Super Mario Bros. Wonder Review
Super Mario, a legendary name in the gaming world, is one of Nintendo's golden egg-laying chickens. It's not by chance that this series is so beloved. Despite its simple gameplay, the creativity and joy the game brings are unquestionable. Regardless of the Mario edition, the reviews are consistently high.
After a period of anticipation, we can now get our hands on the latest installment, Super Mario Bros. Wonder. This comeback is truly a blockbuster in every sense. Despite launching on the same day as Sony's masterpiece, Marvel Spider-Man 2, this seemingly childish and delicate game not only holds its ground but even stands out with its unique allure.
This time, Nintendo has truly excelled in every aspect, allowing grown-up gamers to revisit old memories in a beautifully crafted and thoroughly enjoyable experience. I experienced Wonder on my Switch OLED, and aside from the gameplay itself, I was pleasantly surprised by the game's visuals and audio.
It can be said that Super Mario Bros. Wonder lives up to its name - Wonder, a genuinely fantastic and miraculously perfect experience.
With a lively and dynamic gameplay, it's evident that the visual presentation of the game should also be top-notch. Not to exaggerate, but for a seemingly 2D platformer like this indie-looking game, its presentation is outstanding. While conventional reviews or even those on Phá Đảo (a gaming platform) often discuss gameplay first, for Super Mario Bros. Wonder, I have to prioritize the audio experience for evaluation.
Whether you use the Switch's external speakers or headphones, the sound and music in the game are meticulously crafted and delightful. When the legendary tunes play, a nostalgic emotion from my childhood wells up inside me, indescribable in words. The orchestrated music is arranged and played exceptionally well, radiating joy and brightness with each frame and melody. Even moments when the flower buds harmonize with singing voices provide a uniquely novel and enjoyable experience.
You might not be aware, but during those instances of floral harmony, the singing voices originate directly from the flowers rather than the background music. This creates an authentic choral experience, and environmental sounds or interactions with surrounding objects are also rich, fostering a sense of exploration and leaping into every nook and cranny. This elevates the auditory experience to new heights.
Of course, top-notch sound requires graphics of equal caliber; otherwise, it wouldn't be the Nintendo we know. Despite the game running on the aging Nintendo Switch, the smoothness and stability during gameplay, coupled with the graphics and vibrant colors, are not to be underestimated.
The game boasts a vibrant art style with contrasting bold color tones. Additionally, the OLED screen on the Switch significantly enhances the gaming experience. Character movements and animations are interesting and seamless, while the placement of obstacles in the game paints a beautiful picture. Even when capturing screenshots and enhancing the resolution to 4K, it could easily be used as an eye-catching computer wallpaper. Furthermore, being a smooth 60fps platformer, there's no reason to genuinely criticize the fluidity found in Mario Wonder.
After over a dozen hours of gameplay and experiencing every aspect of the game, I encountered no bugs or glitches during this time. Everything is truly flawless. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is perhaps the game with the best and most optimized graphics on the Switch this year. This demonstrates Nintendo's unwavering commitment to the quality and care for their beloved creation.
Alright, praise for the presentation has been sung. But the true star of Wonder is its gameplay, and you know, I haven't mentioned the storyline, because this is a game to be played, much like its predecessors. GAMEPLAY IS KING. So if you want to ask about the storyline, I can only say simply that you shouldn't expect much. It's super childish, cute, and always leaves a smile on our faces. Bowser once again starts mischief somewhere, and this time it's in the Flower Kingdom. Then Mario and his friends have some business to attend to. So, let's get back to the gameplay.
Perhaps the saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," applies to Super Mario Bros. Wonder because all the good elements from previous games are retained, with a sprinkle of new features like power-up items to make the game even more enjoyable. Old and new mechanics are blended together, providing a familiar yet fresh experience.
Furthermore, the game expands the choice of playable characters, allowing you to choose from Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, yellow or green Toad, Toadette, various Yoshi types, and Nabit. Each character has unique abilities, but not always suited to your playstyle. Instead of having distinct abilities, players can equip "badges" similar to a lightweight equipment system to customize their playstyle. These badges can alter how you move and interact in the game. They are diverse, offering players solutions they want to overcome levels, adding flexibility and excitement to the game.
The new Power-Up abilities are also fantastic. For example, transforming into an elephant is something that completely took me by surprise. When in elephant form, stomping through the level as the powerhouse, I've never been as excited as a child. The power of the balloon flower may not seem impressive initially, but once you realize it helps you jump higher, you might find it hard to resist using it. And then the drill mushroom can change the gameplay entirely by allowing the character to dig into the ground to uncover secrets. All these abilities are sensibly balanced in just the right amount, creating a desire for more without becoming monotonous.
The difficulty of the levels is clearly divided, with some being extremely simple, while others pose a significant challenge, demanding the player's quick reflexes and patience. It forces players to apply all their skills and reflexes to overcome.
What I highly appreciate is that although the game offers many levels of various difficulties, the addition of "Break Time" levels or puzzle-solving levels has brought an incredibly diverse experience. Some will make you search for hidden items to get Wonder Seeds, while others will require you to race to the finish within a specific time, or engage in battles or follow musical rhythms. Simply put, no matter the difference in levels, Nintendo has impeccably designed them all.
Of course, there will be challenging levels, and Nintendo has provided a solution to this issue by introducing online play. Here, you can connect with other players to collaborate through levels. This online play segment is highly praised for its interactivity and the enthusiasm of the Super Mario Bros. Wonder community. When playing online, I always encountered skilled and passionate players willing to communicate and guide each other through the levels. Therefore, currently, this online play section not only receives high praise from me but also from gamers who appreciate the support it offers.
VERDICT
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is truly impressive with many noteworthy aspects. The "Wonder" effects in this game make players feel truly special. It's no exaggeration to say that Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a captivating game, well worth the time and money you invest. The level of creativity in this game is truly astounding and will keep you smiling from the beginning to the end of the journey. From high-quality visuals to creatively designed items and innovative gameplay ideas, Super Mario Bros. Wonder showcases the excellence of top game developers in this industry. It's a clear testament that the 2D side-scrolling platform genre still has a stage, and Nintendo continues to be the leader and savior of this genre. Because, you know, this genre will still be valuable and continue to inspire the future if someone outside Nintendo is looking for motivation to create games in this genre.