New Super Mario Bros. was never really the next evolution of 2D Mario. Even the clunkily self-aware name clearly designates it as a retro throwback meant to evoke the classics, not reinvent them. So while it’s been 10 years since we’ve gotten a new 2D Mario game, it’s actually been much longer since we’ve seen Nintendo approach a 2D Mario with the thoughtful, evolutionary design philosophy that defined his earliest sequels. However, based on a brief play session, Super Mario Bros. Wonder may very well be the next true successor in a continuum of 2D Mario design.
The titular wonder of Mario Wonder comes from its fantastical stage effects: unique, tailored mechanics that are custom-made for each stage. When you find a Wonder Flower, the entire stage changes to conform to some wild new reality. Most if not all of the Wonder Flowers are entirely missable, which means that each stage is designed to function on two levels–as a regular, well-crafted Mario platforming stage, and also as a zany, mechanic-changing, one-off gameplay experience. At least in the stages I sampled, it is astounding how well the design worked on both levels.
Transforming the world with a Wonder Flower starts a hunt for a special Wonder Fruit, which then turns off the Wonder effect. The Wonder Flower effects are so varied and change gameplay so much that I hesitate to even share the handful that I played, because discovering the delightful surprises was like unwrapping a birthday present every time. But in the interest of illustrating how inventive they are, I simply have to explain.