Super Mario Odyssey (Switch)

Super Mario Odyssey

Developer(s) – Nintendo EPD

Publisher(s) – Nintendo

Director – Kenta Motokura

Producer(s) – Yoshiaki Koizumi & Koichi Hayashida

PEGI – 7

Released in the holiday season of 2017 for the Nintendo Switch, Super Mario Odyssey presents players with a return to the open-ended 3D style of play of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy. And invigorates the series with new abilities and environments, as well as incorporating elements of classic Super Mario gameplay. Such as side-scrolling. From start to finish, I thoroughly enjoyed this title. And whilst it didn’t become my favorite Super Mario game of all time, it certainly goes above and beyond many other games in the series in recent years.

Graphics – 9/10

The first thing to say about the visuals is that on a technical level, this is the best that Super Mario has ever looked. Each character and level found throughout the game is wonderfully detailed. And the blending of 3D and 2D makes for something particularly special in terms of graphics. Conceptually, the game does fairly well to stand out from the rest of the series in addition.

This is quite remarkable given the astounding amount of transition the series has gone through over the 32 years it’s been around. After having watched the trailers for the game before its release, I was skeptical as to how some of the environments that were shown would fit with a series like Super Mario Bros. But after playing, I was posthumously proven wrong. Each level especially the Metro Kingdom, which I was most skeptical about, adds a new dimension to the series that I hadn’t thought possible beforehand.

Gameplay – 9/10

Much like Super Mario Galaxy 2, the objective of the game is for the player to find power moons, instead of stars, to power up Mario’s newfound ship named The Odyssey. To advance from one level to the other in order to reach Bowser and rescue Peach from him. The standout feature in terms of gameplay is Mario using his new anthropomorphic hat named Cappy. To possess certain enemies throughout the game. And thus use their abilities to the player’s advantage.

Much like the new settings, it adds another unique twist to the series’ tableau. As well as a new approach to gameplay, which has scarcely been seen in games before. And in lieu of the 3D Super Mario tradition, the game simply doesn’t end with Peach being saved from Bowser. After the main game has been completed, there is a plethora of additional power moons to find. As well as additional objectives are given to players for completion on a scale never seen before in a Super Mario game.

Controls – 10/10

Since the 3D Mario formula has existed for over 20 years, it would be more than reasonable to think there would be no issues with the controls. And so there aren’t. Super Mario Odyssey plays out as seamlessly as any other 3D Mario game since Super Mario 64. And the way in which new combat abilities and enemy abilities that Mario can adopt are also seamlessly integrated into the rest of the formula.

Lifespan – 9/10

The base game will take players around 10 hours to complete. But after which, that hardly even counts as scratching the surface. Each level has a number of collectibles to pick up that are unfathomable. Compared to every other Super Mario game before it. It will easily make for 60-70 hours of gameplay. And an excellent addition to the collection of extremely long games on the Nintendo Switch. Along with Breath of the Wild, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and Skyrim.

Storyline – 7.5/10

Following the usual Super Mario Bros formula, Super Mario Odyssey follows the story of Mario having to save Princess Peach from Bowser. Only this time, Bowser plans to marry Peach after stealing various relics from each kingdom throughout the world. Mario is also joined by the aforementioned anthropomorphic hat named Cappy. He is also out to rescue a female anthropomorphic hat named Tiara. Whom Bowser has Peach wear in preparation for the wedding. Though for the most part, the story is largely unoriginal, especially for anything seen in a Super Mario game prior, what makes the way in which his story is told in Odyssey stand out fractionally more than other Mario games is the projection of emotion found throughout.

Mario is portrayed as slightly less of an unstoppable superhero capable of beating anyone he comes across. And is shown to feel the difficulty and hardship of what it is he is setting out to do. On several occasions, Mario comes painfully close to rescuing Peach from Bowser before the final battle. However, he is shown to suffer setbacks, which visibly frustrate him. And though these are not things that haven’t been seen in games prior to this by any stretch of the imagination, it is something new to the series. Which in terms of story, has been needed for quite some time. But in terms of depth in the plot, it still leaves players wanting much more in this respect. It’s certainly my biggest criticism that I have to levy against this game.

Originality – 8.5/10

With that one main qualm I have out of the way, the fact of the matter remains that this game is the most unique Mario experience released since Super Mario Galaxy 2 in terms of every other aspect aside from the story. The settings are outstanding and the gameplay is even more so. In recent years, the originality of this series has been very much hit-and-miss in my opinion. I contrast the uniqueness of games such as Super Mario 3D World and Paper Mario: Colour Splash. But Odyssey could possibly pave the way for more unique Super Mario experiences in the future, introducing new elements to the series. Which could potentially be either expanded upon or could be spun off into even more new elements depending on what direction Nintendo wants to take it into.

Happii

Overall, despite lacking in story, Super Mario Odyssey delivers players, which is in my opinion, the best Super Mario game since Galaxy 2. And whilst it may not be anywhere near as good as the former, it certainly spells a bright future for the franchise. As well as giving players what is probably the longest Mario experience ever.

Score

53/60

8.5/10 (Great)

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