3. Yoshi in Super Mario 64
If any developer knows how to reward its fans, it’s Nintendo. Nintendo 64 launched in 1996 and Super Mario 64 was the must-have launch title. Although the ground-pounding adventure required 70 stars to beat it, players who kept going could end up with a grand total of 120. If that wasn’t a reward in and of itself, the gated cannon outside Peach’s castle suddenly became usable, allowing Mario to blast himself up right up to the top of it. What could possibly be waiting for us?! Why, Yoshi, of course!!
Yoshi stands tall in a game focused solely on Mario, Peach and Bowser; Luigi is nowhere to be found. After being greeted by the green dinosaur, the player receives several additional rewards– a message from the game’s developers, more extra lives than you can shake a fist at and an improved triple-jump, but last but not least, the Wing Cap becomes available to use outside the castle. I’m sure many Nintendo fans will always cherish this moment with Yoshi.
Star Fox … I miss you … you were so cool … Retro, please tell me that’s what you have been working on with such fervor….
Maybe not quite a cameo, but I loved seeing E Gadd’s inventions play a role in Super Mario Sunshine. At one point, Bowser Junior refers to him as “the strange old man with the white coat”. Plus, FLUDD kinda sounds like the ole professor.