Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Odyssey[1] | |
---|---|
![]() Packaging artwork, featuring Mario and his anthropomorphic hat, Cappy | |
Developer(s) | Nintendo EPD |
Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
Director(s) | Kenta Motokura |
Producer(s) | Yoshiaki Koizumi |
Composer(s) |
|
Series | Super Mario |
Platform(s) | Nintendo Switch |
Release | October 27, 2017 |
Genre(s) | Platformer |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Super Mario Odyssey is an upcoming 3D platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch, currently set for release worldwide on October 27, 2017. As part of the main Super Mario series, the game returns to the primarily open-ended, exploration-based gameplay previously featured in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine.
Gameplay
Super Mario Odyssey puts the player in the role of Mario as he travels beyond the Mushroom Kingdom to various Kingdom environments on his hat-shaped ship, the "Odyssey".[2][3] The game returns to the freeform, exploration-based level design previously featured in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. It features levels inspired by real-world locations, such as the New York City–inspired level of "New Donk City".[4][5][6] Mario retains several of his classic platforming techniques, such as wall-jumping and ledge-grabbing.[4] A new, core feature of the game is Mario's ability to throw his cap, known as Cappy, to both attack enemies, activate objects, and temporarily possess specific enemies and non-player characters,[7][8] including a Tyrannosaurus rex, a Goomba, motor vehicles, and a realistically-proportioned human.[9][10] The game features two types of coin collectibles: common gold coins found throughout the game and purple coins unique to each kingdom.[8] In contrast with most other Mario games, coins are primarily used as currency to buy clothing and collectibles for Mario and his ship.[7] In place of the usual system of lives, depleting the life meter results in the loss of 10 coins instead of a game over.[8][11] The main collectibles for game progression are known as "Power Moons", similar to the stars in Super Mario 64.[7][8] Odyssey will also feature the ability to teleport between checkpoints[8] and sidequests.[7][12]
The game features a local two-player co-op mode, with the main player controlling Mario and the second player in control of Cappy.[13] In this mode, Cappy will hover above Mario and will be able to move and attack enemies.[14]
Development
Odyssey's development began immediately after Super Mario 3D World released in late 2013.[8] Under director Kenta Motokura, the team experimented to find fun concepts based on the series' "theme of surprise". For example, the team found that throwing a hat was the most pleasing action to perform with the JoyCon controller, resulting in the hat "capture" game mechanic.[8] The brainstorm resulted in a large number of eccentric prototypes,[8][15] and the developers sought to incorporate them all by orienting the game as a series of dense, sandbox environments.[8] This led to the game's varied Kingdom environments, each with unique game mechanics.[15] The developers prioritized the city environment when selecting which environments to represent in Odyssey. They wanted a familiar aspect from the series to anchor players in the novel setting, and so chose Pauline, an infrequent character from the Mario canon, to be New Donk City's mayor. Their character development of Pauline led to the Odyssey's theme songs, "Let's Do the Odyssey" and "I'll Be Your 1-Up Girl": the first Super Mario theme with vocals, recorded by Pauline's voice actor.[16] Some of the Mario's costume changes too reference the character's costumes in prior series games.[17][18]
The title has more major collectibles (Power Moons) than its series predecessors had comparable items, and unlike prior titles, which send Mario back to the beginning of the level after finding each main collectible, the Power Moons are designed to be found in continual exploration. This and the lack of required Power Moons for game progression gave players a wider liberty to explore at their leisure rather than advancing the story—a new direction for the series and a design challenge for development staff.[15] The developers wanted players to check everything that aroused their attention for secrets.[8] Shigeru Miyamoto, the series' creator, was not involved in the game's daily decision-making but the development team would consult him on the best ways to express a game concept. Miyamoto's criticism was highly specific and critical, but offered as suggestions rather than ultimatums, and highly supportive overall.[19]
Promotion and release
Producer Yoshiaki Koizumi first hinted that a new 3D Mario game was in development in 2014.[20] The title was teased in the Nintendo Switch's late 2016 announcement trailer,[21][22] and formally announced at Nintendo's January 2017 presentation on the new console.[23] Gameplay footage soon followed.[24] Odyssey was designed to appeal to Mario's core audience—a departure from the series' recent focus on casual players.[23][25][26] The game is set to release on October 27, 2017.[27] White wedding-themed Mario, Bowser, and Princess Peach Amiibo figurines will release alongside the game.[28]
Reception
Early impressions from the game's showing at E3 2017 included notes from critics that the game was dense with secrets and more focused on exploration than progression.[8] USgamer's editor-in-chief liked the structure of small platforming challenges within the Sand Kingdom's sandbox world but complained that Odyssey lacked in gameplay execution, with missions in the New Donk City level that felt slow and boring. She praised Nintendo for experimenting rather than re-creating Super Mario Galaxy.[29] Meanwhile, The Verge compared the game's Power Moons to the shrines in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but noted that the motion controls "felt frustratingly imprecise".[7] Some observers disliked one scene where Mario is seen wearing a sombrero and pancho, calling it cultural appropriation.
Notes and references
- ^ error: error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help): Japanese or romaji text required (help)
- ^ Orland, Kyle (January 12, 2017). "Super Mario Odyssey brings Mario to Nintendo Switch, the "real world"". Ars Technica. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
- ^ Tamburro, Paul (June 13, 2017). "Super Mario Odyssey is Going to be the Weirdest Mario Game Yet - CraveOnline". CraveOnline. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ a b Gilbert, Ben (January 14, 2017). "Forget about that 'Super Mario' game on your iPhone — this is the new Mario game you're looking for". Business Insider. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ^ Staff, Paste (January 13, 2017). "Super Mario Odyssey Announced for the Nintendo Switch". Paste Magazine. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ^ Plante, Chris (January 12, 2017). "Super Mario Odyssey is an open world sandbox game for Nintendo Switch". The Verge. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Webster, Andrew (June 13, 2017). "Super Mario Odyssey is big, complex, and surprisingly hard". The Verge. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Schreier, Jason (June 13, 2017). "I Played 30 Minutes Of Super Mario Odyssey And It Sure Is Impressive". Kotaku. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
- ^ Frank, Allegra (June 13, 2017). "Mario possesses man, a frog, a dinosaur and more in Super Mario Odyssey". Polygon. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ Krupa, Daniel (June 13, 2017). "Super Mario Odyssey Hands-on Preview - A Brilliantly Bizarre Adventure". IGN. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ "'Super Mario Odyssey' comes to the Switch October 27th". Engadget. June 13, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Peckham, Matt (June 13, 2017). "10 Things Nintendo Told Us About 'Super Mario Odyssey'". Time. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
- ^ Newhouse, Alex (June 15, 2017). "Nintendo E3 207: Super Mario Odyssey Local Co-op Confirmed, Other Player Controls Cappy". GameSpot. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
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(help) - ^ Ramos, Jeff (June 15, 2017). "Super Mario Odyssey will feature co-op". Polygon. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
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(help) - ^ a b c Stark, Chelsea (June 13, 2017). "Super Mario Odyssey is a fantasy journey of hat-collecting and body-capturing". Polygon. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
- ^ Alexander, Julia (June 14, 2017). "Super Mario Odyssey producer explains why Pauline has returned". Polygon. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
- ^ Plunkett, Luke (June 13, 2017). "Super Mario Odyssey's Outfits Are A Nice Throwback". Kotaku. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
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at position 36 (help) - ^ McCarthy, Caty (June 14, 2017). "Super Mario Odyssey Celebrates All the Spin-Offs of Mario's Past Through Costumes". USgamer.
- ^ Reeves, Ben (June 13, 2017). "How Shigeru Miyamoto Influenced Mario Odysseys Development". Game Informer. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
- ^ Campbell, Evan (April 8, 2014). "Next 3D Mario Game in Development". IGN. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Frank, Allegra (October 20, 2016). "Nintendo Switch is getting a new Mario game". Polygon. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
- ^ Pereira, Chris (October 20, 2016). "Nintendo Switch Reveal Teased a New Mario Game". GameSpot. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
- ^ a b "Watch the Nintendo Switch presentation here". Polygon. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
- ^ Nunneley, Stephany (January 15, 2017). "Super Mario Odyssey video breaks down what we know about the game so far". VG247.com. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ^ Osborn, Alex (January 13, 2017). "Miyamoto Offers a Few New Super Mario Odyssey Details". IGN. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ^ Makuch, Eddie (January 13, 2017). "Super Mario Odyssey Is on the "Core Side," Like Super Mario 64, Miyamoto Says". GameSpot. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ^ Alexander, Julia (June 13, 2017). "Super Mario Odyssey comes to the Switch this October". Polygon. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ Goldfarb, Andrew (June 13, 2017). "E3 2017: Super Mario Odyssey Amiibo Revealed". IGN. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
- ^ Bailey, Kat (June 15, 2017). "The Good and (Maybe) Bad of Super Mario Odyssey". USgamer. Retrieved June 15, 2017.