Super Mario Odyssey (Switch) Review

A hallmark of excellence.

 Super Mario Odyssey marks the iconic plumber's debut title on the Nintendo's latest console-handheld hybrid, the Nintendo Switch. After all, the Switch wouldn't be a proper Nintendo console without a Mario game. Bowser's back and this time he's kidnapped Princess Peach in efforts to forcibly take her as his bride this time. It's up to non-other than Mario, joined by his sentient hat-shaped friend Cappy to rescue her. Odyssey garnered much praise from fans and critics last year though I passed on it since I didn't get a Switch at the time. Now that I finally managed to score a Switch, I wish that I've got it sooner as Odyssey easily met and exceeded all of my expectations.

The plot's is as silly as they come. Bowser plans to forcibly marry Princess Peach and it's up to non-other than Mario to rescue her. However, things aren't looking to good for the plumber and he ends up getting beat and thrown off of Bowser's ship instead. He lands in a mostly white looking land known as the Cap kingdom and befriends Cappy, a spirit whose sister, Tiara has been also kidnapped by Bower to use as Peach's wedding tiara. Together, the two set out to rescue Peach and Tiara from the grips of Bowser in their hat-shaped ship, the Odyssey. It's absurd and over the top, yes, but I find that fits right in with the game's already wacky setting.

Mario is in for a wild ride.

The gameplay follows the standard 3D Mario formula of collecting coins, stomping enemies, and jumping around platforms. Mario himself is easy to control though slightly heavy to maneuver. He retains some of his move sets from previous games such as the wall jump and triple jump which are huge help when exploring levels. I found that the long jump was a great alternative to sprinting as you can cover more ground quickly. Mario can only be hit three times as indicated by his life bar and after that it's game over. 

 Surprisingly, there are no lives in Odyssey. In an effort to streamline the game, 10 coins will be deducted from your total coin count instead. You can even buy a "Life Up Heart", which grants you an extra three health bars from shops, if you really need the extra aid. Seeing the Switch as a versatile system, there's multiple set-ups to play the game. You can play traditionally with a controller, have it on the go like a handheld, or even harken back too the Wii days via motion controls. I've been mainly playing the game undocked for much of my playthrough though I did try out the motion controls early, which were completely solid.

Mario is easy to control and attempting to pull 

of some of his advanced moves feels rewarding.

 Since he's pretty much the backbone of much of the game, it's no surprise that Cappy is the star of the game with Mario, surprisingly, taking a backseat. When swung, Cappy has the ability to attack enemies and break objects. It's not much to go with at first but when he's thrown at certain objects, creatures, and even enemies, he allows Mario to posses them. Early in the game's introductory Cascade Kingdom, you can control the likes of the vicious Chain Chomps and even a giant T-Rex to destroy all sorts of blocks that Mario on his own couldn't pass through. 

 At various points, you'll be controlling Cheep Cheeps to swim underwater and stacking up Goombas to reach completely new areas. It opens up potential for exploration as there are many cleverly hidden secrets and Easter eggs scattered out in each stage. As unconventional and gimmicky as it may seem, I felt that the mechanic was well-utilized and helps the series stray away from repetition while breaking new ground.

Mario comes takes all kinds of forms in this adventure.

 Odyssey harkens back to the Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario 64 days of levels being exploration-based. They're presented in a sandbox fashion, meaning that you're free to explore every nook and cranny for secrets and collectables. The game pays homage to the series' roots by having you briefly control old-school Mario in some areas as well. In each level, your main goal is to find a set amount of Power Moons needed to get the odyssey up and running for the next kingdom. Power Moons are scattered throughout a level and while some are easy to spot while others can be a real pain as they're well-hidden in places where you wouldn't expect them. 

 The harder moons to collect are located in secret challenge rooms, which requires you to have some sharp and quick reflexes as most can be a real hassle to reach. If you're having trouble finding some moons, you can pay a blue Toad a total of 50 points to mark them on your map. Aside from moon collecting, the game features another currency in the form of purple coins unique to each kingdom. They're mainly cosmetic as they're used to buy accessories for the odyssey and neat outfits for Mario. Though make no mistake, collecting all of them in a given kingdom is just as hard a feat as finding power moons.

2D Mario also makes a welcome appearance.

 Odyssey's cartoony aesthetic shouldn't fool you; it's among the best looking games out on the Switch. While the game runs at a smooth 60 frames per second both docked and undocked at a decent resolution, it's the art direction that's responsible for the game's visual charm. From the sunny shores of Seaside Kingdom to the colorful food-themed Luncheon Kingdom to New Donk City's crowded streets, Odyssey is packed with many beautiful environments brimming with detail. Throw in some neat little visuals effects and it's one of most visually striking games on the Switch. It doesn't end there as the soundtrack is a huge highlight with Nintendo taking pride in it by giving the game's standout single "Jump Up Superstar" an official iTunes release. The rest of the tracks are catchy and upbeat, no surprise considering industry-leading composer Koji Kondo is behind much of it.

Odyssey simply looks stunning.

 Super Mario Odyssey is my favorite Switch game by far. Going back to the exploration-based levels of Sunshine and 64 while adding new refinements to the core gameplay is a huge selling point as the levels themselves with their sheer density are enticing to explore. That and the game is so far the best looking on the Switch's hardware, featuring rock solid performance and captivating environments. I was fortunate enough to receive Super Mario Odyssey bundled with my Switch, but if you haven't gotten around to playing it, then jump right in as it's a must-on considering all the hours of fun that's in store. Super Mario Odyssey sets the standard for the series just like Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 64 did years ago, and is a game that you shouldn't miss.