Earlier this week at the Game Developer’s Conference 2024, the team behind Super Mario Bros. Wonder presented a talk about the game’s development and innovating on the classic 2D side-scrolling formula.

During the talk, the game’s director Shiro Mouri and producer Takashi Tezuka discussed the game’s Wonder Effects, the main mechanic used to breathe new life into classic Mario gameplay. This included a look at some of the brainstorming sessions that went into designing Wonder Effects, along with a look at several which did not make the final cut.

The unused Wonder Effect ideas include ones where Mario rode a surfboard or pogo stick, as well as one which transformed him into blocks. “Giant Block” Mario was lucky enough to get a concept level, where he would have to avoid getting his head destroyed by enemies or parts of the stage.

You can check some of it out below, shared by Chris Kohler of Digital Eclipse:

Super Mario Bros. Wonder concepts and prototype levels: pic.twitter.com/YYRvPDxnQV

— Chris Kohler says PLAY LLAMASOFT! (@kobunheat) March 20, 2024

Prototype level cut from Mario Wonder: pic.twitter.com/MfxTs70HQE

— Chris Kohler says PLAY LLAMASOFT! (@kobunheat) March 20, 2024

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