Highlights
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder is generating more hype than usual due to its unique mechanics and distinctive art style, setting it apart from previous installments.
- The new power-ups in the game, such as Elephant Mario and the Wonder Flower, are already attracting attention for their creativity and quirkiness.
- The game is taking the franchise's outlandish nature to the next level, heading into uncharted waters with its expanded list of playable characters and shifting terrain mechanics.
Even though Nintendo only recently announced Super Mario Bros. Wonder in June, the platformer is already turning heads for its mechanics and distinctive art style. The Super Mario franchise has always had a dedicated community but Super Mario Bros. Wonder may be receiving more hype than usual. This could be due to the fact that the last installment, Super Mario 3D World, was an expanded port of the 2013 game and wasn't a full-length title on its own.
However, for dedicated fans, there's plenty to break down in the Nintendo Direct trailer. One such aspect is the new power-ups, which are already setting Super Mario Bros. Wonder apart from the rest of the series. Nintendo's plans for the 2023 title appear to be quite refreshing, though some fans were disappointed that the original Mario voice actor Charles Martinet wouldn't be reprising his role for the 2D game.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is Heading a New Direction
The reveal trailer for Super Mario Bros. Wonder has accumulated over eight million views since June 21. Apart from the stylized art that some are calling "very next-gen", various quirky power-ups have been shown in use. At the moment, several brand-new features have been shown, including the Wonder Flower, a Stretchy Mario, Elephant Mario, and a new playable character in the form of Daisy.
It's no secret that the franchise has always been a little bizarre. At its core, Mario is simply a plumber attempting to rescue a princess who traverses several wacky realms. Despite the fact that the successful Super Mario Bros. movie did well to capture the outlandish nature of this universe, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is taking the craziness to the next level.
Elephant Mario appears to be one of the most highly-anticipated, and strange, power-ups. It's not uncommon for Mario to transform into animals. After all, he has several iterations of himself that include Tanooki Mario, Raccoon Mario, Cat Mario, and even Flying Squirrel Mario. However, Elephant Mario's existence has made some people uncomfortable since the plumber actually converts into an anthropomorphic being rather than donning an elephant suit. On the other hand, his trunk looks quite useful.
While it's likely that Nintendo intends to preserve the nostalgia of its classic side-scrolling Mario games, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is also heading into uncharted waters between the expanded list of playable characters and the Wonder Flower that has been shown to shift the terrain of levels.
It hasn't been confirmed if there are still unrevealed Mario power-ups and mechanics, but it's extremely likely that Nintendo is keeping some close to its chest. Some people are even trying to guess what power-ups could still be making their way to the game. The already-creative Elephant Mario and Wonder Flower power-ups could very well be the start of an avalanche of new content and mechanics that really gets weird and pushes boundaries.
There is a lot to look forward to but Super Mario Bros. Wonder could benefit from reviving old power-ups as well. This could be an interesting opportunity to see how senior power-ups interact with these, and a respectful way to honor the game's predecessors.
Aside from what's been seen in the trailer, there isn't much guarantee as to what fans can expect, though, it has been stated that Super Mario Bros. Wonder will be a little difficult to beat compared to other Mario games due to its creative level design. Come October, players can decide for themselves if they like the direction the series is being taken.
Super Mario Bros Wonder launches on October 20, exclusively for Nintendo Switch.
