Mario Paint's Back, Baby! And You Don't Need a Fancy Switch 2 to Get Arty
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Mario Paint is coming to Nintendo Switch Online, and you can use a mouse on your original Switch to play it. It's a clever way for Nintendo to bring back a classic and maybe test the waters for more mouse-compatible games.
Right, settle in, because this is a bit of a blast from the past – and a clever move from Nintendo, if I reckon so myself. IGN South Africa (hat tip to Vikki Blake over there!) broke the news that *Mario Paint*, that gloriously chaotic SNES art and music creation tool, is hitting Nintendo Switch Online.
Now, you might be thinking, "Big deal, another retro game." But here's the kicker: *Mario Paint* famously used a mouse. And, while everyone’s been raving about the possibility of mouse support on the shiny new Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo's slyly added mouse functionality to the original Switch via USB. (Mouse not included, naturally. They’re not *that* generous, mate.)
So, what does this mean? Well, for one, it's a fantastic way to revisit a genuinely innovative game. *Mario Paint* wasn't just about drawing goofy pictures of Mario; it was about experimenting, making weird sounds, and creating animations that probably looked better in your head than they did on the screen. (We've all been there, haven't we?)
More importantly, it suggests Nintendo's actually thinking about input methods beyond just the Joy-Cons. Could we see other mouse-compatible games coming to NSO? Perhaps some old point-and-click adventures? A bloke can dream, can't he?
Nintendo Switch Online, as you probably know, is the subscription service that lets you play online, and gives you access to a library of classic games spanning NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and now even GameCube. They’ve been adding some real gems to that GameCube library, like *The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker*, *F-Zero GX*, and *Soulcalibur 2*, and rumours are swirling about *Super Mario Sunshine* and *Luigi's Mansion* joining the party. Super Mario Strikers has already been added to the lineup too.
IGN's Nintendo Switch 2 review gave it a 7/10, calling it a "vital upgrade" if the original Switch is the only way you've been gaming. But its steep price and features that are “mostly playing catch-up,” make it feel more like a overdue phone upgrade.
Now, I know what you're thinking: Is this just Nintendo trying to distract us from the fact that the Switch 2 is basically just a slightly shinier Switch? Maybe. But honestly, who cares? *Mario Paint*! On the Switch! With a mouse! It's a win-win, even if it's a calculated one. I say grab your cheapest USB mouse, dust off your artistic skills (or lack thereof), and prepare for some glorious, pixelated chaos. Fair dinkum, this is going to be fun.
Tags: Nintendo Switch, Mario Paint, Retro Gaming, Nintendo Switch Online, Mouse Support
Original article: IGN South Africa