Super Mario Odyssey
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Super Mario Odyssey is a rollicking 3D Super Mario adventure through various worlds inspired by real countries. Released by Nintendo in 2017 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch, it is commonly considered a Killer App for the system, especially since it was a major video game released within a year of launch.
The premise is familiar: Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach, though this time is strictly about marrying her. He defeats Mario in a battle in his own airship and sent him plummeting to the ground below. Our hero is then found by Cappy, a sentient hat whose sister was also kidnapped by Bowser (in order to use her as Peach's tiara), and his kingdom destroyed by the Koopa King just beforehand. Together, Mario and Cappy ally to fight Bowser. In order to do that, Cappy fuses with Mario's hat, giving the plumber a new power: possessing creatures by throwing his hat at their heads.
Odyssey is a 3D platformer. Mario's objective is to collect power moons, objects which serve as fuel resource for the titular Odyssey, a hat-shaped airship that is taken by Cappy and Mario in order of rescuing their beloved. Though not all moons are necessary to complete the game, they are necessary to unlock bonus levels. Mario also has to beat bosses to progress their way, with the bosses also dropping moons as they are defeated..
Directed by Kenta Motokura. Developed by Nintendo EPD, with assistance of 1-UP Studio.
- Amazing Technicolor World: Most worlds are this on some level.
- Big Applesauce: New Donk City is clearly inspired by New York City.
- Big Bad: Bowser not only is content in kidnapping Peach and blocking Mario's path, but he also creates problems every kingdom he goes in order to obtain items for the marriage ceremony.
- Body Snatcher: Possible for Mario to do this to enemies and some other characters thanks to Cappy.
- Canon Foreigner: Pauline, who had previously appeared in Donkey Kong and various puzzle games, makes her first appearance in the Super Mario series proper.
- Co-Dragons: The Broodals have no clear hierarchy and just serve Bowser without ranking between them.
- Eenie Meenie Miny Moai: These exist in the desert.
- Fantasy Counterpart Culture: Most of the visitable locations in the game.
- New Donk City is clearly based on The United States of America, specifically New York City.
- The Sand Kingdom is clearly based on Mexican iconography.
- The Cap Kingdom has a certain resemblance to British culture, though it is a little less blatant than the other examples.
- Fictional Country: Many within the game.
- Fictional Currency: Aside from standard coins, each area has its own currency.
- Giant Space Flea From Nowhere: A couple foes in this game just don't seem to belong:
- The Rune Dragon aka the Lord of Lightning, looks far more like something out of Dark Souls than a boss for a Mario game, even if it is wicked-cool.
- The T-rex, a vicious and powerful beast found in the Cascade, Wooded, and Metro Kingdoms, is similar. It's realistic design - much unlike the cartoonish caricatured dinosaur designs in previous games, like Yoshi - is not what Mario fans are used to. Kenta Motokura claims this was the whole point, they wanted to surprise the players with something different.
- Global Currency: Most places take gold coins.
- Global Currency Exception: Most areas have their own special purple coins, which are not exchangeable with each other or with gold coins.
- Goldfish Poop Gang: The Broodals.
- Gotta Catch Them All: There are many more power moons then are strictly needed to beet the game. Additionally there are a limited number of Purple coins which are used to buy special souvenirs and other collectibles.
- Killer App: For the Nintendo Switch, especially early on in the life of the system.
- Level Ate: The Luncheon Kingdom.
- No OSHA Compliance: A lot of the construction work in New Donk City.
- Nostalgia Level: The 2D sections play like Mario on the Famicom or NES.
- Paper-Thin Disguise: Things possessed by Mario don Cappy and gain a mustache.
- Planet of Hats: The game has a has a bunch of these, and all are rather upset when Bowser steals their best work:
- Cap Kingdom: Literal case. The inhabitants are ghostly hats who act as hats for other beings, but also build Cool Airships. Which are shaped like hats.
- Sand Kingdom: The inhabitants are skeletons who wear sombreros who are into jewel-crafting and tourism.
- Lake Kingdom: The mermaid-like lochladies are clothing designers.
- Wooden Kingdom: Inhabited by robots who tend to beautiful flower gardens.
- Metro Kingdom: The human-like Film Noir residents of New Donk City have large information and advertising industries.
- Snow Kingdom: The Beary Funny residents host winter sports and make baked goods.
- Seaside Kingdom: The snail-like residents produce Sparkle Water (which is family-friendly champagne) from their elaborate fountains.
- Luncheon Kingdom: Naturally, the residents of this Level Ate are all chefs.
- Scenery Porn: Most of the levels are gorgeous, and come with travel guides to highlight their attractions.
- Suspiciously Similar Substitute: The Koopalings are absent, with the Broodals serving instead as Bowser's quirky comedic minions trying to stop Mario of progressing.
- Wedding Day: Bowser arranges one for Peach.
- Whole-Plot Reference: To The Odyssey, obviously. Mario has to stop his beloved of marrying another guy, and faces a surprisingly massive amount to obstacles in his journey towards her.
- You Can't Thwart Stage One: Bowser outright defeats Mario in the intro of the game, making him fall of his ship, ensuring the Koopa King's starting point to get married (kidnap the bride), goes ahead.