Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Still undecided on how I feel about the game overall. It's not exactly my cup of tea for a Mario game, but it was pretty fun to play with a friend. What I played felt fairly easy, but I'm sure it gets harder. Might pick it up down the road or borrow from a friend.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Mario Wonder is popular in this house. After the Bluey review the girls insisted that I review Mario Wonder next. This is a really enjoyable game. Mario games are not my go games. I like them, but generally opt for others over it. However the girls absolutely love this game and what follows is Lainie’s 5 star review:
The reason I like Mario Wonder is that it’s not too hard, it’s not too easy. When you die they always give you another try. And the other people online help you come back. It’s a really great game!

And this is Elise’s: I just love this game because this game lets me play all the princesses and I also love Daddy helping me. The end!

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

I only just realized I rated this game (5 stars obviously) but never reviewed it. After one playthrough, sans the final badge challenge, I can honestly say this is the best 2D Mario sidescroller since Super Mario World. While it starts off charmingly easy, the difficulty ramps up as you progress. Although this final challenge might give me more trouble than any other final level in a Mario game, I never thought the game reached “I’m going to throw my controller at the wall” heights of difficulty. Even with all the new elements, this game was simply a joy to play. There was a real sense of unpredictability every time you ran into a Wonder flower. Despite being a side scroller, Wonder feels like the closing of a chapter (the New SMB series) and the start of a newer, better, more innovative one. And while it’s hard to compare to a 3D Mario platformer, it’ll scratch the itch until we get that next gen post-Odyssey adventure.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

This one is gonna go down as a classic. Innovative level design, the Wonder Flower is a cool gimmick, the online aspect is nice, and the game is a decent length. Plus you can't beat having a couple characters who can't die as easily.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Pretty fun Mario Game

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

The gameplay was fun but the story is so confusing

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Complete adventure
You can be a pachyderm
Musical greatness

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Just started this. I have been amazed playing it with my kids. We played for about two hours last night exploring various stages. This new spin on the 2-d Mario platformer has been amazing so far.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

This is a great game. This is an excellent game. This is a wonderful game. You can literally throw all your other Switch games away and just play this and you'd be fine.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Just beat this last night. I am glad they made another 2D Mario game. This game was fun to play and I like how they let you know the difficulty of each level. My one complaint would be the characters. I would have rather they had given each character a special advantage over the other ( Luigi jumps higher, peach has the float jump, etc.) to make you want to use different characters in different situations. 4.5 stars would be true rating for the game, so I’ll round up until we can do half stars.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

I've read the reviews from other individuals and I won't say anything that has already been said. I find myself playing this game while remembering what it was like to play Super Mario World growing up, and just how amazing I thought the game was because as noted in a "What Are Your Three" episode: it's Mario, you get to ride a dinosaur, plus you get all these cool power ups and this game did not disappoint.

I honestly didn't realize it as it was happening but my son and I, on different Switches, spent time bonding over this game as there were times where he would ask for help because he just didn't know where to look to find a Wonder Seed, or he couldn't figure out how to get past a certain spot. Late in the game, he's watching me play on mine and he asked "how are you so great at this game?" to which I laughed and said "experience, man. I just know to check everywhere" and then he responded with "Thanks for helping me with my game, daddy. I hope I'm good like you one day" & that alone, that moment alone, next to watching his celebration when he won his first crown in Fall Guys is a moment worth 5 stars that I'll never forget.

The people responsible for this game, each individual, did an outstanding job and this will be a game that defines the younger generations growth into gaming. I don't know if this could be topped, but man am I excited to find out. I know we just finished talking about MK9 too. I hope they can take all the WONDERful ideas they took to make this game the masterpiece that it is and apply it to a mindblowing MK9.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Best 2D Mario ever? Probably. It's an incredible JOY to play, you can tell the developers had immense creative freedom to just do whatever crazy ideas they could come up with, and it all works. Whether you're turning into an elephant and swatting enemies with your trunk or transforming into something even more ridiculous with the help of a Wonder Flower, this game will never get boring or repetitive.

While the main quest is very easy (probably easier than Super Mario World's main quest which is saying something), I never once cared or said "gee this should be harder" because it was FUN. And then you find special world, and you're suddenly glad you're playing with a pro controller because JoyCon would be entirely too easy to hurl in a fit of rage as you spend over 200 lives trying to Climb to the Beat, only to finally make it, and then figure out it was all a warm-up for the final final challenge. While I LOVED the Final Challenge, the Final Final Challenge needed to truly 100% the game was agonizingly brutal. It probably took fewer lives overall than Climb to the Beat, but it was just a terror of requiring even more skill than Climb took, and that one took a lot. In the end, it was only truly possible through the magic of the best online multiplayer with strangers I've had in years.

While online, you can see other players' real-time actions -- cleverly no one playing the same character as you so there's never 2 Marios, but hey how did Peach get up there? Maybe I should look around and see. Or, I can drop a standee where other players can use it as a checkpoint. Or hey, this Yoshi and I seem to be moving in the same direction, maybe we can alternate really tricky jumps so if one of us falls in, they can swim their ghost back to the survivor using the "5-second" period to touch another player or their standee you previously activated [it's significantly more than 5 seconds to start, but the clock ticks faster the more times you die on one level. I could wish for an accurate timer that just told me straight up I only had 2 seconds]. Truly genius; you have nothing to lose by helping out the other players and it created a real sense of playing together, even without being able to say or do more than what I described above.

If you're a Mario fan at all, you owe it to yourself to pick up this game. A WONDERFUL masterpiece. (I told myself I wasn't going to do that. I lied.)

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

I finally feel ready to write this review. They did it; they created the new standard for Mario 2D video games. I'm blown away by all the aspects of this game. The music is new, light weight, and fun. The colors pop on screen. The Flower Kingdom is its own world separate from the Mushroom Kingdom.

The level designs are well thought out and expansive. The Wonder Flowers made it seem as if each level was a 2 for 1 deal. Each one was it's own unique experience. Some levels had secret exits. Some were obvious, others took a little extra exploring. The star system was accurate and fulfilling. 1 star levels were a great way to break up a tutorial throughout the game as opposed to front loading and giving the game a slow start. The worlds were filled with entertaining 2/3 star levels and each ended with 4 star levels that were challenging. The 5 star levels were very clearly 5 stars, but were generally not needed to complete the game which leaves the game open to both casual gamers, young gamers, old gamers, and gamers who look for extra challenges.

The collection system is full, but not overwhelming. I am not chasing after 1000 meaningless, obscure objectives. It has not felt like a chore going through and collecting coins and seeds as I play the levels. As I am writing this, I have a few loose ends to tie up and I plan on doing so. Before this, the only game i had any real aspirations to 100% complete was Mario 64.

Thank you for removing the clock system and encouraging exploring. That alone may be the biggest change to 2D Mario. And for anyone that wants a clock, they still gave it to us in small, challenge segments.

This will go down as a generation defining Super Mario game. I am sitting here having serious considerations if I think it is better than Super Mario 64, but I can definitively say it has been the best 2D adventure I have played and it will be placed in my Mt. Rushmore of gaming. "Too-Da-Loo!"

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

I'll be honest. Initially I was going to rate this 4 stars. Like in my first 30 minutes of gameplay. It just felt very childish and almost cheesy. And a little too easy. I was thinking, "I get it, and it's pretty cool, but just not all the way for me."

Then I kept playing and it drew me in completely. Such a fantastic creation. Innovative and relatably familiar all at once. It definitely IS a kid's game, and I knew that, but it's very relaxing to play one level and then challenging at the right times.

Most of all I play this and I'm just so happy for all the really young kids getting introduced to video games for the first time through this game. This game will be their nostalgia. This is that formative gaming experience that they'll have. And WOW, what a great one it is.

This game is singlehandedly creating countless priceless lifelong memories for the next generation of video game fans. Doesn't get much better than that.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

This game has taken the idea of the classic Mario Platformer and brought it to the next level! The visual and animation enhancements from the previous game to now are incredible, and their is so much replayability with all the new mechanics

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

This game blew me out of the water. It took what made Super Mario World so great and just enhanced it. The visuals are stunning and on some of those levels it challenges you pretty good.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Editing my review since I 100%d today

None of my thoughts about this game have changed since day 1. Absolutely wonderful game that is brought to life with all of the expressiveness in the animations in every single character and enemy. The Wonder Flower gimmick is really fun and really makes you think when the level gets completely flipped on its head and presents you with something new. Didn't want to talk about any levels in particular to keep it spoiler-free!

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

This is, without a doubt, the best Mario 2D platformer out there! The soundtrack, badges, Wonder seeds, power-ups, etc. make this a step above all other Mario games. They really went all out with this game. Also, the fact you can blow through levels with mimimal difficulty/effort or, like my wife says "Sometimes you have to be curious" and check everything out to get all the purple coins and seeds, this game is one for all. If you don't own this one, you are doing yourself a disservice...get it now!!

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

This gets a five star for the reason I only gave TotK 4 stars. My 8 y/o has that look in her eyes when she plays Wonder. I am only playing this game with her. No solo for me until we beat it. There are games which are great for us adults, but the greatest of games capture the imagination and wonder (😉) of kids and adults.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

I want to be very clear that this is a 5 star game! But we should also discuss the things I miss, or rather, Nintendo missed…

I really miss being able to pick up my pals! When playing with other adults, I’m glad it’s gone (even if it was good for a few laughs). But with kids, it was a nice add! The “ride on Yoshi” feature is great, but I want the kid to be the “invincible” player, not me!

I really don’t like that any wonder seeds or flower (big purple) coins you get during a turn, where you don’t beat the course, are counted. I’m cool with anything you gain prior to a checkmark flag continuing on, but to be able to essentially jump into certain death for a flower coin, knowing you’ll keep it and not have to get it again to complete the course is bush league!

P.S. Can we give a special nod to the Crouching High Jump badge? What a great ode to Mario 2! #bringbackwart

I really freaking love this game!

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

I've seen enough.
I've not played multiplayer yet and I don't need to for this to be a five star game. The last leap that Nintendo took with 2D Mario was something between New Super Mario Bros. and Mario Maker. This blows those leaps out of the water. They've redesigned everything from the ground up for base gameplay. It still stings that they removed the characterization bonuses but just rip that bandage off, the badge system covers all of those anyway. The visuals and character movements are clean and I dare say flawless. I'll just get to the Wonder Flowers now: it's a monumental achievement to see how they approached these levels within a level. I'm astounded by the amount of creativity they used. They pretty much didn't limit themselves. I'm done now. If you're a Mario or Platformer aficionado, go get this game immediately.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

5 stars simply bc my wife actually enjoyed the game. Great music fun levels. Just enough goofiness that isn’t over done. Singing piranha plants !!! Colors are vibrant. Co op is very enjoyable. Well done

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Enjoying it a lot. Probably going to play solo for a bit

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

So far, it’s been a 5 for me!

It’s easily the best Multiplayer Mario since “3D World” (on Switch) - which I know is a major selling point for anyone here with a partner or a kid!

The only things that might drop it down to a 4 for me:

1. The learning curve isn’t as forgiving as other Mario games. There are some levels that are WAY too difficult WAY too early - and I’m still sorting out whether that’s a pro or a con.
Luckily, the developers gave each level a star-based difficulty rating, and you don’t need to play the hard levels to progress.
Ultimately this might just be a clever way to encourage players to return to previously beaten zones, once they feel confident enough to face the more difficult levels.
So while it was frustrating for me starting the game, it may be something I value as I progress.

2. The “Hidden Treasure Hunt” levels are infuriating. I’ve only had one so far, and it made both me and my partner rage-quit and go to bed many times.

Now that the game is public, and player guides are being released, this likely won’t be an issue. Still, for no-guide gamers, this is going to be a major Petey-Pirhanna-sized thorn in their side. It’s easily my least favorite feature from any Mario game.

3. The badges are CRUCIAL to the game, and some of the “badge unlock” levels are GRUELING. SO FAR, this has only been an issue for my partner.
Still… as someone with a dexterity / tactile disorder, I can see this being a major frustration down the line; needing a badge to beat a zone, but not being able to unlock the badge.

Still - it’s a very VERY fun time, and has offered some weird, unique gameplay that previously was only present in Nintendo games via the Wario Ware franchise. That level of ingenuity alone earns it all the stars in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Great 2d Mario game with the fun surprise moments you see in newer Mario games. Recommend.