Game Review: Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo Switch)

When initially announced, it was hard to get excited about Super Mario Bros. Wonder as it seemed to have only two selling points. One of which was a return to the 2D side-scrolling style not seen since New Super Mario Bros. U in 2012. The other seemed to be about transforming Mario into an elephant.

Combined, it begged the question, had Nintendo finally run out of reinvention ideas for the famous red-capped plumber?

Mario and the whole gang have taken a trip to a neighbouring land known as the Flower Kingdom. A gorgeous and happy place, which is promptly ruined by you know who. Yes, Bowser and his minions have followed and are able to get hold of the kingdom’s ‘wonder’ powers. This cause Bowser to fuse with the kingdom’s primary castle, transforming him into a floating beast of destruction.

Of course, this means the Flower Kingdom needs to be saved, and it’s up to players to take control of one of the Super Mario Bros. gang either alone, or in multiplayer, and put a stop to Bowser again.

A familiar and light story, but with a freshness that comes from a brand-new world and brand-new takes on the tested Mario formula. It’s called Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and wonder is what all players will feel.

Let’s start with the visuals as Super Mario Bros. Wonder is simply gorgeous to look at. The colour, the animations, the unpredictable effects that come from Wonder flowers, and so much more. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is jaw-droppingly beautiful, and each new level offers up stunning sights that put big smiles on faces.

Visually, Super Mario Odyssey set the bar for 3D Mario games, but Super Mario Bros. Wonder sets the bar for 2D Mario games.

A high bar too, that is given even more lift by fun and exciting 2D Mario gameplay. Gameplay that takes place across tons of stages, which are spread across the six main worlds of the Flower Kingdom. The formula is the same as usual, start a level and overcome the obstacles and enemies to reach the flagpole at the end. Complete a level and be rewarded with Wonder Seeds, which are then used to unlock more levels, on route to the boss of the world.

However, each level also holds an additional Wonder Seed, often hidden, and it’s here that Super Mario Bros. Wonder excels. Simply grab one of these and watch what happens. Changes that are inventive and exhilarating, it took only two levels of experiencing the madness of a Wonder Seed to fall in love with the mechanic. Finding each one might not be necessary to complete a level or the game, but players will want to seek out every single one just to see what happens.

As great as the Wonder Seed mechanic is though, Super Mario Bros. Wonder does feature plenty more fresh ideas. Of course, there are the new power-ups, most notable the one that turns the character into an elephant, and it is stupidly fun. Not just visually either, as it transforms gameplay significantly. Then there is the drill-head power-up and the bubble power-up, both sitting comfortably alongside classics like the fire-flower power-up.

You’ll need to make good use of the game’s power-ups too (happily the reserve item mechanic has stuck around), as there are a wide array of new enemy types (as well as some old favourites and deep cuts). To help combat them, the player can equip badges that are collected throughout the game. Badges that have active and passive effects and can help make levels easier. There are quite a few and they offer up a wide array of helpful abilities, such as the ability to use a grappling hook, the ability to jump higher and further, the ability to survive a fall once, and so much more.

These badges are well balanced though, offering a helping hand, but not to the point where levels become a breeze. Although most players won’t find much of Super Mario Bros. Wonder too much of a challenge overall. Once again, Nintendo knows how to balance the fun factor with the challenge factor and even some of the trickiest levels of all are completely optional.

All of this; the wonderful visuals, the playful musical tones, the wonderful gameplay, and the amount of content on offer makes this another spectacular entry in the Super Mario Bros. series. The bar for 2D Mario games has been set here, and everyone should experience the wonder.