Super Mario Odyssey is a new entry in the classic franchise. It brings together elements from previous games and molds them into something fresh and fun.

Explore incredible places far from the Mushroom Kingdom on a massive, globe-trotting 3D adventure. Collect Power Moons to fuel your Odyssey ship and rescue Princess Peach from Bowser’s wedding plans!

Gameplay

The latest entry in Nintendo’s iconic franchise, Super Mario Odyssey is a platform game that’s both comfortingly familiar and refreshingly new. The story begins with Bowser kidnapping Princess Peach and whisking her away into a series of worlds that the famous plumber must travel to in order to catch up and rescue her.

Unlike previous 3D Mario games, this time around the action takes place across huge, open-world kingdoms that are filled with secrets and surprises. Using his new hat Cappy, the Mario character is able to possess other characters and objects in interesting ways. From stacking Goombas to thrashing about as a realistic T-rex in the prehistoric Cascade Kingdom, these possessions add new gameplay elements that make it fun to explore each of the game’s 16 or so kingdoms.

In addition to this, the game also uses a number of other clever mechanics like a system that allows players to stick Mario to walls (similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) and even ride on rafts on icy oceans. All of this adds up to a Mario experience that’s both familiar and fresh, and is easily one of the most satisfying gaming experiences of 2017.

Super Mario Odyssey is a great game that offers an impressive combination of fun, creative new gameplay, a cast of colorful characters, catchy tunes and much more. Whether you’re a hardcore Mario fan or just curious about the franchise, this is a must-play game.

Story

The world’s most famous plumber takes on his biggest adventure yet. This global journey sees Mario – joined by his new companion Cappy – power up the Odyssey, a giant airship that can visit incredible planets to collect Moons for Peach’s impending wedding.

Mario’s advanced movement options from Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine return, but he also has entirely new powers that he can use to solve puzzles. Using his cap, Cappy, he can possess objects and enemies to take control of them. The cap can even turn into a pair of wings that can allow him to fly, and he can change his costume in between missions.

Each kingdom features a unique environment that offers a wide variety of challenges and experiences. There are dozens of enemy types, a variety of bosses, and countless non-playable characters to interact with. In addition, there are a number of costumes that can be purchased with both global yellow coins and regional purple ones found throughout the game.

Although there are a few elements that could have made Super Mario Odyssey more exciting, the game’s innovative gameplay and rich worlds make it an experience not to be missed. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of a Galaxy or a Galaxy II, it still delivers on all of its promises and provides a new experience every time you pick up the controller.

Graphics

The Nintendo Switch exclusive Super Mario Odyssey is an enthralling, visually stunning collection-based 3D platformer. It follows a familiar scenario: Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach and wants to force her to marry him. Mario sets out to rescue her, armed with Cappy, the anthropomorphic cap that transforms into whatever object he lands on.

Fluid control has always been a hallmark of the series, and Odyssey continues this tradition. It also adds new elements. Rather than traditional powerups like fire flowers and feathers, the game includes enemy takeovers via Cappy, who can be thrown at enemies to possess them. This allows them to perform actions native to the possessed object — Goombahs stack atop one another, chain choppers can break through walls, and frogs jump really high.

The game has more wide-open spaces than previous 3D Mario games, harking back to the style of 2002’s Super Mario Sunshine. Each stage is filled with dozens of small objectives that reward players for exploring, encouraging them to discover their own path.

There are also plenty of fun 2D segments, putting Mario in 8-bit environments that look very similar to the NES original. This is an excellent way to make the game feel fresh and new without making it too difficult for fans of older games. Unfortunately, co-op doesn’t work well in this mode because player two can move Cappy around at will, sabotaging Mario’s carefully placed captures or crowd control.

Sound

Super Mario Odyssey is the first main entry in Nintendo’s Switch era to feature a 3D world. The famous plumber is back, but this time he’s got an airship and a new friend to help him reach Princess Peach. He’s also got a brand-new way of playing, and it’s something that might surprise even fans of the long-running series.

In addition to his usual jumping and bouncing, Mario can now use his cap to “possess” enemies and objects in his surroundings. This opens up a wide range of possibilities, from a bullet that’s chasing him to a caterpillar that can stretch across gaps and a giant tyrannosaurus rex. It’s a fascinating change that highlights how Nintendo is willing to break with some of the tropes of its own series.

The game’s co-op mode places one player in control of Mario and the other in charge of his hat, Cappy. Using it to possess enemies and objects allows players to take more precise control of the action, but it can also be frustrating if your partner messes up your perfect plan at an important moment.

Peter Brown of GameSpot wrote that the game “has a wide-open challenge that never stops changing, even dozens of hours in.” Dave Thier of Forbes praised how unique it is, but also noted that some of Cappy’s actions require motion controls, which might make some players uncomfortable.