Super Mario Odyssey is widely considered the best Super Mario game we’ve had for years now, potentially since Super Mario Galaxy was released in 2007, and after finally getting a chance to play the game for myself, I can clearly see why this is case.
The game sees Nintendo’s famous mascot chase after Bowser after he has once again kidnapped Princess Peach. It takes you through multiple different fun-filled worlds, each one as memorable as the last with newcomer to the series and Mario’s companion for the game, Cappy. Cappy is out to save his sister Tiara, whom Bowser has also kidnapped, and with Mario the two set off together to save them both.
Straight from that start, I could tell that this was a completely different kind of Mario game. It was so refreshing to see such a beloved staple of my own childhood still be treated with the same amount of care as he did years ago. The same feeling I had when I played my first Super Mario game, Super Mario 64 for the DS, came rushing back to me as soon as I started the game. I was never once bored during my play of the game and each new world had so many different things to offer.
Whenever I made use of the game’s new mechanic of using Cappy to control just about any object in the game, I always laughed slightly whenever I saw the iconic moustache on each and every single one of the things I took over. The game’s close attention to detail is one of the many reasons it feels so refreshing.
Super Mario Odyssey is without a doubt my personal game of the year, despite how little time I’ve actually had with it so far. For the first time in a long time I am genuinely excited to get back to playing a game now. I would highly recommend this game to anyone, whether it be your first Mario game or you’ve been a lifelong fan, there is something in it for everyone.
By Callum McDade
