but what about those that have already been officially announced and will most likely be at the show in some way? That's what this Friday night top ten is here for: SuperPhillip Central's Top Ten Most Anticipated Games of E3 2017!

Which already announced games that are most likely going to be shown at E3 2017 are YOU most excited for?

As for SuperPhillip Central? Let's start things off!

10) Everybody's Golf (PS4)

And by starting things off, we begin with a genre of game I'm a sucker for -- arcade golf. While not technically a sim, Everybody's Golf (formerly Hot Shots Golf in North America) is pretty darn challenging as a series and requires patience, determination, and the ability to let out a few (or several hundred) cuss words on missed shots. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to be selected for the beta of the new PlayStation 4 entry a few weeks ago, as it was limited like entrance to an exclusive country club. Thankfully, unlike those hoity-toity clubs, Everybody's Golf will be accessible to -- well -- everybody, on the E3 show floor. I'm excited to see new gameplay!

9) Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom (PS4, PC)

I haven't done much research on this next game. Heck, I've yet to play the original Ni no Kuni on the PlayStation 3! (Please don't hurt me.) But the visual style, fairy tale like feel, and RPG combat all appeal to me greatly. Seriously, the game looks even more like a Studio Ghibli animated film than the first Ni no Kuni, which already looked like a Studio Ghibli animated movie to begin with. Being engrossed in such a world and being able to interact with it gets me jonesing to find out more about the game. Maybe even play the original, now that I'm thinking about it... Curse you, backlogs!

8) Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (PS4)

Announced late last year at the PlayStation Experience event, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is a standalone expansion of last year's mega hit and critical darling Uncharted 4. It features two main characters: a person of extreme interest (wink, wink) in Nathan Drake's life, Chloe Frazer, and Nadine Ross, introduced in Uncharted 4. With its release set for August, it's going to be fantastic to have a full blowout of information for this continuation of the Uncharted series now that Nathan Drake's chapter has finally closed.

7) Splatoon 2 (NS)

For those who have already played Splatoon on the Wii U, you probably have an idea on how the sequel on the Nintendo Switch will play when it launches next month. After all, it's a known quality. However, Splatoon 2 has a good deal of new content and gameplay mechanics to make Nintendo's super fresh franchise even fresher, such as a new single player campaign, a new Horde-like multiplayer mode, and who knows what else! I'm eager to see what tricks are left in Splatoon 2's sleeves that haven't been revealed yet. Perhaps we'll see at either Nintendo's pre-recorded show or the Splatoon 2 tournament!

6) Star Wars Battlefront II (PS4, XB1, PC)

Releasing as a major holiday release in the middle of November, I'm hoping Star Wars Battlefront II will be the game that EA's original Star Wars Battlefront should have been -- fully featured, possessing enough solo content to engage players, while retaining the frantic and fun engagements and combat scenarios from the original classics on the PlayStation 2, PC, and Xbox. If there are bots in every mode, this will give DICE good marks in my book as well. While EA and DICE's first attempt at Star Wars Battlefront was indeed lacking, it did bring a steady and solid foundation that I'm really interested to see how it's built upon to make an improved, loved and much desirable sequel.

5) Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite (PS4, XB1, PC)

Despite rumors of a disappointing starting roster that have been building up across the net, I'm still quite excited to see the return of the Marvel vs. Capcom series with Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite. It's a game I'm sure competitive players will certainly get a lot of mileage out of with its fast-paced combat, gem system, and 2 vs. 2 battles. Heck, if competitive players could find a lot to love about Street Fighter V when it launched with limited modes and content, then anything's possible, right? As a casual player, I hope that I'm able to enjoy the game at my own pace with my own skill level. In fact, even the starting roster doesn't dissuade me much, as it has a character I've long wanted for the series, Mega Man X!

4) Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (NS)

A common debate (sometimes even an argument) among Nintendo fans on message boards and comment sections is when is Xenoblade Chronicles 2 going to release. The music has been confirmed to have been completed, which is one of the final things gone in production, and Nintendo itself has said 2017 for the release year. Others think it's going to get delayed, either early into next year or possibly later. What ever the case may be, developer Monolith Soft has yet to fail with the Xenoblade name. We've only seen one trailer of the game, and that was back in January at the Nintendo Switch unveiling press conference in Japan, so it's about time the curtain gets fully pulled back on Monolith Soft's latest.

3) Spider-Man (PS4)

Insomniac Games has a proven track record of excellent action games under its collective belt, so to me, trusting the developer behind games like Ratchet & Clank, Resistance, and Sunset Overdrive with Spider-Man was a phenomenal decision on the part of Sony. Not only will Insomniac most likely nail the action -- the unadulterated joy of swinging through Manhattan -- but the team will also nail the humor of the webhead. While I don't anticipate the game coming out soon, I'm just looking forward to seeing more of what Insomniac Games has done with the spectacular Spider-Man's PlayStation 4 exclusive.

2) God of War (PS4)

At long last, Kratos isn't obnoxiously angry all the time and a ridiculous version of an adolescent male's power fantasy! Don't get me wrong though, the previous God of War games were a great deal of fun, but the formula started to wear thin, as of course, did the character Kratos himself. With a new scope, a new story, and a new focus, the God of War series' debut on PlayStation 4 is without question my most anticipated game currently announced for Sony's system. I'm eager to view a new trailer, get fresh gameplay insights from players and journalists, and just see more of the game in general.

1) Super Mario Odyssey (NS)

Mario got me into gaming back on the original Nintendo, so when the first trailer for Super Mario Odyssey premiered this past January at Nintendo's Switch unveiling event, I couldn't contain myself and had to burst out a continuous smile throughout the whole video. Although Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel are two of my favorite games of all time, Odyssey is a grand return to the sandbox, platforming playground style of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine that had been long since abandoned (for more than a decade to be exact). While I'm not foaming at the mouth literally to see new footage of the game, counting the days to finally see a gameplay and content blowout of Nintendo's big holiday game is driving me a bit batty. However, I know it will all be worth it on Tuesday. In my 30 years with Mario, the portly plumber seldom fails to deliver.