Super Mario Odyssey review: Nintendo mascot conjures pure joy on the Switch

Zelda just got some serious competition in the game of the year stakes
1/8
Ben Travis26 October 2017

Nintendo has had an incredible year in launching the Switch console, and it’s about to end it with a bang thanks to Super Mario Odyssey.

Just when you thought The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a shoo-in for game of the year, Nintendo has proved its only real competition is itself.

The iconic Nintendo mascot makes his Switch debut proper in a huge new adventure that blends the invention of the Wii’s Mario Galaxy with the open world exploration of classic Super Mario 64.

Here’s what makes the beloved plumber’s latest adventure so special.

The way it conjures pure joy

Nintendo

2017 has been an undeniably tough year, and the Switch has combatted that perfectly with its shared, sociable gaming and bright, colourful graphics. Even its controllers are called Joy-Cons.

That sense of joy is perfectly encapsulated in Super Mario Odyssey, and positively permeates every corner of the game. When Mario runs downhill he builds up speed until his arms fly out from his side, gliding and freewheeling down slopes like an excited kid at the sound of the school bell. Upon discovering a hidden Power Moon, the main items you have to unearth to reach the next world, players are presented with an endorphin-boosting ‘You Got A Moon!’ screen. Each world in the game is as vibrant and inviting as the last, with shining blue skies, deep red desert sands, and crystal clear waters. It’s all utterly heart-warming and infectious.

Its idiosyncratic love of hats

Nintendo

Mario’s little red cap has always been a key part of his signature look - and in Odyssey it’s given a key role. This time it’s been anthropomorphised into the wide-eyed Cappy, and throwing him onto enemies and objects is Mario’s primary move in the game. Flinging Cappy at an enemy allows Mario to control them, and each has its open abilities that open up the game in exciting ways. Take over a Bullet Bill, and you can fly to new areas. Possess a Goomba, and you can jump on other Goombas and stack them to reach high areas.

The Joy-Cons continue to be an absolute marvel, and Odyssey plays best with a single Joy-Cone in each hand. Flicking your wrist slightly to send Cappy flying becomes second nature after a few moments, though the spin attack takes a bit of getting used to.

Cappy is only the beginning of Odyssey’s obsession with hats too – the titular space ship is a giant flying red top hat, while Mario can spend his hard-earned cash on new head accessories, from a baseball cap to a safari hat.

The continuous gratification

Nintendo

Odyssey’s constant sense of momentum comes from the sheer volume of hidden items in the game, and the way they’re expertly tucked away.

As with Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the world is brilliantly intuitive, and you’re given a relatively limited selection of abilities that can be used in seemingly limitless ways. Levels are packed with environment micro-puzzles that require a balance of creativity and logic to solve – things that a player can look at, think ‘what if I take this and put it there?’, and reap the rewards when it inevitably pays off. It’s hugely satisfying to play, and encourages constant experimentation to find everything (hint: try throwing Cappy at anything that looks slightly odd).

Its perfect harmonies

Music is another way that Odyssey gets its constant joy across – each world gets its own dazzling soundtrack that adds to the game’s exuberant atmosphere, wonderfully punctuated by the classic ‘ping!’ sound effect when you collect coins.

There’s also an addictively cheesy jazz-inflected theme song, Jump Up Superstar, and if you get a physical copy of the game make sure you check the inside of the case for the lyrics.

Its wonderful time-sinks

Nintendo

Coins and Power Moons aren’t the only things you’ll want to collect as you explore Odyssey – there’s an addictive Photo Mode, where you can pause the action and zoom the camera around the 3D world to find the perfect shot. You can also export your images and even rotate them to make a phone wallpaper.

Expect to waste plenty of time doing exactly that – it’s the best photo gameplay since Pokémon Snap.

Super Mario Odyssey is out on October 27 on Nintendo Switch

Follow Ben Travis on Twitter: @BenSTravis

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in