Jumping into a joyful journey
Go on an imaginative adventure through colourful worlds that are playgrounds for you to explore and enjoy.
SUPER Mario Odyssey plays like a familiar 3D platformer but feels like a pure distillation of childlike joy and wonder. This is a game that makes the simple act of running and jumping ridiculously fun because you’re running and jumping in worlds that are beautifully crafted to be imaginative playgrounds filled with surprises and creatively designed obstacle courses.
So folks, better put on your adventuring hats, because we’re going on an odyssey with Mario. Let’s-a go!
Off the rails
The story of Super Mario Odyssey starts off with Peach, once again, being kidnapped for Bowser for a big ol’ wedding, and this sets Mario off on another grand adventure to rescue the princess.
The unique (and hat themed) premise for this game is that the titular plumber is accompanied by Cappy – a friendly magical hat that has the power to possess other creatures – and they both travel to fantastic new kingdoms on the hat-shaped airship, The Odyssey.
The basic gameplay mechanics of Mario is deceptively simple to explain: Mario can run and jump in a 3D world, and he can throw his hat-friend Cappy at things. Half of the gameplay experience sees Mario exploring sandbox-like kingdoms looking for Power Moons (i.e. collectible MacGuffins) to advance the story and special coins to unlock neat bonuses (like snazzy new outfits); while the other half sees Mario running through “obstacle course” levels that classic Mario games are famous for.
If the basic gameplay sounds fairly basic and simple, that’s because it is: the real magic that makes it all extraordinarily fun and gives the gameplay depth is the ingenious level and world designs, and the quirky enemies that you can capture using Cappy. (Oh wait, I get the name now!)
Raise the sails
Every kingdom that Mario and Cappy visit in The Odyssey – and in fact, every level/obstacle course and creature within these kingdoms – has their own unique theme and mechanics that make them special and memorable.
This means that, unlike classic game designs where the “next stage” is like the current stage but with harder monsters, Super Mario Odyssey promises an exciting journey where you keep seeing new sights and encounter novel new experiences.
When you set sail for the Sand Kingdom, for example, you’ll be greeted by a desert landscape reminiscent of Mexico, go on crazy highspeed Jaxi rides, and learn to deal with quicksand. You’ll be introduced to the classic Bullet Bill enemy, but this time you can take control of them using Cappy, so now you can become a moustachioed missile travelling to the distant ruins dotting the desert.
Then, when you travel to the Seaside Kingdom, you’ll leave all that behind, because now you’ll encounter open world areas and obstacle course levels where you need to learn to control water-squirting octopus creatures, then use the “octopodes” to fly around with jets of water.
Super Mario Odyssey confidently introduces new gameplay ideas at every opportunity – ideas that can be whole indie games on their own – then discards them before they even have a chance to get boring.
Every kingdom has a near endless amount of interesting content for you to discover, and every new enemy you meet (and possess with your hat) opens exciting new ways to interact with the world. This means that Mario’s big adventure feel less like a rescue mission and more like, well... a really fun holiday across different countries.
I’m sorry, Peach! I know you’re in peril, but I just have to visit this nice little bar in Tostarena and take selfies with the locals. I mean, they’re dancing skeletons!
Even the in-game map screen is designed like a travel brochure – full of travel advice and amusing lore – further encouraging you to get into the mindset of an excited tourist, constantly thinking, “alright, what’s new and exciting in this part of town?”
The answer, by the way, is often “pretty much everything you see”.
Freedom to love
If I really wanted to, I could come up with a list of flaws with Super Mario Odyssey. For starters, the damsel in distress situation, while used playfully, is still an unfortunate and overused storytelling trope. (I mean, Peach, come on, I’ve seen you kick Bowser’s metaphorical butt with your actual butt in Super Smash Bros.)
The camera – which is insanely important considering how tricky 3D platforming can be – can sometimes go wonky in tight areas, placing Mario behind boxes. And, if you play Mario primarily for the challenge of the obstacle courses, then you’ll need to do a lot of exploring and traversing to find the advanced levels that really test your skills.
However, all that said, it’s really difficult for me to get angry at a game that works so hard to make sure I’m having fun. In fact, Super Mario Odyssey works very hard to make sure everyone has fun – the game is designed to be accessible to you and everyone in your family.
If you’d love to explore the colourful worlds of Mario but are worried that you don’t have the skills necessary for the platforming challenges, don’t be – there’s an optional Assist Mode that guides you through levels and lets you survive otherwise deadly falls. Heck, even “dying” just incurs a small coin penalty, so making mistakes is nothing to worry about.
Or, if you’re a parent who wants to share the joy of a family-friendly game with your daughter or son, there’s an optional Two Player mode that lets one of you control an indestructible Cappy.
Best of all, you have options – if you’re having trouble collecting a certain Power Moon because it’s in an obstacle course level that’s too tricky, for example, then you can always forget about it and chase one of the hundreds of other Power Moons. The game is packed full of opportunities and alternatives that cater for a variety of relaxing or challenging experiences.
Just pick the ones that suit you – it’s your odyssey, after all.
Odyssey, ya see!
Super Mario Odyssey is a joy to play, and I can’t recommend it enough. Whether you’re a kid who’s looking for a friendly introduction to the amazing world of videogames, or an adult gamer who wants to play something fresh yet familiar, Odyssey won’t cease to delight.
I’m starting to think that Nintendo isn’t just one of the best videogame maker, but it’s also one of the best toy makers. Games like Skyrim want you to enjoy playing as an epic adventurer. Games like Uncharted want you to enjoy playing a cinematic story experience.
Games like Super Mario Odyssey, on the other hand, simply want you to enjoy playing. This is a game that knows how to make you unabashedly happy, like a child with a new toy.
Nintendo, my hat’s off to you.