Super Mario Bros. Wonderhas a unique gimmick that not only changes the game, but could also see one of Mario’s oldest enemies make a comeback. While most of Mario’s adventures see him facing Bowser as his primary foe, he has taken on several other villains over the course of his adventures. SinceSuper Mario Bros. Wonderlooks like one of Mario’s more unusual adventures to date just from the trailer alone, a change from the norm for the villains may be in order as well. After all, one villain from Mario’s past could be a perfect fit for the game.
As Mario’s latest 2D adventure,Super Mario Bros. Wonderends a long droughtof traditional Mario side scrollers. The gameplay shown off in the trailer looks reminiscent of theNew Super Mario Bros.series, albeit with a few new twists. Most prominent among the new features is the Wonder Flower, which activates stage-changing effects when collected. The effects of the Wonder Flower have the potential to create some of the most unusual and memorable levels to appear in theSuper Mariouniverse to date. This new mechanic can open the door to completely new design concepts that may not have come to pass otherwise.
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Super Mario Bros. Wonder Could Be Wart’s Return From Subcon
What has been shown ofSuper Mario Bros. Wonderbrings to mindseries outlierSuper Mario Bros. 2. At this point, it’s common knowledge that the game that American players know asSuper Mario Bros. 2was originally created asDoki Doki Panic. However, that game has introduced Birdo and Shy Guys, who have since gone on to beSuper Mariomainstays, solidifying its place in the series. Another prominent point worth mentioning is thatSuper Mario Bros. 2takes place in the dream world of Subcon. The dreamlike effects of the Wonder Flower’s powers could imply a similar connection inSuper Mario Bros. Wonder.
A dream focus could result in the return ofSuper Mario Bros. 2’s villain, Wart. While nowhere near as famous as theSuper Marioseries' iconic villain Bowser, Wart is not to be taken lightly. A powerful ruler of the dream world, he would have succeeded in conquering Subcon were it not for the intervention of Mario and his friends. Since Wart hasn’t had a proper reappearance after that, it’s hard to tell what the true extent of his abilities may be. However, considering that he is a powerful figure from the land of dreams, he likely wields fantastical powers to some degree.
If the Wonder Flower’s effects have a connection to Wart and the power of the dream world, then it could be an omen of what a new fight with the character could entail.Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s new featuresare already cause for excitement because of what they can add to the game. One can only imagine what an enemy wielding the power of dreams could do for the game. It could effectively be a battle with a foe that could change reality on a whim, promising a dramatic fight that could do more to build up Wart as a serious threat than his initial appearance did.
Super Mario Bros. 2doesn’t get as many references as the other classicSuper Mariotitles, so bringing back Wart as a villain would be a legitimate surprise. Although not much has beenconfirmed forSuper Mario Bros. Wonderas of yet, with the game only recently being announced, it could be the best opportunity in years for Wart to make his return to the series. Using a lesser-known character would be a gamble, but bringing back one of Mario’s oldest foes inSuper Mario Bros. Wonderwould be another unique mark for the game.
Super Mario Bros. Wonderwill be released on July 16, 2025 for the Nintendo Switch.
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