Summary
Even though Nintendo only recently announcedSuper Mario Bros. Wonderin June, the platformer is already turning heads for its mechanics and distinctive art style. TheSuper Mariofranchise has always had a dedicated community butSuper Mario Bros. Wondermay 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 settingSuper Mario Bros. Wonderapart 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 originalMario voice actor Charles Martinetwouldn’t be reprising his role for the 2D game.
RELATED:Super Mario Bros. Wonder Needs One Overdue Upgrade to Its Multiplayer
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is Heading a New Direction
Thereveal trailer forSuper Mario Bros. Wonderhas 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 thesuccessfulSuper Mario Bros.moviedid well to capture the outlandish nature of this universe,Super Mario Bros. Wonderis taking the craziness to the next level.
Elephant Marioappears 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-scrollingMariogames,Super Mario Bros. Wonderis also heading into uncharted waters between the expanded list of playable characters andthe Wonder Flowerthat has been shown to shift the terrain of levels.
It hasn’t been confirmed if there are stillunrevealedMariopower-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 butSuper Mario Bros. Wondercould benefit from reviving old power-upsas 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 thatSuper Mario Bros. Wonderwill be a little difficult to beatcompared to otherMariogames 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 Wonderlaunches on October 20, exclusively for Nintendo Switch.
