Review: Super Mario Odyssey

A new Nintendo console is never complete without one super Mario, and although the Nintendo Switch has already successfully received two titles in which the famous plumber with the mustache participates, namely Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, a title like Super Mario Odyssey.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which was released alongside the Nintendo Switch in March 2017, greatly helped the device's sales and market acceptance, but for many, especially the masses, Nintendo continues to be synonymous with Super Mario. This new title thus entails a great responsibility, that of “catapult” the Nintendo console to an even wider audience.

It's practically impossible not to like the franchise's games at all. super Mario. With more than 30 years, it is without a doubt one of the most popular franchises in the gaming world. Although no one ages in the Mushroom Kingdom, if we count the years since his debut, Super Mario is already quite old.

In Super Mario Odyssey it is a mirror of the childhood experience, where many of the older readers had their first experience with the series. On one side we have a new game full of content, and on the other a new Nintendo handheld that brings a qualitative leap in “pocket games”.

The new game is the ultimate representative of Nintendo's philosophy, preserving the traditional elements that everyone knows while introducing new features. It's not a game that takes risks or steps too far, but it has moments of genuine charm and fun.

The keyword is “Cappy”, the hat-shaped companion who will accompany Mario throughout this odyssey across the incredible planet. Cappy has a very special and complementary power, that of “to possess” the various enemies that appear. It's an idea that, despite seeming relatively simple, provides wonderful results. This was what the series needed to escape monotony and sameness. Obviously Mario remains the main character, but the possibility of controlling other characters in this universe brings new and very creative challenges.

Cappy isn't the only big news. Super Mario Odyssey is like an adventure, breaking the mold of its predecessors. Platforms and controlled jumps remain an essential part of the experience, but each area visited has more personality and feels “more alive”. The area that conveys this sensation best is New Donk City, a city clearly inspired by New York. There are cars on the streets and characters with simple but humorous speeches, a big step forward from the practically sterile worlds of previous games.

Anyone who has played a game from the Super Mario franchise knows what the history. The fearsome bowser He kidnapped the princess again and this time he wants to marry her. This is the excuse for the odyssey, which is actually more of a chase. Bowser will travel through several kingdoms to plan the perfect wedding and spread chaos along the way. In each kingdom there is something important for the wedding, like beautiful flowers or an amazing cake. While Bowser leaves a path of destruction, Mario will pass through each of these kingdoms following his trail and saving the day.

While each world is visually different and presents new challenges, the objective it's always the same. Mario's ship is powered by moons, and to continue chasing Bowser, the player will have to find enough moons so that the ship has enough fuel to reach the next kingdom. The number of moons in existence varies from kingdom to kingdom, but there are many more than it might seem. Each level hides many secrets and creative ways to obtain moons.

Additionally, each level also has a different boss. There are evil rabbits, birds, dragons and other creatures that Mario will have to face before he gets close to the bowser. Each of these clashes has different mechanics, but they are all simple and immediately obvious. I would say that Super Mario Odyssey is divided into two parts, and the first part can be overly easy.

It's a lot of fun, but in the final stretch it brings some discomfort. Fortunately, after the end, there are new challenges and the difficulty gradually increases. I understand that this is a game with a focus for all ages and people, the difficulty does not have to be extreme (nothing Cuphead huh! 😀 ), but there has to be a balance. If a very difficult game is frustrating, a very easy game is monotonous, that is, one factor leads to another.

Although Super Mario games are usually all about running and jumping, Odyssey breaks this tradition a little. There is Cappy's ability to control other characters and creatures, transforming the gameplay in incredible ways, but in normal mode Mario has many subtleties.

The gameplay has even more subtleties when we play with the Joy-Con in each hand. In this format, motion controls come into play. Nintendo encourages players to play like this, but personally, I didn't feel comfortable enough. The Joy-Con are small and therefore do not have any support, resulting in discomfort in reaching the buttons.

The possibility of buy costumes for Mario, using coins or a special currency that varies depending on the levels, is another new feature in Odyssey. It's really fun to buy and dress the character in different ways, especially because there are many possible combinations. It's a new addition to the series that could have been implemented a long time ago, after all, there are countless games that allow you to customize your character with clothes, hairstyles, tattoos and accessories.