Expanding Nintendo's Animal Power-Ups Beyond Mario's Elephant Fruit

Highlights

Super Mario Bros. Wonder introduces the Elephant Fruit, a mysterious and tonally unique item that transforms characters into elephants, delighting fans.

The effects of the Elephant Fruit are independent of the Wonder Flower and can be activated at any given moment, allowing for additional exploration and opportunities for animal-inspired transformations.

In future titles, the concept of the Elephant Fruit has the potential to become an iconic game mechanic, building upon the distinct power-ups introduced in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the inclusion of more of these transformative experiences in upcoming Mario games.

The initial trailer for Super Mario Bros. Wonder captivated the Mario fandom by showcasing Mario transforming into an Elephant. While animal-themed power-ups have been a part of Mario's 2D adventures before, Wonder's Elephant Fruit sets itself apart by actually transforming classic Super Mario characters into elephants, without any explanation within the game's universe. Since its release, the Elephant Fruit has been incredibly popular among fans, who find the strange yet adorable visual of their favorite characters as elephants delightful. Given the significant impact of this transformation in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Nintendo should continue exploring and expanding upon the concept of animal power-ups in future titles, potentially creating a defining mechanic of the era.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder marks the first new 2D Mario game since 2012, and it takes Mario and his friends to the Flower Kingdom, a previously unseen neighbor of the Mushroom Kingdom. In this new location, the characters encounter powerful items called Wonder Flowers, which have reality-bending effects when they come into contact with the characters. However, if these flowers fall into the wrong hands, they can cause catastrophic events, leading Bowser to become Castle Bowser, a massive entity. Mario, Luigi, Daisy, Peach, and Yoshi team up with Prince Florian, the ruler of the Flower Kingdom, to reverse the ongoing Wonder Effects caused by Castle Bowser and prevent the villain from making the Flower Kingdom's inhabitants his captive audience forever.

Mario Wonder's Elephant Fruit is One of its Most Mysterious Elements

Super Mario Bros. Wonder's most enigmatic element, aside from the reality-altering Wonder Flower, is undoubtedly the Elephant Fruit. This peculiar item makes its debut in the game's introductory level, instantly transforming the player-character into an elephant, unless they have already selected one of Wonder's invincible characters. The Elephant Fruit holds a significant presence throughout players' adventures in the Flower Kingdom, being readily available in almost every course. This sheer prominence solidifies it as one of Wonder's most consistent, whimsical, and unique features.

From the very beginning to the very end, the Elephant Fruit and the subsequent transformation it induces in Super Mario Bros. Wonder remains shrouded in mystery. Interestingly, the effects of this item have no correlation to the fantastical and transformative abilities of the Wonder Flower. Players have the freedom to trigger the transformation at any point, whether it be before, during, or after coming into contact with a Wonder Flower. They can even do so while exploring Break Time courses or the game's overworld. Moreover, it is worth noting that the Elephant Fruit cannot be attributed to Bowser's initial influence on the Flower Kingdom, as Super Mario Bros. Wonder boasts an in-universe post-game. With these considerations in mind, Nintendo deliberately leaves the concept open to further exploration, hinting at the potential introduction of additional animal-based transformations in future updates.

Wonder's Elephant Fruit Could Be an Era-Defining Concept

Super Mario Bros. Wonder's Elephant Fruit has the potential to become a groundbreaking concept for Nintendo. Future games could explore the unique powers of the fruit and differentiate it from the animal suit power-ups in the Mushroom Kingdom. Additionally, this new era initiated by Wonder could introduce other neighboring regions, each with their own animal-themed abilities. The Elephant Fruit, along with its associated power-ups, could serve as the foundation for the mechanics of future 2D Mario titles.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder has garnered acclaim since its recent release, thanks to several innovative features. While the Wonder Flower and its memorable effects are highly praised in Mario's latest 2D adventure, it is the Elephant Fruit that truly stands out for its transformative capabilities. As Wonder is a recent release, it remains uncertain which elements Nintendo will incorporate in future games. However, fans eagerly hope to witness the strange and exciting transformations offered by the Elephant Fruit in upcoming titles, considering its current popularity.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is now available on Nintendo Switch.