Summary
Super Mario Bros. Wonderwas released earlier this month, becoming the first new2D Mario titleto come out in 11 years.Wonderis a celebration of Mario’s storied history, and features some of his closest friends as playable characters. In total, the title offers 12 characters for players to choose from, and, though someWondercharacters are simply recolors, modern series mainstays Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Toadette, and Yoshi are all available for a journey solo or in co-op. One character, Yoshi, stands apart from the others, as they boast unique characteristics to make players' experiences a bit easier. However, this quality comes with a significant drawback, which seesSuper Mario Bros. Wonderput Yoshi fans between a rock and a hard place.
Super Mario Bros. Wondertransports Mario and his pals to the Flower Kingdom, a neighbor of the Mushroom Kingdom, where they meet its ruler Prince Florian. The Flower Kingdom is home to a special item, called Wonder Flowers, which have a wacky and reality-bending effect on the people and environments with which they make contact. Bowser first uses a flower to fuse himself with the Koopa Clown Car and Prince Florian’s Castle, forming the sentient Bowser Castle. Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, and their friends set out to save the Flower Kingdom from Bowser’s villainous wonder effects and stop the Koopa King before he can pull off a wonder that threatens to destroy both the Mushroom and Flower Kingdoms.
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Super Mario Bros. Wonder Relegates Yoshi to the Sidelines
Super Mario Bros. Wonderis meant to be enjoyed by the full range of Mario fans. As such, the title features certain elements that are tailored to younger fans and those who struggle with its 2D platforming. One of those elements isWonder’s invincible playable characters, who can take an unlimited number of hits without losing a life, though falling out of bounds still counts. Of these characters, one stands out, as they have long been a member of the main cast of characters. That member is Yoshi, who joins Nabbit, as well as other colorful Yoshi variants, asSuper Mario Bros. Wonder’s easy mode option.
The problem is thatSuper Mario Bros. Wonder’s Yoshi comes with a significant trade-off. Yoshi is unable to use the title’s power-ups, a majorelement that differentiatesWonderfrom its predecessorsand a significant draw for fans. Were this trait extended only to the Red Yoshi, Yellow Yoshi, and Light-Blue Yoshi, it would have made more sense, as their names differentiate them as additional side characters. As it currently stands, Yoshi is the only legacySuper Mariocharacter to be relegated to the support role inSuper Mario Bros. Wonder.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Puts Yoshi Fans in a Tough Spot
Yoshi’s fans have a lot to consider before embarking on their journey acrossSuper Mario Bros. Wonder’s Flower Kingdom. The adorable dinosaur is capable of completing the entire adventure solo. However, the experience for fans who do not require their invincible status may leave them feeling a little left out. Adding insult to injury, less popular characters like Toadette, Blue Toad, and Yellow Toad are all capable of utilizing the full range of power-ups, making Yoshi’s relegation all the more palpable.
Super Mario Bros. Wonderis a fun and fresh evolution of what made the character so popular in the first place. Introducing various effects that bend the reality of the title’s characters and courses,Wonderstands as a celebration of the series' past and the bright future ahead. The place Yoshi has in that future is yet unknown, butWonder’s positioning of the character behind figures likeBlue Toad and Toadettehas led to some understandable fan concern. For now, Yoshi fans are happy to see the character capable of venturing out on a solo adventure inSuper Mario Bros. Wonderand hope to see the character returning to the spotlight in futureSuper Mariotitles.
Super Mario Bros. Wonderis available now, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
