Here’s a surprising twist for Mario fans: the Nintendo Switch version of Super Mario Galaxy 2 has quietly swapped out one of its beloved NPCs, leaving players scratching their heads. But here’s where it gets controversial—was this change a necessary update or a missed opportunity? Let’s dive in.
In the original Wii version, Starship Mario featured a specific Toad who allowed players to deposit Starbits, a handy feature for transferring currency across save files. However, in the Switch remaster, that Toad is nowhere to be found. Instead, as pointed out by Jhay (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3Z9kueEGytU), a new Toad has taken its place, and its role is entirely different—it now explains how to use amiibo. And this is the part most people miss: you can’t actually interact with this Toad to use amiibo; instead, you have to access the menu and select the designated icon. It’s a straightforward process, but it raises the question: Why replace a functional NPC with one that simply points to a menu option? Could Nintendo have felt the original Toad wasn’t pulling its weight, or is this a subtle nudge toward amiibo integration?
While this change might seem minor, it’s a fascinating example of how small tweaks can spark big conversations. After all, Super Mario Galaxy 2 on Switch is far from a downgrade—it’s a polished remaster with plenty of additions. The game boasts updated visuals, 4K resolution support on Nintendo Switch 2, a new Assist Mode, Soundtrack Mode, and even Rosalina’s storybook. For a full breakdown of these features, check out our roundup here (https://nintendoeverything.com/nintendo-shares-new-super-mario-galaxy-1-2-details/).
But here’s the real question: Does this NPC swap matter in the grand scheme of things? Some players might argue it’s a trivial change, while others could see it as a missed opportunity to preserve a quirky feature. What do you think? Is this a step forward or a step sideways? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your take!
If you’re ready to explore these changes for yourself, Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are available now on Nintendo Switch. For our in-depth review of the package, head over here (https://nintendoeverything.com/super-mario-galaxy-1-and-2-review-for-nintendo-switch/).
