Despite originating as THE 2D platform game, it's hard not to feel that Mario gradually neglected some of its roots once 3D became the dominant perspective in most high profile games. Mario began to embrace the additional dimension in some of the most creative and enjoyable ways Nintendo could exploit it, but whereas the likes of 64, Sunshine, Galaxy, 3D World and Odyssey all enjoyed careful attention from the Big N, even when Nintendo revived the 2D side under the New Super Mario Bros. label, there was a feeling those didn't get quite the same love and attention as expected from a major Nintendo title.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder, released a whole decade after the last NSMB game, feels like it was designed specifically to address it.
Right from the very beginning the most notable thing you'll notice is how expressive and vivid this game is, especially in comparison to its predecessors. Every level is brimming with dynamic details and bright colors that blend with each other perfectly. Character animations are especially worth of mention with how everything feels so lively and reactive to the rest of the world. Mario slides from one end of the pipe to another and you see him briefly catching his cap before he loses it. Enemies like Goombas keep their eyes on Mario and get frightened if he slams one of them. Background events help adding more depth to the level and it all looks quite pleasant and distinctive. Nintendo cited Wonder as one of its more expensive projects to date, and the results speak for themselves with how beautifully presented the whole package is.
As is the case with a Mario game, it controls borderline perfectly and the mechanics feel tight. The few new transformations added like the elephant fruit are a delight to try out and master, and there are plenty of levels in varying challenges to jump through, using both old enemies and new to keep up the dynamic, evolving feeling of almost each stage.
And of course there is the big standout feature of Wonder, the Wonder flower. The way it bends and twists the backend half of each level is dazzling, from causing a massive stampede of goofy bulls that drag you along to the end, to reviving the skeletons of ancient dragons, to altering Mario's very foundation as he needs to overcome familiar obstacles in new ways. The Wonder Flower is, for the most part, a very fun addition. Although it perhaps also the poster child of Wonder's biggest issues.
Listen, this game is great. Sometimes it's even amazing. It looks as good as a 3D Mario game and it plays tight and fast with plenty of goodies to unlock. It's a Mario game, after all. There is a certain level of quality it is expected to hit, and it certainly delivers on that.
But remember me saying this game felt >specifically designed< to address many of its predecessors' problems? Yeah, as good as Mario Wonder is, it can never escape the feeling that its constant attempts to surprise and delight end up feeling somewhat ingenuine and predictable.
And that's fine, Wonder is by no means a bad or uncreative game. Far from it. But as the game goes on I can't help but feel it didn't quite learn all the lessons its predecessors had to go through. At some point the Wonder effects become less inventive and more... expected. To the point sometimes I'd just go look for them to be done with it rather than actively anticipating them falling to my hands. And ultimately, for all of its attempts to surprise players, it ends up being a fairly 'conventional' release by the end.
And then there are issues that go beyond that, like the fact that aside from the final boss, all boss fights are the same enemy just with some slight changes. For a game drumming up how unique and varied it is, this is a rather disappointing aspect, which in itself fairly surprising so I guess Nintendo did surprise me on one level.
It may sound like I hate this game or not too big on it, but I really did have a lot of fun with Mario Wonder. Perhaps that's all that counts? But for a game acclaimed as a return to form to Mario's 2D roots... It's not quite what one would expect from it. At least in my opinion.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder IS a step in the right direction, and I think it's easily among Mario's best 2D outings. But just like Mercurysteam's Metroid: Dread, it still feels like trying to catch up with the 3D side. SMB Wonder has far more personality than any of its 'modern' predecessors, that's true. But Nintendo still has quite some length to go until this sub-series can match the same charisma and richness as its counterparts, or Donkey Kong Country's level for that matter. The big gorilla's outings still reign as some of the greatest in the genre, from storytelling to art to level design to the entire package. And I can't imagine Mario letting one of his most iconic rivals to one-up him there, right?
But yes, I probably should repeat, for all my issues with Wonder, it's a damn good game, and hopefully it will pave the way for even grander and better successor that will keep pushing Mario to his absolute limits.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder, released a whole decade after the last NSMB game, feels like it was designed specifically to address it.
Right from the very beginning the most notable thing you'll notice is how expressive and vivid this game is, especially in comparison to its predecessors. Every level is brimming with dynamic details and bright colors that blend with each other perfectly. Character animations are especially worth of mention with how everything feels so lively and reactive to the rest of the world. Mario slides from one end of the pipe to another and you see him briefly catching his cap before he loses it. Enemies like Goombas keep their eyes on Mario and get frightened if he slams one of them. Background events help adding more depth to the level and it all looks quite pleasant and distinctive. Nintendo cited Wonder as one of its more expensive projects to date, and the results speak for themselves with how beautifully presented the whole package is.
As is the case with a Mario game, it controls borderline perfectly and the mechanics feel tight. The few new transformations added like the elephant fruit are a delight to try out and master, and there are plenty of levels in varying challenges to jump through, using both old enemies and new to keep up the dynamic, evolving feeling of almost each stage.
And of course there is the big standout feature of Wonder, the Wonder flower. The way it bends and twists the backend half of each level is dazzling, from causing a massive stampede of goofy bulls that drag you along to the end, to reviving the skeletons of ancient dragons, to altering Mario's very foundation as he needs to overcome familiar obstacles in new ways. The Wonder Flower is, for the most part, a very fun addition. Although it perhaps also the poster child of Wonder's biggest issues.
Listen, this game is great. Sometimes it's even amazing. It looks as good as a 3D Mario game and it plays tight and fast with plenty of goodies to unlock. It's a Mario game, after all. There is a certain level of quality it is expected to hit, and it certainly delivers on that.
But remember me saying this game felt >specifically designed< to address many of its predecessors' problems? Yeah, as good as Mario Wonder is, it can never escape the feeling that its constant attempts to surprise and delight end up feeling somewhat ingenuine and predictable.
And that's fine, Wonder is by no means a bad or uncreative game. Far from it. But as the game goes on I can't help but feel it didn't quite learn all the lessons its predecessors had to go through. At some point the Wonder effects become less inventive and more... expected. To the point sometimes I'd just go look for them to be done with it rather than actively anticipating them falling to my hands. And ultimately, for all of its attempts to surprise players, it ends up being a fairly 'conventional' release by the end.
And then there are issues that go beyond that, like the fact that aside from the final boss, all boss fights are the same enemy just with some slight changes. For a game drumming up how unique and varied it is, this is a rather disappointing aspect, which in itself fairly surprising so I guess Nintendo did surprise me on one level.
It may sound like I hate this game or not too big on it, but I really did have a lot of fun with Mario Wonder. Perhaps that's all that counts? But for a game acclaimed as a return to form to Mario's 2D roots... It's not quite what one would expect from it. At least in my opinion.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder IS a step in the right direction, and I think it's easily among Mario's best 2D outings. But just like Mercurysteam's Metroid: Dread, it still feels like trying to catch up with the 3D side. SMB Wonder has far more personality than any of its 'modern' predecessors, that's true. But Nintendo still has quite some length to go until this sub-series can match the same charisma and richness as its counterparts, or Donkey Kong Country's level for that matter. The big gorilla's outings still reign as some of the greatest in the genre, from storytelling to art to level design to the entire package. And I can't imagine Mario letting one of his most iconic rivals to one-up him there, right?
But yes, I probably should repeat, for all my issues with Wonder, it's a damn good game, and hopefully it will pave the way for even grander and better successor that will keep pushing Mario to his absolute limits.