Super Mario Bros. Wonder | NSW | 20/10/2023 | 4.3mil units sold through worldwide!

Just finished the last level (well before the special world, but think I'll leave it a bit before going back for that), got to be one of the oddest Bowser fights yet really, a very enjoyable game overall though.

Having now played the bulk of it, I don't think it's anywhere near the overall GOTY, but can see it doing well in some catagories.

Yep, it's slightly bizarre to me that this is being talked up in some circles as a GotY contender, but it's a good time nonetheless!

It's fantastic in co-op and I enjoy it but......yeah GOTY? nah...

The year is too strong for it to be a genuine GOTY contender. Maybe in previous, weaker years though.

jawa i may get this year.

If I was Jawa I’d be afraid

shy guy 64 wrote:If I was Jawa I’d be afraid

Half way through World 5. While this is an absolute joy to play, I don't really feel this hits the heights of Tropical Freeze which I think comes together as more memorable experience, largely because of how its level themes/design integrate so well with their gimmicks and soundtrack.

I think I probably agree with the 8/10 scores some have put this at. Still, it's a great return to form for 2D Mario and a real breath of fresh air after the NSMB series.

Fisher wrote:jawa i may get this year.

It does look to be a great game, Fisher - packed with plenty of prime platforming perfection!

shy guy 64 wrote:If I was Jawa I’d be afraid

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Robbo-92 wrote:

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Photek wrote:It's fantastic in co-op

Is it

Got to the credits last night (which are great by the way). The final boss is excellent and really shows up how lazy they were with the boss fights in the rest of the game!

Hot-take alert!

Not at all to discount the genuine joy loads are getting from this, but as I've said before I haven't warmed to it as much but wasn't sure why. Obviously these things are personal preference e.g. though it looks clean I also think all the purple and stuff makes it sometimes look a bit chintzy and lurid to me, and I definitely don't like the Wonder music in general! Nor do I think the Wonder effects feel very exciting or interesting, whatever their change-up.

But I've also gone to NSMB U Deluxe and - I might be the only one in the world to think this - I think I prefer it? The fact that every time you die it kicks you out of the level etc. is incredibly slow and friction-full, and the UI in general looks so inelegant and naff. And I understand what people say about it looking flat and soulless (I was one of these people!), but now in contrast to Wonder I quite like how Solid it looks and lots of backgrounds (like the cloudscape in meringue skies or whatever its called) look genuinely great, and much better than stuff in earlier NSMB games.

But most importantly I much prefer Mario's heavier handling. There's much more momentum management. It feels harder in general but also more engaging and involving, so that even simple-looking platforming gauntlets are much more rewarding and feel more involved. And the almost-Naruto-style lean of Mario's run and top speed, and the animation of the jumps make it feel more forward-leaning and headfirst, a lot like SM64 compared with newer games. It also has the triple jump which adds some fun flourish and consideration, and the R-spin twizzle in mid-air feels like it gives more hang time (though it might just be the animation). Wonder feels a lot lighter and flimsier (partly helped by the banjo-twang of the new jump sounds and so on) in a way that puts more emphasis on the level gimmicks than on bread-and-butter platforming. Also NSMBUD is hard! Fun-hard!

I even went back to SMW on SNES and that too felt immediately more fun to play than Wonder.

Anyway just some thoughts. As always I get a lot of enjoyment out of the comparison/investigation process itself!

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The R-spin twirl does give more hang time (can be done in Wonder too). NSMBU is almost certainly more challenging and better off for it. In Wonder it feels like if you hit max speed and do one max height jump, you skip like a quarter of the level.

I'm still slowly working my way through this but I definitely plan to replay NSMBUD afterwards. I never did play all the Luigi content so that'll be nice. I'm really enjoying Wonder though. It's not incredible to me but it's just so warm and fuzzy.

Jezo wrote:The R-spin twirl does give more hang time (can be done in Wonder too). NSMBU is almost certainly more challenging and better off for it. In Wonder it feels like if you hit max speed and do one max height jump, you skip like a quarter of the level.

I meant I think the R-Spin hangtime is longer in NSMB than Wonder? Not sure but it feels like it!

Not being as keen on Wonder as others? Fair enough, providing you don't overdo it on the grumbling (FWIW I don't think you have DoC).
New Super Mario Bros. U being better? Heck, any of the NSMBs being better!? :capnscotty:

I bet you think Super Mario Kart is better than 8 because 'the handling's better' or something like that.

I know I know! I was firmly in the NSMB is bland camp!

But I can't deny the fun I feel.

Mario Kart 8 is great but the lack of visual/camera change when you go defy gravity undercuts any excitement you should get from it

deathofcows wrote:Mario Kart 8 is great but the lack of visual/camera change when you go defy gravity undercuts any excitement you should get from it

I absolutely agree with this. Kart 8 *is* great but, yeah, you barely notice any difference in the anti-gravity sections; it's not until you spot the vertical sections in the pre-race camera pan that you realise they're actually there.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder | NSW | 20/10/2023 | 4.3mil units sold through worldwide!

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