Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Lonely As A Cloud)

I've done the same. With The Lady's permission, but I couldn't hold myself back and she just wanted to replay Baldur's Gate this evening for the umpteenth time.

"Delightful" is a great word for it! My choice was "nice", but that could be interpreted as damning with faint praise. It is though! It's just really nice. And definitely more imaginative than the NSMB games by a massive shot. The Wonder Flowers have had a couple of belters: at this stage it's Piranha Plant Parade and Cosmic Hoppos that have most impressed me. Then you have Sproings in the Shadows, which feels like it's taken straight out of DKCTF.

2D Mario feels like it's back, even if it's too early to judge whether it's Mario World (or even Lost Levels) back. Probably not? That's the domain of the 3D games now. But still. Just really nice.

Only did the first World, it looks darn good and think why do we need a Switch 2 but then I see likes of Mortal Kombat plus what could Nintendo do with more POWER!

I've fully cleared the first world (secret exits included) & have 3 levels to go on the second, it's just outstanding stuff! Now I'm off to go play some more.

I had to look up the very first secret exit. Feels bad man, but I'd never have found it otherwise.

I presume all right-thinking people like the flowers now? I was sure I'd turn them off when I fired up the game, but I've found them quite charming so far.

Oh and has anybody else absolutely knackered their thumb on a level? If you've found it you probably know the one I mean...

The flowers haven't bothered me enough that I want to turn them off but I wouldn't go as far as I like them.
Alas, between social engagements and the fucking Suika game I haven't played so much of this as everyone else yet.

I don't think anyone is going to say it's their favourite part of Mario Wonder but for me the talking flowers do have their moments & as I'm about enter World 6 they haven't ever felt overused either.

I started playing this after the weekend and only a couple of times so I’ve not played as much as everybody else either, but my early impressions are really positive. Immediately it feels like such an elegant and progressive step forward from New Super Mario Bros, helped no end by appearing masterfully designed and superbly animated. In my opinion it seems well on course to being the best 2D Super Mario platformer since, what, Yoshi’s Island on the SNES? Maybe it’ll be even better than that – I’m looking forward to finding out.

Oh there's absolutely no question that it thumps anything since then (without wanting to open the very dull can-o-worms as to whether Yoshi's Island is more of a Mario game than a Yoshi game).  There have been some genuine 'wahey!' moments: a couple of the transformations in the latter worlds especially.  I don't think the four New Super Mario Bros. games can claim more than one 'wahey!' moment between them, and I couldn't tell you what that one was.  The initial Mega Mushroom usage maybe, if it hadn't been trailered to hell and back.

Shame about the bosses in Wonder though.  When they happen, they're all very one-note so far.  And they don't always happen. Shades of an unfinished game here.

Buskalilly wrote:

Alas, between social engagements and the fucking Suika game I haven't played so much of this as everyone else yet.

Do you actually like Suika Game?  Or is it just sucking your life force out?

I can't answer that question without asking about all puzzle games or repetitive-but-compelling games. Do I like Splatoon? Or Mario Kart? Or Tetris? Or Zoo Keeper? I dunno, but playing again is easier than doing anything else instead.

...I mean, sure, why not ask that question? I completely get that (for me it's JRPGs that fill the void), but make sure you're having fun at the same time!

I did have fun with Wonder, and now I get to play it all over again with my partner for a meaningfully different experience! Although I can't see some of the special levels working terribly well with multiple players. That's fine though, I'd much rather have a strong Mario in single-player that also has multiplayer options than one designed around multiplayer that can feel weak and empty on your tod.

Final boss: