Highlights
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Sonic Superstars launch in the same week later this month, marking a unique moment for fans of both long-standing franchises.
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder introduces new power-ups and features, making it an affectionately bizarre entry in the series, while Sonic Superstars returns Sonic to his 2D roots after a 3D open-world adventure.
- Positive comments from Wonder's producer, Takashi Tezuka, indicate a friendly atmosphere between Mario and Sonic, setting aside their historic rivalry, and suggesting that fans of both franchises will have an exciting fall season.
Ahead of the release of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the game's producer Takashi Tezuka is sharing his thoughts about the 2D side-scroller releasing just days after Sonic Superstars. Mario and Sonic have been rivals since the early '90s, so seeing Super Mario Bros. Wonder launch the same week as Sonic Superstars might be a bit jarring for longtime fans who have been around since the SNES and Sega Genesis era.
Both Mario and Sonic are returning to their 2D roots with their respective new games. However, despite looking somewhat like a throwback adventure, Super Mario Bros. Wonder appears to be a game of many firsts. Nintendo has already detailed several new power-ups and features, leaving Super Mario Bros. Wonder looking to be one of the series' more affectionately bizarre entries. Meanwhile, Sonic and his friends are also going back to 2D after their open-world adventure in Sonic Frontiers.
In a recent interview with Game Informer, Super Mario Bros. Wonder producer Takashi Tezuka referred to the two games launching so closely together as an "interesting coincidence." He went on to warmly state that the team is "looking forward to as many people as possible having the opportunity to play these 2D side-scrolling action games, Mario and otherwise.” As the first wholly new 2D Super Mario Bros. game in quite some time, fans are understandably excited. Early word of mouth is also stoking the flames of anticipation as even Xbox head Phil Spencer is praising Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
These comments obviously feel like a far cry from the console wars that pitted Nintendo and Sega against each other. The kind words aren't surprising, however, as Mario and Sonic have come a long way since their heated rivalry of the '90s. They've starred in several games together at this point. Still, for longtime fans, it might be weird to see Mario and Sonic go head-to-head during the holiday shopping season. Either way, it seems like fans of both franchises will be happy this fall as Sonic Superstar previews are also widely positive.
Interestingly enough, both games appear to continue a trend of historic franchises returning to their roots. Assassin's Creed Mirage is scoring positive reviews after bringing back the stealth gameplay mechanics that first put the franchise on the map. Additionally, the early 2024 release, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, also looks like a throwback to 2D side-scrolling action platformers, and it's also reminding gamers of another Nintendo franchise that recently rewound the clock with Metroid Dread. The aforementioned titles that have already been released were received well by critics and fans, and the games that are still on the horizon are generating some solid buzz.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder launches on October 20 for Nintendo Switch.
Source: Game Informer, Nintendo Life