Final backloggd review of 2023, it is still 2023 here for a few more minutes don't listen to backloggd's timezone that's way ahead of me. Mario Wonder was alright, I wouldn't call it the greatest video game ever made because they bothered to spice up the artstyle but I still enjoyed it, and it is the most creative 2D Mario in a long time. I've been kind of falling off Mario this year and it was definitely a horrible time to do so considering just how much they dropped for the red plumber this year. Therefore I don't think I enjoyed this as much as I would have if it dropped a few years prior, but it's a nice game. There are a lot more playable characters this time around, not really jumping out of my seat any of the new additions but the mainstay Mario characters I care about (Bowser, Wario, DK) are either locked to final boss status or honestly better off with their own solo adventures instead of tagging along with Mario.

I really like how this game gradually builds up to the final confrontation, starting out with one of the earliest Wonder effects being the famous Piranha Plants on Parade, then gradually introducing more music themed Wonder effects until you arrive at the final level with Bowser's musical Wonder effect, go through a reprise of the previous songs from past levels before walking into a concert stage having figured out what's about to go down.