As November speeds by, it’s time once again to dive into the Nintendo Life Mailbox and see what’s bubbling beneath the surface of the gaming world.
Feel like sharing a game-related thought or two? We’re all ears and eager to hear from you.
Every month, we spotlight a Star Letter, and the lucky writer of this remarkable piece will snag a month’s subscription to our ad-free Supporter program. Don’t forget to glance over the submission guidelines at the bottom of this page.
So, fix yourself a cozy drink, settle into your favorite chair, and join us as we sift through this month’s assortment of intriguing letters.
Nintendo Life Mailbox – November 2024
"compelled to ask" (STAR LETTER)
Dear NL,
With the recent election turbulence, I’m curious about how the NL team feels. Could Nintendo’s production leap out of China due to this? If so, would that shift mess with the prices of the Switch or its next-gen counterpart? I worry it might hit Nintendo’s financials hard when launching a new console stateside. With tariffs on so many items, financial strains are real—it’s tough to dream about Mario or Metroid when basic needs are at risk. While this seems rather gloomy and a lot hasn’t happened yet, I remain hopeful that Nintendo, with its vast resources, will endure the coming years with minimal harm. After all, the United States isn’t their only playground.
MegaMari0
Cautious speculation is all we’ve got at this point. For those not following, the impending administration aims to slap tariffs on imports from China, potentially shaking up the gaming industry for years to come by driving up costs for consumers already pinched by other expenses.
It’s worth recalling how, back in 2019, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft teamed up to caution the U.S. government about the potential shakedown from similar tariffs. Their concerns back then remain highly relevant today.
Given the erratic nature of this administration, predicting the outcome isn’t straightforward. Here’s hoping that reason prevails, keeping gaming prices from spiraling into the stratosphere. Looking back longingly at a $700 PS5 Pro is not something we want to do. – Ed.
"different queues"
Like many fellow gamers, I’ve been diving into Super Mario Party Jamboree lately, but there’s a cloud on the horizon when it comes to its matchmaking system. In Superstars, players would choose a board preference and get matched quickly, though they might not always get their first choice. Jamboree, however, demands matching exact preferences for board, rules, and motion control, resulting in a staggering 28 queues! Without enough real players, bots complete teams, their fake names trying to fool players. Thus far, I’ve rarely encountered more than one living, breathing opponent. What happens when player numbers dwindle further?
Munchlax
Mario Party’s always been a killer success, so it’s disheartening to hear about this matchmaking struggle so soon after launch. Jamboree’s attempt to cater to board selection criticisms with its new system is understandable, but perhaps a middle ground is needed—like Mario Kart has managed.
Yet, as much as the love for Super Mario Party Jamboree is palpable, I confess I don’t quite get the allure myself. It’s even become a friendly tease around NL Towers—wondering if some mischievous soul is slipping crazy pills into my coffee. I was promised a party, yet this wild ride feels anything but! – Ed.
"museum-bound"
The GameCube is Dead?
You recently declared that Xenoblade closed the chapter on the Wii U. With all the remakes and new editions, what would it take for the GameCube to finally rest in a museum? Remakes, new games, or ports for titles like Wind Waker, NFL Street 2, or F-Zero would seal it for me.
Juan
I have this ‘Rule of Three (or Four),’ where a console hosting three or four outstanding exclusives still earns its place in my collection. While the Wii U might be considered obsolete, gems like Nintendo Land and Splatoon keep its memory alive and well.
With the advent of the backwards-compatible Wii, GameCube effectively met its museum date. Of course, this is coming from someone with half a dozen GameCubes tucked away. F-Zero, Rogue Leader, Chibi-Robo, and more—they remain vibrant in spirit, cherished through the ages. Nobody’s ever truly gone! – Ed.
"more than just a video and a few articles/polls"
Dear NL,
With the buzz growing over Nintendo’s forthcoming console reveal, is anything major planned for the site when the news finally hits? Much like the excitement before the PS2 reveal at E3, anticipation is in the air!P.S: If a grand plan isn’t on the cards, that’s understandable. But this occasion surely deserves more than a mere video and a handful of articles or polls.
Tanookduke
Oh, I reckon a couple of videos could be in the mix, maybe even stretching to a list! Joking aside, expect a monumental deep dive into everything Switch 2 and Nintendo-related, packed with features, reviews, and juicy news.
As for an extravagant blowout like transforming the site into a Switch-2-themed party extravaganza with Shigsy doing the Macarena in Kyoto—well, that might stretch the budget just a tad! – Ed.
"a flop"
If you could pick any Nintendo series to get a stellar new game, but with the caveat that it turns out to be a total flop and ends the series, which would you choose? I’d choose F-Zero—it would be phenomenal, but if it ended there, it wouldn’t be so starkly different from today’s situation!
CaleBoi25
An intriguing quandary, this hypothetical masterpiece flop. Perhaps a final hoorah for Smash, Wave Race, or Kid Icarus? Let’s get the community in on this—what beloved series deserves one last grand exit? – Ed.
Bonus Letters
"Hello. We want more remasters of 3D Sonic games like the Adventure games, Unleashed, Heroes, and 06, but they will get redubbed by Studiopolis." – Scottdevine53
Sonic fans have boundless, wonderful dreams, don’t they? – Ed.
"I want to express my gratitude to those publishers dedicated to bringing more third-party kids games, like Outright Games." – Anti-Matter
Outright? More like Allright Games, wouldn’t you say? Kudos to them for keeping diversity alive on the Switch. – Ed.
"Can you add Cars Race-o-Rama on the Wii to your database? It’s an unironically great game deserving more attention." – YunoboCo
Consider it added, though you’ll have to do the talking! – Ed.
"I’ll always remember the original Sonic Adventure boss fights, gliding as Knuckles, and even the fishing bits with, I think, Big? Is he still out there?" – Richardthedragon
"Pretty cool at the time" sums up Sonic Adventure nicely, doesn’t it? Word has it Big took an unexpected detour—last seen handling cars at a Chelmsford ESSO. – Ed.
And that wraps it up for this edition! Many thanks to everyone who penned a letter—whether featured or not.
Got thoughts stirring inside you? Questions burning for answers? Send in your letters using the steps below, and we look forward to delving into more of your musings.
Nintendo Life Mailbox submission advice and guidelines
- Short and succinct, please: Remember, your letter could wind up on the site, and lengthy essays are unlikely contenders. Keep it brief and to the point—100-200 words should do the trick.
- Limit yourself: Ideally, just one letter per month.
- Keep spirits high: Even if your letter doesn’t make it into the monthly article, don’t lose heart! Our inbox is bulging, and we can only feature a select few each month.
How to send a letter to the Nintendo Life Mailbox
Navigate to Nintendo Life’s Contact page, select "Reader Letters" from the dropdown menu already set, fill in your details and cunningly crafted letter, hit send, and you’re good to go!
