During the August 2023 Nintendo Direct, dedicated to Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a surprising new power called Elephant Mario was introduced. However, not everyone was thrilled about it, including the game’s creator, Shigeru Miyamoto.
In an interview with IGN on August 31, Super Mario Bros. Wonder director Shiro Mouri and producer Takashi Tezuka revealed some of the feedback they received during the game’s development, including Miyamoto’s initial reaction to Elephant Mario. Despite the team’s hard work, Miyamoto had reservations about this new character.
Tezuka explained that Miyamoto would occasionally visit the development team and offer his opinions. Even seemingly minor comments from Miyamoto carried weight. One such comment was about Elephant Mario, where Miyamoto expressed that it didn’t feel like a true Mario character.
Miyamoto specifically pointed out that the way Elephant Mario sprayed water didn’t align with how an actual elephant would move. This feedback came when the team had early visuals for Elephant Mario, and they took it seriously, planning to make modifications accordingly.
Despite Miyamoto’s initial reservations, fans have responded positively to Elephant Mario since its reveal in June 2023. Although Miyamoto is no longer fully involved in the game’s development, his perspective on Mario and game design still holds influence at Nintendo.
Elephant Mario’s abilities were showcased in the recent Nintendo Direct presentation dedicated to Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Players can use Elephant Mario to store and shoot water at enemies, break blocks, and traverse larger gaps in the game’s new stages.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is set to release on October 20, and Nintendo fans eagerly await the opportunity to experience the game firsthand.
Source: DOTESPORTS
