Super Mario Bros. Wonder Review

Mario Bros.:

The truth is, when it comes to Mario, Luigi and the rest of the Mushroom Kingdom, the Nintendo Switch has probably let us down over the years. After the release of the excellent Super Mario Odyssey, which set a new standard for 3D platformers starring, always, Mario, we haven’t had the chance to deal with a true 2D platformer.

And no, the release of New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe doesn’t count, when we’ve already seen the game before on another console, while at the same time we were probably dying for a new, fresh, unique 2D release with the beloved plumber in action.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder:

And just like that, almost out of nowhere, and without any indication of any honest and reliable “leaks” of Nintendo’s plans, Super Mario Bros. Wonder appeared. A title we’ve been waiting for since the early years of the Nintendo Switch’s life, to once again engage with everything we love to do in the games of the Mario universe for more than 35 years.

And as much as the player is suspicious of what he can expect, in the end the reality will surpass any suspicion, any imagination. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the game that sticks firmly to the classic recipe of 2D Mario platformers, yet manages to deliver the most enjoyable, satisfying, beautiful and refined gaming experience one could expect.

‘Super Mario Bros. Wonders’ journey begins through nine different worlds, each with its own characteristics and challenges. A journey that sometimes seems easy and simplistic, and at other times offers its own challenge and difficulties, which will make the collection of Royal Seeds, the items that are necessary to invade the last world of the game, a not such a passable process. But the beloved characters aren’t completely helpless.

In their adventure they will find themselves in front of old and familiar objects, such as the Fire Flower or the Super Star, which will give them a necessary power-up and an additional help. Added to the new items are Elephant Fruit, Drill Mushroom and Bubble Flower which will provide new transformations to heroes. And if there will be players who will laugh rather ironically at some of the new transformations, it is certain that they will very often manage to make them white-faced when faced with the challenges and hidden secrets of certain levels.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder, in addition to the transformations, however, also offers a very comprehensive system of emblems (badges). The player can pin an emblem at the start of a level (or after losing a life), giving characters unique abilities. Higher jumps? Faster movement? Faster swimming? The ability to magnetize coins? The lifting of the fall into the void?