When it comes time for a new entry in the Mario series,
there will always be great expectations.
Nintendo’s iconic mascot dominates the platforming genre
and has done so for over 30 years.
Couple that with the spellbinding trailers and a bevy of best in show outings,
and anything less than perfection would come off as a big disappointment
for Super Mario Odyssey,
which is arguably Nintendo’s biggest release in the Switch’s young life.
Let’s get this out of the way now,
Super Mario Odyssey is not a perfect game.
Most of what holds it back are minor blemishes
that aren’t even worth batting an eyelash.
Sure, the game is a bit on the easy side,
but so is virtually every entry in the series.
There are very minor technical issues here and there
with occasional framerate drops and obvious pop-in effects,
but it’s hardly noticeable.
The swimming controls aren’t ideal, but they could be worse.
What’s really important to take away from Odyssey is this:
a Mario game hasn’t delivered
such a sense of wonder, freedom, and excitement since Super Mario 64,
which was released over 20 years ago.
Odyssey continuously dazzles and exceeds expectations,
from the very moment you step into this game’s world
until the credits roll,
and through the significant amount of stuff waiting for you beyond.
The gameplay is fluid and you have an amazing degree of control.
You feel like you’re capable of tackling anything thrown in front of you.
The simple act of moving Mario around is fun again,
and you’ll constantly find yourself daring to try something insane
simply because you believe it’s possible.
The controls are simple enough, too,
so when you’re asked to combine moves to reach your goal,
it feels natural and effortless.
Odyssey’s big hook is one of the most clever special abilities seen to date:
the ability to toss your hat on numerous objects,
enemies, and even characters to take control of them.
It’s not simply that the concept is genius,
but also that the objects you can interact with
within each world are so carefully selected and placed
to complement the flow of your movement.
You have more than enough tools to tackle the basic task
of how to get from point A to point B,
but the locations of things you can possess with your cap
encourage you to partake in these solutions time and time again in a variety of ways.
The worlds are crafted to be open playgrounds
where you can tackle objectives at your leisure.
Gone are the days of courses being tailored to a specific objective
based on which star you selected from the menu before entering,
as is the notion of being ejected from the level upon completing your task.
Instead, you can gather as many moons as you are capable of
without having to leave.
There is a small caveat:
some moons are simply unobtainable on your first pass through a world.
You’ll need to return later to fully complete each one,
but you aren’t required to collect all the moons within each world, either.
Rather, you only have to collect as many as needed to power up your vessel,
the Odyssey, in order to travel to the next destination.
The levels in Odyssey are really special, too,
taking us to places we’ve never been to in a Mario game like New Donk City,
which pits the cartoonish characters of the Mario universe
alongside a comparatively realistic metropolis
with humans wandering and driving about in cars.
It’s surreal to say the least.
Odyssey also manages to find unique ways to put a spin
on traditional themed worlds.
An early example of this is how Odyssey handles the Sand Kingdom,
which is initially suffering from a case of wintery chills,
prominently featuring icy elements that harshly clash
with the normal desert stereotypes.
Though most of the boss encounters within each world are pushovers,
they're not for wanting in their presentation.
While the newly introduced Broodals are largely forgettable
when compared to some of the past villains of the series,
the other large scale encounters are much more memorable and exciting.
A showdown with your arch nemesis, Bowser,
is one of the most sensational sequences in the history of the franchise.
Nintendo’s first party offerings continue to impress on the visual front,
and Odyssey is no exception.
The same can be said for the soundtrack,
which features several fantastic stand out tracks like the main theme song.
Super Mario Odyssey embraces its heritage at every turn,
and the payoff isn’t merely a warm feeling of nostalgia at the fan service,
but a reworking of the old with the new to produce something completely unique.
Previous games have brief moments of wonder and charm,
but they do not come close to the emotional gratification of Odyssey.
Near-flawless controls, amazing worlds, a phenomenal new special ability,
and a sense of freedom that’s not been seen in any previous game
all add up to something special.
This is another Mario game that will be remembered for ages to come.
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