This 15-minute Nintendo Super Mario Bros. Wonder Direct showcases the all-new Flower Kingdom, fresh power-ups, and transformative Wonder Effects that promise to revolutionize the Mario experience.
In Super Mario Bros. Wonder, The Flower Kingdom appears to be a short journey away from the Mushroom Kingdom. Guided by the benevolent Prince Florian—guardian of the Wonder Flower—this kingdom blooms with seven vibrant worlds, all stitched together by their unique set of stages. What may be a significant shift for the franchise is the “choose-your-own-adventure” setup: You can tackle these stages in any order you want!
While the new kingdom in Super Mario Bros. Wonder may be a significant shift, Nintendo has not forgotten the ever-important power-up system we know and love in Mario titles. Elephant Mario is perhaps the most iconic new addition shown off, as it can use its trunk to bash through obstacles and even spray water. Even though the Elephant is the poster power for the game, the Drill and Bubble abilities shown off in the showcase look to bring new and exciting mechanics to the classic formula; they’ll let you dig under challenges or shoot and jump on bubbles to collect those hard-to-reach coins, respectively.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is seemingly following in the footsteps of classic Mario titles and is a game made to play with friends. Up to four players can join the excitement via local co-op or online through Friend Rooms. Teamwork looks to be incredibly important in this title, as you can even bring back defeated partners to the game. But for those who relish competition, initiate a stage race to prove you’re the speediest Mario in the Kingdom.
While Super Mario Bros. Wonder looks to bring its fair share of challenges, Nintendo seems to be doing what is needed to welcome Mario newbies and kids into the mix. There’s a badge system that unlocks abilities ranging from charged jumps to continuous dashes. And if you’re looking to coast through levels without much fuss, Yoshi and Nabbit are your go-to characters, as they don’t take damage from enemies.
It is also worth pointing out that Super Mario Bros. Wonder will be the first Super Mario game in decades, not to include the icon voice of Charles Martinet. The actor has been voicing the plumber for years and has appeared in countless games since Super Mario 64. It will be sad not to hear the iconic voice actor in this latest title, but it is good to see him end the reign of Mario on his own terms.
Mark your calendars for October 20, when Super Mario Bros. Wonder launches exclusively on the Nintendo Switch. Pre-orders are live for anyone looking to grab the game in preparation for launch.
