Super Mario Bros. fans have been itching for a new game for a very long time. The last truly original entry in the iconic 2D platforming series was New Super Mario Bros. U in 2012, and since the release of the Switch, fans have had to get by with the nearly identical New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. Years of patience have paid off, however, as at the most recent Nintendo Direct the company announced Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a bold new step for the franchise both in terms of gameplay and art direction. Better yet, it's set to release in just a few months.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder looks to shake up the Super Mario Bros. formula in more ways than one. The game's reveal trailer featured some of the most inspired visuals the Super Mario franchise has seen in a long time, and new power-ups like Elephant Mario already demonstrate how Nintendo is back to its crafty and experimental ways. The game will also feature a new roster, with Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Yoshi, and Toad serving as Wonder's playable characters. This roster opens up some fascinating opportunities for Super Mario Bros. Wonder, opportunities that could bring the game to whole other level.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Could Have an Expansive Roster
One of the biggest surprises from Super Mario Bros. Wonder's reveal was its playable characters. Not only was it exciting for many to see Peach and Yoshi as core characters, but fans of Daisy were delighted to see the princess of Sarasaland as a playable character in something other than a Super Mario spin-off game. This willingness by Nintendo to include Mario characters who usually don't get the spotlight creates an opportunity for Super Mario Bros. Wonder to take an approach similar Super Smash Bros. Ultimate when it comes to building an impressive roster.
The Mushroom Kingdom is rife with colorful characters. Many of those characters, however, are often relegated to series like Mario Party or Mario Kart and aren't playable in mainline Mario titles. Super Mario Bros. Wonder could be a chance for those characters to take the spotlight, much like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate gave attention to gaming names of varying popularity. Some obvious additions include Wario and Waluigi, but Nintendo could cast a wide net and bring in the likes of Donkey Kong and Toadsworth too. It would all be in service of making Super Mario Bros. Wonder a unique celebration of the franchise.
A Deep Roster Can Give Super Mario Bros. Wonder Longevity
In addition to some exciting variety, a substantial roster would give Super Mario Bros. Wonder some essential longevity. It's unlikely that there are any fans who would want to wait another ten years between Super Mario Bros. entries, but if there is another sizable gap between entries, a large, varied roster would help support Wonder's replayability. Super Mario Bros. games usually aren't 100 hour experiences, but with a deep roster, fans could play Wonder multiple times over and have a new experience each time. It would just be up to Nintendo whether to make those characters unlockable or some kind of DLC.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder looks to be a major step forward for the franchise. After over a decade of the same gameplay fundamentals and art direction, Nintendo is taking Mario and friends in a bold new direction. Wonder's roster is an essential part of that evolution, allowing gamers to control Super Mario characters who are usually on the sidelines. Whether this is indicative of an initiative to give even more characters the spotlight remains to be seen, but there's no doubting that a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate-like roster in Super Mario Bros. Wonder could elevate the game far above previous entries.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder releases October 20 on the Nintendo Switch.
