Games
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Review
Review Ratings
Final Review Score
Amazing
Directed by Shiro Mouri and produced by Mario veteran Takashi Tezuka, Super Mario Bros. Wonder on the Nintendo Switch represents the most creative leap forward for 2D Mario games in decades. Leaving behind the Mushroom Kingdom, this joyful side-scrolling adventure infuses boundless invention into every level, proving that side-scrolling platformers can still feel fresh, surprising, and utterly magical. In this comprehensive Super Mario Bros. Wonder game review, we explore how game-changing Wonder Effects, charming new power-ups, expressive animation, and delightful multiplayer features redefine the genre.
A Journey to the Flower Kingdom and the Wonder Flower Phenomenon
The adventure begins as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Toad, and Toadette visit the benevolent Prince Florian in the vibrant Flower Kingdom. Chaos erupts when Bowser merges with Prince Florian’s castle using a mysterious Wonder Flower, transforming into a floating fortress of doom. To save the realm, players must navigate diverse worlds filled with tricky obstacles, colorful enemies, and hidden secrets. The game’s defining feature is the Wonder Flower: touching one inside a level alters reality itself, causing pipes to walk, herds of stampeding enemies to sweep across the screen, gravity to shift, or turning characters into rubbery blobs and giant spiked balls.
Expressive Art Direction, Fluid Animation, and Upbeat Sound Design
Nintendo’s development team revamped the visual identity of 2D Mario games from the ground up. Character animations are bursting with personality—from Mario squeezing through narrow pipes with his cap slipping to Goombas giving terrified facial expressions. The sound design is equally infectious, featuring a dynamic musical score that reacts in real-time to level mechanics and player movements, supplemented by talking flowers that offer witty commentary throughout the journey.
Delightful New Power-Ups, Badges, and Seamless Multiplayer
Gameplay options expand significantly with inventive new items like Elephant Mario, allowing players to swing trunks and spray water, alongside Bubble and Drill transformations. The new Badge System lets players customize playstyles with unique abilities, such as parachute caps, wall climbs, or magnetic coin pulls. For social gaming, Super Mario Bros. Wonder shines with four-player local co-op and passive online connectivity where player ghosts drop standees to rescue fallen friends, fostering a wholesome and supportive community vibe.
The Final Verdict
Ultimately, this Super Mario Bros. Wonder review celebrates an essential Nintendo Switch title packed with pure joy. Driven by Shiro Mouri’s visionary game design, delightful visuals, and endlessly surprising gameplay twists, it stands out as one of the finest 2D platformers ever created.
Information
- Title: Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Release Date: October 20, 2023
- Director: Shiro Mouri
- Stars: Kevin Afghani, Samantha Kelly, Giselle Fernandez, Kenny James, Caety Sagoian
- Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Action
This post is part of Super Mario Games Ranked