Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey is a 2017 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. An entry in the Super Mario series, it follows Mario and his new ally Cappy—a sentient hat—as they journey across various kingdoms to save Princess Peach from Mario’s nemesis Bowser’s plans of forced marriage. In contrast to the linear gameplay of prior entries, the game returns to the primarily open-ended, 3D platform gameplay featured in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. In the game, Mario explores various kingdoms and collects Power Moons hidden inside them, used as a fuel source to power an airship known as the Odyssey to travel to new locations.

Cappy’s main function is the “capture” ability, letting Mario possess enemies and other objects, helping him solve puzzles and progress in the game. The game includes a multiplayer mode and also supports virtual reality with a Nintendo Labo virtual reality kit. Super Mario Odyssey is a platform game in which players control Mario as he travels across 14 different worlds, known as “Kingdoms” within the game, on the hat-shaped ship Odyssey, to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser, who plans to forcibly marry her. The Kingdoms in the game return to the exploration-based level design featured in Super Mario 64. 

Each Kingdom has Mario searching for and clearing various objectives in order to obtain items known as Power Moons, which are the power source of the Odyssey and grant access to new Kingdoms. Checkpoint flags littered throughout each Kingdom allow Mario to instantly warp to them once activated. Certain levels feature areas called “flat” zones, where Mario is placed in a 2D side-scrolling environment similar to his appearance in the original Super Mario Bros. In addition to his pre-existing moves, like triple-jumping and wall-jumping.

Mario can throw his cap, the physical form of a hat spirit named Cappy, in multiple directions to attack enemies and use as a temporary platform. When the cap is thrown at certain objects, enemies, or non-playable characters, Mario is able to take possession of them, referred to as “capturing”, allowing him to use unique abilities. For example, Mario can capture a Bullet Bill to fly across large gaps, a Tyrannosaurus to trample things, a bolt of electricity called a Spark Pylon to climb up electric wires, and a tank called a Sherm to fire at enemies and break blocks for passage. 

Some actions can be accelerated by using motion controls in the Joy-Con controllers, but the game is otherwise fully playable with the Joy-Con attached to the console. Throughout the game, Mario can pick up coins, which come in two types; regular gold coins and purple ones unique to each kingdom, to spend on items such as new hats and outfits, some of which are required for completing certain objectives. The game uses a health system similar to the Super Mario Galaxy games; although Mario has unlimited lives, the only penalty for dying is paying up to ten coins.

The player can also collect items known as ‘Life-Up Hearts’ which grant three extra hit points. The game also features cooperative play, in which a second player takes control of Cappy and can move more independently of Mario. Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach from the Mushroom Kingdom and takes her aboard his airship, intent on forcibly marrying her. Mario, also aboard, attempts to rescue her but is knocked off the ship by Bowser’s hat after a brief fight and falls into the neighboring Cap Kingdom. With Mario gone, Bowser stomps on Mario’s cap and lets it drift into the ship’s rear propellers, shredding it to pieces.

A piece of the hat is grabbed by Cappy, one of the Cap Kingdom’s sentient hat-like creatures called Bonneters. The two meet, and he explains to Mario that Bowser also kidnapped his sister, Tiara, to be used as Peach’s wedding tiara. Cappy joins Mario and takes the shape of Mario’s cap, providing him with the ability to throw his cap and temporarily control or capture other creatures and objects and utilize their abilities. They travel to the nearby Cascade Kingdom, recover an airship called the Odyssey, and begin hunting Bowser down.