Nintendo Direct: Super Mario Wonder
On August 31, 2023, Nintendo held one of their world-famous Nintendo Directs. This direct Showcased their new Mario game, Super Mario Wonder. This side scrolling platform will be released on October 5, 2023, for the Nintendo Switch.
In this Mario installment, Mario and friends travel to the Flower Kingdom. This game features a huge roster of characters to choose from in single player or up to four player local multiplayer. You can choose between Mario Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Toadette, Toad, Yoshi, and Nambit. In addition to this Toad comes in two colors, blue and yellow, and Yoshi comes in four colors, green, red, yellow, and blue. The characters all play the same except Yoshi and Nambit. These two characters do not take physical damage, but can however fall off of the level. In addition to no damage, Yoshi can also swallow, and spit out objects and enemies out of its mouth. The other characters all share the same stats and abilities.
The Flower Kingdom is similar to the Mushroom Kingdom. It is divided into seven different biomes, that include the mountains, swamp, forest, and desert to name a few. The player must progress through each course similar to New Super Mario Bros, except in some areas there is not a straight path. This creates alternate routes the player can take in order to beat the game.
Super Mario Wonder adds new power-up abilities as well as characters. In Nintendo’s showcase three new power-ups from Wonder were shown off, the Elephant, Drill, and Bubble abilities. The elephant power-up transforms the user into an elephant. With this ability the user can hold water in its trough which can be released as a ranged attack. Also, the user can swing its trough as a close ranged physical attack. In addition to the attack moves the elephant ability grants the user a dash move that can be used to break blocks and even attack some enemies. The Drill power-up gives the user helmet that has a drill that protects them from aerial attacks. The user can also dig into the ground and ceiling for traversing as well as hiding and collecting items. The Bubble ability allows the user to blow big bubbles that can trap enemies. The bubbles can also be used as platforms to jump and stand on. Finally, one returning Power-Up was announced in the showcase was the classic Fire Flower. This ability allows the user to throw fireballs towards enemies at a distance. Super Mario wonder offers the player the chance to hold on to an item for later. They will no longer lose their current power-up after picking up a new one.
The world of the Flower Kingdom brings new enemies that Mario and allies must defeat. Nintendo released a few numbers of the new enemies that will appear in Super Mario Wonder. Some of these enemies include Hoppycats, who jump when you jump, Melon piranha plants who shoot seeds out at you and Condarts who dive down at you from the sky. In addition to these new characters; Goombas, Boos, Lakitus, and Koopas will be appearing in Wonder.
While traveling through the Flower Kingdom, Mario and friends can collect badges that give the player an additional ability. These badges are unlocked through challenges and game progression. The player will receive a badge and can equip one badge at a time. Some of the badges that the player can obtain are the Parachute Cap, which allows the player to float down slowly to the ground, the Wall-Climb, Jump, the Dolphin Kick, and the Grappling Vine. These badges can be swapped out before the course in order to help the player complete the course much more easily.
