Super Mario Bros. Wonder: Behind the Scenes with the Developers

In the eleventh installment of Ask the Developer, an interview series where Nintendo developers offer insights into their creative process and product ideation, Nintendo dives into the development of Super Mario Bros. Wonder for the Nintendo Switch™ system. Set to launch on Friday, October 20, this game marks a significant milestone in the side-scrolling Super Mario Bros. series after nearly 11 years. The talented minds behind this exciting project: Takashi Tezuka, Shiro Mouri, Koichi Hayashida, Masanobu Sato, and Koji Kondo, sat down to chat about their development process.

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Nintendo Developers

Super Mario Bros. Wonder Developers | Image: Nintendo

• Takashi Tezuka (Tezuka): A veteran with 39 years of experience in Mario game development, Tezuka is the producer of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, bringing his expertise from years of involvement in 2D Mario games.

• Shiro Mouri (Mouri): As the programming director for New Super Mario Bros. U and the director for New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Mouri has a rich background in Mario game development and assumed the director role once again for Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

• Koichi Hayashida (Hayashida): Renowned for his contributions to Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario Odyssey, Hayashida applied his extensive experience in 3D Mario games to the design of Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

• Masanobu Sato (Sato): Serving as the art director, Sato has been involved in the development of 2D Mario games since creating animations for New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

• Koji Kondo (Kondo): The sound director and composer for Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Kondo’s creative vision in sound design and composition has been vital to the game's immersive experience.

Creating Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Super Mario Bros. Wonder Sketch | Image: Nintendo

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a groundbreaking addition to the iconic side-scrolling Super Mario series, introducing the "Wonder Flower" that dramatically transforms gameplay and courses upon collection. This novel approach is a departure from previous titles in the series, making it a highly anticipated game after 11 years since the last installment.

Ideation and Inspiration

The vision for Super Mario Bros. Wonder was conceived during the development of Super Mario Maker 2. Despite skepticism regarding the need for another 2D Mario game, Tezuka remained confident that the next Mario game would offer a unique experience distinct from Super Mario Maker. As the development progressed, the team sought to push boundaries and surprise players with unexpected wonders.

Creating Wonder through Prototyping

To attain their goal of crafting a Mario game filled with surprises, the team engaged in extensive prototyping and brainstorming sessions. Over 2,000 ideas were generated, embracing the concept of a "toy box of ideas," often associated with 3D Mario games. The objective was to incorporate elements that would captivate players and spark a sense of wonder, reminiscing the astonishment felt in the original Super Mario Bros. game.

Incorporating Transformative Concepts

One pivotal idea that emerged was the notion of players warping to another world through an item, harking back to the wonder of warping in the original Super Mario Bros. game. This concept was refined, culminating in a transformative experience where the course itself evolved without requiring players to warp. Despite challenges in integrating these novel concepts into the established Mario world, the team persevered, creating a captivating and immersive gameplay experience.

The Wrap

Super Mario Bros. Wonder stands as a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of the Nintendo development team. Through diligent prototyping, creative collaboration, and embracing the spirit of wonder, they have crafted a game that promises to astound and delight players, ushering in a new era of 2D Mario gaming.

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