A fresh weekend wave of gaming deals is here, and it’s a particularly juicy one if you’ve been waiting to jump into Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on Switch 2 or you’ve been eyeing Nintendo’s latest Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 bundle. On top of the discounts, the wider Mario universe is having a moment: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is now out in theaters, and key creatives and cast are finally explaining why it doesn’t simply retell the game beat-for-beat—while the film itself quietly puts a long-running Star Fox fan theory in the ground.
If you’ve been looking for a smart “catch up now, thank yourself later” purchase, today’s headline deal is hard to ignore—especially with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth slated to hit Switch 2 in early June.
Today’s standout game deals (and why they matter)
Let’s cut to the chase: the best deals today aren’t random bargain-bin filler. They’re strategically perfect pickups—either “definitive edition” versions of modern classics or big, evergreen Nintendo releases that rarely get meaningful price cuts.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (Switch 2) — $29.99
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is down to $29.99 at Walmart on Switch 2, and that price is doing a lot of heavy lifting.
This is explicitly positioned as the definitive version of the game, bundling the upgraded Intergrade release (the enhanced version originally associated with PS5’s improvements) plus Episode INTERmission, the story content starring Yuffie Kisaragi. If you skipped the game because you were waiting for a portable-friendly version—or you’ve been holding out for a better price—this is the kind of discount that turns “eventually” into “right now.”
The timing is the real kicker. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is set to launch on Switch 2 in early June, which makes this deal feel less like a routine sale and more like a very convenient on-ramp. If you want to be ready for Rebirth’s arrival on Nintendo’s new hardware, Intergrade at $29.99 is the cleanest way to get there.
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 — $54.99
Nintendo fans know the drill: first-party Mario releases don’t exactly tumble down the discount ladder. That’s why seeing Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 listed at $54.99 stands out.
The bundle pairs two of Nintendo’s most celebrated 3D platformers under one roof, and the timing couldn’t be more relevant. With The Super Mario Galaxy Movie now in theaters (released April 1, 2026), interest in the Galaxy era is spiking again—newcomers want context, longtime fans want a nostalgia hit, and everyone suddenly remembers how absurdly creative “Mario in space” can be.
If you’re the kind of player who likes your purchases to have cultural momentum—where the game you’re playing is also the thing everyone’s talking about—this is one of those rare moments where a Nintendo platformer bundle and a major film release are feeding each other.
LEGO R2-D2 (and more)
Today’s deal roundup also calls out LEGO R2-D2 among the weekend’s highlights. Pricing and exact set details aren’t specified here, but it’s part of the same “top picks” list alongside the big game discounts—so if you’re looking to stretch your entertainment budget beyond software, it’s worth a look.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is out—and Miyamoto explains why it doesn’t “adapt the game”
While the deals are the headline, the bigger conversation swirling around Nintendo this weekend is the The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which released in theaters on April 1, 2026.
A lot of fans went into this expecting something closer to a direct translation of Super Mario Galaxy—Rosalina front and center, a more focused throughline, and a story structure that mirrors the game’s iconic planet-hopping progression. Instead, the film leans into Galaxy as a theme and a backdrop, borrowing locations and ideas while hopping across different Mario concepts.
That creative choice has been divisive, and now we have a clearer explanation for why it happened.
In an interview, Shigeru Miyamoto said that more strictly recreating or following the game “wouldn’t be fun.” He also described how discussions with Illumination after the first film didn’t frame the follow-up as a traditional sequel—more like “the next movie.” The idea of using Galaxy as the theme was suggested by Illumination, and Miyamoto liked it because it could expand the world and open up a lot of potential.
Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri added that while the team could have chosen other Mario pillars like World or Odyssey, it was Galaxy’s “cinematic possibilities” and “more dramatic aspects” that made it the right fit for the film’s ambitions.
Here’s the thing: I get why that answer will frustrate some fans. “Wouldn’t be fun” can sound like a dodge when people are asking for a more faithful adaptation. But it also reveals Nintendo’s current philosophy with Mario on the big screen: the movies aren’t trying to be playable stories—you’re getting a remix, not a retelling.
Whether you love or hate that approach, it’s undeniably consistent with how the films have treated the games so far: recognizable iconography, broad appeal, and a willingness to prioritize momentum over lore.
Eric Bauza talks Toad General, cut characters, and a near-Yoshi voice role
One of the most interesting behind-the-scenes nuggets to come out of the movie’s release week isn’t about Mario or Peach—it’s about the Mushroom Kingdom’s most intimidating little guy.
Voice-acting heavyweight Eric Bauza returns as Toad General in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, reprising a role he also performed in 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Bauza described the direction for Toad General as “no-nonsense, all high-stakes, everything is serious,” emphasizing that the character shouldn’t sound cute or like the other Toads. Bauza even cited Keith David as inspiration, aiming for that resonant, commanding presence.
He also touched on how fans react to the character—specifically the recurring “why isn’t he Toadsworth?” complaints. Bauza’s take is blunt and funny: fans will always find something to be mad about.
More importantly, Bauza revealed some cut content from the first film. He said he voiced Diddy Kong, who originally had a much bigger part as Donkey Kong’s hypeman, “like in WWE wrestling,” but the scene was cut entirely. He also voiced Sports Coat Kong.
And then there’s the Yoshi tease: Bauza said the production asked him to record Yoshi’s voice because they weren’t sure how much Yoshi would appear and were exploring whether they could use original sound bites. Yoshi ultimately appears as an Easter egg at the end of the first film, and Bauza said he doesn’t know whether his recording or the original sound was used.
That’s the kind of detail that tells you how fluid these big animated productions can be—even major Nintendo characters can swing from “featured role” to “blink-and-you-miss-it” depending on late-stage story decisions.
The movie also shuts down the “Fox has amputated legs” theory—yes, really
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie isn’t just a Mario spotlight. It’s also apparently a snack platter for anyone who’s been starving for Star Fox.
In a moment that feels tailor-made for internet discourse, the film has Fox McCloud explicitly mention he has “cool space boots” during his introduction—an oddly specific line that effectively undercuts a long-running fan theory claiming Fox (and the Star Fox crew) have amputated legs.
That theory traces back to old artwork where the boots looked extremely metallic, leading some fans to imagine a darker sci-fi explanation involving G-force tolerance and cybernetic limbs. The movie’s line doesn’t just wink at the idea—it pretty cleanly dismisses it in-universe.
It’s a small gag, but it’s also a fascinating example of how modern franchise films sometimes “talk back” to fandom. Whether it was intentional or a happy accident, the end result is the same: Fox’s legs are fine. The boots are just cool.
Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis keeps evolving (and the meta matters)
While today’s biggest Final Fantasy headline is the Intergrade discount, it’s worth noting that Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis continues to churn with updates and meta shifts.
A newly updated tier list (updated April 4, 2026) reflects Version 3.5.0, adding weapons including Immaculate Blade, Sable Megaphone, and Folding Ruler. The breakdown emphasizes how weapon choices and inherited stats shape character performance—primary weapons contributing 100% of stats, secondary and sub-weapons contributing 50% each, with an exception noted for sub-weapon C. Abilities.
It also calls out the current landscape of character roles and strengths—like Aerith being framed as the game’s standout healer, Cloud as a top Lightning damage carry, and Young Sephiroth described as the strongest ice DPS currently.
If you’re juggling multiple FFVII experiences at once—Remake on Switch 2, Rebirth on the horizon, and Ever Crisis on mobile—this is the broader reality of FFVII in 2026: it’s not one game, it’s an ecosystem. And each piece is trying to pull you into the next.
What Remains Unknown
Even with a busy news-and-deals weekend, there are still some meaningful open questions:
- Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2: the specific platform details and full release context for the bundle aren’t fully confirmed here beyond its pricing and availability.
- LEGO R2-D2 deal specifics: the exact set version and discount details haven’t been clarified.
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s creative boundaries: Miyamoto and Meledandri explained the philosophy, but deeper specifics—like how the team decided what to borrow versus what to avoid—haven’t been fully detailed.
- Whether Eric Bauza’s Yoshi recording was used in the 2023 film remains unclear.
- Star Fox comeback rumors are mentioned in connection with the film’s fanservice, but no official announcement has been made.
If you’re shopping today, the actionable play is simple: FFVII Remake Intergrade for $29.99 on Switch 2 is the kind of deal that won’t feel “nice to have” once Rebirth lands in early June—it’ll feel essential. And if you want to ride the Mario hype wave while it’s cresting, the Galaxy bundle discount is the kind of rare Nintendo pricing moment you don’t overthink.
