Super Mario Bros. Wonder looks to revitalize the 2D Mario series of platformers with wacky new mechanics like the Wonder Flower that will set the game apart from past entries in the franchise. As the New Super Mario Bros. games began to stagnate with the last few entries, 2D Mario platformers were seemingly on their way out of vogue. However, Nintendo breathed new life into the franchise by allowing players to create their own 2D Mario stages with Super Mario Maker and its sequel, which warrants an update now that Super Mario Bros. Wonder is bringing something new to the mix.
Despite Super Mario Maker 2's player base remaining active to this day, Nintendo seems to have dropped support for the title with the game's supposed final free update released in April 2020. While this update did add some requested features such as the World Maker mode and the Koopalings, it has followed a bad habit of Nintendo's wherein popular games stop being supported only a year or so after launch. Although this was said to be the final update, Nintendo could drop a surprise update with Super Mario Bros. Wonder items included for Super Mario Maker 2 players to get creative with.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Items Could Unlock a New Potential for Super Mario Maker 2
Super Mario Maker 2 upped the creative potential of the original game by adding new features including elements from Super Mario 3DWorld and an overhauled UI design. While this new content was enough to set it apart from its predecessor, it doesn't seem like Super Mario Bros. Wonder content alone would be enough to distinguish a Super Mario Maker 3 from past entries. Still, there does seem to be a decent chunk of new items and power-ups coming to Super Mario Bros. Wonder that an update to Super Mario Maker 2 would definitely be warranted.
The item with the most creative potential from Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the titular Wonder Flower. When collected, this item activates one of several Wonder effects that can transform the mechanics of the level or even the player. Super Mario Maker 2 creators could use this item to add a bizarre twist to their levels by choosing which Wonder effect will activate when the player grabs it, and players will have to stay on their toes when traversing already challenging levels as the Wonder Flower could throw an unexpected curveball at them.
Another stand-out item from the Super Mario Bros. Wonder trailer is the fruit that allows Mario to transform into a strange humanoid elephant, which could lay the foundation for some unique level mechanics in Super Mario Maker 2. This power-up seems to give Mario the ability to attack enemies with his trunk and could be a great item for levels that force the player to rush through hordes of enemies or bosses. Players could also get creative with themed levels designed around all the animal power-ups Mario has like the Super Acorn or Super Bell alongside this new Elephant Mario item.
It's not unheard of for Nintendo to add a new update for a game they've seemingly stopped supporting as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe got the Booster Course Pass DLC five years after the game was released. Even if Super Mario Bros. Wonder content is part of a paid DLC expansion for Super Mario Maker 2, it would still likely draw many players back into the game following the excitement around the new 2D Mario title. Seeing as Super Mario Maker 2 didn't quite have the staying power as its predecessor, a new update like this would be a perfect way to keep the game alive similar to the approach Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is taking with its DLC.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder launches on October 20 for Nintendo Switch.
