Summary
Super Mario Bros. Wondercould be a 2DMarioplatformer like no other. The enigmatic Wonder Flower promises to provide chaotic new experiences at a moment’s notice; the game also expands on some of the most basic parts of the series, adding Daisy as a player character for the first time and introducing an elephant-themed power-up. However, while it’s always great to see aSuper Mariogame do something decidedly new,Super Mario Bros. Wondermight consider drawing on old elements of the franchise. Classic power-ups could fit into the game perfectly because of the Wonder Flower’s shenanigans.
Nintendo hasn’t outlined every way thatthe Wonder Flowerwill reshape levels inSuper Mario Bros. Wonder, but it’s clear that players should expect the unexpected. The game’s first trailer showed both level terrain warping in unexpected ways and Mario himself changing in form.Super Mariolevel design is about to get particularly weird, which is exactly why old power-ups might be right at home inSuper Mario Bros. Wonder. Depending on the surprises that Nintendo has in store, old Mario abilities could be key to designing fun platforming challenges in constantly changing levels, all while adding an extra hint of nostalgia to what looks like a totally differentMarioexperience.
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Old Power-Ups Can Empower Super Mario Bros.' New Wonder Flower
Although one might expectSuper Marioitems to have gotten more and more creative over time, there’s actually an extensive track record of creative items going back to the earliest games. For example,Super Mario Bros. 3introduced the Hammer Suit, which allowed Mario and Luigi to imitate a Hammer Bro’s skills, as well as the Frog Suit that improved swim speed but struggled on land. Later on, theNew Super Mario Bros.games added the shrinking Mini Mushroom, the Blue Shell that lets players slide around like Koopa Shells, and much more.
All in all,Super Mario Bros. Wonderhas a huge back catalog of power-ups it could draw on, and that’s great for the Wonder Flower. The game’s central gimmick will presumably change certain levels in ways that demand a new approach from them, like flooding the screen with water, warping the size of terrain, and so on. In cases like that,classicMariopower-upscould be great ways to offer players alternate strategies. Each Wonder Flower effect should be something players can overcome without a specific power-up, of course, but a long list of classic items could add some replayability to the levels.
For example, a level that floods with water could encourage players to pick up a Frog Suit and speed through the area. Alternatively, an Ice Flower fromNew Super Mario Bros.could let players stay on top of the water and avoid swimming. Similarly, when levels warp in shape and size, both Mini Mushrooms and Mega Mushrooms that dramatically alter the player’s size could offer fun ways to navigate around the new obstacles. Nintendo could even consider making these items have add, subtract, or even swap effects during a Wonder Flower segment to keep players on their toes.
Odds are thatNew Super Mario Bros. Wonderwon’t focus on old items; after all, it strongly bills itself on new ideas so far, andMariohas a history of abandoning old items in new games. Recent games likeSuper Mario OdysseyandSuper Mario 3D Worldgenerally seem more inclined to look forward than backward. Still, given the rich history of theSuper Marioseries and its place as one of the cornerstones of the game industry give it cause to celebrate its old content a little more often. As the possible start of a new generation ofSuper Mariogames,Super Mario Bros. Wondershould look for wards to integrate a few classic mechanics into its bold new vision.
Super Mario Bros. Wonderreleases October 20 for Nintendo Switch.
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