REVIEW: Super Mario Odyssey is the culmination of all things "Mario"

Super Mario Bros. has been around for over thirty years now and during that time the mascot of Nintendo and most recognizable face in gaming has seen a lot of systems and games come and go. Leaving aside the plethora of spin-off titles, sports-titles, RPGs and such like, there really have only been three ways to play a Mario game.

Originally, Mario was a 2D experience, as all games were in those days. The plumber could move from left to right and to a lesser extent from top to bottom. But there was no depth because he was constrained to a flat surface. Game mechanics were built around those limitations with obstacles to jump over and enemies to jump onto. The left-to-right presentation gave the games a constant sense of forward momentum and encouraged players to better their skills so that they could race through each level with precision. Nintendo also inserted a healthy amount of hidden treasures and secrets, to reward players who decided to take their time and explore. The pinnacle of this era of gaming was the one-two punch of Super Mario Bros 3 and it’s follow-up Super Mario World.

After Mario World, Nintendo moved their focus to the third dimension and used Mario as their tour guide to the new gaming possibilities that the N64 could provide. Mario 64 was a revelation. It was the first time since perhaps the beginning of the gaming industry that it felt like a truly new experience was now possible. There had been other 3D games before Mario 64 but not with the presentation, the controls and the overall polish that only Nintendo seems interested in providing. The game, like Marios 3 and World, was hailed as “perfect” by everyone. Time has diminished it a bit, however: The environments are sparse, the camera is clunky, the enemy variety is limited. At times it didn’t feel like a Mario game, but more like a new 3D adventure with a few Mario universe characters tossed in. Instead of an emphasis on jumping over and onto things, and getting from point-A to point-B, the 3D title focused on exploration and mission-based gameplay. The Gamecube follow-up retained the gameplay, and improved the aesthetics significantly but somehow managed to make the camera worse (despite more user-control). Reviews were not as blinded by the revolution anymore and Super Mario Sunshine scored worse than its predecessor.

When the Wii was released, Nintendo decided to ditch the open world 3D mechanics and implement a gameplay style better suited to the casual fan. The third-dimension was retained but the levels became more linear; they were more like 3D versions of the old 2D games. Mario Galaxy 1-2 ended up being among the highest rated games on the system and some of the finest Mario experiences Nintendo has ever created. Nintendo continued with that gameplay style in the 3DS and WiiU games, Super Mario 3D Land/World. While both scored well, there was some pushback that perhaps Nintendo had gone too far in making the 3D levels so linear.

Along the way the company returned to its 2D roots with the “New” Super Mario Bros. series. The sub-franchise has seen releases on the DS, Wii, 3DS, and WiiU, and though the WiiU version was arguably the best of the bunch, it was a far cry from the tight and polished games released on the NES and SNES.

While developing their launch-year titles for the Nintendo Switch, the company knew they needed to appeal to casual and hardcore gamers and that they would need a bevy of AAA releases spread out across the year. Zelda was the natural launch title and it succeeded in giving the Switch a tremendous launch boost. Mario Kart, Arms and Spatoon 2 did their part in keeping interest high, but all eyes have been on the holiday season from the moment Nintendo announced a Springtime launch for the console. Microsoft is pushing their XBox One X and Sony is sure to drop a ton of PS4 bundles and discounts. Nintendo knew they would need a big killer app for the Switch’s first Christmas and so, even though the game has basically been ready to go since the early Summer, Mario’s newest title—Odyssey—was held back for a Fall release.

So what kind of Mario adventure is it? Is it a classic 2D game? Is it an open world 3D adventure? Is it a linear 3D action game?

At first glance you’d think it was another in the mold of Mario 64 and Sunshine, but spend a little time with it and you’ll see different: Super Mario Odyssey is the culmination of everything Nintendo ever did right with Mario…

The average time it takes to complete a level in the original Super Mario Bros. is thirty-seconds, depending on your skillset. For Mario 3, some levels can be aced in half that time. Sure, later levels would require multiple attempts, so you might spend half an hour on a single stage, but the levels themselves can be completed, when completed, in fifteen or twenty seconds. It’s that quick-burst feeling of accomplishment that kept you playing over and over. Just another level. Just another level. The fact that there were no save-states didn’t matter (who didn’t leave their NES games on pause all day while they were at school?), the levels were like slot-machines. Pull the level and you either win or lose so quickly you’re compelled to pull it again.

The open world, more leisurely pace of Mario 64 encouraged players to wander around, talk to NPCs, stumble upon a star-quest you weren’t even intending to and just get lost in the world. Unlike Mario 3 and World, with its almost-100 levels to play through, Mario 64 only had a little over a dozen stages. Yet a player could completely lose a whole Saturday just exploring one or two of them. Nintendo managed to find a completely different way from Mario 3 to achieve gaming addiction: A few long stages with lots to do, as opposed to a lot of short stages with one goal in front of you.

Mario Galaxy brought back the sense of forward momentum that the 2D games had, but in a 3D environment. And unlike Mario 64, the Galaxy games had much more of a Mario universe feel to its environments and characters. The astounding level variety in Mario 3 is ever-present in Mario Galaxy too. To me, the Galaxy games were the first time playing a 3D Mario felt like playing a 3D “Mario” game.

Odyssey retains the open world feel of 64, offers an incredible amount of variety in its levels just like Mario Galaxy (not only in its environments but in the little mini-areas within each one, and the different quests/adventures/actions needed to find certain objects), and has objectives that can be identified, played through, and completed in seconds, just like in Mario 3. And looking through my in-game quest log, it looks like there are as many objectives as there are Korok Seeds in Breath of the Wild…only checking these off the list is infinitely more rewarding.

Of the three styles of Mario games, it’s true that this is most like the 64/Sunshine titles; there are no flagpoles at the end of each level; there are no ends. There are no LEVELS! There are almost twenty worlds to explore, each one bursting at the seams with goodies to find, secrets to unlock and “power moons” (the game’s big get) to collect. You can race through it and “beat” the game in a dozen hours, or you can let your attention wander as you try to finish the primary adventure and end up distracted on your way to the finish. That’ll take you about twenty or thirty hours. Or, you can meticulously comb ever inch of every world and spend as much time with Odyssesy as you probably spent with Zelda (and I spent over 150 hours with Zelda). For a Mario game, or even just a “3D Platformer” that’s a hilariously large amount of play-time. it’s almost unfair to all the other publishers who make and release their 3D adventure games with their “six hours to beat; 10 hours to complete” play-times.

Is the game perfect? No.

It retains a few of Nintendo’s signature annoyances, including the “jibberish” talk overlayed with captions, en lieu of actual voiced dialogue. At this point that’s just a thing that’s always going to be. The Switch is certainly capable of having all the dialogue it wants, but Nintendo is simply choosing not to bother with it for simplicity’s sake (it’s easier to port across various languages if all you have to do is tweak the captions).

Also, Mario controls a little too slippery for my taste. The 3D World game for WiiU probably had the tightest Mario mechanics in terms of movement, but those were not retained here. Odyssey is a little too loose. On the other hand, I’m using the joycon: I wonder if the pro controller, with its bigger sticks, is any better. As it is, I don’t always feel completely in control of Mario while running around and I have fallen off a platform once or twice because of it. That wasn’t a problem I ever had in previous 3D Mario games.

Finally, the game is a little too easy. I have never once felt in danger of dying. Even falling off a cliff merely brings about a minor setback and an opportunity to try again. There are no lives anymore, and that’s fine; that was a hold-over from gaming’s arcade days anyway. But in place of it is a game that lacks the feeling of anxiety that came with games gone by. My palms will never be sweaty when facing off against Bowser like they were at the end of Mario 3 or 64.

And yet, those complaints are minor, and they do not diminish the achievement in any way…

10/10 – No game is perfect, but a rare few are as good as you are likely to find in a generation. Super Mario Odyssey is one of those games.

Nintendo has released is the absolute culmination of all the smart, inventive, innovating and just plain fun things they’ve been doing with Mario for 30+ years. What’s even more remarkable is this is now twice in a single year they’ve done that (the other being Breath of the Wild). What a year they’ve had and it’s not even Christmas.

Hats off to you, Nintendo.

COMMENTS

Please read our Commenting Policy before you join in with the discussion.

Note: If you have email notifications enabled, please check your email spam folders to ensure emails are not missed.

4 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

HappyHolly

3 years ago

I loved the original Mario game although I am afraid I was never particularly good at it – I guess sonic was better suited for me!

KeeperofUnicorns

A wave of nostalgia hit me at “The fact that there were no save-states didn’t matter (who didn’t leave their NES games on pause all day while they were at school?)” Why yes, of course I did.

Thanks for the excellent review. I’m looking forward to picking the game up, but I have to say that I never completed any Mario levels as quickly as you did. My quickest games were all the versions of Donkey Kong. Mario took longer to master.

EverGreen

Reply to KeeperofUnicorns

Oh yeah – I used to do that with the NES all day too. And 9 times out of 10 I’d get home and my mum had unplugged it to do the hoovering or something – nooooo!

I will certainly be getting this – I’ve been a huge Mario fan for 25+ years. Best puzzle game ever? Forget Candy Crush, it’s Dr Mario on the gameboy every time

Cookie	Description
_pxvid	This cookie is used for detection of the browser and distinguishing whether it is a real user or malicious bot.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertisement".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	This cookies is set by GDPR Cookie Consent WordPress Plugin. The cookie is used to remember the user consent for the cookies under the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-non-necessary	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Non Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	This cookie is used to keep track of which cookies the user have approved for this site.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-preferences	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Preferences".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-uncategorized	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Uncategorized".
CraftSessionId	This cookie name is associated with the Craft web content management system, where is functions as an anonymous session identifier.
csrftoken	This cookie is associated with Django web development platform for python. Used to help protect the website against Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks
DSID	To note specific user identity. Contains hashed/encrypted unique ID.
JSESSIONID	Used by sites written in JSP. General purpose platform session cookies that are used to maintain users' state across page requests.
PHPSESSID	This cookie is native to PHP applications. The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed.
viewed_cookie_policy	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Cookie	Description
b30msc
btc
CMST
cref
d
gpl
i
icts
ig_did
mdata
na_rn
na_sc_e
na_sr
na_srp
session_depth
visitor-id

Cookie	Description
__gads	This cookie is set by Google and stored under the name dounleclick.com. This cookie is used to track how many times users see a particular advert which helps in measuring the success of the campaign and calculate the revenue generated by the campaign. These cookies can only be read from the domain that it is set on so it will not track any data while browsing through another sites.
__stid	The cookie is set by ShareThis. The cookie is used for site analytics to determine the pages visited, the amount of time spent, etc.
_ga	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, camapign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookies store information anonymously and assigns a randoly generated number to identify unique visitors.
_gat_gtag_UA_60765351_1	Google uses this cookie to distinguish users.
_gid	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the wbsite is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages viisted in an anonymous form.
ad-id	Provided by amazon-adsystem.com for tracking user actions on other websites to provide targeted content
demdex	This cookie is set under the domain demdex.net and is used by Adobe Audience Manager to help identify a unique visitor across domains.
DigiTrust.v1.identity	Registers data on visitors’ website-behaviour. This is used for internal analysis and website optimization.
dmvk	This cookie is set by DailyMotion who display videos, it registers statistical data of visitors' behaviour on the website.
gid	This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the wbsite is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages viisted in an anonymous form.
GPS	This cookie is set by Youtube and registers a unique ID for tracking users based on their geographical location
is_unique	This cookie is set by StatCounter to determine how people are using the website
is_visitor_unique	This cookie is set by StatCounter to determine how people are using the website
sc_is_visitor_unique	This cookie is set by StatCounter to determine how people are using the website
v1st	This is set by DailyMotion to display videos.

Cookie	Description
__asc	This cookie is used to collect information on consumer behavior, which is sent to Alexa Analytics.
__auc	This cookie is used to collect information on consumer behavior, which is sent to Alexa Analytics.
__qca	This cookie is associated with Quantcast and is used for collecting anonymized data to analyze log data from different websites to create reports that enables the website owners and advertisers provide ads for the appropriate audience segments.
_cc_aud	The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net. The purpose of the cookie is to collect statistical information in an anonymous form about the visitors of the website. The data collected include number of visits, average time spent on the website, and the what pages have been loaded. These data are then used to segment audiences based on the geographical location, demographic, and user interest provide relevant content and for advertisers for targeted advertising.
_cc_cc	The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net. The purpose of the cookie is to collect statistical information in an anonymous form about the visitors of the website. The data collected include number of visits, average time spent on the website, and the what pages have been loaded. These data are then used to segment audiences based on the geographical location, demographic, and user interest provide relevant content and for advertisers for targeted advertising.
_cc_dc	The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net. The purpose of the cookie is to collect statistical information in an anonymous form about the visitors of the website. The data collected include number of visits, average time spent on the website, and the what pages have been loaded. These data are then used to segment audiences based on the geographical location, demographic, and user interest provide relevant content and for advertisers for targeted advertising.
_cc_id	The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net. The purpose of the cookie is to collect statistical information in an anonymous form about the visitors of the website. The data collected include number of visits, average time spent on the website, and the what pages have been loaded. These data are then used to segment audiences based on the geographical location, demographic, and user interest provide relevant content and for advertisers for targeted advertising.
_kuid_	The cookie is set by Krux Digital under the domain krxd.net. The cookie stores a unique ID to identify a returning user for the purpose of targeted advertising.
_px2	This cookie is set by PerimeterX who provide security analyst oversight.
_pxff_tm	This cookie is set by PerimeterX who provide security analyst oversight.
_pxhd	This cookie is set by PerimeterX who provide security analyst oversight.
ab	This cookie is generally provided by agkn.com and is used for advertising purposes.
ad-privacy	Provided by amazon-adsystem.com for tracking user actions on other websites to provide targeted content to the users.
ayl_visitor	This cookie registers data on the visitor. The information is used to optimize advertisement relevance.
bafp	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bafp_t	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_pl	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_rf_8b2087b102c9e3e5ffed1c1478ed8b78	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_rt_8b2087b102c9e3e5ffed1c1478ed8b78	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_t_8b2087b102c9e3e5ffed1c1478ed8b78	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bfp_sn_td_2d31c94105a0aa6d1ceaea0c86c6b656	This cookie is from Media.net and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
bito	This cookie is generally provided by bidr.io and is used for advertising purposes.
bitoIsSecure	This cookies are generally provided by bidr.io and is used for advertising purposes.
bsc	The cookies is set by ownerIQ for the purpose of providing relevant advertisement
CMID	This cookie is linked to advertising and tracking the products users were looking at.
CMPRO	This cookie is linked to advertising and tracking the products users were looking at.
CMPS	This cookie is linked to advertising and tracking the products users were looking at.
dc_id	This cookie is used to deliver adverts more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement as well as help measure the effectiveness of the advertising campaign. They are usually placed by advertising networks with the website operator's permission. They remember that you have visited a website and this information is shared with other organisations such as advertisers.
did	The purpose of the cookie is to identify a visitor to serve relevant advertisement.
didts	The purpose of the cookie is to identify a visitor to serve relevant advertisement.
dpm	The cookie is set by demdex.net. This cookie assigns a unique ID to each visiting user that allows third-party advertisers target that users with relevant ads.
eud	This cookie is from Rocket Fuel and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
euds	This cookie is from Rocket Fuel and is used to deliver targeted advertising across their network sites ensuring users see relevant advertising.
everest_g_v2	The cookie is set under eversttech.net domain. The purpose of the cookie is to map clicks to other events on the client's website.
evo5_popin_instance	Prevents an interaction from reoccurring for visitors not accepting 3rd party cookies.
id	This cookie is set by DoubleClick (which is owned by Google) to build a profile of the website visitor's interests and show relevant ads on other sites.
IDE	Used by Google DoubleClick and stores information about how the user uses the website and any other advertisement before visiting the website. This is used to present users with ads that are relevant to them according to the user profile.
io.narrative.guid.v2	This cookie is generally provided by io.narrative.io and is used for advertising purposes.
KADUSERCOOKIE	This cookie is generally provided by pubmatic.com and is used for advertising purposes.
KTPCACOOKIE	This cookie is generally provided by pubmatic.com and is used for advertising purposes.
matchliveramp	This cookie is provided by w55c.net and is used for advertising purposes.
mc	This cookie is associated with Quantserve to track anonymously how a user interact with the website.
mxpim	This cookie is generally provided by mxptint.net for advertising purposes.
na_tc	This is a Social Media sharing tracking cookie.
NID	This cookie is used to a profile based on user's interest and display personalized ads to the users.
nnls	The purpose of the cookie is to identify a visitor to serve relevant advertisement.
pxrc	The purpose of the cookie is to identify a visitor to serve relevant advertisement.
pxvid	This cookie is set by PerimeterX who provide security analyst oversight.
rlas3	The cookie is set by rlcdn.com. The cookie is used to serve relevant ads to the visitor as well as limit the time the visitor sees an and also measure the effectiveness of the campaign.

Cookie	Description
__jid	Cookies set on the website by the third-party commenting platform Disqus.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
disqus_unique	These cookies are set by Disqus so that users can comment on website/platform.
G_ENABLED_IDPS	The cookie is used by Google and is used for Google Single Sign On.
mid	The cookie is set by Instagram. The cookie is used to distinguish users and to show relevant content, for better user experience and security.
na_id	This cookie is set by Addthis.com to enable sharing of links on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter
ouid	The cookie is set by Addthis which enables the content of the website to be shared across different networking and social sharing websites.
ov	This is a generic functional cookie that provides enhanced functionality and personalisation.
ts	This cookie is generally provided by PayPal and supports payment services in the website.
vuid	These cookies are used by the Vimeo video player on websites.

You might also like

FIND THE TOPICS YOU WANT...

Recommended for you