Mario Wonder’s Worlds Stick Too Closely to the Formula

Super Mario Bros. Wonder evolves much of what fans love about the plumber’s 2D adventures. The title features many firsts for the series, as it transports Mario and his friends to the Flower Kingdom, introduces a variety of new power-ups, and features a brand-new cast of voice actors for some of Nintendo’s most beloved characters. The Flower Kingdom itself is filled to the brim with character, and its main item, the Wonder Flower, emboldens this character through reality-bending effects in each level. Fans likely expected, therefore, that Wonder‘s world design would reflect these new qualities, differentiating it from its famous neighbor. However, that is not the case. Despite individual levels that leverage the Flower Kingdom’s unique items and properties, Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s worlds stick too closely to the classic formula.