Every time a new, big “Mario” game comes out, it’s an event. Nintendo has maintained an amazing track record with these games, and “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” is more than just another great game. Simply put, it’s one of the finest “Mario” games ever released.
The premise is pretty standard. Mario and friends are in a new kingdom, the flower kingdom, and then Bowser shows up to wreak havoc. From there, the player will go through a series of levels, fight some bosses and collect items as usual. The real hook comes with the level designs and new power-ups.
Most main levels have a wonder flower that drastically changes the layout and mechanics of the level. Physics works differently, enemies change, and the art becomes a lot more vibrant, bordering on psychedelic. Another featured new power is the elephant power-up, which lets players shoot water and ram through blocks.
The new powers are fun, but it’s a shame that the game doesn’t have something that lets players fly like in previous 2D games. It seems the developer chose to focus on featuring the new abilities instead of bringing back all the fan favorites.
The overall presentation of the game is fantastic. The art style of bright and charming, and the graphics are quite impressive considering it’s on an aging system. This is easily one of the best- looking games on the Switch. Nintendo remains a master in creating charming worlds that can make anyone grin as they play through the game. It’s the kind of timeless joy that appeals to everyone.
The game is also playable in co-op with up to three other people locally. Previous 2D Mario has also offered co-op play, but due to some strange choices, these sessions would often turn into frustrating bouts and players accidentally killing each other and nabbing power-ups.
Sadly, those problems still linger, and a lot of the levels feel like they were made for just one person. The chaos of multiplayer has some novelty value, but I would recommend playing alone or just passing around the control to get the best out of the game.
The good news is that Nintendo also added some online functionality that’s pretty interesting. When connected online, other players’ ghosts can be seen in levels and the overworld. You can’t collide with them, but they can occasionally save you from losing a life if they assist your ghost. It’s like the random phantoms you can encounter when playing “Dark Souls” and it’s an option that adds to the game’s charm.
While “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” doesn’t reinvent the wheel for “Mario” games, it also shows that it doesn’t have to. This game has a slew of fresh ideas that add a lot to the classic formula and deliver some of the best content ever seen in the franchise. The low number of unique power-ups and poor co-op are small issues, and they don’t drag the game down very much.
The game is pure fun distilled into a game that doesn’t overstay its welcome and always has something new to show. It earns four-and-a-half stars out of five.
