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Were the Broodals in Mario Odyssey a complete misfire? Failed new villains?

Cybersai

Banned
Jan 8, 2018
11,631
I'm talking about these guys:

800


I barely see anyone talk about them or say anything good about them. They were the main new enemies introduced in Odyssey and it feels like they've already been completely forgotten after people finished playing the game.

Granted sometimes opinions change overtime, I remember Bowser Jr. being hated when Mario Sunshine first came out, likely because people felt he replaced the Koopalings and partly because the cool Shadow Mario just became a mini-Bowser kid, but over time people seemed to grow more accepting of Bowser Jr. especially when he started using the clown car. Now people seemed to be fine with him especially since the Koopalings also returned in NSMB and Mario Kart and Smash.

But the Broodals? They feel like out of place rabbit enemies. Even the rabbids in Mario and Rabbids had more of a lasting impression. I don't think we'll see this guys again, do you?
 
Sub Boss

Sub Boss

Banned
Nov 14, 2017
13,441
I liked them, but they were just Bowser's minions not a 'new' new enemy

Plus their boss battles weren't memorable until the very last
 
Xiaomi

Xiaomi

Member
Oct 25, 2017
7,237
Only the purple one and the tall one were any good. But they weren't bad, just standard Mario-style minibosses.
 

Deleted member 1413

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
8,617
I do wonder if there was a piece of lore missing seeing as they have the same eyes as Cappy.

They're better than bringing back the Koopalings and there were plenty of neat bosses other than them, even the wooden box boss is one of the best Mario bosses so it's not too bad.

Not good enough to be mainstays, tho
 
The Unsent

The Unsent

Member
Oct 25, 2017
19,439
I liked them, especially the one with the giant, shiny gold chomp, and the antique Metal Gear.
 
Shoe

Shoe

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
4,184
I doubt they were intended to be recurring villains.

Certainly more interesting than the Koopalings yet again.
 
Planx

Planx

Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,724
Their music is amazing, their voices and overall designs fit great and they felt properly spaced out over the game. I think it was executed about as well as any miniboss could be. But well-executed things aren't always super successful things. They weren't ridiculous enough to transcend to meme status and their fights weren't hard enough to cement them in that way. Despite that I think people will look back on them in a few years as well done enemies, even if they don't stick around for future games
 

HockeyBird

Member
Oct 27, 2017
12,600
I mean they are probably intended to be one off villains. Not everything needs to be carried through a series and make some long lasting impact OP.
 
Berordn

Berordn

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 26, 2017
9,748
NoVA
They serve their purpose, and that's all they need to do. They weren't going to be replacing the Koopalings or anything, but it's nice to see a new set of faces in the Mario series.
 
ILikeFeet

ILikeFeet

DF Deet Master
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
61,987
Calling them a misfire implies there was to be more from them. But there wasn't. You just might be thinking too hard
 
Crayon

Crayon

Member
Oct 26, 2017
15,580
Not that memorable but I found that when the showed up, they did register as someone I wanted to beat up and send packing. So they worked as henchmen characters. "Punchable faces".
 

Deleted member 42484

Banned
Apr 21, 2018
6,969
They were pretty forgettable. Mario bosses have often left something to be desired. There's few good boss fights in the entire series, the 3D Mario's especially.

I mean, I remember some of the visual aspects to the galaxy bosses and there's the classic 3D bowser fights, but outside that what 3D Mario actually had good boss fights?
 
Red Arremer

Red Arremer

Banned
Oct 26, 2017
12,259
I liked them, especially the two female ones, and particularly Madame Broode's golden Chain Chomp. It's the cutest.

They were picked as this game's goons because of the game's overarcing lunar theming, and of course, the Japanese associate bunnies with the moon. So unless the moon plays another significant role in a future Mario game, I doubt they'll appear again outside of cameos.
 
Rotobit

Rotobit

Editor at Nintendo Wire
Verified
Oct 27, 2017
10,196
Put me in the "better than the Koopalings" camp

Honestly we'll never see them again but it isn't because they misfired, it's because they fulfilled their purpose. They're evil wedding planners (which is still amazing) and I doubt any other Mario game is going to use that story beat again. And unlike Bowser Jr. they don't really have a strong connection to any of the main cast to make them stick around.

Although it'd be kinda funny if they show up again, just running a different business each time.
 
Zephy

Zephy

Member
Oct 27, 2017
6,171
Not every character has to go down in history as a legend that gamers will remember tand talk about for decades, or otherwise be considered a total failure and a stain on the Nintendo brand... Those characters did the job, they were just fine.
 
Arthoneceron

Arthoneceron

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,024
Minas Gerais, Brazil
I think the villains are the worst part from SMO.

I mean, I only remember the Souls-like Dragon, and I think only because the visual appeal.

About the boodals, I don't think she's one, but I vaguely remember the Old Lady with the Chain Chomp, and only because the second encounter on "hell".
 
unicornKnight

unicornKnight

▲ Legend ▲
Member
Oct 27, 2017
13,203
Athens, Greece
They were servicable, they had potential but their battles were forgettable. A welcome addition nonetheless to the usual Bowser - Mini Bowser - koopalings.
 
Planx

Planx

Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,724
Red Arremer said:
I liked them, especially the two female ones, and particularly Madame Broode's golden Chain Chomp. It's the cutest.

They were picked as this game's goons because of the game's overarcing lunar theming, and of course, the Japanese associate bunnies with the moon. So unless the moon plays another significant role in a future Mario game, I doubt they'll appear again outside of cameos.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Yeah this threw me off until I got to the moon/darker side levels and there were bunnies all over the place. I had to stop and go figure out what the hell rabbits have to do with the moon
 
ArmadilloGame

ArmadilloGame

▲ Legend ▲
Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,070
The broodals are on the same level as Nabbit imo. Fine for the game they are in, but not breakout characters like the Koopa kids or Wario. Mario has plenty of them, and there's nothing wrong with that. A legacy of being in one to two games plus maybe a cameo as a smash brothers trophy is not a bad one.
latest

remember this guy? It's only been a few years, but I barely do
 

Deleted member 3815

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
6,633
It's because we learn nothing about them,including their names, till post game when the player unlock the darker side of the moon and reads the bio on the pause menu.
 
ThisIsMyDogKyle

ThisIsMyDogKyle

Prophet of Truth - One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,141
meh, they were aight, nothing special, that mech boss fight is amazing though.
 

Deleted member 16365

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 27, 2017
4,127
As in love with Odyssey as I was when it first came out, most of it was forgettable from the worlds to the baddies.

The end of Donk City was rad, but the rest of the game didn't really last, including the Broodals.
 
low-G

low-G

Member
Oct 25, 2017
8,144
WTF "better than Koopalings"? Ridiculous. In fact 2 of the Broodals just look like Ludwig & Wendy.

The problem Nintendo has is not being creative with the Koopalings, but they're a better design.

Hell, I don't even think Bowser Jr. is a very good design, but at least they're creative with him sometimes.
 

Deleted member 176

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
37,160
I don't want them to appear again but I think they add to the vibes of the game a lot. I'm glad we didn't get more turtles.
 
Liam Allen-Miller

Liam Allen-Miller

Member
Nov 2, 2017
6,815
Shibuya
I think they worked well at foreshadowing the final level, at least. Between the theme of travel and rabbits being the enemies it made that pretty satisfyingly evident.
 

Deleted member 8468

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 26, 2017
9,109
I don't think they're outright bad designs, just boring compared to most of Nintendo's stuff. I get the 'wedding planner' vibe they were going for, I just don't think they had any impact when they show up. Doesn't help that they're mostly carbon copies of Koopalings.
 
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