A Magical Community: The Students of Magic School VUS

Magic School VUS Kicks Up a Storm The highly renowned Magic School of the Vanishing University of Spells, commonly known as Magic School VUS, has recently stirred up quite a controversy. The prestigious institution, known for its rigorous magical education, has found itself at the center of a heated debate among wizards and witches worldwide. The storm began when a group of former students from Magic School VUS came forward with accusations of mistreatment and discrimination against certain magical beings. These allegations quickly spread like wildfire across magical communities, sparking outrage and concern among both students and parents. One of the main allegations made by the former students was that the school's curriculum favored certain magical species over others. They claimed that classes and coursework were tailored to benefit specific magical beings while neglecting the needs and abilities of others.

Despite scientists’ research, many mysteries remain about slime molds. Why such brilliant colors? Why so many different shapes? How many species not yet discovered? “It’s painful how much we don’t know,” says one of Trest’s university colleagues, mycologist Anne Pringle.

More have been identified in temperate zones compared to tropical, says ecologist Nikki Heherson Dagamac of the Philippines University of Santo Tomas. Despite removing the traditional time limit for each level, the pace of this new Mario game can be as breakneck as that of its longtime rival, Sonic the Hedgehog.

They claimed that classes and coursework were tailored to benefit specific magical beings while neglecting the needs and abilities of others. This alleged discrimination was met with criticism from various magical organizations and rights advocates, who called for a thorough investigation into the matter. The school's governing board responded swiftly to the allegations, denying any form of discrimination and asserting their commitment to inclusivity and equality.

Nintendo shows off a surreal masterpiece in 'Super Mario Bros. Wonder'

You'll be running a side-scrolling Mario level, only to have the familiar 2D format break into a fever dream when you touch a titular Wonder Flower. Green warp pipes might grow eyes and start wiggling around. Or you'll suddenly transform into a spiky boulder, flattening everything in your path. It gets weirder.

Tired of jumping from left to right? Treat yourself to a frantic vertical race as you're transformed into a balloon, flapping your little arms and ricocheting off everything around you. Those Goombas you crushed? Congratulations — you're one of them now; good luck avoiding the enemies that want to eat you!

Mario has always contained multitudes — and that's never been more true than in the past decade, after Super Mario Maker and its sequel empowered fans to make millions of their own levels: songs composed by hitting blocks in time to an automated mechanism; recreations of other video games, from The Legend of Zelda to Metal Gear Solid; stages so sadistic that less than one percent of players have cleared them.

So rather than try to top the near-infinite 2D Mario designs already available, Designers Takashi Tezuka and Shiro Mouri literally broke the rules. Think you know how Mario works? Think again.

Cross-pollination

3D Mario games have ventured far from the Mushroom Kingdom — they've gone to tropical islands, to outer space, to a Bowser Kaiju arena. Wonder, by contrast, is the first 2D Mario game to fully depart the classic setting for the neighboring Flower Kingdom.

Instead of opening with Bowser capturing a Princess, the game begins with a Wonder Flower transforming him into a talking, flying castle after he storms the home of the caterpillar Prince Florian. Florian then joins Mario and the gang to restore the Flower Kingdom by collecting hidden Wonder Seeds strewn across seven main worlds, while Castle Bowser floats menacingly above the center of the map.

You can usually get each level's first Seed through the typical method: run to the end and jump on the flagpole. But standard levels also conceal a Seed you can only get by finding a Wonder Flower and playing through the lunacy it unleashes.

Green thumbs

You can easily beat levels without ever finding Wonder Flowers hidden under snow drifts, lurking in blocks, or guarded by baddies. But the game provides tools to assist with the hunt.

The first, Talking Flowers, are exactly what they sound like. They'll point out curiosities as you pass them, crack jokes, or scream for their lives. I eventually found their obvious hints and breathless compliments grating, but you can turn them off, or, as Director Shiro Mouri has recommended, change the language they speak to one of the many available in the settings. I still read their speech-bubbles in English, but I appreciated the novelty that a Japanese or French voice provided (you could even learn some new words this way!).

Secondly, you can also equip a game-altering Badge, uncovered through special challenges or purchased with purple coins you'll collect. Each confer useful advantages, from Peach's signature floaty jump to a Wonder Seed proximity detector, and I often swapped between them to match my needs.

The Elephant power-up makes you massive enough to hit blocks from the side and allows you to spray from your trunk to water plants or damage enemies.

Thirdly, the game introduces new power-ups alongside the familiar Fire Flower and Power Mushroom. One lets you drill through the ground to reach secret areas. The Bubble power sounds harmless but decimates enemies at a distance, even through walls! But the Elephant power-up undoubtedly steals the show, since it doubles your size and lets you spray water from your trunk to unlock puzzles.

But the game's multiplayer most transforms the search for Wonder Flowers — and Nintendo took a page from the unlikely source of Dark Souls and Elden Ring when designing them.

A Party, with Mario

While the game supports four local players, if you're playing with up to two and connected to the internet, you'll see other silhouetted characters running levels alongside you. Should you die, you'll come back as a ghost with five seconds to touch one of these players (or a standee they can leave behind) to revive. I once cleared a late-game challenge by jumping to my death, resurrecting off of other players, jumping further ahead to another death, and thereby finally leapfrogging to safety. Elden Ring fans will recognize this asynchronous multiplayer — but it can only ever help you. You don't have to fear invasion from a rogue Luigi!

I must caution cooperative players, however. Despite removing the traditional time limit for each level, the pace of this new Mario game can be as breakneck as that of its longtime rival, Sonic the Hedgehog. I remember levels from 1990's Super Mario World taking what felt like hours to beat — conversely, you can blitz through most of Wonder's in minutes. While the game's difficulty isn't adjustable, powerful badges or playing as an invulnerable Yoshi or Nabbit can make the experience even more frictionless.

This speed isn't a problem if you're rolling solo, but if you're playing with someone else you can quickly leave them behind, especially when wonder effects have you blasting through a level or careening through the sky.

Peak performance

Super Mario Bros. Wonder, ultimately, feels like a flex — proof that Nintendo can still innovate with some of gaming's oldest verbs: run and jump. It's a pristine extravaganza designed to appeal to nostalgic players and newcomers who may have only encountered the franchise through this year's blockbuster movie. Every frame bursts with charming detail. Enemies glare at you as they approach, then look up in dismay the moment before you stomp on them. Mario will reach out to catch his hat after squeezing through a warp pipe. Untold hours of animation and programming talent went into delivering spectacles that parade by in seconds, leaving you dazzled in their wake.

Put simply, Super Mario Bros. Wonder shows off in the best of ways. It's a game not only about exploration and discovery, but also about sitting back and enjoying the ride.

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James Perkins Mastromarino is Here & Now's Washington, D.C.-based producer. He works with NPR's newsroom on a daily whirlwind of topics that range from Congress to TV dramas to outer space. Mastromarino also edits NPR's Join the Game and reports on gaming for daily shows like All Things Considered and Morning Edition.

You can usually get each level's first Seed through the typical method: run to the end and jump on the flagpole. But standard levels also conceal a Seed you can only get by finding a Wonder Flower and playing through the lunacy it unleashes.

They stated that the school's curriculum was designed to cater to a diverse range of magical abilities and that every effort was made to create an inclusive educational environment. Despite the school's defense, the controversy continued to escalate as more students and former staff members came forward with similar stories. Social media platforms were flooded with hashtags denouncing the alleged mistreatment and demanding justice for the affected individuals. The storm surrounding Magic School VUS has fueled discussions about the importance of inclusivity in magical education. Many are calling for stricter regulations and oversight to ensure that all magical beings, regardless of their species, are treated fairly and have equal opportunities to thrive in their magical studies. In response to the growing pressure, the Ministry of Magic announced that an independent inquiry would be conducted to investigate the allegations against Magic School VUS. The inquiry aims to uncover the truth behind the accusations and determine whether any corrective measures need to be implemented. As the controversy rages on, Magic School VUS finds itself at a significant crossroads. The outcome of the inquiry will undoubtedly shape the future of the institution and have far-reaching implications for the wider magical community. Whether the storm will ultimately lead to positive changes in magical education or further divide the magical world remains to be seen..

Reviews for "Magical Beings and Creatures: An Introduction at Magic School VUS"

1. Emily - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magic School Vus Kicks Up a Storm". I had heard so many great things about this book and had high expectations, but unfortunately, it didn't deliver. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, and the plot felt rushed and predictable. The writing style was also quite lackluster, with little description or emotion. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable and unremarkable read.

2. John - 1 star - "Magic School Vus Kicks Up a Storm" was a complete letdown. The premise seemed intriguing, but the execution was poor. The story lacked coherence and the pacing was all over the place. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, as they were poorly developed and their actions often felt inconsistent. The dialogue was also cringe-worthy at times, making it difficult to stay engaged. I regret wasting my time on this book and would not recommend it to anyone.

3. Jessica - 2 stars - I found "Magic School Vus Kicks Up a Storm" to be underwhelming. The world-building was sloppy and insufficient, leaving me with more questions than answers. The magic system was poorly explained, and important details seemed to be conveniently overlooked. The protagonist was also quite annoying, constantly making impulsive and irrational decisions. The plot had potential but failed to deliver a satisfying conclusion. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and frustrated by this book.

4. Ryan - 2 stars - I struggled to enjoy "Magic School Vus Kicks Up a Storm". The writing style was choppy and lacked flow, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. The characters felt flat and lacked distinct personalities. The plot was predictable and lacked any real excitement or suspense. Additionally, the book was riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, which only added to my frustration. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written fantasy read.

From Novice to Sorcerer: The Journey at Magic School VUS