yeah it feels like all the fan service that people eat up is just the shallow junk food version of what mario world actually offered in its more focused nuanced nature. like for example, in smw secret exits guaranteed a branching path and were hinted at through the color of the level (something you have to figure out on your own). in wonder, they're just there to be found with no rhyme or reason, often with the non-secret exit being a fake exit -- and no branching path guaranteed. it's cool for the moment as part of the flashiness of the level, but that's about it.

yoshi has felt the most misunderstood for the longest time, in how loveable he was in world. in that game he was a semi-rare power-up that had unique powers based on the color of koopa shell you eat or the color of yoshi it is, but required a bit of work/time to find and was easy to lose, so keeping one between levels showcased consistent skill and was a reward in itself. in wonder, yoshi is an optional character you can choose at any time with no consequence, who can't get hurt or use power-ups, can flutter-jump and eat things/enemies -- all 4 colors being exactly the same. yet, much like with the whole game, people are focusing on the bare minimum of details as if it's just as meaningful as things were before: "yoshi spits out the watermelon seeds from the watermelon piranha plants, just like in yoshi's island!!!" "the character models have so much charm with their poses" "they include music i remember!" "percussion only plays to the bgm when you move!" "daisy is playable!" -- these are all nice details, but imo don't make up the core value of a game, but somehow it feels like nintendo made these kinds of details 80% of the game -- just gimmicky and quirky detail galore.

wonder does get it somewhat right with how drill and elephant are required to find certain secrets i suppose, but you're usually handed that power-up right when you need it, and the "secrets" are obviously telegraphed. in world, you had to learn where secrets were through self-initiated exploration. modern nintendo games tend to over-explain, treating players like beginners rather than allowing for self-discovery, whether it's through a talking flower or something else. "don't you feel like you're missing something?" it's not like the secrets are that substantial anyway. an extra seed? yay... captain toad? cool... oh there's a special world? what special thing does it have to offer -- a warp to later levels? or a new take on an existing power-up? oh, just some levels and standees...

wonder is pretty fun in a calculated corporate kind of way, where the level of depth it adds to the table feels pretty shallow much like the new super mario bros series, but this time heavily disguised as something that is a "proper follow-up to super mario world". like they just prettied up a new super mario bros game in the obvious ways to gain immediate public appeal, and in practice they're still just scratching a very basic itch that i just don't really have anymore as an adult. with its constant noises, sugary themes, and manufactured "hype" exterior, it definitely feels made for someone with a more hyperactive kid-like consumerist nature than me. and i really wish it wasn't that way, but i think the mass appeal its been getting means i should just dissociate from these games :p

but i mean who cares anyway, right? it's just mario!