Super Mario Wonder

Super Mario Bros. Wonder: A Burst of Imagination Reignites 2D Mario

Super Mario Bros. Wonder, released on October 20, 2023, for the Nintendo Switch, isn't just another 2D Mario game; it's a vibrant, imaginative, and truly wondrous reinvention of the classic side-scrolling formula. After a decade since the last original 2D installment (excluding remakes or ports of New Super Mario Bros. U), Wonder arrived to universal acclaim, dazzling critics and fans alike with its fresh ideas, stunning animations, and an unparalleled sense of playful unpredictability.

The Story: A Royal Invitation Gone Wild

The adventure begins as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Yellow Toad, Blue Toad, Toadette, Nabbit, and the Yoshis are invited to the neighboring Flower Kingdom by its benevolent ruler, Prince Florian. However, their peaceful visit is short-lived. Bowser, in typical fashion, crashes the party, but with a unique twist: he touches a mysterious Wonder Flower and, in a truly bizarre turn, fuses himself with Prince Florian's castle, transforming into Castle Bowser! This fusion wreaks havoc across the Flower Kingdom, turning its inhabitants into objects and spreading chaos. Our heroes, guided by the diminutive Prince Florian, embark on a quest to collect Wonder Seeds to undo Bowser's transformation and restore peace to the Flower Kingdom.

This setup, while still a "save the day" scenario, cleverly deviates from the traditional "save Princess Peach" plot, offering a refreshing narrative driver.

Gameplay: Unexpected Transformations and Creative Freedom

Super Mario Bros. Wonder takes the familiar 2D platforming action and injects it with a constant stream of "wonder."

The Wonder Flower Effect: This is the game's core gimmick and its biggest strength. Finding a Wonder Flower in a level triggers a "Wonder Effect," which can dramatically alter the gameplay in unpredictable and often hilarious ways. Pipes might come to life and start slithering, characters could stretch into tall, thin forms or inflate into giant spheres, hordes of enemies might parade across the screen in musical numbers, or the entire level's aesthetic could shift to a trippy, psychedelic landscape. These effects are unique to each stage and truly live up to the game's title.
New Power-Ups: Wonder introduces a trio of imaginative new power-ups:
- Elephant Fruit: Transforms characters into their adorable, powerful elephant forms. Elephant Mario can swing his trunk to smash blocks and enemies, store and spray water, and even gracefully swim. This was an instant fan favorite.
- Bubble Flower: Allows characters to blow bubbles that can defeat enemies, collect items, or even be used as temporary platforms.
- Drill Mushroom: Equips characters with a drill hat, enabling them to burrow into the ground or ceiling to navigate levels, evade enemies, or find hidden paths.
Badges: A brand-new feature, Badges allow players to equip one special ability or passive effect per level, offering a layer of customization and strategy. These range from practical (e.g., Dolphin Kick for faster swimming, Parachute Cap for gliding) to more challenging "Expert Badges" (e.g., Wall-Climb Jump for infinite wall jumps). They encourage experimentation and can significantly alter how you approach a level.
Diverse Playable Characters: The roster is expansive, including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy (making her debut as a main playable character in a 2D Mario platformer!), Yellow Toad, Blue Toad, and Toadette. For players seeking an easier experience, Yoshi (in four different colors) and Nabbit are also playable; they don't take damage from enemies, though they cannot use power-ups.
Fluid Animations and Expressiveness: Character animations are incredibly detailed and expressive, from Mario pulling his hat over his eyes as he dashes into a pipe, to the characters' shocked reactions during Wonder Effects. This attention to detail brings a new level of personality to the 2D sprites.
Online and Local Multiplayer: The game supports local co-op for up to four players on one Switch. Online features allow players to see translucent "ghosts" of other players, revive fallen friends by floating to them, or place "Standees" for others to revive on. There are also online co-op rooms for up to 12 players, with 4 playing actively in a level.

Critical Acclaim and Sales Success

Super Mario Bros. Wonder was met with universal acclaim, earning a Metascore of 92/100 based on 130 critic reviews. It was praised for its boundless creativity, imaginative level design, charming visuals, and innovative Wonder Effects. Many critics hailed it as a much-needed breath of fresh air for the 2D Mario series, successfully breaking away from the New Super Mario Bros. formula.

The game was also a commercial triumph, selling 4.3 million units in its first two weeks, making it the fastest-selling Super Mario game ever. By March 31, 2024, sales had reached 13.44 million units, solidifying its position as a major hit for the Nintendo Switch.

FAQs about Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Q1: What makes Super Mario Bros. Wonder different from other 2D Mario games? A1: The primary difference is the Wonder Flower mechanic, which introduces unpredictable, game-changing effects to levels. It also features a highly expressive art style, new power-ups like Elephant Mario, and the innovative Badge system.

Q2: Is Princess Daisy playable in Super Mario Bros. Wonder? A2: Yes! Princess Daisy is a fully playable character in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, marking her first appearance as a main playable character in a 2D Mario platformer.

Q3: What are the new power-ups in Super Mario Bros. Wonder? A3: The main new power-ups are the Elephant Fruit (transforms into an elephant), the Bubble Flower (shoots bubbles), and the Drill Mushroom (allows burrowing into surfaces).

Q4: Can I play Super Mario Bros. Wonder with friends? A4: Yes, the game supports local co-op for up to 4 players on one Nintendo Switch. It also features online multiplayer where you can see other players' "ghosts," revive them, or play in co-op rooms.

Q5: Is Super Mario Bros. Wonder a difficult game? A5: The difficulty scales. While the main path is accessible to all players, finding all secrets (Wonder Seeds, Flower Coins) and completing the challenging "Special World" will test even veteran Super Mario players. The Badge system also allows for difficulty customization.

Q6: Who voices Mario and Luigi in Super Mario Bros. Wonder? A6: Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the first game to feature Kevin Afghani as the new voice of Mario and Luigi, following Charles Martinet's retirement from the roles.

Pros and Cons of Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Pros:

Unparalleled Creativity & Surprise: The Wonder Effects are truly magical, constantly introducing bizarre and delightful changes to the gameplay that prevent any level from feeling repetitive. Every Wonder Flower discovery is a genuine surprise.
Gorgeous Art Style and Animation: The game boasts a vibrant, highly expressive visual style with incredibly fluid and charming character animations that breathe new life into 2D Mario.
Diverse Playable Cast: The inclusion of characters like Princess Daisy and the choice of difficulty levels (via Yoshi and Nabbit) makes the game accessible and appealing to a wider range of players.
Innovative Badges System: Badges add a meaningful layer of customization and strategic choice, allowing players to tailor their abilities to specific challenges or playstyles.
Excellent Level Design: Beyond the Wonder Effects, the core level design is clever, varied, and full of secrets to uncover, encouraging exploration.
Fantastic Soundtrack: The music is incredibly catchy and dynamic, often reacting to the Wonder Effects and contributing to the game's joyful atmosphere.
Refined Co-op Experience: The local and online multiplayer features are well-implemented, offering fun ways to play with others without as much chaos as previous 2D Mario games, thanks to the revival mechanic.

Cons:

Relatively Short Main Story: While packed with content and secrets, the main story campaign can be completed fairly quickly by experienced players.
Limited Challenge (for some veterans): While the Special World and 100% completion offer significant challenge, the core levels might feel a bit too easy for long-time Super Mario enthusiasts who aren't seeking out all secrets.
Wonder Effects Are One-Off: The unique nature of Wonder Effects means once you've seen one in a level, that specific effect won't be a surprise again on subsequent playthroughs of that particular stage.
Multiplayer Can Still Be Chaotic (Locally): While improved, local multiplayer can still sometimes lead to players getting left behind or struggling with the shared screen, especially with less experienced players.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a testament to Nintendo's ability to innovate within its most established franchises. It delivers a truly fresh and joyous 2D platforming experience that celebrates the spirit of "wonder" in every jump, stomp, and bizarre transformation.