Wonder Effect
Wonder Effects, also referred to as Wonder Powers,[1] are the central mechanic of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, triggered by collecting Wonder Flowers. Collecting them in different levels causes various effects, including making certain pipes move up and down or bend, stretching players and enemies, transforming the player into something different like a Spike Ball, causing hordes of enemies to appear,[2] or spawning flower coins. During a Wonder Effect, a wavy effect is added to the corners of the screen, and a decimal place is added to the flower coin counter as smaller flower coins are scattered throughout the stage, with ten of them adding up to a single coin.[3] The goal of every Wonder Effect is to collect a Wonder Seed, which ends the Wonder Effect. Some Wonder Effects have time limits, and some, like the music-based ones, speed up power-up and power-down animations (the latter also having their sound effect sped up), and remove hitstop like in local multiplayer.
A group of voices can be heard exclaiming "Won-der!" as a Wonder Effect begins (with a more electric guitar-like distorted version being heard in Missile Meg Mayhem). During an effect, the background often changes, ? Blocks (and ! Blocks when the "Add ! Blocks" badge is equipped) turn magenta, and all Coins dance to the music.
Mechanics[edit]
A Wonder Flower can be found in almost every level, and each Wonder Effect features a Wonder Seed that ends the effect once collected. Wonder Effects can end prematurely (accompanied by a distinct sound) if:
- All players are defeated.
- The time limit on the effect (if present) runs out.
- Players proceed to the next scene (usually via a Warp Pipe) without collecting the Wonder Seed.
- The Goal Pole is reached.
Failing a Wonder Effect objective causes the Wonder Flower to reappear, allowing the player to try again if it is possible to reach the flower again.
List of Wonder Effects[edit]
| Wonder Effect | Description | Appears in |
|---|---|---|
| Causes pipes to gain eyes and start moving up and down. |
| |
| Causes pipes to come to life as Inchworm Pipes. | ||
| Causes Piranha Plants and their variants to sing and pop in and out of pipes rhythmically. | ||
| Pipes start moving rhythmically. | ||
| Summons an endless rain of Super Stars. Collecting one resets a 10-second timer. | ||
| Summons a stampeding Wonder Bulrush herd. | ||
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| Creates hidden roads for the player and Rolla Koopas to run on. |
| |
| Causes Spikes to dance and throw Spike Balls rhythmically. | ||
| Gives the player the ability to stretch their body, as well as causing enemies to stretch out similarly. The whole stage may also become silhouetted. | ||
| Causes the player to float freely in the air. | ||
| Causes pipes to fall. | ||
| Causes the player and Wonder Bowser Jr. to shrink or grow. |
| |
| Summons a Wonder Smackerel. | ||
| The dry and flooded areas are inverted. |
| |
| Causes Wonder Blewbirds to blow rainbow-colored bouncy bubbles instead of arrows. | ||
| Reveals a giant snowball that begins rolling and destroying the level. | ||
| A snowstorm begins, creating Snow Blocks everywhere. |
| |
| The player starts walking on the walls from a top-down perspective. | ||
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| The player turns into a Puffy Lift, guiding Spike Balls along the way. | ||
| The flying battleship's figurehead turns alive and begins firing explosive blasts at the player. | ||
| Creates colorful Dotted-Line Blocks and sets off a timed rhythm sequence. | ||
| The player starts freefalling. | ||
| Causes Linking Lifts to grow taller and/or wider, and summons a Lakitu trio[conjectural] to throw coins and Wonder Tokens all over the course. | ||
| Causes the ground to become icy or sticky. |
| |
| Summons zigzagging bolts of lightning across the screen. |
| |
| Summons Big Hoppycats. | ||
| Summons Wonder Anglefish. | ||
| The player transforms into their Hoppycat form. | ||
| Summons the Wonder Konk. | ||
| Causes time to speed up, slow down, or both periodically. | ||
| Causes an ancient temple to rise from below the ground. | ||
| The whole level tilts, causing Giant Spiked Balls and other objects to roll. | ||
| Causes "Ninji Disco" to play and Ninjis to dance. |
| |
| Turns the player into their Balloon form. | ||
| Summons Rift Mario to chase the player. In the case of Color-Switch Dungeon, it also removes the silhouette effect. | ||
| A Wonder Shova pushes a giant Bowser statue towards the player. | ||
| Causes a Wonder Bloomp to appear. | ||
| Causes water to rise into the air like a lava lamp. |
| |
| Summons a swarm of Wonder Gnawshers. | ||
| Turns the player into a Goomba. | ||
| Causes Mushroom Platforms to glow and start moving up and down rhythmically, catapulting Jack O'Goomba-themed pumpkins upwards. |
| |
| Starts a quiz. The player must pull on the Taily with the right answer to complete three questions. | ||
| Summons King Boo to sing and chase the player, with Noknoks and Boos singing along. | ||
| Turns the player into a Wubba. | ||
| The ground becomes slimy and slippery. |
| |
| Causes Semisolid Platforms to move around. |
| |
| The player turns into a Spike Ball. | ||
| The player becomes invincible and able to swim through magma. |
| |
| Summons a giant Spike statue in the background that spits fiery boulders at the player. | ||
| Revives a fossil into an Ancient Dragon. | ||
| Summons several Wonder Missile Megs. |
| |
| Turns the player into their Metal form. |
| |
| Creates a ship made out of blocks with a cannon. | ||
| Causes "Bowser's Blazing Beats" to play, and Fire Knuckles, platforms and Bill Blasters to move and fire rhythmically. |
Music[edit]
| It has been requested that more audio and/or video files related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: All Wonder Effect themes Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ワンダー Wandā |
Wonder | [4][5] | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 驚奇 Jīng Qí |
Wonder | [6] | |
| Dutch | Wondereffect | Wonder Effect | [7] | |
| French | Prodige | Wonder/Prodigy | [?] | |
| Italian | Effetto meraviglia | Wonder effect | [?] | |
| Korean | 원더 Wondeo |
Wonder | [?] | |
| Spanish | Efecto Maravilla | Wonder Effect | [8] |
References[edit]
- ^ "Whoa, [Bowser Jr.] used the Wonder Power!" – Jordan (subtitles), Play Nintendo channel (August 31, 2024). An Epic Adventurer: Mario’s Favorite Things to Do 🤩🐘 | @playnintendo (1:02). YouTube. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ English Nintendo Magazine 2023 summer. nintendo.co.jp. Page 48. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
- ^ Nintendo of America (June 21, 2023). Super Mario Bros. Wonder - Nintendo Direct 6.21.2023. YouTube. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ Super Mario Bros. Wonder Japanese website. nintendo.co.jp. Retrieved July 17, 2023. (Archived July 30, 2023, 03:37:38 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ Japanese Nintendo Magazine 2023 summer. nintendo.co.jp. Page 48. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
- ^ 光波大侠 (September 22, 2023). 【中文解说】超级马里奥兄弟:惊奇 中文介绍视频. BiliBili. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
- ^ Nintendo Nederland (September 22, 2023). Super Mario Bros. Wonder - Overzichtstrailer (Nintendo Switch). YouTube. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
- ^ Nintendo España (August 31, 2023). Super Mario Bros. Wonder Direct – 31-08-2023. YouTube. Retrieved September 2, 2023.