I’m a sucker for a classic side scroller Mario, and “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” satisfies a hunger that’s been brewing inside me since “New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe.”

“Wonder” is the classic Mario affair of defeating Bowser, though there isn’t a princess to save (in fact, you can play as both Princess Peach and Daisy), and this game is set in the Flower Kingdom as opposed to the Mushroom Kingdom. The twist with this game is each main level has a Wonder Flower to discover, which initiates trippy game sequences that sees the player transform into enemies, brings pipes alive and pretty much makes whatever the developers want happen. A fitting alternate title for this game would be “Super Mario Bros. LSD.” 

This game feels fresh thanks to updated graphics and animations — it really highlights how, artistically, the “New Super Mario Bros.” games were running on fumes. A Mario game has never felt brighter, with the Flower Kingdom bursting with personality and interesting levels to discover. 

Its overworld map follows a hybrid format, with some portions of it following a linear path and others allowing the player to start levels in any order they want — if they can find them. 

Each level has at least one Wonder Seed, which you need to collect in order to unlock gated off portions of the map. “Wonder” is generous with how many you need to proceed, making it incredibly hard to get stuck. This also makes it really easy to miss levels, which I think actually boosts the game’s replayability — I found myself still discovering new levels long after I beat the main game. 

It also has a helpful star rating system that communicates how difficult a level is, with its five star levels being a legitimate challenge even for veteran players. 

Its powerups and badge system allows for multiple different playstyles and ways to beat the game, with certain badges offering powers arguably more useful than powerups. Powerups range from a Drill Mushroom, which allows you to drill in and above ground, an Elephant Fruit, which lets you smash walls and enemies you otherwise wouldn’t, and a Bubble Flower, which lets you trap enemies in bubbles from which they perish. 

My favorite badges include one that gives me a spin jump and one that gives you a charged high jump. Several even have special badge challenge levels where you can test these out and get a Wonder Seed upon completion. 

“Super Mario Bros. Wonder” is a worthy entry in a series that’s already reached amazing heights. I loved its inventiveness and its experimentation with different game mechanics, though I do think that its boss fights were weak, even for a Mario game.

Still, it’s a must-buy for any Mario fan and a game anyone who likes platformers will love. 

“Super Mario Bros. Wonder” gets a 9/10