Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey is a platform action-adventure video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It follows Mario and his new companion Cappy as they journey across the world to save Princess Peach from a forced marriage to his nemesis Bowser.

The game opened to critical and commercial success, becoming the second best-selling game for the Nintendo Switch.

Gameplay
Super Mario Odyssey is a 3D platformer with 2D platforming and sandbox components. The player takes control of Mario as he traverses numerous kingdoms in the Odyssey airship to save Princess Peach from a forced wedding to Bowser. The game marks a return to the level design of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, placing an emphasis on exploration over linear progression. Established elements of gameplay in 3D Super Mario games, including Mario's moveset (jumping, double/triple jumping, wall jumping, ground pound, etc.) and Super Mario Galaxy's three-point health system (which can be temporarily expanded up to six) return. The game's main collectibles are "Power Moons", which function similarly to Power Stars from previous games. Power Moons are scattered across every kingdom, and kingdoms generally have a minimum number of Power Moons that must be collected to power up the Odyssey and progress to the next kingdom. Power Moons can be found beyond the main objectives, although the main objectives will often contain "Multi Moons" (which count as 3 Power Moons each), and some Power Moons cannot be accessed until certain objectives are completed.

In addition to his pre-existing moves, Mario gains new abilities via Cappy, a hat-shaped spirit who takes the place of his hat. Throwing Cappy opens up a variety of moves, including a spin throw and creating a temporary platform to jump from. The game also introduces the "Capture" mechanic: by throwing Cappy at enemies, certain objects, or NPCs, Mario is able to "capture" or possess them, giving him access to unique abilities. In this sense, Capturing takes the place of the traditional Power-Ups. Unlike previous games in the Super Mario series, Mario has no lives, and the game does not have a "Game Over" screen. Instead, every death will make Mario lose ten coins.

Certain areas contain 2D platforming sections called "flat zones". These areas, which are accessed by 8-bit warp pipes, are often part of the surrounding geography and are visually similar to the original Super Mario Bros. The kingdoms feature two different coins: the standard gold coin, which can be found and used in every kingdom; and purple regional coins, which vary across each kingdom and can only be used within their respective kingdom. Both coins can be used as currency in "Crazy Cap" shops, where Mario can purchase Power Moons, alternative outfits, and souvenirs for the Odyssey.

Plot
The game opens with Mario and Bowser fighting aboard the latter's airship. Bowser, who has yet again kidnapped Princess Peach, now intends to forcibly marry her. Mario is defeated, losing his hat in the process, and sent flying from the airship. His hat is tossed away by Bowser, and is soon destroyed when it drifts into the ship's propellers. Mario awakens in the Cap Kingdom, a neighboring kingdom populated by hat-shaped ghosts called Bonneters. He encounters a Bonneter named Cappy, who explains that his sister Tiara was also kidnapped by Bowser, in order to be Peach's wedding tiara. The two team up to stop Bowser, with Cappy taking the place of Mario's hat and granting him new abilities in the process. After a brief-run in with the Broodals, a group of anthropomorphic rabbits hired as Bowser's wedding planners, the two head to the nearby Cascade Kingdom to recover the Odyssey, a hat-shaped airship, and pursue Bowser.

Mario and Cappy chase Bowser across the world: along the way, they clash with the Broodals who are stealing prized artifacts from several kingdoms for the wedding. They finally catch up to Bowser in his own kingdom, but are too late to stop Bowser from departing to the moon for the wedding ceremony. Defeating the Broodals a final time, Mario and Cappy power up the Odyssey and follow Bowser to the moon. The two interrupt the ceremony, and fight Bowser in an underground cavern underneath the cathedral. The two are victorious and rescue Peach and Tiara, but the cavern begins to crumble, weakened by the fight. With Cappy's power, Mario captures the unconscious Bowser and escapes to the surface with Peach and Tiara. Mario, followed quickly by the now-conscious Bowser, attempt to propose to Peach, but they are both sternly rejected. Peach storms off to the Odyssey but invites her rejected and disheartened suitors to come home with them. Mario boards the ship as it departs, leaving Bowser stranded on the moon.

Development
Super Mario Odyssey's development began in late 2013, shortly after the release of Super Mario 3D World. Early on in development, it was decided to create a game for core gamers rather than the casual market. To facilitate this, workers from earlier 3D Mario titles, such as Yoshiaki Koizumi and Kenta Motokura, were brought in for the development. Veteran Nintendo developer Shigeru Miyamoto was brought in as a consulting role throughout the game's development.

Reception
Super Mario Odyssey has received universal acclaim from critics, praising the game's inventiveness and similarities to Super Mario 64. Metacritic gave the game a score of 97 based on 113 reviews from critics, while IGN and GameSpot gave Odyssey a perfect 10/10.

Sales
As of March 31, 2019, Super Mario Odyssey has sold a total of 16.59 million units worldwide, making it the second best-selling title for the Nintendo Switch (first being Mario Kart 8 Deluxe).

Trivia

 * Super Mario Odyssey is the first game in the Super Mario franchise to be given a CERO-B rating: all previous entries had been given CERO-A. The reason behind this rating was the game's usage of realistic-looking tanks.