Overview
Developed by Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 10 and published by Nintendo, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a video game released on October 20, 2023 for Nintendo Switch. The genres associated with this entry are action, comedy, fantasy and platforming, with single-player, multiplayer and cooperative modes.
The game retains the structure of a 2D Mario platformer: the player moves through stages, jumps on enemies, avoids obstacles, collects items and searches for different routes across the Flower Kingdom.
Its main mechanic revolves around Wonder Flowers. Hidden throughout the stages, they trigger events that can radically transform how a level works: pipes come alive, floors tilt, creatures flood the screen, gravity changes or the character undergoes unusual transformations.
These Wonder Effects vary from one stage to another and therefore serve more than a visual purpose. They can alter movement, the arrangement of the environment, the pace of the level or the rules that must be followed until the associated Wonder Seed is collected.
The game also introduces several new transformations. The Elephant Fruit notably turns the character into an elephant capable of using its trunk to push enemies away, destroy certain blocks or carry water.
The Bubble Flower allows the player to launch bubbles that trap enemies but can also serve as temporary platforms. The ability therefore combines offense and movement within the same power.
The Drill Mushroom allows the character to burrow into the ground or ceiling and move through it. It can be used both to avoid certain dangers and to bypass protected enemies or reach passages that would otherwise be difficult to access.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder also introduces a badge system. A badge can be equipped before entering a stage and grants the character an additional ability or bonus.
Badges are divided into several categories. Some directly modify movement, for example by allowing the character to glide, perform specific jumps or improve underwater mobility. Others provide bonuses, while Expert Badges deliberately introduce additional constraints.
Only one badge can be used during a stage, including when playing with multiple people. Choosing a badge therefore becomes a way to adapt movement options or the level of difficulty to the layout of the course.
The game features 12 playable characters. Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, the Toads and Toadette share the same general behavior, while the Yoshis and Nabbit have particular properties designed especially to make certain situations more accessible.
The Yoshis do not take damage from enemy contact, can swallow certain elements and briefly flutter after a jump. They can also carry another player on their back during multiplayer games.
Nabbit shares the immunity to damage caused by enemies, but cannot use transformations in the same way as Mario and his companions and remains vulnerable to falling into pits.
Local multiplayer allows up to four players to play through stages together on the same Nintendo Switch. When one of them is defeated, they can become a ghost and return to the game by reaching another player before the time limit expires.
Online play uses a different approach from traditional cooperation. Players can encounter the shadows of other people present in the same stage, observe their routes and use certain elements left behind by the community.
Standees can notably serve as revival points for a player who has become a ghost. It is also possible to create a room that can accommodate up to 12 people, with up to four players together in the same stage at one time.
Progression combines the main stages with different challenges and routes across the map of the Flower Kingdom. The Wonder Seeds obtained allow exploration to continue, while Poplin Shops provide access to different items and badges.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder therefore develops the series’ 2D platforming around three complementary elements: stages regularly transformed by Wonder Effects, transformations that change interactions with the environment and badges that allow the abilities used in each stage to be adjusted.
Key takeaways
- Wonder Flowers trigger transformations specific to each stage and can alter the environment, movement or the rules of the level.
- Three main new transformations appear: Elephant, Bubble and Drill.
- Badges add abilities, bonuses or specific constraints, with only one badge equipped per stage.
- The game features 12 playable characters, with specific properties for the Yoshis and Nabbit.
- Up to four players can play together locally on the same Nintendo Switch.
- Online play notably allows players to encounter the shadows of other players, use Standees to return to the game and create rooms that can accommodate up to 12 people.
Conclusion
Super Mario Bros. Wonder retains the traditional structure of Mario’s 2D platforming while giving stages a much more changeable dimension through Wonder Flowers.
The new transformations expand interactions with enemies and environments, while badges make it possible to temporarily modify movement abilities, available bonuses or the constraints applied to the character.
Multiplayer follows the same structure with up to four participants on one system and adds online systems based on ghosts, Standees and the indirect presence of other players within stages.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder therefore combines classic platforming, environmental transformations, additional powers and cooperation to refresh progression through the Flower Kingdom without abandoning the series’ core 2D structure.
Good to know
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder was released on October 20, 2023.
- The game was developed by Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 10 and published by Nintendo.
- It is available on Nintendo Switch.
- The genres listed in this entry are action, comedy, fantasy and platforming.
- It features Single player, Multiplayer and Co-operative modes.
- Wonder Flowers, the three new transformations and the badge system are the main gameplay additions.
- Local multiplayer can bring together up to four players on the same system.
