Super Mario Odyssey takes players on a delightful action-adventure, as Mario sets off on an engaging journey across wonderfully diverse kingdoms. With enjoyable platforming levels and versatile gameplay, this installment introduces new abilities like Cappy, an animate cap, which enhances exploration and offers innovative challenges. Experience the vibrant world of Super Mario Odyssey, as you embark on a captivating quest, packed with imaginative gameplay mechanics and an array of memorable characters that cater to both long-time fans and newcomers.
Mario has been vanquishing koobas and squishing mushrooms for almost 40 years, and he's showing no signs of stopping. Launched for the Nintendo Switch console on October 27, 2017, Super Mario Odyssey takes his adventures to a whole new level.
This buyer's guide will introduce players to the core elements of Odyssey's gameplay and suggest a few ways to get the game for less. But first, let's return to Mario's origins to bring everyone up to speed.
Mario has been one of gaming's most beloved characters ever since leaping onto NES screens with the original Donkey Kong game in 1981. Since then, he and his partner in crime Luigi have experienced constant adventures, enthralling two generations of gamers on systems ranging from the NES to the N64, and now the Nintendo Switch. To put Odyssey in perspective, let's quickly recap some of the franchise's greatest hits.
Super Mario Brothers – First appearing for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985, Super Mario Brothers introduced the horizontal platforming fans came to love so much, with all of its mushroom-squashing, pipe-descending action.
Super Mario World – When the Super Nintendo arrived, Nintendo needed a truly amazing game to launch their new system, and they found it in the form of Super Mario World. With gorgeous cartoon graphics, and a vast amount of gameplay, this was like the first three games, but taken to a totally new level.
Super Mario Kart – Another early game for the SNES saw Mario (and all of his friends and enemies) launch an unlikely racing career, and it's a game that still plays as well, and frantically, as it did back in 1992.
Mario 64 – When the Nintendo 64 console appeared in 1996, the Japanese company once more brought in Mario for the launch, with spectacular results. This time around, Mario could be controlled in glorious 3D – a style which still continues to this day. Many people would say that Mario 64 is the greatest Mario game of all, and there are ways to play re-released versions online if you missed it the first time around.
Super Mario Sunshine – The GameCube's first Mario outing was another smash hit, and a fitting way to introduce the next-generation system. Released in 2002, it was a cartoon romp set on the island of Delfino, and departed from the exploration of Mario 64. But it did so in style, and the critics loved it.
Super Mario Galaxy – Released in 2007 for the Nintendo Wii, Super Mario Galaxy sees Mario questing across the universe in pursuit of Bowser who, as usual, kidnapped Mario’s beloved Princess Peach. A stunning sequel followed in 2010 and the game is still available for Wii U owners.
Super Mario 3D Land and World – Released for the 3DS and Wii U consoles respectively, and both big hits with players and critics, these titles saw a return to the exploration-oriented older 3D games. They also added some nifty new power-ups, setting the scene for something special when the Nintendo Switch came along.
That brings us almost up to date. However, if you're planning on trying every single game Mario has been involved in, beware: the perky little plumber has featured in almost 100 games over the years, including Paper Mario or Mario Maker, which makes it hard for modern titles to stand out. Thankfully, that's something that Super Mario Odyssey seems to do, so let's have a look at what it brings to the saga.
So, what kind of scrape has Mario got himself into this time around? Well, once again, the action centres around an attempt by Bowser to take Princess Peach as his wife. While in pursuit, Mario is knocked from his airship and his cap is ripped apart. When he wakes up, he finds himself in somewhere called Cap Kingdom, where he meets Cappy. Cappy has a sister called Tiara, who happens to be upon Princess Peach's head, and he decides to “possess” Mario's cap to help him recover his bride.
At the same time, Bowser is plundering various kingdoms, seeking objects that are essential for his lavish wedding. Mario and Cappy have to voyage the universe, visiting these worlds and finding the objects before Bowser. As you can imagine, it all culminates in a chaotic set-piece climax at the wedding – but we won't give the ending away. That's for you to discover.
Cappy – Cappy is probably the biggest difference between Super Mario Odyssey and classic-era Mario games like Super Mario 64, so players need to get to know him. Basically, Cappy is a spirit who has befriended Mario, and taken control of his iconic cap. That's handy for Mario in this game, as when Mario throws his Cappy-possessed hat, all sorts of useful things can happen. For instance, Cappy allows Mario to take command of some enemy characters, allowing him to get past challenges that would be difficult on his own. Cappy also serves as a platform in some circumstances, and even lets Mario take control of vehicles like tanks, gaining the ability to fire at enemies in the process.
Mario – We all know Mario, but even experienced players won't be familiar with all of his new capabilities. Aside from Cappy, Mario has a range of physical moves, including triple jumps, side somersaults, dives, long jumps, the ground pound, rolls and spinning jumps.
The Odyssey – Mario's ship, which he and Cappy use to navigate the various kingdoms. It's not all plain sailing for the Odyssey though, because at every stage Bowser and his minions seek to weaken and destroy it. Thankfully, to restore the ship's energy, our heroes can collect Power Moons and continue on their journey.
Kingdoms – Mario has to journey to 17 kingdoms in all. Some of them have themes based on classic Super Mario adventures, while some correspond to real-world locations. For instance, one of the zones is called “New Donk City” and closely resembles New York. All of them are beautifully imagined and colourfully rendered.
Power Moons – These little yellow half-moons are what the Odyssey needs to keep sailing on.
Broodals – A new addition to the Mario pantheon, Broodals are Bowser's rabbit-like henchmen, who are employed to help make the wedding go as smoothly as possible – which includes trying to catch Mario.
Checkpoint flags – Always a welcome sight, these flags are triggered by Mario when he passes by, allowing him to return to them should something go wrong.
Coins – As always, Mario can collect coins throughout the game, which can be used to purchase new costumes. Just beware that when you lose a life, 10 coins are lost at the same time.
Flat Zones – A neat innovation from the developers, Nintendo have included several “Flat Zones” throughout the game, where the action switches to classic 2D Super Mario Land-style gameplay.
Photo Mode – Another neat idea from the developers, Photo Mode allows players to freeze the action and rise above it all to take in-game snaps that they can share with their friends.
Amiibos – Nintendo's action figurines range is fully compatible with Super Mario Odyssey, as we'll see in the DLC section below.
Nintendo set very high standards for their Mario games, feeling that their iconic character deserves the best programming talent and quality control their team can muster. As usual, they appear to have succeeded, creating a hugely positive response among the gaming press.
For example, IGN praised the possession mechanic introduced with Cappy, reporting that it adds a brilliant new dimension to the gameplay, and they also praised the “inspired integration of 2D gameplay – complete with Super Mario Bros.-era 8-bit art.” Trusted Reviews were just as positive, giving the game five stars out of five, and calling the game “potentially the greatest in the series to date.”
Den of Geek joined the love, focusing on the “joyous tone” of the game, which Nintendo has perfectly pitched, making it ideal for young and old alike. And Tech Radar could find few faults as well, noting the brilliant design of the kingdoms, and the joy of collecting coins and Power Moons.
So, it's safe to say that Super Mario Odyssey is one of the best games of 2017, and a worthy competitor to Zelda: Breath of the Wild in the competition for the Switch's best title (although you'll probably want to get them both).
As we noted above, reviewers have suggested that Odyssey is perfectly designed to have a broad appeal. The gameplay is easy to grasp, but not too simple. The graphics are cartoony, but not immature. The action is hectic and intense, but not bloody or adult in nature. And the whole thing is slickly put together, so even video game snobs will be absorbed by the gameplay.
That said, it's a traditional platform/exploration/collection game at heart, so if you're a hardcore FPS shooter or puzzle game fan, it might not be your cup of tea.
If you want to buy Super Mario Odyssey, you have two main options:
The download version – If you own a Switch and it's connected to the Nintendo eShop (which all of them should be) then you can simply buy the game online and download it to the hard disk of your console. There's only one edition to choose, and no bells or whistles to add on. Just log on, purchase as usual, and let the game arrive.
In boxed form – The other option is to buy Super Mario Odyssey in physical form from a UK gaming merchant. In this case, you'll be able to shop around various sellers to find the best deal. Again, there's only one edition of the game, so there's no need to choose between “Gold” or “Collector's” editions. It's just a question of buying the game, taking it home, or having it delivered, then firing up your Switch.
Of course, quite a few people reading this guide won't already own a Nintendo Switch, but they might still really, really want to try the latest Mario adventure. In this case, you need to buy a Switch of your own, preferably with Super Mario Odyssey bundled in with it. You'll find some pointers about buying a bargain Switch below.
There's no open world or arena multiplayer in Super Mario Odyssey. This isn't a bloodthirsty Sci-Fi shooter with death matches and capture the flag tournaments. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it with mates.
In Super Mario Odyssey, the multiplayer action is always cooperative. In a charming system, two Switch JoyCon controllers can be combined, allowing one player to control Mario, and the other to become Cappy.
This isn't just great fun. It can also make some passages of the gameplay much easier, and unlock areas that might otherwise be off limits. So, invite a friend round and explore: there's plenty to discover in all of the 17 kingdoms. That's part of the joy of the game.
While there isn't (yet) any downloadable content to expand the game world of Super Mario Odyssey, purchasers can expect add-ons to appear in the future. Given the enjoyment of exploring the game's kingdoms, and the potential for new adventures, it's almost inevitable that extras will be released, and hotukdeals will cover any that need to be paid for via the Nintendo Store.
We also noted earlier that Amiibos work with Super Mario Odyssey. Most of all, there's core support for the Mario, Peach and Bowser wedding Amiibos which have been created especially for the game. When you use these with Odyssey, you'll gain access to new costumes, unlock hidden coin areas, gain extra lives, and even obtain a temporary invincibility function.
Nintendo also say that other Amiibos will be compatible with the game, urging players to experiment by tapping their figures during play.
If you need to buy a present for a Super Mario Odyssey obsessed family member, or you want a few goodies for yourself, there's no shortage of merchandise and accessories to choose from. Here are some popular possibilities:
Nintendo Switch carry cases – Nintendo have come up with some snazzy Cappy branded carry cases for the main Switch unit.
Super Mario Odyssey: Prima Collector's Edition guide – Gaming publishers Prima have been quick of the blocks with this well-written, helpful play guide to one of the year's hot titles.
Cappy hats – Inevitably, Cappy hats will be one of the gaming gifts of the year, whether you're into cosplay or just a casual fan.
Cappy red t-shirts – The same goes for Cappy t-shirts, which can be found online from hotukdeals merchants like IWOOT or Zavvi.
Pencil cases – If you're struggling to pick a gift for a school-age child who loves video games, a Super Mario Odyssey pencil case could be absolutely perfect.
If you need to buy a Switch to play Super Marion Odyssey, be sure to get the best possible prices. This generally means buying a well-priced bundle around retail events like Black Friday, the January Sales, or Amazon Prime Day, and it definitely means consulting the hotukdeals Nintendo Switch listings.
The thing to remember is that Nintendo have released a Super Mario Odyssey themed bundle which may (but may not be) cheaper than buying the console and the game. Shop around and compare. It should be possible to beat the shelf price by quite a bit if you shop well.
Super Mario Odyssey achieves what shouldn't be possible. It takes an already stellar gaming franchise and adds new elements to the game that don't ruin its character and charm, and actually make the game deeper, and more absorbing. In sum, it's a fitting addition to the Mario canon.
Tracking down a cut-price copy of the game shouldn't be impossible. The first thing to do is to search the hotukdeals Super Mario Odyssey listings, where you'll find the latest offers from leading UK merchants like GAME, Zavvi, Smyths, ShopTo, Tesco, Very, Amazon and, of course the Nintendo Store themselves.
It's worth bearing in mind that the game can be bought in physical and digital form, so don't limit your search to one product category. Downloads can often be cheaper soon after release, while hard copies may decline in price a few months later.
If you can hold on a while and wait, the New Year will surely see big reductions from some merchants, while Amazon Prime Day in the summer is another great time to shop. But if you need the game now, hotukdeals offers the best way to find flash sales and discount codes at the UK's favourite retailers.
Prevent Princess Peach falling into the evil clutches of Bowser by purchasing a copy of Super Mario Odyssey. The latest instalment in the massively successful video gaming franchise brings great graphics, fun gameplay, new characters, and plenty of challenging adventures. Get it now for less by comparing prices at the hotukdeals Super Mario Odyssey listings.
