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I just picked him for his ears
When I began my journey through Super Mario Bros. Wonder as Nabbit, I had no idea what lay ahead. I chose him solely based on intuition. He reminded me of Ravio from The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, and he seemed like an unconventional hero for the new game. Unlike Mario, he was not the typical heroic figure. He resembled a mischievous little thief, and I found that intriguing. However, my excitement quickly dissipated when I realized Nabbit was robbing me of the traditional Mario experience.
I embarked on the game with great anticipation. I couldn’t wait to explore these psychedelic and cartoonish worlds filled with hidden surprises, like extravagant musical numbers involving piranha plants. While the game did offer its fair share of awe-inspiring moments in the early levels, something felt… off. Nabbit simply collected all the power-ups without growing in size. He didn’t transform into an elephant after consuming the Elephant Fruit. Every time I attempted to use a power-up, it mysteriously returned to my inventory as soon as I jumped.
Moreover, Nabbit seemed strangely indifferent to the enemies surrounding him. In an earlier level teeming with charging bulls, he endured a relentless pummeling without flinching. He stood motionless as his character blinked momentarily. Despite these peculiarities, I tried not to dwell on them. I had never encountered enemies like these in any other Mario game, so I assumed they were merely obstacles rather than sources of harm to the characters. Unique concepts, such as badges, only made an appearance several levels later, leading me to believe that I just needed to reach the appropriate tutorial. However, as I progressed further, I couldn’t help but wonder… was there something off about Nabbit?
As it turns out, Nabbit is special. I was unaware of this initially, but Nabbit is one of two characters in Super Mario Bros. Wonder who cannot be damaged or utilize power-ups (the other being Yoshi, who can be ridden in co-op mode). Overall, he is an excellent addition to the game. He allows players to modify their gameplay, offering a wider scope for different skill levels to enjoy the game. On the flip side, it means Nabbit may not be the ideal choice for those seeking a traditional Mario experience with power-ups and a damage system.
During my first playthrough, I missed out on the exhilarating highs of transforming into a hefty elephant and exclaiming, “Wowie zowie!” I also never experienced the crushing lows of being a punching bag amidst a stampede of bulls. While Super Mario Bros. Wonder is not an overly challenging game, I prefer playing as a character who faces the added difficulty and chaos of dodging and leaping over enemies, particularly in the frenzied Wonder Flower scenes. Therefore, although I have now decided to choose other characters from this point onward, it seems that this mischievous Nabbit pulled a fast one on me.
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