In the world of gaming, few characters resonate as deeply as Mario. Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the latest addition to the franchise series on Nintendo Switch, brings with it a whirlwind of excitement and charm, but is it in fact the spiritual successor to Super Mario Bros. 3 that many have touted?
Super Mario Bros. Wonder dazzles with its vibrant and colorful visuals, creating the most lively world in a 2D Mario title to date. The art design leans into a delightful combination of nostalgia and fresh whimsy with a veritable ton of new characters, all of whom feel right at home in the universe. Each level is a visual feast, with diverse environments ranging from lush greenery to bustling urban landscapes.
Add to this that each level has a Wonder Flower that completely transforms the level, and sometimes Mario himself (or whichever of the half-dozen characters you’re playing as). Green pipes become wiggly friends to help you jump to higher areas, you may see a rush of the new Busrush enemy, err, rushing toward you, or you may yourself transform into something wild and unique.
Character models, including Mario and his friends, are charmingly detailed. Animation is smooth and maintains the signature whimsical style of the 2D Mario series while the talking flowers elevates it to new levels.
Performance remains consistent, with few, if any, frame rate dips, even in more hectic moments with lots of enemies on screen.
The audio in Wonder is another hit of nostalgia mixed with some modern, fresh compositions. The symphony pays homage to the series’ musical roots and the themes definitely carry some of that original Koji Kondo goodness. But there is something here that is decidedly different, and while perhaps that was the point given how wild and wacky the gameplay can be at times, the audio experience seemed to stray a bit too far for our liking.
The things you would expect to love are all still there, however: classic effects like the coin collection chime and Mario’s jump sound are all meticulously crafted.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is perhaps the greatest leap in inventive gameplay mechanics since 2017’s Super Mario Odyssey. The core platforming is the most engaging in the series, with precise controls that demand precise input in some scenarios but can be very forgiving in others. Mario’s familiar move set, from jumping to power-ups like the Super Mushroom, adds another comforting layer of familiarity, while new items like the Elephant power-up, are entirely whimsical and a joy to use.
As we alluded to with the Wonder Flower, level design overall is one of Wonder’s greatest offerings, with a balanced mix of platforming challenges and puzzles. Each level – even those in the same world – feels entirely distinct, introducing new mechanics and maintaining a sense of progression. There are certainly instances where the difficulty curve spikes suddenly, though older 2D Mario games also tended to do this, so it doesn’t come as a complete surprise that Nintendo continued to throw in a few more difficult segments. Wonder does warn you of these harder levels with a star-based difficulty rating before entering any stage, whether you’ve played it before or not.
The addition of cooperative multiplayer, allowing friends to join in the adventure, enhances the social aspect of the game. While it adds chaos to the mix, Nintendo has done away with character collisions, so you won’t be sent to your demise because Peach bumped into you in mid-air by accident. Floating right through each other is actually one of the more pleasant features here.
In the story department, there’s not much to write home about. Super Mario Bros. Wonder gets points for going somewhere other than the Mushroom Kingdom to save a princess from Bowser, but loses almost all of them when it goes instead to the Flower Kingdom to save a prince and his kingdom from Bowser. Thinking outside the box, sure, but still pressed right up against it.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a delightful addition to the 2D Mario series, offering a charming blend of vibrant visuals, wholly inventive gameplay, and a proper refresh of the mechanics of former games in the franchise. While it may not reach the heights to claim the title of Super Mario Bros. 4, it does indeed successfully capture the essence of Mario’s adventures.
This review is based on a copy of Super Mario Bros. Wonder for Nintendo Switch, provided by Nintendo. Read our reviews policy here.