I used to roll my eyes at paying $39.99 for older games. Then I watched Digital Foundry’s breakdown of the new Switch releases for Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, and it reframed the value for me. Nintendo didn’t just flip a switch. DF shows that Switch 2 runs them at native 4K and that Nintendo rebuilt a lot of texture work. As DF puts it, “Switch 2… allows for a substantial 4K res” and “Nintendo uses newly generated higher resolution texture maps for almost every surface.” They also confirm “a rock solid 60 frames” in testing. Those are their words, not mine.
On pricing: each game is $39.99 on the eShop, and Nintendo offers a two-pack for $69.99. So, if you plan to play both, the bundle saves you ten bucks.
Now, I get the sticker shock. Back on Wii, Galaxy eventually hit the $19.99 “Nintendo Selects” tier. But many of us no longer own a Wii, and lots of players (me included) missed these the first time. Paying $40 for a polished, modernized version you can play on your current system is not wild to me anymore, especially after seeing the upgrades to textures, filtering, and performance that DF documents so clearly. For example, they note “a colossal leap in quality” for certain materials and point out improved LOD and shadow draw distance compared to Wii. They also remind us that the 1080p HUD and pre-rendered cutscenes remain 1080p, which is a fair knock. All direct quotes credit: Digital Foundry.
If you want a comparison point, Metroid Prime Remastered launched at $39.99 too and still sells at that price, and it crossed 1.09 million copies sold in under two months per Nintendo’s financial reporting.
So, is $40 “worth it”?
If you missed Galaxy and want to play what many consider all-time 3D platforming greats with crisp image quality and modern controls, yes. The bundle at $69.99 is the smart buy.
If you still have a Wii copy hooked up and you are price-sensitive, maybe not. DF themselves note the original IR pointer still has an immediacy that gyro aims to approximate. That nuance matters if you are nostalgic for the Wii feel.
Bigger picture, pricing is all over the map right now. Mario Kart World is launching at $79.99 on Switch 2. I only jumped in because I grabbed a hardware bundle, which softened the hit.
Bottom line
For newcomers and lapsed players without a Wii, $39.99 for each Galaxy feels defensible given the tangible tech lifts and portability. I went from “no way” to “okay, that makes sense” after seeing the evidence. If you plan on both, the $69.99 bundle is the move.
What do you think? Would you pay $40 each for Galaxy 1 & 2 today, or does nostalgia pricing still feel too steep?
And as always, if you enjoy these reflections, consider supporting my Extra Life fundraiser — helping kids through the power of gaming.
— Prof. Rock
After feeling considerably cranky about this Galaxy compilation, I too have come around on it. I still think it should be priced at $60, but I understand why it's a bit more.
Thanks for the post, and I hope you enjoy the games!