Super Mario Bros., a game everyone loves for Nintendo to make a total of more than 200 primary and spin-off titles, is returning later this year. Called "Super Mario Bros. Wonder," the new game has Mario and other characters in the franchise dodging hurdles in a two-dimensional maze.
The Super Mario franchise has essentially moved to 3D platformer style with occasional exceptions in the form of the Maker series that allows players to create their own landscapes. Super Mario Bros. Wonder's 2D gameplay, thus, marks a refreshing comeback with a classic touch from the older games.
The graphics and the gameplay are reminiscent of 2013's New Super Mario Bros., which was initially intended for the Nintendo Wii U and later ported to the Switch. But besides the nostalgia guiding the gameplay, Wonder has plenty of new visual elements and power-ups (fancy an elephant Mario?) along with animations to make use of the Nintendo Switch's senescent hardware.
Mario, Luigi, Princesses Peach and Daisy, Yoshi, and Toad are the playable characters in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and it allows up to four players to ramble together, traverse through squiggly pipes, dodge a giant spiky ball, and more in a co-op mode.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder arrives on October 20th but is already up for pre-order at Nintendo's eShop for $60.