The game is, in general, a wonder to behold.
- Already from the second stage, we have the Piranha Plants singing.
- Dealing with the Bulrushes, new enemies that are some of the toughest in the game. They take three hits and can't be hurt by jumping. They can still be jumped on and be used as platforms.
- The Dolphin Kick. You don't like underwater levels? This badge will trivialize them!
- In the airship levels, the real challenge comes from the Wonder Effect. Which involves Castle Bowser getting serious and trying to personally kill you from afar.
- Despite the weakness of the Goomba transformation, it has a very important perk. It's immune to spikes.
- There are foes which can eat Goombas, the Maw-Maws, and they are fearsome when you become one. Nevertheless, if the environment favors you, you can crush them as a Goomba for a lot of coins.
- You can push pipes in this game. Some Koopas are so strong they can do the same, and even overpower you while you are small. But if you are big, transformed and especially an elephant, you will overpower them instead.
- The Boos singing opera. Even King Boo.
- The late-game stage "High-Voltage Gauntlet" features a perilous, well, gauntlet full of electric barriers that will zap you silly. You make it to the level's Wonder Flower...and your character's body and voice turn metallic as a remaster of Super Mario 64's Metal Mario theme starts playing. You now absorb the electricity from the barriers and use it to plow through everything in your path. Awesome.
- Bowser's Rage Stage, the Final Boss. After a combination of Wonder Effects, where the Wonder Power drags the heroes closer to Bowser, they face his powered-up form, which uses music and spells to take them on.
