Super Mario Bros. Wonder introduces many new power-ups and game mechanics in its magical setting that simultaneously have an element of novelty while adding a feeling of nostalgia for the games of years past. Many of its references and gameplay characteristics are obviously tied to the Super Mario Bros. 2D platformer adventures that kicked off the series. Its traditional side-scrolling feel and bright colors make it easy to reminisce about much of its heritage, but the brand-new Elephant Fruit power-up subtly suggests another beloved series as well.
In Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the series deviates from its recent progression into 3D games and takes a step back to the more traditional 2D side-scrolling platformer mechanics that Super Mario is known for. While many of the abilities that Mario and his friends can gain are familiar ones, such as a Super Mushroom or Fire Flower, the magical environment of Prince Florian’s Flower Kingdom naturally introduces new mystical powers. Additionally, several characters make a return in Mario Wonder, including lesser-known ones such as Daisy and Nabbit, yet Wario and Waluigi are still missing from the lineup.
Mario Wonder’s Elephant Fruit Suggests Another Memorable Character
Among the many new power-ups that are introduced in Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the Elephant Fruit, which instantly caused a buzz online after its initial reveal. By partaking of this red fruit with an elephant face, characters are transformed into massive elephant forms of themselves. Once in this form, they feel heavier and slower and are able to smash through things with ease. These types of movement mechanics are suggestive of another Mario franchise character, Mario’s larger arch-rival, Wario.
In Mario Kart games, Wario is classed as the same “Heavy” driver weight class as Bowser, Donkey Kong, and King Boo (despite King Boo being a ghost who theoretically shouldn’t weigh anything). Wario’s girth makes his movement in many games slower and easier to break objects, precisely as the Elephant Fruit is doing for characters in Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
Wario Land Games Need A Comeback
That recollection of Wario in a game that provides a nostalgic feel lends itself to the memory of Wario’s own popular platforming series, Wario Land. The series of 2D platformer games started as part of the Super Mario Land games, with Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, but then went on to drop the Mario title for the next four Wario Land games. Like Super Mario titles, the colorful worlds led players through themed zones that had collectible coins and unique power-ups.
The last game in the Wario Land series was Wario Land: Shake It! that released for the Wii in 2008. Despite receiving good reviews, the series seems to have gone quiet ever since. A new WarioWare game is in the works, but those titles are more focused on micro-games than the classic platform experience that Wario Land or Super Mario Bros. Wonder offers.
A New Wario Land Entry Could Offer A Fun Alternative
The chaotic story of Wario Land games with creative enemies such as the pirate Captain Syrup or Rudy the Clown have a lot of humor as Wario searches for money to get a giant castle to rival Mario’s. This greedy premise leads to some silly outcomes and at their core, the Wario Land titles are an alternate version of Super Mario Bros. games.
A new entry in the Wario Land series could take advantage of the foundation that Super Mario Bros. Wonder has created for a 2D platformer in modern graphics on the Nintendo Switch. Wario’s size and strengths play out much more like the Elephant versions of the other characters, and seeing him with unique power-ups would add a fun bit of levity as well. If connected to Wonder, his quest for gold and castles would likely be hilariously increased after seeing Bowser become an actual castle. Wario and his friends could offer a slower-paced alternative to the speedy Mario version, as Wario’s gameplay mechanics offer less of an emphasis on running and more on bashing.
Multiplayer In Wario Games Could Give Waluigi A Chance To Shine
As Super Mario Bros. Wonder offers up to four players a chance to enjoy the game in multiplayer, a new Wario Land game could follow this pattern and give Waluigi a chance to come out of the shadows. Waluigi has never been able to make much of a mark on the gaming world, other than being a regular option in many of the Mario sports and party games. Seeing the tall and lanky Waluigi in a platforming environment would be a fun change that needs to happen. Additionally, it would be entertaining to see other evil variants be added, such as an evil Princess Peach or even to have Donkey Kong be another character option.
Nintendo Seems To Be Bringing Back Many Old Titles, Perhaps Wario Will Return
Recently there have been many games that seem to be looking back at previous franchises. The upcoming Super Mario RPG remake is a remastered look at an old favorite, while Princess Peach: Showtime! is giving Peach her first starring role since 2005. F-Zero 99 may not be the racing game that was hoped would kickstart that series again, but shows that Nintendo has not forgotten its more serious racing games. Even Super Mario Bros. Wonder is an example of bringing forward something from the past through its use of classic 2D platforming mechanics.
Sadly, there have not been any announcements made for a new Wario Land or Wario World game, nor has there been any confirmation that the Elephant Fruit was designed to have any connection to Wario. It is always fun to ponder what could be coming on the horizon, however, and with the recent surge in bringing back the nostalgic games of the past, and Wario Land‘s positive ratings, it is not impossible to think there could be a new game in the future. In the meantime, there is still plenty of fun to be had as an elephant in Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
