Thought I'd Outgrown Mario. Super Mario Odyssey Proved Me Wrong.

Super Mario Odyssey is a game I waited entirely too long to play for the first time. This was mainly due to how long it took me to finally get myself a Nintendo Switch (around 7 years after the console launched, actually). But once I did get my very first Switch, I waited even longer to pop this game in and give it a go. It's not that I didn't want to play the game or anything. I think it was because I knew what I was getting myself into if I took the plunge. Don't get me wrong, though. The idea of exploring multiple, unique worlds in search of secrets, powerups, and collectables sounded very appealing. But I felt like it has all been done before, you know? As I get older, I found myself gravitating towards more "unique to me" experiences. And I felt like in some ways I had outgrown these sorts of experiences. But once I decided to slot Odyssey into my Switch and give it a whirl, I realized my past self was an idiot.

For a game that's been out for around 8 years now, there's not much to say about it that hasn't already been said. Mario Odyssey ranks as one of the best mainline games in the series, standing tall next to the likes of Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World and Super Mario 64. For me, though, I missed out on the 3D Mario titles like Mario 64, Sunshine and Galaxy. While I knew what I was in for when I jumped into Odyssey, I couldn't help but be swept up in the magic of it all. This was a world unlike anything I had experienced up to that point and I was eager to see what adventures awaited me as I scoured the land for the game's highest valued collectable, the Power Moons.

While there was sort of a path to follow with regards to the story, I had the freedom to explore each world how I pleased. Every Kingdom I would travel to was so unique and I thought the developers designed incredibly well. Places like the Sand Kingdom, Cloud Kingdom, New Donk City and the Moon Kingdom were all unique in style, tone and had you using varied game mechanics to see yourself through. As you explore, it'll be evident that there's many, many secrets hidden throughout. While some Power Moons were pretty easy to find, others really required you to think outside the box and think creatively. It's not enough just to platform and jump around, though. You'll have to become a master at Odyssey's unique game mechanics. Specifically the usage of Cappy.

During the beginning of the game, Mario loses his trademarked hat. Not to worry, though. Our hero comes across Cappy, who is a literal hat that talks. You can do all sorts of things with Cappy, from throwing him at enemies to jumping on top of him for added jump height. He's very useful to get Mario into and out of some interesting places, but his main ability allows Mario to take over and control enemies. While controlling an enemy, you can utilize that enemy's unique skills. These can be used to battle other enemies but more often, you'll be using possessed enemies to solve puzzles or traverse the world in ways you couldn't have otherwise. It's a really cool feature, and whenever I took over a new enemy, I was excited to see what skills or abilities I could use in hopes I could finally get a Power Moon just out of reach. While I feel like Cappy's animal possession technique is one of the most unique abilities in the series, I will say I was disappointed with the lack of any special power ups outside of Cappy's uses. Minor gripe, though. Being able to control a T-Rex more than made up for that.

I think what I liked most about this game (even if other, more die-hard Mario fans may feel otherwise), is how easy and approachable this game was. It didn't take me much effort at all to roll credits and see the end. More than that, my wife found it very easy to traverse the world and take on some of the game's platforming challenges, and she is not a great gamer at all. Not a knock on my wife, just making a point. (Love you, babe!) It isn't until the post-game where the game's real challenges crop up, and depending on what sort of gamer you are, that might drive you nuts to have to wait that long to really get into the meat of the experience in that sense. And while I'd love to find the over 900 Power Moons scattered around the game, the 200 or so I found naturally on my own was more than enough for me.

At the end of the day, I was worried about playing a game that wouldn't offer me anything unique. That I was going to play a game with a premise that had already been done before. All because I wanted something "unique" and "different". And while it's good to have that mentality sometimes, there is nothing wrong with going into a game that has a similar experience as another game, especially if the execution is top notch. Super Mario Odyssey takes the tried and true 3D Mario formula and almost perfects it. Its joyful atmosphere, smooth controls and level design make this game a wonder to explore. The sheer amount of content makes this a game you'll be playing for hours. And the absolute fun you'll have is only outmatched by the joy you get from discovering something new. I feel like I'm the last person on the planet to have played this game, but in case I'm not, go embark on your own Mario Odyssey sooner than later. You'll never know what you'll discover.