It had been over a decade. Honestly, the 2D Mario formula was starting to feel a little bit like a corporate retreat—safe, predictable, and incredibly polished, but ultimately lacking that "what on earth am I looking at" energy that defined the early days of the NES. Then came Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch edition, and suddenly, Mario is turning into an elephant, the pipes are crawling like inchworms, and the ground is literally singing opera. It’s weird. It’s chaotic. It’s exactly what the series needed to stop being a museum piece and start being a video game again.
If you grew up with the "New" Super Mario Bros. series, you know the vibe. It was fine. The physics were tight. The music was catchy (if a bit repetitive with all the "bah-bahs"). But Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch throws that playbook into a woodchipper. Developed under the leadership of Shiro Mouri and the legendary Takashi Tezuka, this game feels like the developers were finally allowed to say "yes" to every bizarre idea that came up during their brainstorming sessions. There’s a specific kind of joy in playing a game where you genuinely don’t know what the next five minutes will look like, and that’s the core of the Wonder experience.
Why the Wonder Flower Changes Everything
The heart of the game is the Wonder Flower. It’s a psychedelic trip disguised as a power-up. Every single level has one, and touching it triggers a "Wonder Effect" that completely alters the reality of the stage.
Sometimes the perspective shifts to a top-down view, turning Mario into a classic Zelda-style character. Other times, you might find yourself floating through outer space or being chased by a stampede of Bulrushes. It’s a total rejection of the "one gimmick per world" design philosophy that has dominated 2D platformers for years. In most games, if you’re in a desert world, you know you’re getting sand and maybe some wind. In Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch, being in the desert might mean the sun starts trying to kill you, or maybe you suddenly turn into a spiked ball.
It keeps you on your toes.
You’re not just platforming; you’re reacting to a changing environment. This is where Nintendo’s polish really shines. Despite the chaos, the controls never feel muddy. Whether you're playing as Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, or even Toadette, the movement is crisp. They even added Nabbit and the Yoshis as "easy mode" characters who don't take damage, which is a brilliant way to make the game accessible to kids without ruining the challenge for the rest of us.
The Elephant in the Room (Literally)
We have to talk about the Elephant Fruit. When the first trailer dropped, the internet went sideways. Seeing Mario swell up into a bipedal elephant was jarring. But in practice? It’s a mechanical masterstroke.
The Elephant form isn't just a cosmetic change. You can swing your trunk to break blocks or deflect projectiles, and you can store water to spray on withered flowers to reveal secrets. It changes the weight of the character. You feel "heavy" in a way that’s satisfying rather than clunky. It’s a far cry from the Super Leaf or the Fire Flower. Those felt like tools; the Elephant Fruit feels like a transformation.
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And then there's the Drill Mushroom and the Bubble Flower. The Drill allows you to burrow into the floor or ceiling, bypassing obstacles entirely. It’s a verticality we haven't seen much in 2D Mario. The Bubble Flower lets you trap enemies in bubbles or, even better, use those bubbles as temporary platforms to reach high places. It rewards creativity. You aren't just following a path; you're breaking the level.
Badges: The RPG Layer Nobody Expected
One of the biggest departures in Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch is the Badge system. Before you start a level, you pick a Badge. This gives you a specific ability, like a high jump, a mid-air spin, or even a grappling hook vine.
It’s basically a loadout system.
If you’re struggling with a platforming section, you might equip the Floating High Jump. If you want to find hidden areas, the Sensor Badge is your best friend. There are even "Pro Badges" for the absolute masochists—like the Invisibility Badge, which makes you completely invisible to enemies... and to yourself. Good luck landing those jumps.
This adds a layer of strategy that wasn't there before. In older games, the level was the level. Now, the level is a puzzle, and your Badge is the tool you choose to solve it. It encourages replaying stages just to see how a different ability changes the flow. You might find a secret exit by using the Wall-Climb Jump that you totally missed the first time around.
The Weirdly Wholesome Online Play
Online multiplayer in Mario games used to be a laggy nightmare or a cutthroat race. Wonder does something different. It uses "Live Player Shadows."
Basically, you see the silhouettes of other people playing the same level in real-time. They can’t mess with you. They can’t bump you off a ledge. But they can help. If you die, you turn into a ghost, and if you touch a live player or a "Standee" they’ve placed, you come back to life without losing a heart.
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It’s a "passive-cooperative" system.
You’ll find yourself following a stranger because they clearly know where a hidden coin is, or you’ll place a Standee at the edge of a difficult jump to help the person behind you. It creates this sense of community without the toxicity of competitive play. You’re all just trying to get through the Wonder together. It’s surprisingly moving to see a random Luigi player wait for you at the end of a tough section just to give you a "mamma mia" emote and a high five.
Exploring the Flower Kingdom
Setting the game in the Flower Kingdom instead of the Mushroom Kingdom was a smart move. It gave the art team permission to move away from the primary color palette we’ve seen for thirty years. The backgrounds are lush, painterly, and full of life.
The animations are the real star, though.
Look at Mario’s face when he squeezes through a pipe. He reaches back for his hat. When he runs, his legs blur like a cartoon. When he enters a door, he has a tiny animation for closing it behind him. These "micro-animations" breathe life into the characters. They no longer feel like rigid sprites; they feel like actors in a play. Even the enemies have personality. The Goombas look genuinely terrified when you’re about to stomp them, and some of them are just chilling, sleeping on the job until you wake them up.
Addressing the Difficulty Curve
Is it hard? Sort of.
The main path of Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch isn't going to make a veteran gamer sweat too much. It’s designed to be a joyous romp. However, if you want the 100% completion—if you want those Special World seeds—get ready to cry. The late-game levels require frame-perfect jumping and a deep mastery of the Badge system.
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The "Final-Final Test" is a gauntlet that will test your patience. It’s Nintendo saying, "Oh, you think this is a kids' game? Try this."
That’s the beauty of it. It’s accessible for a five-year-old on a rainy Saturday, but it has enough depth to keep a speedrunner busy for months. It doesn't treat the player like an idiot, but it doesn't shut the door on newcomers either.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Talking Flowers
There was a lot of worry about the "Talking Flowers" before launch. People thought they’d be annoying or constant. In reality, they are the best part of the environmental storytelling.
They offer hints, sure, but mostly they just react to the absurdity. If you fall into a pit, they might say "Ouch!" or "Is that it?" If you do something cool, they cheer. They make the world feel inhabited. It’s not just a series of floating platforms; it’s a living place that thinks you’re just as weird as it is. If they really bother you, you can turn them off in the settings, but honestly? You’d be missing out on the game's soul.
How to Get the Most Out of the Game
If you're just starting out or looking to dive back in, don't rush. This isn't a game meant to be "beaten" in a single sitting.
- Experiment with Badges early. Don't just stick to the Parachute Cap. The Grappling Vine opens up movement options that make the game feel like a totally different genre.
- Play online. Even if you're a solo player, turn on the online features. The Standee system and the "heart points" you earn for helping others add a layer of warmth that offline play lacks.
- Look for the "Captain Toad" cameos. He’s hidden throughout the world map, often in places that require you to find secret paths through the overworld itself.
- Pay attention to the music. The rhythm levels aren't just for show; the entire environment often pulses to the beat. Timing your jumps to the soundtrack makes the game feel like a dance.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch is a reminder that Nintendo is at its best when it’s being a little bit unhinged. It breaks the "New" mold and sets a new standard for what 2D platforming can be in the modern era. It’s colorful, it’s loud, and it’s unapologetically fun.
If you've been sitting on the fence because you thought you'd seen everything Mario has to offer, you're wrong. Go find a Wonder Flower and see for yourself. Just don't be surprised when the pipes start singing.
To truly master the game, focus on unlocking the Special World as early as possible. This is where the real mechanical tests live. Also, make sure to collect every Wonder Seed in a world to unlock the "Final" level of that area—these are often some of the most creative sequences in the entire package. Finally, don't ignore the Standee shop; collecting all 144 is a grind, but it's the ultimate badge of honor for completionists.