Every so often the gaming calendar gifts us a date loaded with eclectic releases. It is a reminder of how broad our medium truly is, spanning puzzly platform antics, tactical lawn defence, cheeky fantasy satire, and blistering open-world racing. Looking back on this date, we find four very different but equally memorable games that arrived in Oz and left their mark in unique ways.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! (DSi) 2009
At A Glance
Just when you thought Mario had run out of careers, along comes Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! with its delightful toy-box chaos. Launched here as a digital-only release on the DSi Shop in mid-2009, this puzzler was a curious experiment in Nintendo’s handheld ecosystem. It shrunk platforming into clockwork conundrums and threw in the star power of Mario and Donkey Kong, all wrapped in a toy-collecting narrative. It felt like Nintendo saying “let’s make Lemmings but with wind-up plumbers,” and the result was surprisingly charming.
Gameplay Gist
At its heart, Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! is about guiding miniature clockwork Marios (and other toy variants) safely through obstacle-filled stages. Instead of directly controlling the heroes, you manipulate the environment: spinning girders, shifting conveyor belts, activating springs, and timing hazards to perfection. The player becomes less a platformer and more a traffic controller, with one misplaced tap sending a Mini tumbling into oblivion. The game leaned heavily on puzzle solving rather than reflex jumps, turning each level into a Rube Goldberg device of timing and patience.
Behind The Scenes Trivia
Nintendo developed Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! as the third entry in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, but it was the first DSiWare exclusive. It served as something of a proof of concept for Nintendo’s digital distribution strategy before the 3DS eShop took off. The game also marked a pivot from direct Mario platforming to the puzzle-focused “March of the Minis” format, which carried forward in later sequels. Interestingly, the level editor was inspired by Nintendo’s long-standing design philosophy of encouraging player creativity, foreshadowing what would eventually blossom into Super Mario Maker.
Connoisseur Cheat Sheet
- First Nintendo-published title exclusive to DSiWare in Australia
- Introduced robust level creation and online sharing features on a handheld Mario spin-off
- Refined the “March of the Minis” gameplay loop that defined the series’ later entries
- Helped test Nintendo’s early digital infrastructure and storefront strategy
Kinda Similar
Lemmings, ChuChu Rocket!, Super Mario Maker
Where To Play It Today
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! on eBay Australia.
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (PS3, PS4) 2014
At A Glance
When Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare sprouted onto Australian consoles in 2014, it felt like PopCap had gone completely bonkers in the best way possible. The series that once thrived on tower defence lawns suddenly leapt into the third-person shooter arena, complete with pea cannons, sunflower beams, and exploding potato mines. It was as if Team Fortress 2 had spent a weekend in a veggie patch and returned with an all-new attitude. Colourful, chaotic, and brimming with humour, it was PopCap’s loudest and most experimental gamble yet.
Gameplay Gist
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare took the asymmetry of the original strategy game and transplanted it into squad-based battles. Players chose to join the verdant side or the undead army, each faction offering wildly different classes. Peashooters hopped around spitting rapid-fire seeds, Sunflowers healed like mobile medics, and Chompers lurked underground to ambush unlucky zombies. The undead countered with quirky personalities like the All-Star football zombie or the impish Engineer. Matches played out in modes that mirrored popular multiplayer shooters but wrapped the entire thing in slapstick. The pacing was breezy, the objectives simple, and the accessibility inviting, making it one of the most family-friendly shooters of its generation.
Behind The Scenes Trivia
PopCap’s decision to pivot Plants vs. Zombies into a shooter came after its acquisition by Electronic Arts in 2011. The studio wanted to expand the franchise beyond its tower defence roots and reach console audiences. Interestingly, the game was built using Frostbite 3, the same engine that powered Battlefield 4, which is why its maps and explosions carried a surprising degree of polish. Developers later revealed that the tone was inspired by Saturday morning cartoons and Warner Bros. slapstick, a conscious attempt to stand apart from the increasingly grim shooter landscape of the early 2010s.
Connoisseur Cheat Sheet
- First Plants vs. Zombies title to move beyond tower defence into full 3D action
- Built on Frostbite 3, the engine powering high-end EA shooters of the era
- Introduced asymmetric class-based combat in a family-friendly package
- Pioneered ongoing seasonal content that carried over into its sequels
Any Controversies?
The game faced criticism at launch over its limited content, with only a handful of modes and maps available. Some players also worried about EA’s use of microtransactions, as booster packs containing new abilities and cosmetic items were tied to real money. While most of the packs could be earned through regular play, the presence of monetisation in what was marketed as a family shooter caused debate within the community. Despite this, the game maintained a generally positive reception and spawned successful sequels.
Kinda Similar
Team Fortress 2, Splatoon, Battlefield Heroes
Where To Play It Today
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare on eBay Australia.
The Bard’s Tale (PS4, PSV) 2017
At A Glance
When The Bard’s Tale strummed its way onto PS4 and PlayStation Vita in 2017, it was not a brand-new tune but rather a re-release of inXile’s cheeky 2004 action RPG. Aussies finally received the chance to revisit this cult classic with modern convenience, and the game’s irreverent humour and fourth-wall-breaking satire remained intact. It was as much a send-up of RPG conventions as it was a functional hack-and-slash adventure, with a wisecracking protagonist who could not take anything seriously.
Gameplay Gist
The Bard’s Tale plays like a simplified action RPG with a heavy dose of parody. Players guide the titular Bard through dungeons, taverns, and countryside encounters, wielding swords, bows, and a repertoire of magical tunes. Instead of summoning demons or elemental blasts, the Bard conjures helpers like rats, lightning spiders, and shield maidens through the power of song. Combat is straightforward but spiced with witty dialogue, constant jabs at RPG tropes, and choices that often led to ridiculous consequences. The experience is less about precision mechanics and more about enjoying the humour woven into every encounter.
Behind The Scenes Trivia
The 2004 version of The Bard’s Tale was not a continuation of the original 1980s series but rather a satirical reimagining. Brian Fargo, the creator of the original trilogy, was also behind this reboot at inXile, giving it a strange dual identity as both parody and homage. Cary Elwes, famous for The Princess Bride, provided the voice of the Bard, while Tony Jay delivered the role of the narrator with booming gravitas. The game’s soundtrack leaned heavily into comedic ballads, with songs like “Beer, Beer, Beer” becoming cult favourites. The 2017 release bundled in emulated versions of the original trilogy as a bonus, giving players a double hit of nostalgia.
Connoisseur Cheat Sheet
- Parody-driven action RPG with witty writing and satirical edge
- Voice work by Cary Elwes and Tony Jay elevated its humour
- 2017 re-release included the original 1980s trilogy for historical context
- Focused more on comedic storytelling than deep RPG mechanics
Any Controversies?
The 2004 release of The Bard’s Tale drew criticism from longtime fans who expected a true continuation of the beloved dungeon-crawling series. Instead they were met with an action RPG that mocked the very conventions they had enjoyed. While some embraced its humour, others felt betrayed by the drastic tonal shift. By the time of the 2017 port, however, most of that controversy had faded, with the re-release treated as a quirky time capsule rather than a usurper.
Kinda Similar
Fable, Overlord, Dungeon Siege
Where To Play It Today
The Bard’s Tale on eBay Australia.
Burnout Paradise Remastered (PC) 2018
At A Glance
When Burnout Paradise Remastered screeched onto PC in 2018, it marked the triumphant return of one of Criterion’s most beloved racers. Australians finally had the chance to revisit Paradise City with upgraded visuals, all downloadable content bundled in, and the kind of high-speed carnage that defined the series. It was both a nostalgic callback and a fresh invitation for new players to experience open-world racing chaos. Few games matched its mix of blistering speed and gleeful destruction.
Gameplay Gist
Burnout Paradise Remastered puts players behind the wheel in an open city built for stunts, wrecks, and raw velocity. The aim is simple: drive fast, smash rivals, and chain together spectacular takedowns. Unlike previous entries, races are not confined to tracks but instead flow through Paradise City’s streets and shortcuts, rewarding exploration and daring routes. Players can also indulge in Showtime mode, where causing the biggest pile-up possible becomes the goal. The remastered edition polished the graphics, added smoother online functionality, and included every expansion, making it the definitive version.
Behind The Scenes Trivia
The remaster was handled by Stellar Entertainment, a studio founded by ex-Criterion developers who had worked on the original. It included the Big Surf Island expansion, which many players missed the first time around since it launched late in the game’s lifecycle. The PC release was particularly notable because it was the first time Big Surf Island was made available on the platform, ending years of exclusivity frustration. The remaster’s success reignited fan calls for Criterion to return to the Burnout franchise, though the studio had shifted focus to Need for Speed projects.
Connoisseur Cheat Sheet
- First time PC players received Big Surf Island expansion
- Complete bundle of all DLC with remastered visuals and smoother performance
- Signature open-world design that rewarded exploration and risk-taking
- Revived interest in the Burnout series and inspired renewed demand for Criterion’s racing legacy
Any Controversies?
The original Burnout Paradise drew mixed reactions for abandoning the series’ menu-driven structure in favour of an open world. Some fans felt it made navigating events cumbersome. By the time of the remaster, these complaints had softened, though debates resurfaced about whether Criterion’s open design diluted the tighter arcade thrills of earlier entries like Burnout 3: Takedown. The PC release also launched exclusively through EA’s Origin platform at first, sparking minor grumbles from Steam loyalists.
Kinda Similar
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered, Forza Horizon 3, Midnight Club: Los Angeles
