Gameplay and Story

Super Mario Wonder follows the familiar storyline of Bowser kidnapping Peach, but with a twist involving wonder seeds that merge him with a castle. This game marks the return of a 2D Mario adventure after more than a decade, and it successfully delivers on the classic Mario experience while introducing exciting new features.

The main objective of the game is to defeat Bowser by collecting the Royal Wonder Seed for each region. To progress through each region, you must gather a specific number of wonder seeds to purify levels and unlock access to the next area. Each level contains one or two wonder seeds, and there are also challenge levels that offer extra wonder seeds. These challenge levels provide unique twists, such as changing the level's goal from point A to point B or testing your reflexes with bouncing shelves and block-hitting challenges.

You can acquire wonder seeds by completing levels. However, in levels that offer multiple wonder seeds, they are not simply handed to you. To obtain the extra seed, you must locate the wonder flower within the level. Once found, the level transforms into a visually stunning and surreal experience. You will then need to race against the clock to reach the bonus seed or engage in platforming challenges to collect additional wonder flowers, which will reward you with the extra seed.

This aspect of the game is particularly enjoyable as it introduces a whole new dimension to each level. For example, in a water level, the water may be turned upside down, creating an entirely different gameplay experience. Alternatively, you might find yourself trying to outrun a stampede of bulls. These unexpected twists and challenges bring fresh excitement to every level and contribute to the game's overall appeal.

Adding to the excitement, Super Mario Wonder introduces badges as a new series feature. These badges can be equipped by your partner, granting you advantages in levels. Additionally, there are badge trials that test your skills using the newly discovered abilities.

Furthermore, the game introduces three new and enjoyable power-ups. The elephant fruit transforms Mario into a humanoid elephant, allowing him to store water in his trunk for watering seeds or stunning enemies. Mario can also use his trunk to send enemies flying off-screen. Another new power-up is the purple flower, which enables Mario to release bubbles that can be used as platforms or to trap enemies. Lastly, the drill mushroom assists in navigating challenging levels by allowing Mario to drill into the ground or ceiling to avoid taking damage.

Super Mario Wonder successfully combines the beloved elements of previous Mario games with fresh mechanics, abilities, and power-ups, providing an engaging and entertaining gaming experience.

Graphics and Sound

Despite technological advancements, Nintendo has always maintained a distinct art style, which they continue to uphold in Super Mario Wonder. However, they manage to deliver visually stunning imagery through their clever use of colors. Particularly, when the wonder flower is triggered, the explosion of colors and the psychedelic transformations are incredibly appealing to the eyes. Each world presents entirely new environments, some of which have never been seen before. For instance, my personal favorite level was World Three, the Shining Falls, which featured a captivating golden honey-like substance surrounding everything.

In terms of sound, Super Mario Wonder features the iconic Super Mario soundtrack that fans have come to know and love. From the unique level music to the energetic tunes accompanying the super star power-up, the game delivers a familiar and enjoyable auditory experience.

Feedbackchall

Knowing this is a Super Mario game, I knew what to expect, what I didn’t expect was for my expectations to be passed. This version of Super Mario is the best version that I have played in a very long time.

One notable aspect is the game's difficulty level. While Mario games are often known for their challenging nature, Super Mario Wonder is not as difficult. Although there may be some challenging moments in the late game, it is relatively easier to progress through most of the castles in one go. Nevertheless, the level design remains enjoyable, and the inclusion of wonder flowers compensates for the game's overall lower difficulty.

Conclusion

Super Mario Wonder is everything is everything I could want and more. The only thing I could have wanted were some more difficult levels but even then I understand that the game is supposed to be more accessable which is also appreciated. With an impressive blend of new and old, this game is the perfect reintroduction to the 2D world after 10 years.

Super Mario Wonder is available on the Nintendo Store and physical copies are available at select retailers.