The Nintendo Switch is an ingenious little system. The portability of a handheld device with the power of a regular console. It can run top tier games like 2016’s “DOOM” reboot, “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,” and even the latest Wolfenstein game while still fitting comfortably in a player’s lap. However, many have criticized the system thus far for a lackluster software lineup.
Most of the biggest games were simply ports of Wii U titles like “Mario Kart 8” or “Splatoon” with little to no new features. However, while the system did have one huge game in “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” it’s about to get a game unlike any that have come before it: “Super Mario Odyssey.”
“Super Mario Odyssey” was released on the 30th anniversary of the Super Mario franchise, a series that has seen constant reinvention with almost each release. New features like Yoshi in “Super Mario World,” full three-dimensional movement in “Super Mario 64” and gravity-defying platforming in “Super Mario Galaxy” have continues to show Nintendo knows how to keep just enough similar while also reinventing the core concepts of each game.
“Odyssey” follows the same template. It adds in a new mechanic in the form of Mario’s hat. He can throw it out in front of him to attack enemies, spin it around him, throw it out and jump on it to get extra height, and even throw it to pull switches and levers or collects coins. He can also use it to take control of enemies and creatures that are not wearing hats to solve puzzles.
A wild sense of freedom that comes from the new mechanic is baked into every fiber of the game. Since Mario can now feasibly take over just about anything around him, it opens the game’s world in such a way that are more open than in any previous Mario game. While other games have had large levels, none are comparable to the miniature open-worlds that Mario explores here.
Small tweaks to the formula also manage to help the game feel refreshing. Mario no longer gets kicked out of a world every time he accomplishes an objective. Instead he just continues to explore, never halting the forward momentum of the experience. Costumes are now introduced, with everything from a Samurai warrior outfit, to costumes that pay homage to obscure Nintendo advertisements and games.
Mario’s journey also feels important for the first time. In past games, he moved from place to place simply because Bowser or whatever enemy he was chasing had been there. However, in “Odyssey” each world has a purpose, a goal within itself. Mario can’t simply leave once the next area is unlocked, he has to help the inhabitants rebuild from Bowser’s destruction. It’s just enough story to keep the game from feeling repetitive, without taking focus away from the game.
Difficulty is also not the game’s strongest aspect. While arguably a good thing, those looking for a challenge shouldn’t expect much. The game isn’t a pushover, but most of the activities aren’t terribly difficult. That’s because the difficulty comes from the exploration. Once you find a Power Moon, it’s easy to get it. The challenge comes from finding the Moon in the first place.
Visually, the game looks great whether in the Switch’s handheld mode or docked to the television. Musically, it exceeds the visuals, with wonderful remixes of classic Mario tunes, and even a segment midway through the game that’s celebrates the Mario series’ music and visuals in such an outstandingly glorious way that deserves to go unspoiled.
Even after the game ends, the amount of content Nintendo has managed to pack into this game is enormous. Of the 600-plus Power Moons in the game to discover, less than 200 are required to reach the game's ending. This ties back into the game's remarkable sense of freedom: is a Power Moon too difficult to reach or find? That's okay, just go find another one. Or three more.
“Super Mario Odyssey” manages to reinvent the Mario franchise in a way that has never been done before. The openness and freedom that comes from the capturing mechanic and the open worlds breathes new life into the series. The small additional story bits also help to contextualize the game’s scenarios and leads to some truly exceptional moments. The ending in particular may make you cheer with sheer joy. Because that’s what “Super Mario Odyssey" is; in its controls, visuals, music, levels, characters, mechanics, in everything, it’s pure joy. 5/5
