by Jack Grimme, Contributing Writer
In 2017, Super Mario Odyssey proved that Nintendo had every intention of continuing to innovate in the series, even after three decades of consistently beloved releases. The game seamlessly pairs genre-bending mechanics with classic platforming staples in a way that feels familiar yet completely mind-boggling. Every time the behemoth studio announces a new mainline game, I am forced to ask myself if we will finally see gaming’s biggest mascot miss. Not out of malice, just out of the inability to believe a triple A studio is willing to truly give it their all in an age where cutting corners feels like the norm. Fortunately, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is far from a miss — it’s a true testament to the value of giving developers time to perfect and imbue passion into their craft.
Wonder returns Mario and friends to the 2D side-scrolling side of the platforming world. This time, the crew is called to the neighboring Flower Kingdom to learn about the mystical powers of the illustrious Wonder Flower. As per usual, King Bowser opts to rain on the parade, and hijinks ensue. The setup is far from groundbreaking, but it sets the stage for the introduction of gameplay mechanics that I do not believe I have seen before, in this franchise or others. Activating one of the kingdom’s prized flowers forces the level to evolve and move around you. The effects are nearly impossible to describe in any way that will do it justice, but here are just a few examples from the first few levels. The green pipes, an iconic staple of the Mario franchise, come to life and slink around like enormous worms. The level may flip completely upside down, or maybe the completion flag at the end of the level will be uprooted and whisked away by a rampaging boulder of land. Each level introduces a completely new twist on the mechanic that breathes life into one of gaming’s oldest genres.
The Wonder Flower is certainly the most memorable part of the game, which I genuinely think would still be a standout side-scroller without this complete reinvention of the wheel. The new kingdom introduces a seemingly endless amount of new creatures that always keep the player guessing. And the way the studio plays with music in this release should be their new standard moving forward. Giving certain movements and player-controlled mechanics a corresponding note allows you to collaborate with the score in a really interesting way. Simply put, it feels like Nintendo made one of the franchise’s best 2D side-scrollers and then went back and introduced a completely new mechanic that gave every level a smaller level within that level. I guess that may not be as simple as it sounded in my head, but it’s exactly how the game will make you feel!
There are a handful of nitpicks that may stand out if you are a true connoisseur of the platforming genre, the main the first time I sat down being the lack of new power ups. There are three, which are all very cool, but I expected more. This critique was almost completely nullified when I realized that the Wonder Flower is essentially a completely different power-up every time you get it. So sure, there are only three new pickups that are transferable between levels and constants throughout the whole game. But the Pandora’s box effect that you get from staring down the stem of one of those flowers is completely unparalleled, so I am okay with the fact that I can’t bring all the cool new powers to every single level.
I also believe that the difficulty curve of the game is a little unpredictable. This is pretty normal for a game that is marketed towards people of all ages, but it was especially noticeable for here. Occasionally, you will get to a boss fight and finish it first try with your eyes closed and one hand on the controller. Next thing you know, you are spending 45 minutes trying to complete a standard level, wondering if you are less capable than a 6-year-old playing a console for the first time. I appreciate the variance in difficulty, but can definitely see how the lack of consistency could be frustrating. But again, those are just nitpicks.
Ultimately, Mario continues to prove why he is gaming’s biggest mascot, and I will continue to pick these up opening night with the same childlike wonder I have had from the beginning.
Rating: Loved It
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