Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Meetup in Bellabel Park
Yuka Usui and Shiho Fujii
" But what makes the new music appropriate is its full charm in context "Written by Joep de Bruijn - Review of the download only release
Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023) was another innovative Mario platforming video game developed by Nintendo. The original score was composed by three female Japanese composers – Shiho Fujii, Sayako Doi and Chisaki Shimazu – with some writing and overviewing responsiblitiy by spiritual father Kōji Kondō.
Whereas the illuminating introduction of incredible orchestral (and electronic) music for Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel marked a substantial shift, future game scores would go in both directions. Wonder is almost entirely electronic, with some lively processed sounds and instruments.
The highlight of the score is the music to the level Piranha Plants, which combines hitting musical blocks while the piranhas are singing a wacky childish melody. It is clearly inspirational in level design and in how (slightly) interactiveness and the use of music concede in a brilliant moment of the game.
There are numerous other short to longer, distinct cues that are very memorable while still sounding like an (possibly inadvertent but attractive) demo written and recorded much longer ago. When the music attempts to appeal to the fully orchestral, admirable music of longer ago, Badge Challenge, still feeling like a demo, is a wonderful brass fanfare with a lot of hollow electronics, that capture the sense of a unique adventure.
The Super Mario Bros. Wonder 2026 release for the Switch 2 includes newly implemented content and several changes, but also two new downloadable worlds – Camp and Attraction Central – digitally released as Meetup in Bellabel Park. For this extension, Shiho Fujii is credited as the leading composer, while the debuting (another female) composer called Yuka Usui wrote the rest of the score, clocking in at 48 minutes of new material.
In all aspects, the two composers do not deviate from the score of the 2023 game, presenting the demo-filled mostly synthesiser with some processed live instruments.
First, there are several obviously recurring musical themes from the main game, such as the short interludes and motif regarding a game over. The world theme of Camp Central includes a reference to the Toad music from Super Mario 3D World, while the world theme of Attraction Central quotes Poplin's theme of the original game. Additionally, there is a citation of Rosalin's observatory music from Super Mario Galaxy and other (minor) musical certainties, in disguise, from the past.
The (staff) end credits, several small cues and the 'Think Fast_ Boo_s Coin Spree' cue reintroducing the quirky ghosts sounds, are definitve highlights.
In the general feel, despite all the references, it remains distinctive music that could only have been written for a Mario platformer. Despite an overall score that withholds too much to criticise, most of the simplified and happy-go-lucky original score is in tune with the game's content. It is wholly effective but is more difficult to value than a complete traditional sequel score.But what makes the new music appropriate is its full charm in context, despite all aspects that on their own are unlikely to attract anyone listening to them with joy.
Tracklist
1. Off to Bellabel Park 0:45
2. Here Come the Koopalings 0:32
3. After the Koopalings! 0:35
4. Rosalina Appears 0:12
5. World Theme_ Camp Central 2:52
6. Chasing the Koopalings 4:06
7. Koopaling Showdown! 1:34
8. You Got a Bellabel Flower!0:08
9. Hi Again, Bellabel Flower!0:11
10. Training_ Let_s Go! 0:05
11. You Got a Patch! 0:04
12. Chasing the Koopalings 2 2:13
13. Koopaling Showdown! 2 1:50
14. Ludwig_s Showdown! 2:07
15. The Bellabel Flowers 0:56
16. You Got a Flag! 0:06
17. World Theme_ Attraction Central 2:56
18. The Attraction Begins 0:04
19. Thrilling! VS Attractions 2:26
20. Think Fast_ Boo_s Coin Spree 2:18
21. Wild! Survival Attractions 2:01
22. Hungry! Yoshi Attractions 2:09
23. Intense! Co-op Attractions 2:34
24. Together! Co-op Attractions 2:22
25. Fly Free, Captain Toad! 3:28
26. Dash! Race Attractions 1:36
27. Zoom! Race Attractions 1:32
28. Yeah, Attraction Clear! 0:52
29. The Attraction_s Over... 0:39
30. Attraction Results! 1:01
31. Staff Credits_ Meetup in Bellabel Park 4:17
Total duration: 48:31
(02-10-2026)
Whereas the illuminating introduction of incredible orchestral (and electronic) music for Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel marked a substantial shift, future game scores would go in both directions. Wonder is almost entirely electronic, with some lively processed sounds and instruments.
The highlight of the score is the music to the level Piranha Plants, which combines hitting musical blocks while the piranhas are singing a wacky childish melody. It is clearly inspirational in level design and in how (slightly) interactiveness and the use of music concede in a brilliant moment of the game.
There are numerous other short to longer, distinct cues that are very memorable while still sounding like an (possibly inadvertent but attractive) demo written and recorded much longer ago. When the music attempts to appeal to the fully orchestral, admirable music of longer ago, Badge Challenge, still feeling like a demo, is a wonderful brass fanfare with a lot of hollow electronics, that capture the sense of a unique adventure.
The Super Mario Bros. Wonder 2026 release for the Switch 2 includes newly implemented content and several changes, but also two new downloadable worlds – Camp and Attraction Central – digitally released as Meetup in Bellabel Park. For this extension, Shiho Fujii is credited as the leading composer, while the debuting (another female) composer called Yuka Usui wrote the rest of the score, clocking in at 48 minutes of new material.
In all aspects, the two composers do not deviate from the score of the 2023 game, presenting the demo-filled mostly synthesiser with some processed live instruments.
First, there are several obviously recurring musical themes from the main game, such as the short interludes and motif regarding a game over. The world theme of Camp Central includes a reference to the Toad music from Super Mario 3D World, while the world theme of Attraction Central quotes Poplin's theme of the original game. Additionally, there is a citation of Rosalin's observatory music from Super Mario Galaxy and other (minor) musical certainties, in disguise, from the past.
The (staff) end credits, several small cues and the 'Think Fast_ Boo_s Coin Spree' cue reintroducing the quirky ghosts sounds, are definitve highlights.
In the general feel, despite all the references, it remains distinctive music that could only have been written for a Mario platformer. Despite an overall score that withholds too much to criticise, most of the simplified and happy-go-lucky original score is in tune with the game's content. It is wholly effective but is more difficult to value than a complete traditional sequel score.But what makes the new music appropriate is its full charm in context, despite all aspects that on their own are unlikely to attract anyone listening to them with joy.
Tracklist
1. Off to Bellabel Park 0:45
2. Here Come the Koopalings 0:32
3. After the Koopalings! 0:35
4. Rosalina Appears 0:12
5. World Theme_ Camp Central 2:52
6. Chasing the Koopalings 4:06
7. Koopaling Showdown! 1:34
8. You Got a Bellabel Flower!0:08
9. Hi Again, Bellabel Flower!0:11
10. Training_ Let_s Go! 0:05
11. You Got a Patch! 0:04
12. Chasing the Koopalings 2 2:13
13. Koopaling Showdown! 2 1:50
14. Ludwig_s Showdown! 2:07
15. The Bellabel Flowers 0:56
16. You Got a Flag! 0:06
17. World Theme_ Attraction Central 2:56
18. The Attraction Begins 0:04
19. Thrilling! VS Attractions 2:26
20. Think Fast_ Boo_s Coin Spree 2:18
21. Wild! Survival Attractions 2:01
22. Hungry! Yoshi Attractions 2:09
23. Intense! Co-op Attractions 2:34
24. Together! Co-op Attractions 2:22
25. Fly Free, Captain Toad! 3:28
26. Dash! Race Attractions 1:36
27. Zoom! Race Attractions 1:32
28. Yeah, Attraction Clear! 0:52
29. The Attraction_s Over... 0:39
30. Attraction Results! 1:01
31. Staff Credits_ Meetup in Bellabel Park 4:17
Total duration: 48:31
(02-10-2026)