Super Mario Bros. Wonder is set to be a triumphant return for the iconic platforming series, aiming to address a concerning trend in recent games regarding boss battles. The Super Mario Bros. games, specifically those that follow the classic 2D, side-scrolling formula, have been out of the spotlight for over a decade. The last dedicated release was New Super Mario Bros. U in 2012. While Super Mario Maker and its sequel provided creative diversions, Wonder appears to be a much-needed fresh take on the Mario brothers’ roots, including a shake-up to the series’ boss roster.
Super Mario Bros. has experienced re-emergence before. The last 2D side-scroller before the influential Super Mario 64 was Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island in 1995. The series then shifted to 3D entries until New Super Mario Bros. arrived on the Nintendo DS in 2006. The New SMB run lasted through four entries, and while they all had engaging gameplay, certain features, such as their art style, became tiresome due to stagnation. One particular sticking point was the over-reliance on the Koopalings as world bosses, which Super Mario Bros. Wonder seems ready to address.
Since its announcement at June 2023’s Nintendo Direct, information on Super Mario Bros. Wonder has been scarce. However, ahead of its October 20 release date, the game has received an expected ESRB rating of “Everyone.” The rating summary confirms the return of Bowser as the main villain in Wonder. Additionally, it mentions that boss battles will involve more complex combat against giant enemies that breathe fire and interact with the scenery. While breathing fire is Bowser’s signature move, the inclusion of these details suggests that the Koopalings may have been replaced in the latest Super Mario Bros. installment.
Although the Koopalings made their debut in Super Mario Bros. 3, considered the best 2D Super Mario Bros. game, they overstayed their welcome in the New SMB era. Iggy, Larry, Lemmy, Ludwig, Morton Jr., Roy, and Wendy O. appeared as bosses in three consecutive games – New SMB Wii, New SMB 2, and New SMB U. Each game attempted to introduce unique twists by changing their locations between mid-world towers, castles, and airships, as well as incorporating different stage layouts and fight mechanics. However, the last three Super Mario Bros. games featured the same set of bosses, all defeated in the same manner: by jumping on their heads.
The Koopaling boss battles have always offered a higher level of combat compared to other enemies in the games. However, Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s apparent emphasis on “giant enemies” for its boss battles indicates a new direction. The SMB Wonder trailer, available on Nintendo of America’s YouTube channel, hints at a single boss battle that shares similarities with the Koopalings but also introduces noticeable differences…
2023-08-14 09:48:02
Source from screenrant.com
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