Mouri says that with so many Mario games behind them, they realized creating new things that surprise players was a challenge. Sometimes they shift the very world itself, making pipes bend and slinky along. A Wonder Flower might make Mario really, really big, or it might transform him into a Goomba. Wonder also introduces eponymous plants that make things a little … trippy. Power-ups aren’t the only way players can transform. And that’s something that a mole wouldn’t be able to do.” When the team wanted to give Mario a bigger body to smash blocks and stomp enemies, but also spray water? “Elephant was the obvious choice,” he says. “Because when you have Drill Mario, you can defeat enemies that are falling on top of you.
“You might think, well, if you want to do that, why don’t you just create Mole Mario?” says Mouri. Take Drill Mario, for example, who can travel underground or through the ceiling.
Mouri says that creating a new power-up boils down to how it’ll change gameplay. They’re cute, goofy, and also incredibly practical. That’s clear with the game’s power-ups, like Wonder’s new water-spewing elephant form, or one that slaps a drill bit on to your head. Sign up for our Games newsletter and never miss our latest gaming tips, reviews, and features.
