Review Information
Game Reviewed Super Mario Bros. Wonder for Classic Players, by NimaginendoGames
Review Author ByeBye
Created Jan 2 2025, 7:37 AM

General Commentary and Game Overview
Super Mario Bros. Wonder for Classic Players is a fangame that pulls heavy inspiration from the unreleased Super Mario Lost Levels for Super Players, delivering a nostalgic experience with a few modern quirks. Whether you're a fan of the original NES classics or just looking for a new Mario challenge, this game will take you right back to that old-school, tight-jump platforming goodness. But while it nails the feel of the past, it struggles a little with pacing and frustration—especially when you're faced with some head-scratching level designs and those punishing airship stages.
 
Pros - The vibe is spot on! The game nails the feel of the Lost Levels with just the right touch of nostalgia and awkwardness. The enemies and graphics are slightly off, but in a good way—like they’re from a parallel Mario universe.
- It’s a love letter to SMB1 and the Lost Levels, both in mechanics and design. You’ll feel right at home if you’ve played those classics.
- The swimming sprites? Adorable. Also, that variable swimming mechanic from Super Mario World? Chef’s kiss.
- Sound effects? Authentic to a fault. It’s like someone ripped the sound chip right out of an NES and stuck it in here. The way one sound effect cuts off another adds to that "oh, this is exactly how it used to be" vibe.
- The subversions are a treat. The start of 2-3 had me literally laughing out loud. It’s that kind of quirky humor that only a Mario fan can do best.
 
Cons - Momentum issues when you hit blocks from below. Sometimes you just stop in your tracks, which is a weird bummer in the heat of a jump.
- Level lengths are all over the place. For example, I noticed that 1-2 is a marathon, while 1-3 feels like a blink-and-you-miss-it type of thing.
- The elephant power-up loves to mock me. Every time I’m about to get it, it runs away like it’s in a hurry to avoid my grasp.
- Checkpoints? Yeah, I could really use those, especially in the auto-scroller levels. Not a fan of replaying long sections from scratch.
- Airship levels at the end of each world — UGH. They bring the pacing to a crawl. I don’t mind a tough level, but restarting the whole thing if you die at any point? Brutal.
 
Impressions
Gameplay
8 / 10
The game feels great, mostly. When it’s on, it’s on—tight controls, responsive jumps, and a satisfying challenge. The expert placement of enemies and coins with the varying terrain stops you from just barreling straight through a level and lets you properly explore while discovering some fun little secrets! However, it does fall a little flat when you hit those odd momentum stops and inconsistent level lengths. Some parts are really tricky, and the gap between retries can make the challenge feel unnecessarily punishing.
 
Graphics
8 / 10
The graphics nail that nostalgic "lost levels" charm, with quirky little details that make the world feel unique. The minor tweaks to the classic design, like new coins or the odd ground textures, really sell the Flower Kingdom vibe. It's authentic and true to a fault! But, there's something a little sterile about the world that prevents it from being truly enchanting, like it’s a Mario world that's missing a little extra "pop."
 
Sound
7 / 10
Oh, the audio! It’s like you’ve stepped right into a time machine and landed back in 1985. The sound effects are spot on, with the iconic cuts and bleeps straight out of the NES era. It’s all just super nostalgic—except for the fact that the audio design might’ve made things just a tad too authentic. At times, the ground theme can over-stay its welcome, but hey, it definitely feels like Mario.
 
Final Words
8 / 10
Overall, this fangame is a wild ride for any fan of the classics. It's fun, nostalgic, and has some clever twists. But it’s not without its quirks — sometimes it feels a little too stiff and can get frustrating with the lack of checkpoints and the brutal airship levels. That "Wonder" factor? Doesn’t quite hit the mark, but it’s still a good time. If you're into that old-school Mario grind, it's definitely worth a play, just be prepared for a few moments that’ll make you want to throw your controller.

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