There are few characters in video game history more iconic Mario himself. He’s been the face of Nintendo for almost forty years now, and transcended to be a multimedia icon with a successful film this year. Now, Nintendo has introduced a new take on the 2D version of the Mario games for the first time in nearly twenty years with Super Mario Bros. Wonder. And, like its namesake, this game is a wonderful and delightful experience that will keep a smile on your face and enjoy yourself for hours on end.
The story of the game is the typical Mario affair. Mario and his friends travel to a new location, this time the Flower Kingdom, only for Bowser and his minions to invade and cause havoc around the kingdom. Though, this time it’s not just Mario that can face Bowser and save the kingdom. There are eight different playable characters for players to choose from along with the prince of the Flower Kingdom tagging along. There isn’t much different in play styles for most characters, but Yoshi and Nabbit are designed in a way to make the game easier for new or younger players.
While Super Mario Bros. Wonder doesn’t completely reinvent the classic side scrolling Mario formula, it does breathe a a reinvigorating breath to the 2D series. You can feel the creativity and imagination that Nintendo poured into the game from the first level. From the new power-ups like the Elephant to all the craziness that happens when the levels change, it all feels like what the 2D series has been lacking with the New Super Mario Bros. style being used for such a long time now.
The level design is on par with the classic Mario levels. You can almost feel the inspiration that Nintendo got from how creative the community made levels during the Mario Maker era. Each level feels unique and are beautifully crafted. Most levels aren’t too difficult to complete, so you’re never really getting stuck in any specific spot. This doesn’t mean there aren’t difficult levels as some of the later levels and the secret levels can get pretty challenging. Even if you do get stuck on one level, there are so many levels in each world that you can leave one level and go try another instead. This even extends to the Worlds themselves as the latter half of the game opens up and you can tackle them in any order you wish.
The selling point of the levels, and best new addition the game adds, are the Wonder Seeds. Wonder Seeds are basically the Stars of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and are needed to progress through the game. However, there’s something totally unique about Wonder Seeds found in the levels. These collectibles, once acquired, completely change up the level in the most creative and fun ways. Plus, each level’s changes are completely different from another’s, so you never know how the Wonder Seed is going to change things up. It’s all a surprise in the best way like one level becoming a musical or one changing the the perspective of the level.
The other new addition that Super Mario Bros. Wonder brings to the 2D series is badges. Badges grant different abilities to the characters to use throughout the levels such as a vine used as a grappling hook or a parachute you can use after a jump. Badges can also be automatic things that happen such as providing a Mushroom at the start of a level or placing additional blocks throughout the whole level. You can only use one badge at a time, but they can be switched out at the start of a level, when you lose a life, or out in the overworld. The swapability of badges allow you to tackle levels in a wide variety of ways and makes you want to replay levels with different badges to see what you missed your first time through.
Overall, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, while not being a complete reinvention of the Mario formula, is a wondrous, pun intended, new entry in Mario’s 2D adventures. It’s finally time for Nintendo to take the 2D Mario games out of the what has become a comfort blanket and, if Super Mario Bros. Wonder is any indication, they have found and nailed where to take the series going forward. One that is full of massive creativity and imagination that can easily be built upon for years to come.
Score: 9 out of 10
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch