Nintendo revealed loads of new details about the Super Mario Bros Wonder in a special Direct event livestreamed today. The 15-minute event shed light on the upcoming game’s online multiplayer functionalities, new power-ups as well as areas set to feature in the game, and unveiled a limited edition Mario Red Edition Switch OLED console.
Super Mario Bros Wonder will feature never-seen-before areas
Taking a departure from the usual beginning point of many a Mario game, i.e. the Mushroom Kingdom, the Direct event began with the showcasing of a brand new area – the Flower Kingdom. The upcoming game is set to take place in this new kingdom, with seven areas available for the players to explore.
The central area, where the game is supposed to start, is called the Petal Isles. Six new and unique areas or worlds will be available for players to explore, among which three areas – the Pipe-Rock Plateau, the Shining Falls, and the Fluff-Fluff Peaks were revealed during the Direct event. Three mystery areas will be finally revealed when the Super Mario Bros Wonder launches on October 20, 2023.
Gamers will be able to explore these areas in the traditional Mario fashion, i.e. complete one area before moving on to the next one. However, it was also revealed that the game will feature several open areas that can be accessed by the players at any time during their playthrough. In order to enable players to quickly navigate the previously explored areas, a new Courses Menu has been added to the game.
Super Mario Bros Wonder to feature new power-ups
Elephant Powerup, a new ability wherein the players can transform into elephant avatars of their chosen characters, was the high point of Nintendo Direct in June 2023. The recent Super Mario Bros Wonder Direct also featured another look at Elephant Mario, as well as shared glimpses of Elephant avatars of other playable characters – Toad, Princess Peach, and Luigi.
The elephant powerup can be used by players to rampage through obstacles, knock the enemies off the course using their trunks, use brute force to remove any blocks obstructing their way, and store & spray water through their trunks.
Apart from this fan-favorite power-up, other powerups included in Super Mario Bros Wonder include the Drill power-up as well as the Bubble power-up. The Bubble power-up allows players to defeat or capture enemies and it can also be used for platforming, in order to reach higher levels.
The Drill power-up can be used by players to protect themselves from tough-to-beat enemies. It can also be used to drill through certain obstacles or burrow underground to avoid certain enemies. In addition to these new abilities, Nintendo also revealed that the classic Flowe power-up will also be featured in the upcoming game.
Super Mario Bros Wonder will feature local and online multiplayer
The event revealed the first look at local as well as online multiplayer game modes. The local multiplayer mode will support parties of four players who can each choose one of the eight in-game characters and co-operatively play to complete the game’s objectives. The local co-op mode is pretty similar to traditional Mario games. The event also shared insights about online connectivity. The online mode will feature live player shadows i.e. the player can see other online players as ghosts on the game’s map and courses.
Super Mario Bros Wonder will not support an online co-op mode. Players will be able to see other players play the courses and levels in real-time and have limited interactions with them. Players will be able to send greetings to other players and also share certain in-game items with them. Furthermore, Nintendo has introduced a new system called Standees, which allows players to revive ghosts. These standees can be purchased from in-game shops and placed by other players to help oncomers to complete a particularly difficult level.
Nintendo announces new Mario Red Edition Switch OLED console
Warp into a world of games with the #NintendoSwitch – OLED Model: Mario Red Edition system!
The system features a console, dock, and Joy-Con controllers all in the iconic Mario Red color, with a silhouette of Mario on the back of the dock.
Learn more: https://t.co/sGAG1rfH4p pic.twitter.com/giOAawtDWI
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) August 31, 2023
In order to commemorate the release of Super Mario Bros Wonder, Nintendo has announced a brand new, limited edition Mario-themed red Switch OLED console. This will be the first Mario-themed Switch console since the release of Super Mario Odyssey in 2017.
The new Nintendo Switch OLED console, featuring Mario’s signature bright red color will be released on October 6, 2023, just a couple of weeks prior to the game’s release. This new console features a vibrant new color “Mario red’. The console has a limited amount of detailing, with the exception of Mario signature coins detailed on the back of the console’s dock – etched on the power and HDMI adapter housing.
Source – Nintendo of America (via YouTube)
