The 3D Mario series has always been a favorite of mine. Despite the fact that many people consider Super Mario Odyssey to be a masterpiece, what interests me the most about it is its effect on the genre as a whole. Where most games may force the player to stick to a certain path through the game, Odyssey allows the player to do as they please.
Part of what makes the game allow players to essentially do as they please is the inclusion of Cappy. Cappy allows players to jump off of him to areas of the game that the game itself did not necessarily design the players to travel to. As such, the players feel as if their controller is almost nonexistent as they rush as fast as they can think to the next spot.
The other major aspects of the game that I love about it is the way that the kingdoms are designed. Each of them includes some form of activity or destination for the players to explore, such as the skyscraper in New Donk City or the pool in the Lake Kingdom.
The downside to the game’s open nature is that other games that are otherwise fantastic and feature similar aspects to Odyssey, such as games like Galaxy or Astro Bot, begin to feel more “heavy” and restricted. Instead, Odyssey feels more like a player that has been cut loose in a skate park.
While many people may believe that the game is relatively too easy with its number of moons and the general challenge of the game, I personally feel that the freedom to explore and experiment with the game is one of the most special aspects of the game.
I actually made a video on my yt channel diving into these specific mechanics if anyone wants to chat more about it! I’m curious to know, has Odyssey made it harder for you to enjoy more linear platformers, or do you still prefer the structured challenge of games like Galaxy?