With every new Nintendo console that comes out, we know the new Mario is soon behind it if it's not already released at launch. Mario has been the flagship IP of Nintendo since the original console and has stayed that way because of the quality and effort put into each game. Not only do Mario games capitalize on the new hardware but they offer a great gameplay experience. I just got my copy of the newest Mario in the mail today, set my watch for one hour, and jumped into Super Mario Odyssey by Nintendo and Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development.
The Experience:
There is so much for me to want to talk about and I am going to do my best not to fanboy this up. This game so far is exactly what I expected it to be. For some reason, the Mario franchise has done what it does for so long and they continue to deliver. From the very beginning I had a smile on my face and maybe it was the nostalgia kicking in but this hour flew by so fast. These have been my favorite 3D platformers and from what I can tell that isn't changing.
It can't be said enough but this game looks good. It's so polished for something on the hardware that it rests on. The detail is there making the levels feel unique and special. The music is great too. The moment I started the upbeat sounds flowing in with the distinct sounds of Mario jumping gave me the feeling of excitement. The beginning makes you feel like you are going to go on an adventure.
(Story Spoiler)
Mario and Bowser are once again in a 1v1 duel, all mid, battle over Peach. The long and never-ending lust for the princess has caused Bowser to get a swanky new outfit in an attempt to get her to marry him. Unfortunately for our hero Mario, Bowser has a new attack in his boomerang hat. This comes back to knock Mario off the flying ship they were battling and into the abyss below, having his hat torn up by the tail fans of the ship. You land in a magical kingdom of hats recently devastated by bowser where you meet your newest ally Cappy.
Cappy is Mario's newest friend who adds onto Mario's move set. You are able to throw him at enemies and use him to capture some and use their ability. I went with Nintendo's suggestion and started out playing with the joycons disconnected from the controller one in each hand. Until they showed the straps on the screen I had completely forgotten I had them and had to go digging in the original Switch box to get them. I am glad I took their recommendation because the controls are great.
I don't know why but I just don't expect the joycon controls to be as reactive and accurate as they are. It always surprises me how well they can read my wrist movements and respond to them. It's an awesome level of control and they have used this to their advantage in Mario Odyssey. With the flick of a wrist, you can send Cappy flying. Miss your target? That's ok because while he is flying out, you can flick again to send Cappy to the nearest enemy.
In an hour I have only been able to see two levels but so far there is a lot to see. Each level is packed with Moons which are the main collectible item in the game. These are used to get to the next level so you have to collect enough to do so. You do this through the regular jump puzzles and now capturing enemies and using their abilities to either break stuff or traverse the terrain. You also now use coins to unlock outfits that Mario can wear. These outfits are pretty cool.
As always Nintendo can make a game for all ages with implementations of different mechanics we have seen elsewhere. For example, there is an option to turn on arrows to direct players on where to go. One really cool mechanic unique to the game is the ability to easily slip into the two-player mode. One player will control Cappy and the other Mario. It's as simple as pausing it, selecting two-player modes, and passing your friend the joycon. It was something I was not expecting and was pleasantly surprised to learn about.
I could go on and on but I really don't like for my posts to be too long. Plus I can always save it for the full review when I finish. There is no doubt in my I will finish and like Breath of Wild and Mario + Rabbids I see this as a game I keep coming back to in order to unlock as much as I can.
TL;DR:
Super Mario Odyssey so far is the game that was promised and has been delivered. The controls are clean, the graphics are good, and the music is excellent. Really happy that Nintendo can continue to deliver and I really look forward to making my way through the game.
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