Our review of "Super Mario Odyssey": a fun, diverse game that appeals even to the least Mario fans
21.12.2017
Translation: machine translated
A magic cap, an open world and a multitude of creative ideas... "Super Mario Odyssey" is one of the most heterogeneous "Super Marios" of recent years. However, it lacks a bit of magic.
I played "Super Mario Odyssey" all the way through, even though I'm not a fan of the genre. Incidentally, this isn't the first time Nintendo has scored points this year, as the Japanese company convinced me to finish my first game of "Zelda" for the first time in 30 years, and then play "Mario + Rabbids" (okay, it's not a 100% Nintendo game). And she even managed to get me to root for her favourite character, who I find rather silly. Let's be honest, Super Mario is ugly and so blameless it's unbelievable. He keeps following the bland Princess Peach, who always lets herself be kidnapped like she's got Stockholm Syndrome. Yoshi is just about the only one of all these people that I like. Reading "Animal Farm" would do him a world of good; he'd stop letting himself be taken so much.
My unexpected enthusiasm can probably be explained by the fact that this is the first proper 3D, open-world Super Mario game since "Super Mario 64". Back then, I was totally blown away. The story is still more or less the same: Bowser kidnaps Peach to marry her. He takes a swing at Mario's hat and - this is the real novelty - destroys it. Fortunately, a ghost called Cappy appears in place of the hat and gives Mario countless powers, which I'll tell you about below.
Before you can free Peach, you travel through various worlds in an airship called Odyssey. To catch up with Bowser, you'll collect moons that the airship is fuelled by.
A game inspired by "Zelda Breath of the Wild"
While the basic premise is the same as "Super Mario 64" or "Super Mario Galaxy", Mario's new hat is the highlight of this game. Mario can throw it to smash objects, tap his enemies or use it as a spring. Far more interesting are the villains, who don't die at the drop of a hat, but can be controlled by Mario. Thanks to the magic of his hat, he can take away their willpower, stick a moustache on them and make them do whatever he wants. He's got the power! The caterpillars allow him to stretch out and reach distant platforms, the cannonballs to fly temporarily and break through walls, the fish to swim faster without having to breathe and the fire demons to move through lava with ease. As the game progresses, you'll take on the form of various creatures that made me laugh out loud. Nintendo really hasn't run out of ideas. You'll need to use your enemies wisely to reach the next level. At first, you'll rack your brains and try to advance by somersaulting, but you'll soon realise that you'll have to put yourself in the shoes of the various inhabitants of its worlds.
The levels have been designed so that you can achieve your goal in a variety of ways. Mario has learned a few new moves, including the front dive. If you combine the moves, you can get to places that were previously inaccessible. Add to that Mario's magic hat, and you've got a real explorer's paradise. You can feel the influence of "Zelda The Breath of the Wild". Nintendo encourages you to find new paths and use shortcuts that perhaps weren't even intended as such. I really enjoyed discovering these open, colourful worlds. After Cappy, they're the second best thing about Super Mario Odyssey. They're well thought out and always take you to the right places. And if you do get lost, your exploration is sure to be rewarded with a hidden moon.
On the other hand, I found the game lacking in magic. The worlds still have a bit of a generic feel to them. It's as if Nintendo had a list of must-haves: water, fire, ice, desert. Most of them aren't new. Dorrie, the Loch Ness monster from 'Super Mario 64' gave me goosebumps, while the characters in New Donk City left me cold. This world reminds me a lot of the yellow taxis and skyscrapers of 'GTA IV'. And that's not my thing at all.
Perfect difficulty level
Since I haven't played "Super Mario" since "Super Mario Land 2" or "Wario Land" (well, if that counts), the difficulty level certainly influenced my experience. I'm not a pro at platform games and I get bored quickly when I lose too often. "Super Mario Odyssey" is difficult enough that I'm relieved to have beaten a boss and stay motivated. The battles against the bosses on the different levels are the best moments anyway. They always spring a surprise and require the skilful use of Cappy. But the process is always more or less the same... Shame.
Advanced players will try to find all the moons, which requires a certain level of skill. You need to know all the tricks. No mistakes are allowed. I find this the perfect way to assess your level, whether you're a beginner or advanced.
Summary
At the beginning of the year, I never would have thought I'd be playing "Super Mario Odyssey". I would have recognised the quality of the game, but I would have refused due to lack of time or interest. The Switch's mobility certainly played a part in my new-found interest in "Super Mario Odyssey", as did the creativity of the developers. There's always a new element or mechanic to discover. A good balance between the different difficulty levels spared me a few frustrations. The worlds could have had an even more gripping atmosphere; I didn't care for New Donk City at all. But the different costumes and the collection of caps kept me motivated. It's hard not to laugh when you see the serious look on Mario's face when he comes up against a boss dressed as a clown. "Super Mario Odyssey" may not be one of the defining moments in the history of "Super Mario", but it's a must-have for all Switch owners and fans of the little Italian man with the moustache.
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
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