Summary
Gamers can get a taste of one of October’s biggest releases,Super Mario Bros. Wonder, early, as a demo is now available to try out at select retailers. With less than two weeks remaining beforeSuper Mario Bros. Wonder’s October 20 release date, some fans may not want to wait that long to play at least part of the game. Luckily for them, the solution to that may now be as close as their nearest Walmart.
Super Mario Bros. Wondermarks the first newMariogame of the classic 2D variety in over 10 years, and the first to really shake up the series’ traditional side-scrolling formula in a very long time. Aside from being the first game tonot feature Charles Martinet as the voice of Mario,Wonderlooks set to break new ground for the franchise with several intriguing gameplay tweaks including brand new power-ups, a much larger roster of playable characters, and the “Wonder Effects” that change up levels in unique and quirky ways.
Across social media, gamers are reporting that retail-based Nintendo Switch demo kiosks now include a demo for the upcoming platformer. Most of these reports point towards the demo popping up in Walmart stores across the US, though fans also say it’s available at other retailers like Target and GameStop. Being thatanticipation forSuper Mario Bros. Wonderremains high, many fans will probably be wanting to head to the nearest retailer to see for themselves.
So far, the demo has been met with a rather positive reception. Though it’s only a brief snippet ofWonder’s gameplay, most players who have played it said they had a lot of fun, and some expressed amazement at all the surprises just the small handful of levels available threw at them. This echoes the overall positive consensus among early players, with notable figures likeXbox chief Phil Spencer praisingSuper Mario Bros. Wonderin recent times.
Granted, a demo, a mere fraction of a game, is no foolproof indicator of the full release’s quality. It’s very possible that all the new ideas on display won’t have enough steam to carry an entire game. That said, when it comes to mainlineMariogames, Nintendo has a solid track record of surprising players with engaging gameplay mechanics from start to finish. Odds arenew features likeWonder’s Badge systemand its unconventional online multiplayer will similarly win players over once they’re free to play around with them.
