New details are available for Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. Wonder courtesy of a recent Direct, showcasing the setting and various mechanics. Set in the Flower Kingdom, the story sees Bowser touching the Wonder Flower and merging with Prince Florian’s castle, spreading chaos with his new powers.
Mario and friends must stop him and venture through seven areas, including Pipe-Rock Plateau, Fluff-Puff Peaks, Shining Falls, and Petal Isles. There are various courses to explore through the overworld and open areas, where you can choose any course, and complete them in any order. The Course Menu allows for quickly returning to previously completed courses.
As you explore levels, Talking Flowers liven things up, provide hints and even share Coins if you help them. Along with Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, two Toads and Toadette are playable. You can also control Yoshi and Nabbit, who don’t take damage (though they can still die by falling in pits and lava). Yoshi can also flutter jump, and spit objects back at enemies.
The new enemies include Hoppycats, who jump when the player does; Melon Piranha Plants, which spit speeds; Condarts, who fly forward and get stuck in environments; and more. There are new Power-ups to even the odds, like Elephant, whose trunk can attack enemies and destroy blocks. You can also dash across gaps and store water for various purposes (like sprinkling on the Talking Flowers).
Bubble deploys bubbles to capture and defeat enemies (including undead foes like Drybones). It goes through walls, and you can also use them as platforms. Drill allows for dealing with Spiky and hard-headed enemies, burrowing through the ground (and ceiling) and breaking through certain blocks. Extra Power-ups are held, but you can swap between them freely.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder launches on October 20th for Nintendo Switch. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.