Super Mario Bros. Wonder Reviews
It has taken Nintendo almost 30 years to get its flagship side-scrolling series back on top, but that is exactly what has been achieved with Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Not since the days of the SNES has 2D Mario felt this original and fun, with the bizarre hallucination-like gameplay elements contributing to both the joy and hilarity all at once, coupled with brilliant character animations and a multitude of ideas that makes every level unique. Stages could have stood to be longer, and it may have been a good opportunity to go a bit wilder with the story and villains, but those are small complaints for what is an absolute blast from beginning to end.
Super Mario Bros Wonder is the big leap that 2D Mario platformers needed. The updated visuals, the Wonder Flower levels, the improved level designs, the variety of new monsters, all of it lends to a great experience that will leave you screaming, "WONDERFUL!!!"
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is definitely a timeless classic that will survive the test of time.
Much could be written about the particularities of this badge or any idea affects on a level, but nothing like experimenting and discovering how Super Mario Bros. Wonder, starting from the oldest model in the series, is at the same time a wellspring of ideas, mechanics and challenges in constant rotation. It's simple and accessible but at the same time challenging and packed with secret areas, hard-to-get collectibles and arduous challenges that even the most well-versed in the series can feel like the game bites. And in all of this there is fun and the somewhat hallucinated feeling of yet another ingenious level. It's a game that flourishes above all in ideas and mechanics, proving that the 2D segment of the Super Mario series is capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the 3D references of the series.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is arguably the best 2D platformer from Nintendo. Its range in difficulty makes it a game everyone can enjoy, especially with invincible characters like Yoshi and Nabbit. The co-op makes for a hilarious and fun family game night. Completionists and challenge runners are also in for a treat, as Mario Wonder is bursting at the seams with content. Wonder feels like the start of a new generation of Super Mario. We are on the precipice looking out at the exciting Mario games on the horizon, and if Mario Wonder is the first step, we are in for quite the journey.
Those are minor missteps, though, in an otherwise fantastic release. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is easily the most interesting a 2D Mario title has been since the 90s, and any fan of platformers absolutely needs to play this game. The Switch has had a fantastic year for first-party releases, but Super Mario Bros. Wonder stands alongside the very best of them.
Mario is known for surprising you with new ideas and strong game design. Super Mario Bros. Wonder contains both in spades. Although it executes on the element of surprise in a way I hesitate to call an outright innovation, it always supports the strengths of both the expected and unexpected.
Thankfully, every inch of Wonder is bursting with personality, from Mario squeezing through a pipe after eating an Elephant Fruit to your being able to place cardboard cutouts to mark a path for others online and in co-op. That this short and relatively easy game never forces you to master (or even use) abilities like a grappling hook or gliding cap speaks to just how much it’s trying to do, but such minor flaws don’t come at the expense of joy. Wonder is a platforming playground for all ages that, at its best, redefines Mario’s world as one of unlimited potential.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a title that will end up being an essential part of the Nintendo Switch’s library, and for great reason. It is a game that will stand as a shining mark in the gaming industry of what is possible. Mario Wonder may not be an absolutely perfect game, but it gets as close as possible by remaining the fun and cozy game throughout its run time.
While it’s not the most challenging Mario game, Super Mario Bros. Wonder brings a burst of creativity to the classic 2D platforming genre.
While I have my reservations about whether or not Super Mario Bros. Wonder represents the first big step for the series away from the “New” Super Mario Bros. iterations, this is easily the most fun I’ve had with a 2D Mario platformer since Super Mario Bros. 3 (a game I hold in higher regard than Super Mario World), undoubtedly making it not only of the best games of the year but one of the best games on the Switch.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is easily the best new 2D Mario in a very long time, and it’s really fighting for my number one or two spot. Recency bias has it going head to head with older titles, but that’s the great part: you don’t have to decide. Each game brings something to the table, and Wonder’s new everything – enemies, power ups, level design – keeps it brimming with potential all the way to the very end.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is like a rapid firework display of ideas that never stops dazzling, throwing curveball after curveball and never lingering on a single concept. There’s something to be said for gameplay that doesn’t outstay it’s welcome, but often is the case that Wonder’s twists and tricks barely make it through the threshold before they leave, never to return. I’m impressed by what Wonder does, amazed at its drug-like wackiness, and left with a longing for some of that stuff to stick around longer than it does.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder once again proves that Mario is the king of the platforming genre. Much like his previous adventures did before, the amount of creativity and polish on display sets a new industry standard.
To be honest, I didn’t expect much from Mario Wonder. The 2D games tend to play it relatively safe, preferring to lean on nostalgia and mass appeal. Somehow I’ve been shocked at almost every turn. The visuals are consistently fresh and exciting. The mechanics blow the whole formula wide open. New powers, new skills, and new challenges had me immediately hooked. The soundtrack is mostly bangers by weight, just a hot mess of excellent music. Sure, the story is forgettable. I couldn’t tell you the name of your constant companion. He’s some sort of bug with a crown? And the bones of the 2D gameplay are well-preserved standards from several generations back. But the total package is an absolute blast. If you’ve been looking for a hot new Mario game, your prayers are answered. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the best the series has been for years.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is built on an abundance of whimsical surprises, and the delight that each new one brings will keep you smiling from beginning to end. It’s a significant, impeccably refined creative leap that resoundingly demonstrates that there is still a lot that can be done to a near 40-year-old idea, and one that continues to spark a fulfilling sense of newfound joy through play.
Super Mario Wonder is a modern masterpiece for the Switch, with imaginative game design that is a joy to experience.
Nintendo turns its attention to 2D to craft one of the most joyful and inventive Mario titles and a reminder that 2D can be fresh, too.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
