Game Scoop! 852: Mario Is Missing

Date: April 11, 2026
Host: Sam (filling in for Daemon Hatfield)
Panel: Per Schneider, Justin Davis, Miranda Sanchez, Jobert
Theme: Nintendo’s 2026 plans, retro gaming nostalgia, speculation on new remakes (Star Fox & Ocarina of Time), industry trends, and fun panel games.

Episode Overview

This episode takes a deep dive into Nintendo’s rumored slate for 2026, most notably the surprising absence of a major 3D Mario release. The panel unpacks the credibility and excitement around leaked reports of a new Star Fox and a Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for Switch 2, reflects on Nintendo’s shifting strategy, debates remake philosophies, and shares their personal hopes for the future. In classic Game Scoop fashion, it’s full of industry insight, humor, nostalgia, and interactive trivia and panel games.

Main Topics & Discussion Highlights

1. No New 3D Mario in 2026?

[03:05-09:58]

• Rumor Review: A credible leak suggests that, while Nintendo is focusing on Star Fox and Ocarina of Time, there will not be a new flagship 3D Mario this year.
• Panel Reactions:
  • Per Schneider: "When it comes to the big flagship 3D Mario, I say let them cook. Let them cook as long as they need to. Mario Odyssey is an all-timer." (05:00)
  • Justin Davis: “They did this sort of obligatory drop of content that people ... can jump into. I don't think we're getting a 3D Mario this year.” (05:31)
  • Discussion: The group laments the lack, but agrees Nintendo’s “take your time” approach is why Mario games are consistently excellent.
  • Speculation around merchandising, movie tie-ins, and the overall Mario franchise strategy.

2. Star Fox Rumors & Nintendo’s B-Tier Franchises

[11:37-18:43]

• Star Fox Leak: A classic-leaning, visually impressive Star Fox with online multiplayer is reportedly coming in Summer 2026.
• Panel Perspectives:
  • Per Schneider: “I don’t care about a new Star Fox game. ... These on-rails 3D shooters are just not my thing.” (12:19)
  • Justin Davis: “...it did make me ... want to play another Star Fox. ... Nintendo tried a lot of different things because these on-rails shooters have fallen out of favor.” (12:44)
  • Discussion: Star Fox’s shifting identity, filling gaps in Nintendo’s lineup (“is Star Fox stealing F-Zero’s slot?”), and Nintendo’s tendency to tie technology/gimmicks to franchise revivals.

3. Rhythm Heaven Returns

[22:13-23:46]

• Announcement: Rhythm Heaven is back for $40, launching July 2nd.
• Miranda Sanchez: “Rhythm Heaven is very important.” (22:12)
• Panel Praise:
  • Love for the “one button” rhythm gameplay and whimsical presentation.
  • Justin Davis: “The rhythm is created by household item noises ... it’s just really fun to listen to and just complete nonsense. Goofiness like WarioWare.” (23:26)

4. The Big One: Ocarina of Time Remake—What Should it Be?

[23:46-33:15]

• Remake Discussion: Is it a visual remaster or a ground-up reimagining in the style of modern open-world Zeldas?
• Justin Davis: “...what’s maybe more likely is someone's just remaking Ocarina more straight up, like a Bluepoint remake.” (25:39)
• Miranda Sanchez: “There is a way to ... make this a game where there is a set order ... and still have it be fun for people who enjoyed Tears of the Kingdom.” (28:27)
• Per Schneider’s Anecdote: “I never knew that in Hyrule Field, the border ... is a texture of trees ... I just never thought about what it was.” (32:40)
• Key points:
  • Would new players accept an older linear Zelda formula?
  • Importance of maintaining classic features like item gating and world progression.
  • Panel throws out wild ideas (e.g., a “demake” in Link’s Awakening style – quickly rejected).

5. ERA-Specific News Recap

[21:10-22:10]

• Additional rumored Switch 2 releases: Switch Sports, re-releases of Xenoblade 2 and Pikmin 4 (“Opportunity for Pikmin 4 at 60 FPS,” Per).
• Speculation about Nintendo’s strategy of up-res’ing and bundling older games.

Game Scoop’s Famous Games & Trivia Segments

“Real Mature IGN” – ESRB Description Quiz

[36:09-45:26]

• Panel hears humorous and lurid ESRB rating descriptions and must guess the game.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Sam on Control: “Players use psychic abilities ... Large splashes of blood ... The words, the F word and sh-word are heard in this game.” (37:19)
  • Justin Davis on LEGO City Undercover: “It’s wholly original ... a LEGO GTA, right?” (40:07)
  • Marathon, Wolverine (based on ESRB language), and X-Men Origins: Wolverine also covered.

“Continue or Quit” – Industry Trends Panel

[46:47-59:37]

• Each panelist picks a trend/mechanic to continue and one to quit:
  • Per Schneider:
    • Continue: Pause menus displaying control maps. “It honestly is insane that any sort of game that you return to doesn’t immediately ... remind you of what your controls are.” (47:16)
    • Quit: Unskippable or only-skippable dialogue.
  • Justin Davis:
    • Continue: Open-world “tower/outpost” gameplay loops—once overdone, now missed.
    • Quit: “I’m over battle passes. ... It was so friendly and fresh ... now it’s habit forming.” (52:16)
  • Miranda Sanchez:
    • Continue: “Magic chest storage”/unified crafting inventories.
    • Quit: Deck building mechanics used to gate story progression.
  • Sam:
    • Continue: Default/best character creator options.
    • Quit: Moving the jump button. “This is the jump button. That’s just how it works.” (59:12)

“What is Pear Eating?” – Birthday Game

[61:55-70:14]

• Jobert pulls up pixelated food photos from Per’s socials for a guessing game.
• Highlights include Japanese kakigori (shaved ice), birthday bagels, Shinkansen bento boxes, classic BBQ, and a giant Munich pretzel.
• Miranda Sanchez on a bagel pic: “Coffee looks so nice too.” (65:24)

20 Questions – The Infamous “Black” Episode

[71:33-87:44]

• The panel fails to guess Criterion’s military FPS “Black” (PS2/Xbox, 2006), a long-running inside joke pick for the show.
• Sam (revealing the answer): “Greg Kelly says: I think it’s finally time to suggest the game Black for video game 20.” (85:42)
• Justin Davis (in shock): “Oh my god. It’s Black.” (85:58)
• The segment underscores the show’s running gags and deep gaming knowledge.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Mario’s Movie-Tie-In:
  Sam: “Nintendo now is able to do a bunch of reissues and celebrations of Mario instead, I guess.” (06:09)
• On generational taste in Zelda:
  Per Schneider: “My daughter’s 12 and Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are her favorite video games of all time ... but ... it wouldn’t meet her expectations for, like, what this franchise means to her.” (27:43)
• On the nature of nostalgia and remakes:
  Sam (re: Ocarina): “I want a couple of surprises where things are different ... maybe an extra dungeon ... really mix up the game a little bit more.” (26:21)
• On design quality of life:
  Miranda Sanchez: “I don’t want to have to stress about how I’m organizing my in-game skull collection or whatever it is that I’ve picked up today.” (55:43)

Timestamps – Key Segments

• [03:05] Nintendo 2026 leaks, Mario absence, Switch 2
• [11:37] Star Fox rumors, nostalgia debate, B-tier Nintendo
• [14:59] Classic Nintendo franchises: Excite Truck, F-Zero
• [22:13] Rhythm Heaven announcement & reactions
• [23:46] Ocarina of Time remake debate
• [36:09] “Real Mature IGN” (ESRB trivia game)
• [46:47] “Continue or Quit” (panel mechanic/trend picks)
• [61:55] “What is Pear Eating?” (birthday fun)
• [71:33] 20 Questions: “Black” finally picked

Final Thoughts

Even with Daemon on vacation (“raging in Tokyo!”), the show delivered on all things Game Scoop: lively debate, inside jokes, insightful speculation, and plenty of nostalgia (and snacks). The crew’s chemistry and love for both new and retro games shines, providing listeners with expert commentary and playful banter on the state of Nintendo, the art of remakes, and what makes game design great (or annoying).

For longtime fans, this episode is full of the series’ signature humor and deep-game-industry insight. New listeners will find the panel’s conversation both accessible and enlightening, covering Nintendo’s plans, gaming history, and design trends with expert ease.

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