I still remember the first time I threw Cappy at a T-Rex. It was weird. Honestly, it was one of those moments where you realize Nintendo isn't just making a platformer; they're playing with the very idea of what a Mario game can be. Super Mario Odyssey for Switch isn't just a sequel to the Galaxy series or a spiritual successor to 64. It is a massive, toy-box sandbox that rewards you for being curious. If you see something, you can probably be it. That's the core hook.
Most games give you a power-up. Odyssey gives you an identity crisis in the best way possible.
You're not just running and jumping. You're a Goomba. Then you're a stack of ten Goombas. Suddenly, you're a flickering spark of electricity traveling up a wire to a skyscraper in New Donk City. It’s chaotic. It’s brilliant. And even years after its 2017 launch, the polish on this title puts modern AAA releases to shame.
The Cappy Mechanic: More Than a Gimmick
Let's talk about the hat. Cappy isn't just a piece of clothing; he is the fundamental engine of the game's movement. In previous titles, Mario’s moveset was mostly locked. You had the triple jump, the backflip, and the wall jump. Those are all here, but Cappy adds a layer of "airtime" that changes everything.
Experienced players don't just jump. They dive, throw Cappy, bounce off him, dive again, and clear gaps that look impossible. It feels like breaking the game, but Nintendo clearly intended it. That’s the genius of the design. They built a world for kids to enjoy, but they left the back door open for veterans to perform acrobatics that would make a speedrunner sweat.
The capture mechanic—throwing your hat to take over enemies—replaced the traditional power-up system. No more Fire Flowers or Tanooki Suits found in blocks. Instead, the world is your inventory. If you need to cross lava, you find a Lava Bubble. If you need to see invisible platforms, you capture a Moe-Eye wearing sunglasses. It makes the environment feel functional rather than just decorative.
Why the Kingdoms Don't Feel Like Levels
In many platformers, you go from Level 1-1 to 1-2. It’s linear. Super Mario Odyssey for Switch scraps that for "Kingdoms." Each one is a self-contained open world.
Take the Sand Kingdom, Tostarena. It’s huge. At first, it looks like a standard desert trope. But then you realize there’s a giant hole in the ground leading to an ice cavern, and ancient ruins that flip into 2D side-scrolling segments on the walls. The transition from 3D to 8-bit NES style graphics is seamless. It’s a love letter to history.
The New Donk City Factor
We have to talk about the Metro Kingdom. Seeing a cartoonish, round plumber standing next to "realistic" humans in suits was jarring in the trailers. In practice? It’s arguably the best level Nintendo has ever designed.
The verticality is insane.
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You’re jumping off girders, swinging on poles, and eventually participating in a festival that celebrates the entire history of the franchise. Pauline is back, not as a damsel in distress, but as the Mayor. The "Jump Up, Super Star!" sequence is pure dopamine. It’s the moment the game moves from "great" to "legendary."
Addressing the "Too Easy" Criticism
I’ve heard people complain that getting to the end of the story is too easy. They’re right. Sorta.
If you just want to see the credits, you can breeze through the main path in about 10 to 12 hours. But doing that is like going to a buffet and only eating the napkins. The real game starts when you realize there are 880 unique Power Moons (and 999 if you buy the duplicates in shops).
The difficulty curve isn't a slope; it’s a series of hidden peaks.
- The Dark Side of the Moon: A boss rush that tests your patience.
- The Darker Side: A final, marathon-style level with no checkpoints. It is brutal.
- Koopa Freerunning: Racing against NPCs requires mastering that advanced movement I mentioned earlier.
The game uses a "breadcrumbing" philosophy. It gives you easy wins to keep you moving, but hides the true challenges behind obscure corners or high-level platforming puzzles. You’re never forced to be a pro, but the game constantly invites you to try.
Technical Performance and Visuals
Running at a near-constant 60 frames per second, Odyssey is a technical marvel for the Switch hardware. Even in handheld mode, it looks crisp. The art direction carries the load where the hardware might lag. The fur on Bowser’s wedding suit, the ripples in the water of the Seaside Kingdom, the stylized food in the Luncheon Kingdom—it all pops.
It’s worth noting that while the game supports motion controls, they can be a bit divisive. Shaking the Joy-Cons to perform a homing throw or a spin attack feels natural to some, but for those playing on a Switch Lite or in handheld mode, it’s a bit clunky. You can do almost everything with buttons, but a few specific moves are definitely "motion-first."
The Post-Game Content Nobody Talks About
Once Bowser is defeated, the game opens up in a way that feels like a massive DLC pack was just unlocked for free.
The Mushroom Kingdom returns. It’s a nostalgic trip back to the Mario 64 era, complete with the castle and the classic fountain. You start finding "Moon Rocks" in every previous kingdom, which shatter and scatter dozens of new, harder-to-reach moons across the maps. It effectively doubles the playtime.
Then there’s the Luigi’s Balloon World update. It’s a hide-and-seek online mode. Players hide a balloon somewhere in a level, and you have a time limit to find it. It sounds simple, but it forces you to learn the geometry of the maps better than any main quest ever could. You’ll see balloons tucked away in spots you didn't even know existed.
Comparing Odyssey to Bowser’s Fury
Recently, people have pointed to Bowser’s Fury (the add-on to the 3D World port) as the future of Mario. It’s a totally seamless open world. While Odyssey still uses loading screens between kingdoms, it feels more focused.
Odyssey is about variety.
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Each kingdom has its own currency, its own outfits, and its own unique "Capture" mechanics. Bowser’s Fury is a great experiment, but Odyssey is a polished, multi-course meal. The sheer volume of "stuff" to do in Odyssey—from the volleyball mini-game to the jump-rope challenge—ensures that it remains the flagship 3D Mario experience on the platform.
Common Misconceptions
People think you need to collect every moon to "finish" the game. You don't. Honestly, some of the moons are a bit "filler-ish," like just sitting on a bench with a guy or ground-pounding a glowing spot.
The real joy isn't the number at the bottom of the screen. It's the "Aha!" moment when you use a Pokio (the bird enemy) to flick yourself up a wall in Bowser's Kingdom and realize there’s a secret area hidden behind a rooftop.
Another misconception is that the game is only for solo play. While the 2-player mode—where one person controls Mario and the other controls Cappy—is a bit lopsided, it’s actually a fantastic way to play with a younger child or someone who isn't great at platformers. The Cappy player is invincible and can fly around, making it a great "assistant" mode.
Actionable Tips for New and Returning Players
If you’re picking up Super Mario Odyssey for Switch today, don't rush. The game is designed for tangential thinking.
- Turn off the map occasionally. Just look at the horizon. If something looks like it shouldn't be there, go investigate it. Nine times out of ten, there’s a moon.
- Master the "Cappy Jump." Practice throwing Cappy, holding the button, and diving into him. It’s the single most important skill for reaching high places.
- Talk to the NPCs. The flavor text is genuinely funny and often contains hints for local secrets.
- Buy the outfits. They aren't just cosmetic. Many kingdoms have specific rooms that you can only enter if you're dressed as a chef, a scientist, or a clown.
- Use Snapshot Mode. It’s one of the best photo modes in any game. You can change filters, tilt the camera, and create some genuinely stunning wallpapers.
Final Perspective on the Odyssey Experience
This isn't just a game about saving a princess. It’s a game about the joy of movement. Nintendo took a 30-year-old formula and made it feel experimental again. The sheer density of ideas in Odyssey is staggering. Even if you've played it before, going back to find the remaining moons or trying to beat your best time in the Koopa races is incredibly rewarding. It remains a mandatory title for anyone who owns a Switch.
To truly get the most out of your time, focus on the kingdoms that resonate with you most. Don't feel pressured to 100% every single area immediately. The game is meant to be lived in, revisited, and poked at.
Next Steps for Players:
Start by focusing on the Metro Kingdom challenges, as they offer the most complex platforming and reward you with some of the best cinematic moments in the game. Once you've cleared the main story, head straight to the Mushroom Kingdom to unlock the classic 64-style challenges, which provide a significant jump in difficulty and nostalgic value. Check your map for "Hint Toad" or the "Uncle amiibo" robot if you get stuck on the last few moons in any specific region.