We all know how it goes. You’re hopping and wahooing your way through a set of beautifully designed platforming stages in the latest Mario game, and then suddenly you see waves of blue approaching and your whole groove is thrown off. That’s right, kids, it’s time for a water level. But take heart, because incredibly, Super Mario Bros. Wonder does what no Mario game has managed to do: It makes water stages pretty good. Even kind of fun! At the very least, not terrible! This is the true wonder.
Water stages have long been the annoying slog of Mario games (not to mention many other platformers). Your movement is significantly reduced, you sink to the bottom and have to tap the Jump button to paddle, and the enemies all move in irregular swim-patterns that make them less predictable even as your own movement is severely restricted. Mario and his friends can’t suffocate like a certain other retro platforming series, but everything else about these levels is notorious for being the worst part in any Mario game. Frankly, it’s incredible that Super Mario Bros. 3 is as good as it is considering they put an entire water world in it (not to be confused with WaterWorld).
But Mario Wonder rejiggers the Mario formula in lots of ways. The Wonder effects provide constant surprises, playing while connected lets you see player shadows and standees, and badges provide an equipment system that can be tailored to suit your needs in each stage. And it was badges that made the developers of Mario Wonder look at the long-maligned water stage type and say: I can fix him.