Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a delightful take on 2D Mario, but as a couch co-op first player, I can't help but feel like it is a small step down from New Super Mario Bros. Wii and U.
Getting the worst out of the way first, the camera following the crown player is just terrible. I've never had problems playing Mario titles co-op with my brother, but with Wonder it was hard to have a play session when we did not curse the camera at least once, sometimes much more. It is also not the funny kind of problems collision had before, they are just plain irritating situations. Aside from the camera I'd say some stages also don't really bother trying to fit more than one player, and on these stages the problem with the camera is usually worse.
With that aside, the game really shines with its implementation of the online ghosts, the matchmaking is impressive and the ghosts not only helping with revives but also pointing secret exits and blocks is just really well done, it feels made for this style of multiplayer instead of the simultaneous couch play.
The wonder effects are a mixed bag of cool and whatever. I have only really used one badge and I feel like they are massively underutilized. The badges actually make me want some kind of Metroidvania game for Mario.
Overall, I'm one of the weirdos that prefers the New games over Wonder. I think stages are better structured and co-op was much better. Wonder has an amazing presentation, but it feels like just the foundation for greater games in the future.
Getting the worst out of the way first, the camera following the crown player is just terrible. I've never had problems playing Mario titles co-op with my brother, but with Wonder it was hard to have a play session when we did not curse the camera at least once, sometimes much more. It is also not the funny kind of problems collision had before, they are just plain irritating situations. Aside from the camera I'd say some stages also don't really bother trying to fit more than one player, and on these stages the problem with the camera is usually worse.
With that aside, the game really shines with its implementation of the online ghosts, the matchmaking is impressive and the ghosts not only helping with revives but also pointing secret exits and blocks is just really well done, it feels made for this style of multiplayer instead of the simultaneous couch play.
The wonder effects are a mixed bag of cool and whatever. I have only really used one badge and I feel like they are massively underutilized. The badges actually make me want some kind of Metroidvania game for Mario.
Overall, I'm one of the weirdos that prefers the New games over Wonder. I think stages are better structured and co-op was much better. Wonder has an amazing presentation, but it feels like just the foundation for greater games in the future.