Super Mario Bros. Wonder Review - IGN

Super Mario Bros. Wonder looks and plays like the true next step for 2D Mario platformers. Wonder effects change each stage in both surprising and delightful ways, the Flower Kingdom makes for a vibrant and refreshing change of pace, and Elephant Mario steals the show.

[Jin_Sakai]

“Super Mario Bros. Wonder looks and plays like the true next step for 2D Mario platformers.”

I guess you could say, Nintendo did a WONDERful job!

SMB Wonder - 93 Metacritic
Spider-Man 2 - 90 Metacritic.

Oct 20th can’t come soon enough!

[darthv72]

Wait... did SM2 go down? It was at 91 as of yesterday.

[Christopher]

It can pretty much only go down. Most 10/10 reviews come on day 1 typically.

[Lightning77]

Because everyone loves Nintendo doesn't matter if it's the same IP and game over and over. Yet Spiderman got an 8 for doing more Spiderman things.

Go figure.

[Sonic1881]

Not surprised at all

[Old McGroin]

@Lightning77

"it's the same IP and game over and over"

Maybe try reading some of the reviews. They all say it changes things up and offers inventive innovations in pretty much every level.

[Lightning77]

@old the same way SM2 did as well? It's that Nintendo tax+ they can almost do no wrong. Plus Spider man getting an 8 is way more clickbate than Mario getting a 8. People won't flock as hard to it.

[Asplundh]

@lightning
You're suggesting a double standard, but the games were reviewed by two different people at IGN.

[Cacabunga]

Getting Mario day one.. looks like online mode is adding some extra value

[DarXyde]

Lightning77,

Nintendo is quite good at reinventing a series within a familiar framework. The only exception to that really is F-Zero. Guess which franchise we've not really seen in ages?

Even if I granted you that, it's amazing to me that someone can look at Nintendo franchises and cry stagnation while the differences between like 90% of Mario games exceed the differences between sequels on other platforms (Halo, Uncharted, The Last of Us, Gears, GT, Forza, Spider-Man, etc). Heck, even new IPs are considered same-y ("it's Skyrim in space" ring any bells?).

It's such a weak argument.

[Jin_Sakai]

“ Wait... did SM2 go down? It was at 91 as of yesterday.”

Yes the just added IndieWire that give Spider-Man 2 an 83 which dropped the Metascore.

[Sonic1881]

It's back at 91

[solideagle]

if it gets 1 7,6 or 5 Spidy can go down to 89...

most likely from Edge or some other website...

[DarXyde]

Not all reviews are weighted equally though.

[-Foxtrot]

I’m getting both but I love how both games improved on those before but Spiderman was too “familiar” for them but the 50th Mario game isn’t.

[Gamerscore2077]

So true Fox, Nintendo & FromSoftware are the only two companies that can make the same game over & over again & it these reviewers never have a problem with them.

Perfect examples is Elden Ring & Tears of the Kingdom. While both are good games, they’re exactly the same as their predecessors especially TOTK. Not one complaint from one reviewer saying each one of those games play & look the same as their predecessors. When it comes to Sony titles however, those titles are heavily scrutinized for some strange reason. But those titles are usually the ones raising the graphical bar & gameplay & yet you have some reviewers that go out of their way to downplay it.

It sucks, but the review system in the game industry has been broken for decades now.

[darthv72]

check out Jon's opinion on the matter of Mario and how this feels totally new compared to previous
https://youtu.be/7Y9PveDsJT...

[SquidBuck]

All good. SPM2 has over 40 more reviews anyways. What a weird comment honestly.

[repsahj]

Grats to nintendo. Spidey 2 deserves better, but it's alright. Both of them look great, and 90+ on metacritic is still a great achievement.

[badz149]

straight from the review:

"it looks like what you’d imagine a proper Super Mario World sequel should be if it were made in 2023 instead of 1995."

WTF? The benchmark for Nintendo games are so low, they really think that this is the peak platformer design for 2023! your Nintendo-tinted glass is showing there, IGN!

[goldwyncq]

No shame in losing to Mario, a franchise that saved gaming in the West.

[Einhander1971]

And yet another quality title from the masters of gaming 👌

[Stanjara]

They did it again!

[Petebloodyonion]

I have to admit that this version looks so festive and fun to play versus the previous entries that copied and pasted the NSMB NDS look and formula.
I'm really looking forward to playing this with my son.

[darthv72]

i never realized just how many NSMB games there are.
New Super Mario Bros - DS
New Super Mario Bros 2 - 3DS
New Super Mario Bros Wii - Wii
New Super Mario Bros U - WiiU
New Super Luigi Bros - WiiU
New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe - Switch

This one feels totally new and fresh.

[Profchaos]

I'm happy they didn't continue nsmb I never hated those games but I never loved them either they felt a little clunky compared to 3 and world I'm assuming it's the result of switching to 3d models from 2d sprites. Wonder appears to be 3d models that behave more like sprites you don't need to finish a animation cycle to perform an action as an example.

I think that's the magic of Mario games bringing new generations into gaming and it's still a great time for everyone plus nabbit returning does make it far less frustrating for kids to play with parents as opposed to nsmb on Wii

[Firebird360]

Absolutely agree. Nsmb does feel clunky.

[DazaMc]

This is the game of the generation!

[Eonjay]

I will enjoy it but no. It's just a good Mario game.

[Gamerscore2077]

It’s not Starfield? ;)

[Profchaos]

I know why can't a 2d platformer be in these conversations for at least goty they are completely dismissed on average

[attilayavuzer]

same reason youtube videos don't get nominated for oscars

[Wintersun616]

I wasn't expecting much of this game. Forgive me it was mostly because of the name and the feeling of "again?". But it looks fun and different enough, so I'll buy it for sure eventually.

[Neonridr]

this game is gonna look magical on my OLED. Love the colors.

[Traecy]

Though I own a Switch there aren't too many games that I play on it. I still have a few games that I haven't got around to playing yet. I never got into the Super Mario Bros games from the SNES days but I must say this game looks really pretty & colorful. I may try this out once I'm done with the other Switch titles I own. I will be buying SM RPG Remake next month, I enjoyed playing that game on the SNES & I want to play the remake for nostalgia.

[GamingSinceForever]

I'm sure this game is great for nostalgia alone but the price. Yikes!!

[Angyobangyo]

Yikes would be your take. Why is a 2D game nostalgia, when clearly a lot of creativity went into the game? Nintendo knows how to make them and they make them really well. You just sound bitter that it is reviewing well.

[GamingSinceForever]

See my previous comment. The shoe fits.

I swear you grown men act like 12 year olds on here.

[Profchaos]

I haven't been this excited for a 2d Mario game since smb3 which is still my favourite game of all time.

[Trilithon]

Couch co op looks fun

[anast]

At this point, I have to nod in appreciation at the hustle. This is top-tier stuff.

[ThEusAisPoisonous]

Spider-Man 2 getting smacked down by yet another 2D Mario platformer which has barely changed since 1985.

[Profchaos]

Pretty sure they are targeting different demographics. Plus Mario wonder has been described by reviewers as feeling changed up and the wonder flower gameplay hook brings something completely new and unexpected to each level but even if it wasn't all that different it's been over a decade since the last 2d Mario so it's been on ice long enough

[__SteakDeck__]

@ThEusAisPoisonous Just like Spider Man 2 smacked down your “Game of The Generation” 😂

[lellkay]

God damn... Sonic, This and Spiderman back to back. I didn't like having money anyway.

[LoveSpuds]

Don't forget the MGS collection in a couple of days too!!

I am playing Mario right now, landed on my doormat this morning and it really is as fun as enjoyable as the reviews state, I am loving it!!

[gold_drake]

"TOO MUCH MARIO"
9/10