A Short and Sweet Review of the Plumber in Red’s Newest 2D Adventure
SPOILERS AHEAD! While the Mario franchise isn’t known for its deep and complex storytelling, be warned that I will be covering multiple important aspects of the game. So, if you haven’t played this game yet and want a fresh, personal experience, please read this article afterwards!
Charming…I think that charming is the best possible descriptor of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which was released for the Nintendo Switch on October 20th. The first 2D Mario game since 2012’s New Super Mario Bros. U (and its 2019 port to the Switch), Wonder breaks free from the tried and tested – but admittedly stale – “New” formula, dating back all the way to 2006’s New Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo DS. As such, there are a number of revamped details all throughout Wonder, from storyline, to art style, to powerups, and nearly everything in-between. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the things that, in my opinion, make the most recent adventure of our mustached hero so wonderful!
Story
As mentioned in my spoiler warning, Mario games aren’t famous for their thought-provoking stories, and Wonder is no different. However, I think that the story it tells is different enough to still be interesting.
Wonder finds Mario and friends in the Flower Kingdom, a neighbor to the Mushroom Kingdom, overseen by the bubbly Prince Florian. During a celebration ceremony, Bowser steals the Wonder Flower (the effects of which will be explained later on) and becomes one with the Flower Kingdom Castle. Thus, it is up to Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Blue and Yellow Toad, Toadette, four different colored Yoshis, and even Nabbit (a speedy, “easy mode” character who debuted in New Super Mario Bros. U, for those unfamiliar) to retrieve the ultra-powerful Royal Seeds and stop Bowser from releasing his disastrous “Wonder event” onto the Flower Kingdom.
Once the player collects the six Royal Seeds from the sprawling Petal Isles and their surrounding lands, they then enter Bowser’s Castle (or Bowser the Castle, depending on how you look at it) to take on the King of the Koopas and send him packing once again. It’s a simple, straightforward story that provides a sturdy foundation for the wild leaps that the rest of the game takes.
Art Style
The new art style of Wonder is a stark contrast to past games, as it truly embodies the word I used earlier – charming. While most Mario games have the typical 3D sprites that we’re long used to seeing, Super Mario Bros. Wonder takes on a subtle, comic book-y art style.
This endearing new style particularly rears its head in powerup transformations – when a Super Mushroom is grabbed, a stop motion-like animation is played, and when a “Tier 2” powerup is obtained, like a Fire Flower, a little splash panel silhouette is portrayed behind your character. (Note the elephant silhouette behind Mario):
Every little new detail in its art design makes the already likable settings of Super Mario Bros. Wonder even more appealing to players new and old.
All Things New!
Speaking of new details, there are a vast amount of updates to the tried-and-true Mario formula that separate Wonder from the plumbing pack. First, as you may have noticed in the last section, there are some new power ups! The Elephant Fruit turns your player into an elephant, the Bubble Flower allows you to shoot giant bubbles at enemies, and the Drill Mushroom allows you to burrow underground! Plus, the classic Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, and Super Star make their return.
Also new is the mysterious Wonder Flower. Touch this power-up, and you, the world around you, or both, magically transform! The Wonder effect can take many forms, including but not limited to: transforming the player into a Goomba, giving pipes life as snakes, even making piranha plants sing! There are far too many unique effects to list in one article, but I can guarantee you that each effect is as wild and fun as the next.
Additionally, there are the new Flower Badges, which are obtained throughout your travels. By equipping one on Prince Florian’s head, badges can give you a special ability to further aid your adventures. From charging up a super jump, to automatically giving you a Super Mushroom, even to turning you invisible, these badges can seriously turn the tide of a tough level in your favor!
There are plenty of secrets too, so be sure to check far and wide!
Overall, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a fantastic game that provides a massive breath of fresh air to the Mario series. It gives new players an introduction to Mario bursting with personality, and it gives returning players a familiar feel while easing into all its new features. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is amusing, charismatic, and well…wonderful! If Wonder has piqued your interest, it’s retailing for $59.99 on the Nintendo Store, just in time for the holiday season!
All photos courtesy of Nintendo.
Aidan Kennish is a second-year transfer student majoring in Secondary Education. He enjoys baseball, football, all kinds of music, and video games.
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