I wasn’t expecting much when I started playing Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s new Meetup in Bellabel Park DLC. Considering my pre-launch preview centered around the add-on’s Mario Party-like multiplayer minigames, I knew better than to expect a slew of wild new levels that took the base game’s creative Wonder Effects to new heights. I figured I’d just enjoy getting to revisit a great platformer with a Switch 2 tech boost.

Instead, Meetup in Bellabel Park delivered a genuine surprise that vaulted over my low expectations. The DLC is secretly hiding the most inventive boss fights I’ve ever seen in a 2D Mario game — full stop. It’s worth the price of admission alone to see what I hope will quietly freshen up the Mario formula from the shadows.

Though the bulk of Meetup in Bellabel Park is multiplayer minigames, it does include a bit of single-player content. In the short story, Mario must help........

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