Side-scrolling 2D Super Mario games have mostly followed the same formula for three decades now — to immense success. At first blush, Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. Wonder — the first side-scrolling Super Mario game in 11 years — retains most of the iconic Mario touches we all know and love. However, it includes enough unique twists to make for what could be one of the freshest Super Mario titles in some time.
Last week, Nintendo held a brief preview session for the upcoming game, where I was able to get some time with the latest Mario game. The first thing players might notice when they get the chance to dive into Super Mario Bros. Wonder is that the game actually doesn’t take place inside the iconic Mushroom Kingdom. Instead, the setting has players exploring the Flower Kingdom.
The story of Wonder seems pretty straightforward as well. In typical Mario fashion, a celebration is interrupted by Bowser, who takes control of a gigantic Wonder Flower and transforms into a gigantic, floating, menacing version of his castle and begins terraforming the Flower Kingdom. From there, it’s up to players to transform the world back and save the day.
While past Super Mario titles have featured a wide-ranging cast, Super Mario Bros. Wonder features what might be one of the largest playable casts in a Super Mario game to date. Alongside classics like Mario and Luigi, Peach and Daisy, Toad, and Yoshi (in various colors) are available to choose from.
After picking a character, you’re thrown into the overworld of the game, a giant 3D map of whatever section you happen to be in. Running to a level lets you begin playing it, but not before you’re allowed to choose badges — a new concept to Wonder.
Badges act as either passive or active power-ups that can help you progress levels. We weren’t allowed to freely pick many, but some of the badges that could be selected did things like boost your coin output in a level, increase standard jump height, or add in abilities. These include being able to leap high into the air with a well-timed crouch jump.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s gameplay remains pretty true to the side-scrolling games of the past. You’ll navigate levels by running through them and collecting coins, taking out enemies, and searching for hidden areas via Warp Pipe or vines you can climb into the sky. Levels also contain Wonder Seeds, a new collectible that can be found in certain areas of the map. It’s unclear what the reward or benefit of collecting them is as of now.
From the very start, Super Mario Bros. Wonder just feels like a classic Super Mario title. Whether it’s running through levels at maximum speed or taking things slow and trying to fit into every Warp Pipe, the game definitely captures the same excitement and fun that past games do.
Classic power-ups such as the Mushroom and Fire Flower make their return, as well as new ones. The two available during the preview session were ones that turned you into an elephant capable of sucking up water to spray or breaking through otherwise hard blocks. The other gave Mario a drill bit on top of his head and allowed for players to break through barrier, or even stick to the ceiling in certain sections.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder also adds some brand new mechanics in the form of Wonder Flowers. Found on every level (and sometimes tucked away in clever spots,) these new items transform the entirety of the level instantly.
One of the Wonder Flowers in the first few levels of the game, for instance, causes Warp Pipes to move and react as you step on them. One of them even begins inching forward like a worm, allowing Mario to reach higher platforms and traverse the level.
Another causes a giant stampede of animals that Mario can ride to the end of the map with ease. Others deeper into the game even totally transform the characters. One specific Wonder Flower changes Mario into a Goomba who isn’t able to jump, but can hide behind trees in a level to avoid being detected by enemies.
While we didn’t get the chance to explore every single Wonder Flower or effect in the game, it’s clear that Nintendo has put a big focus on them, and for good reason. The handful that I got to experience were tons of fun and added an additional reason to want to explore every nook and cranny of a level.
Outside of the core gameplay, one of the biggest features set to arrive in Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a deeper multiplayer functionality than any Mario game before it. Local co-op returns, which makes it easy to pass a Joy-Con to a friend or loved one at any point. Drop-in, drop-out multiplayer has cemented games like New Super Mario Bros. Wii and and Super Mario 3D World as beloved staples for some. Wonder will doubtless sit next to them, if what played is any indicator.
This time, however, players aren’t limited to who’s on the couch with them. A first to the series, online multiplayer in Wonder operates like a more in-depth version of Dark Souls’ online component. You can join friends as they’re playing levels, but will appear as a shadow of sorts, able to revive and give out items while you traverse a level. You can also leave standees of yourself throughout levels, which can also revive players. Standees can also be left mostly anywhere in levels, so players can leave them as hints to potential hidden areas.
Getting into a game is as simple as joining up with a friend who is also playing. Once you’re connected, you can run around and play as you normally would. In local co-op, if one player dies during their play, they turn into a ghost of sorts and can float up to their companion to be revived.
While playing as a team is encouraged, Wonder does also allow for the ability to make things a bit more competitive. If you want to take a break from playing through levels like normal, players can turn certain levels into actual races and try to beat their friends through to the end of the level. Mini-games are also available to play as a sort of “breather” for when you just want to have some fun, although we didn’t get to experience too many of them.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Preview: Final Thoughts
When it comes to Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Nintendo has big shoes to fill. Not only is it the first side-scrolling Super Mario title in a decade, but the history of Mario as a whole means many players will expect an incredible game right from the start. Although my time with Wonder was brief, it seems Nintendo is up to snuff.
The game feels just like a side-scrolling Super Mario game should, but deviates from the norm just enough to make things feel incredibly new and exciting. Combined with new mechanics, power-ups, and ways to play, the next entry in the iconic video game series has the recipe for success.
Disclosure: Nintendo invited the author to a preview event so we could conduct our Super Mario Bros. Wonder preview.
