Super Mario Odyssey
- October 27, 2017
- Nintendo
It carried ginormous expectations, but somehow Nintendo has managed to leapfrog over the bar by a huge distance. Offering the most satisfying gameplay experience of any Mario game to date, Super Mario Odyssey is near-perfect.
In "Super Mario Odyssey," Mario, joined by his new ally Cappy, embarks on a 3D adventure across numerous worlds to collect Power Moons and power up the Odyssey airship. Utilize unique abilities, such as capturing enemies and objects, to explore expansive levels and thwart Bowser's plans to marry Princess Peach. This thrilling and captivating game encourages creativity as players discover hidden secrets and save the day.
Nintendo Switch
Reviews
- Super Mario Odyssey features creative and clever level design, offering a vast array of imaginative worlds to explore.
- The gameplay is excellent, with tight platforming mechanics and a variety of new power-ups using Cappy that enhance the experience.
- The game is highly accessible for both casual gamers and veterans, providing hours of fun with plenty of collectibles and challenges to pursue.
- The two-player mode can be confusing and lacks depth, as one player controls Mario while the other controls Cappy, leading to potential frustration.
- Some boss fights can feel repetitive, and certain mechanics may require motion controls that can be cumbersome.
- A few worlds may feel uninspired or overly large with little to do, which can detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay29 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Super Mario Odyssey is widely praised for its creative level design, smooth controls, and the innovative capture mechanic that adds variety and depth to the experience. Players enjoy the blend of classic Mario elements with new mechanics, offering a vast array of challenges and exploration opportunities. While some mechanical quirks and certain objectives can be frustrating, the overall gameplay is considered engaging, entertaining, and filled with content that encourages replayability.
“Offering the most satisfying gameplay experience of any Mario game to date, Super Mario Odyssey is near-perfect.”
“The gameplay is smooth and diverse, offering a lot of different challenges.”
“The attention to detail mixed with a host of expansive content and enjoyable gameplay will have you coming back for more.”
“It has a few issues: Mario often makes you angry with how stupid his sliding and slipping off things and the ridiculous flipping mechanics of pole climbing.”
“Aside from some really annoying mechanics and a handful of moons that are just unreasonable to acquire (I will never do jump rope or volleyball 100 times and I’m okay with that), this game is extremely fun.”
“A great, entertaining game with a few mechanical annoyances.”
- story10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story in the game follows a familiar Mario formula, offering a charming and entertaining narrative that is enhanced by imaginative worlds and a variety of missions. While the main storyline is relatively short and linear, players can enjoy countless hours of additional content through quests and collectibles. However, the cooperative gameplay has received criticism for its limitations, detracting from the overall experience.
“The storyline is mostly what you would expect from this franchise, but the worlds that you go through are so imaginative and beautiful, and at times challenging.”
“This game offers hours of precision platforming, a wildly ridiculous but nostalgically entertaining story, packed full of rewarding challenges and secrets to find.”
“So much to explore, the kingdoms are gorgeous, captures are absolutely wild, and the storyline is interesting.”
“The story is quite linear and for some, will be short and easy.”
“Most worlds are great, but there are a few that are uninspired, making the overall journey a little less grand.”
“The storyline is mostly what you would expect from this franchise, but it lacks depth and originality.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 89 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are consistently praised for their vibrant colors, beautiful visuals, and overall quality, with many reviewers noting that they enhance the fun and nostalgic experience. Players appreciate the combination of old-school charm with modern aesthetics, making the visuals a standout feature. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
“Game is great combining old school Mario games with some new mechanics and beautiful graphics.”
“Second time buying this game; we lost the first one by accident, but loved it so much we had to purchase it again. The graphics are so fun and colorful!”
“All the worlds are fun and the graphics look the best they've ever looked for our mustache hero.”
- music7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- -14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for its excellent quality and memorability, with many reviewers highlighting the dynamic and diverse soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. The score is described as phenomenal and engaging, contributing to the game's charm and nostalgia while complementing its beautiful visuals and inventive gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is a standout feature that resonates with players, making it a memorable aspect of the game.
“The best Mario has ever been, with so many nods to the series’ history and a phenomenal soundtrack.”
“Gorgeous visuals and a fantastic musical score; Cappy is a hit and shakes up 3D Mario gameplay.”
“Classic Mario charm mixed with new mechanics, with a litany of content and songs that you're going to get stuck in your head.”
“The soundtrack is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during longer play sessions.”
“While the game has great visuals, the music feels uninspired and doesn't match the energy of the gameplay.”
“The audio design is disappointing; the music doesn't enhance the experience and often fades into the background.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is highly praised, as it features no microtransactions, loot boxes, or downloadable content, allowing players to fully enjoy the experience without additional costs. This approach enhances the overall gameplay, which is complemented by creative level design and a variety of power-ups.
“No microtransactions, loot boxes, or DLCs.”
“There's so much to do once you beat the main questline.”
“Creative and clever level design with excellent gameplay and tight platforming.”
“The monetization model is frustrating; it feels like they are constantly pushing for in-game purchases.”
“I can't believe how many ads pop up during gameplay; it really ruins the experience.”
“The game is fun, but the aggressive monetization tactics make it hard to enjoy without spending extra money.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Super Mario Odyssey is praised for its emotional appeal, offering a fun and wholesome experience that resonates with both kids and adults, making it a great family game.
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in Mario's ability to take over different enemies, which adds a comedic element to the gameplay while also serving as a necessary mechanic to complete challenges.
“Mario taking over different enemies is really funny and adds a unique twist to completing the challenges.”
“The humor in the dialogue and character interactions keeps the game light-hearted and enjoyable.”
“The quirky animations and silly scenarios had me laughing out loud throughout my playthrough.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a blend of classic charm and new mechanics, running smoothly with superb visuals. Its open-world design is filled with lush environments and abundant content, contributing to an overall well-optimized experience.
“Classic Mario charm mixed with new mechanics, runs smoothly and looks superb.”
“Open-world gameplay filled with lush environments and a litany of content.”
“You're going to get these songs stuck in your head.”
Critic Reviews
Super Mario Odyssey Review – An Unmissable Adventure
Super Mario Odyssey is the best 3D Mario game. It just is. Level design, the way Mario moves and jumps, collectibles, it’s all just… Practically perfect. This is the Mario game I’ve been wanting for so long, and I already know I’m going straight for 100% completion.
97%Super Mario Odyssey Review
It carried ginormous expectations, but somehow Nintendo has managed to leapfrog over the bar by a huge distance. Offering the most satisfying gameplay experience of any Mario game to date, Super Mario Odyssey is near-perfect.
100%Super Mario Odyssey review
Super Mario Odyssey successfully brings the series up to date and opens it up to a new audience, while still retaining every ounce of its nostalgia and retro charm.
100%
