Super Mario Bros. Wonder Preview – A Fresh Take on a Classic

comingsoon.net:

Side-scrolling 2D Super Mario games have mostly followed the same formula for three decades now — to immense success. At first blush, Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. Wonder — the first side-scrolling Super Mario game in 11 years — retains most of the iconic Mario touches we all know and love. However, it includes enough unique twists to make for what could be one of the freshest Super Mario titles in some time.

Last week, Nintendo held a brief preview session for the upcoming game, where I was able to get some time with the latest Mario game. The first thing players might notice when they get the chance to dive into Super Mario Bros. Wonder is that the game actually doesn’t take place inside the iconic Mushroom Kingdom. Instead, the setting has players exploring the Flower Kingdom.

The story of Wonder seems pretty straightforward as well. In typical Mario fashion, a celebration is interrupted by Bowser, who takes control of a gigantic Wonder Flower and transforms into a gigantic, floating, menacing version of his castle and begins terraforming the Flower Kingdom. From there, it’s up to players to transform the world back and save the day.

While past Super Mario titles have featured a wide-ranging cast, Super Mario Bros. Wonder features what might be one of the largest playable casts in a Super Mario game to date. Alongside classics like Mario and Luigi, Peach and Daisy, Toad, and Yoshi (in various colors) are available to choose from.

After picking a character, you’re thrown into the overworld of the game, a giant 3D map of whatever section you happen to be in. Running to a level lets you begin playing it, but not before you’re allowed to choose badges — a new concept to Wonder.

Badges act as either passive or active