It’s been a big week in games, but for those who haven’t been taken in by Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, perhaps the new Super Mario Bros. Wonder for the Nintendo Switch is more your speed. The new Mario Bros game is racking up rave reviews, but if you’re unaware of what Mario and Luigi are up to this time, we’re here to help with a quick explainer.
Super Mario Bros Wonder: Refreshing the basics
Part of the reason Super Mario Bros. Wonder has received a lot of attention is partly because it’s the first of its kind in a decade. While plenty of Mario games have been released in the past ten years, the last traditional 2D side-scrolling game was New Super Mario Bros. U, which was released on the Wii U in 2012.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder brings back those mechanics with traditional platforming levels that have been updated for the latest generation.
The story is as simple as any other Mario game, with you and your gang tasked with taking down Bowser, who wants to rule the Flower Kingdom. This means it’s completely accessible for diehard Mario fans and complete newcomers (I’ve played exactly one Mario game in my life and found this easy to pick up).
Wonderful new levels
Read any reviews of Super Mario Bros Wonder, and they all share a similar sentiment – the levels are simply wonderful.
The game takes place in the Flower Kingdom (rather than the Mushroom Kingdom) and has injected a sense of magic and wonder into its design, with every level containing a Wonder Flower that invigorates the course with something unexpected.
The design of the levels themselves is also delightful, with bright and beautiful colours and landscapes. If you enjoy a visually aesthetic game, you’re going to like this one.
Classic characters
Of course, a Mario game wouldn’t be complete without the classic roster of characters (although you’ll get to witness Mario’s new voice actor this time around).
Super Mario Bros. Wonder opens up a number of playable characters, including Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Blue Toad, Yellow Toad and Toadette. There is also Yoshi and Nabbit, who play slightly differently.
The game also offers local multiplayer with up to three friends or online multiplayer with up to 12. Playing together means your gang can help revive each other – plus, it’s always fun to have a game to pull out at parties.
Elephant Mario
Everyone lost their collective minds when Super Mario Bros. Wonder was revealed earlier in the year as it showed us a new power-up, Elephant Mario. The power-up transforms your character into an elephant tank who can smash through blocks, enemies and suck up water and spray it.
Additional new power-ups include a burrowing ability with the drill mushroom and bubble powers through the bubble flower.
That’s pretty much all the basics of Super Mario Bros. Wonder covered, but the best part? It’s out on Nintendo Switch now! If you want to pick up a cheap copy, you can do so here.
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