Review – Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Developer: Nintendo | Publisher: Nintendo

The Super Mario Bros. series is cemented in the minds of gamers, whether you’ve owned an NES, a Wii U, or anything in-between, you’ve almost certainly had a run-in with the series. In recent years, it is one that unfortunately grew a bit stale with gamers. The “New Super Mario Bros.” iteration of the series felt uninspired and, while fun games, felt like they were lacking in vibrancy and the wonder that the previous entries of the series managed so well. While many may have felt that the 2D platforming series didn’t lend itself well to a 3D art-style, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is here to change that, with animation bursting at the seams with style and personality. So how does it fare? 

The first thirty minutes of gameplay had me slightly questioning my taste in games. Everyone is raving about Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and all I could think was “is this it?”. Something felt missing, between the sense of accomplishment and a very low difficulty barrier. It didn’t take long for that to transform into something I can only describe as an addiction to Super Mario Bros. Wonder. 

Super Mario Bros. Wonder doesn’t just shake up the formula of the Mario Bros. series, it takes everything you thought you loved about the series and blends it with sublime new features that compliment the gameplay like lucious wine paired with a tender, flavourful steak. Badges have been introduced to add a dash of variety into the way you approach levels and sometimes control Mario. Some will change fundamentals, such as jumping on an enemy will cause them to drop a coin. Others will allow Mario to move in different ways, including using his cap as a “parachute” to allow for a slower, more controlled descent, or allowing Mario to do a small “run” in mid-air to increase the distance. These vary from being advantageous throughout the whole level, to providing small benefits when trying hard to obtain collectibles for that coveted one-hundred percent status. As a feature, I was initially dubious about how well the badges might be implemented, whether they might feel a bit cheap and tacked on, but the opposite couldn’t be more true. They improve the gameplay and overall thought process to tackle a level.

The actual platforming in Super Mario Bros. Wonder might just be the best I have experienced in anything within the enormous genre. Controls feel tight and even the most difficult challenges in the game feel achievable. Despite numerous attempts at the “hardest of the hard”, I never felt like I was being cheated by the game. I always felt like it was an issue with my skill and something I could improve on. I always had to go back for more and to try again. Accomplishing something that is objectively difficult yet fun to return to is no easy feat. Stumble around on some of the more difficult fan creations within Mario Maker and it’s not hard to see. “Kaizo” levels are a well known and practised entity in the world of the Mario fandom, but often they can feel difficult for the sake of it, with off-screen obstacles and enemies forcing the difficulty. Super Mario Bros. Wonder relies on your skill and your skill alone and doesn’t employ cheap tactics to chop away at your lives and enforce frustration. 

Wonder Flowers are yet another feature that I felt uneasy about before launching this game. Perhaps it was my own lack of knowledge prior to launch, but I had concerns around them fundamentally changing the way Mario played. Once again, it couldn’t have been further from the real experience. They aren’t necessary to complete levels and serve as part of Bushnell’s Law of “easy to learn, difficult to master”. The Wonder Flowers add a hint of difficulty for those seeking to find and earn every single Wonder Seed throughout the game. When activated, their magic is expelled and they can do anything from change the physics of a level, to outright changing your surroundings and providing a whole new challenge. Some employ a time limit, while others require swift platforming to avoid dangers and find the seed to return the surroundings back to normal. 

Super Mario Bros. Wonder has simple yet effective controls, which can be amended within the settings menu for those who want to find something a bit more comfortable and suited to their own needs. You only need to run, jump and use a shoulder button to utilise an equipped badge, or use one of Mario’s signature “twirls” to extend your air-time. Even for newcomers, there’s almost nothing to learn. The music is delightful and the sound effects throughout the game are a charming addition that only makes the game feel all the more polished and complete. The best part about Super Mario Bros. Wonder is that you do not need to spend hours to complete the title, with the main campaign taking around roughly ten hours. Of course, there is potential to spend many more hours in the game to achieve the coveted one-hundred percent rating. 

If you’re a beginner at platforming or perhaps not overly confident in your ability, then Super Mario Bros. Wonder has you covered on that front as well. It features a range of character choices, yet most of these are disappointingly the same functionally. Luigi no longer has a higher jump than Mario, so picking him will only give you satisfaction on an aesthetical basis, as opposed to being advantageous in any of the stages. However, Yoshi and Nabbit provide gamers with an “easy” mode. They are both immune to damage, however they are unable to obtain power-ups. Yoshi gets stunned when hit, whereas Nabbit can plough through just about everything. The character selection is wonderfully accessible and helps those less confident gamers take a step into this utterly amazing title. 

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is no doubt the best platformer I have played. The fun doesn’t stop until I put my Nintendo Switch down. It can be played for hours at a time, or the odd level here and there if I have just five minutes to spare. Apart from the lack of variety in the way characters play, I can’t honestly say I have any complaints. The game is vibrant, fun and the animations are incredibly detailed, allowing the game to exude personality. Nintendo have not only mastered what makes Mario great, they have mastered the platforming genre. You must add this game to your library. 

10 out of 10

Tested on Nintendo switch