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I don't understand the love for Mario Odyssey. Help.
- Thread starter Dest
- Start date
I'd rank it below 64 and Sunshine, just didn't enjoy it. The way 64 and Sunshine slightly reshuffled levels for each objective, and the fact that each were at least a several minute time investment made things much more engaging than a sandbox of glowy spots to buttstomp or throw your hat at. The initial runs through each level were kind of interesting. After that, just pure trash cleanup.
It took me a lot longer to get through the game than I originally thought it would. I figured I'd be glued to it from start to finish, or rather hoped. After finally beating all I could think to myself was, 'that's it??'
And no I didn't go back and collect every moon. Much like what the OP states, I found many of them to be almost too random to find and simply had no motivation to just go looking around aimlessly.
And no I didn't go back and collect every moon. Much like what the OP states, I found many of them to be almost too random to find and simply had no motivation to just go looking around aimlessly.
Yeah, Odyssey is a funny one, isn't it. I played through it, and now I'm halfway through the postgame content, and I definitely had fun but... there's certainly something underwhelming about it.
I often feel like I have to work very hard to have fun in the game. Even though the levels are very dense and there are so many moons to collect, I often feel like I'm searching for something to do- looking for those more substantial gameplay sequences that offer a proper platforming challenge, for example. Just walking around the level finding easy to get moons is very unexciting. Even with the post game content, it's such a chore having to walk around the map to search for those entrances- just let me play the damn levels!
Another issue is being able to capture things with the cap. Most of the time, this is just used for specific small areas of levels- e.g. you need to transform into X creature to get across a gap or destroy a wall. So it becomes really arbitrary, a bit like the use of items in the overworld in pre-BOTW Zelda games; 'Use the feather to jump across this arbitrary gap to get to the next part of the map'. So for me, the cap mechanic just breaks the flow of gameplay, and doesn't offer much player freedom or improvisation in return.
The levels themselves are good, mostly, but they really suffer from having to hold so much content which is essentially just busywork. There is such little sense of achievement in the game.
I often feel like I have to work very hard to have fun in the game. Even though the levels are very dense and there are so many moons to collect, I often feel like I'm searching for something to do- looking for those more substantial gameplay sequences that offer a proper platforming challenge, for example. Just walking around the level finding easy to get moons is very unexciting. Even with the post game content, it's such a chore having to walk around the map to search for those entrances- just let me play the damn levels!
Another issue is being able to capture things with the cap. Most of the time, this is just used for specific small areas of levels- e.g. you need to transform into X creature to get across a gap or destroy a wall. So it becomes really arbitrary, a bit like the use of items in the overworld in pre-BOTW Zelda games; 'Use the feather to jump across this arbitrary gap to get to the next part of the map'. So for me, the cap mechanic just breaks the flow of gameplay, and doesn't offer much player freedom or improvisation in return.
The levels themselves are good, mostly, but they really suffer from having to hold so much content which is essentially just busywork. There is such little sense of achievement in the game.
My thoughts exactly.
Also, dae shudder when people talk about "challenge" in a video game? Am i wrong thinking it reeks of humble bragging? Please help.
I enioyed the game overall, but I absolutely agree with everything you said in the OP. 90% of the Moons (if not more) are absolute trash, and there's nowhere near enough levels in the game that actually test your platforming skills.
Disliking Odyssey is understandable imo.
Disliking Odyssey is understandable imo.
I don't get the complaints here on how Cappy is a crutch and is used too often. You do realize that he is the central gimmick of the game right? Of course the game would make use him a lot. It's the same for most 3d Mario games.
I also find it funny that people say that he's a crutch while ignoring that most 3d Mario games do this as well.
Sunshine - FLUDD
Galaxy 1&2 - white Luma or whatever the fuck it's called
I think that saying that the game is a poorly designed or trash is completely laughable to me.
I don't think the game is as well as it was recieved and I do feel that some of the super easy moons do take a bit of the luster away from the harder ones (I know why they exist, I'm still not a fan).
It's not a bad game by any mean... but I wouldn't rank this as my favorite 3D Mario platformer.
Also (again I know why because they wanted to make the game more approachable), I would've loved a lot less handholding (which ties in with the super easy moons) and the over excess of explaining and text that I don't care about.
It's not a bad game by any mean... but I wouldn't rank this as my favorite 3D Mario platformer.
Also (again I know why because they wanted to make the game more approachable), I would've loved a lot less handholding (which ties in with the super easy moons) and the over excess of explaining and text that I don't care about.
I love it because it feels like a celebration of Mario and my fav Mario was 64. It's not a 10/10 for me but I'd give it a high 9
On reflection and replaying through, I understand why people may not enjoy the game at all. The controls are superb, really enjoyed the music but you nail some of the biggest problems of the game with the levels and moons. There's very little challenge involved to gain a majority of the moons which are the primary objectives. Most moons feel randomly placed rather than carefully placed points which requires players to make use of the controls to reach. The game requires more effort for players to find actual real challenge in platforming when every single part of the journey of the game should have been challenging to various degrees. It would be the equivalent of gating each region in Breath of the Wild behind collecting certain amount of korok seeds. They're at most side content for players to interact with along the journey.
Well it's a good thing I didnt say that? I said the Moons are mostly trash, which I don't think should be divisive? So many of them are just sitting out in the open or given away for the most mindless of tasks. It's clearly all very intentional, though. They wanted to make 3D Mario much more open, and that means you have to have way more Stars than usual because you can't have the world feel empty. The sacrifice there is that you're never going to get close to 999 high-quality Moons.
That's a very valid criticism.
i normally don't contribute to these threads when i haven't actually played the game, but i think it's apropos to mention that Galaxy was one of my most lucid gaming experiences ever yet i cannot gumption myself at all to actually buy and play this game. part of it has to do with the nintendo tax because at like $30 i'd be okay whatever. i'm sure it's a perfectly solid play on the mario 64 formula but in terms of direction with the 3D series it all just seems "eh..."
Whoops, I worded my comment incorrectly.
I agree with your previous comment that there are disliking the game is understandable.
I honestly agree with you. I had fun with it, and it looks beautiful, but it felt weirdly empty and shallow. Playing this after 3D world made it even worse, as that is absolutely my favourite 3D Mario. Usually I can go back to Mario games time after time, but I just don't feel any urge to play Odyssey ever again.
If you truly don't understand the love for Mario Odyssey, you're willfully choosing to ignore the internet. It's not hard to find the answer to this.
Having not played the game, much of your post has partially reaffirmed some of my concerns with this game.
Intentionality doesnt mean something is good, cappy was not good as a central mechanic imo
I like Odyssey a lot, but I think it needs a sequel to flesh out its ideas more sort of like Galaxy 2. There's plenty of potential in this formula, and they nailed Mario's movement, so that's a good start.
To touch upon the music for a bit, I noticed that they went in a different direction compared to past Mario games too. I think they intended to go into a more atmospheric direction for the soundtrack, and I still enjoyed it. Does atmospheric music belong in a Mario game like this though? Maybe. You spend a lot of time exploring and picking up moons frequently in the level without ever being kicked out. It's not a very adrenaline pumping experience, so many might say it's appropriate.
To touch upon the music for a bit, I noticed that they went in a different direction compared to past Mario games too. I think they intended to go into a more atmospheric direction for the soundtrack, and I still enjoyed it. Does atmospheric music belong in a Mario game like this though? Maybe. You spend a lot of time exploring and picking up moons frequently in the level without ever being kicked out. It's not a very adrenaline pumping experience, so many might say it's appropriate.
The way that Cappy is used in Odyssey is no different to how FLUDD and Luma is used in Sunshine and Galaxy.
I would say that FLUDD and Luma were more compliments to the core platforming than an all encompassing solution like cappy is because the mechanics of one capture will be completely different from another
64, Sunshine, and Odyssey draw their appeal from the thrill of movement more than the challenge of platforming. Other Mario games (2D, 3D Land, and Galaxy style) all lend themselves towards obstacle-course style gameplay of one kind or another, but 64, Sunshine, and Odyssey are more parkour-style in their thought. "What's the most creative way you can get from point A to point B?" Mario 64 had the caps and a new set of moves for Mario, Sunshine had FLUDD and Yoshi, and Galaxy had Cappy. A vast array of ways you could interact with the world, and you could switch between them seamlessly.
I too feel like the overabundance of moons made them feel like a bit of a chore, but only if your goal is to get moons as quick as you can. I think if I had the chance to be more leisurely with the game, it would be mystical.
I too feel like the overabundance of moons made them feel like a bit of a chore, but only if your goal is to get moons as quick as you can. I think if I had the chance to be more leisurely with the game, it would be mystical.
You are puting words in my mouth. I don't dislike that cappy is a focus. I said I don't like the feel of the move. It is the implementation I dislike. Fludd doesn't change how Mario's main moveset from 64 functions. Neither does Luma, however Mario doesn't feel quite as good as he did in sunshine, which doesn't have anything to do with Luma.
I feel that Mario's moves should be consistant, and that additional mechanics shouldn't interfere with that, but add to the moveset. Which has been mostly the case thus far in 3D mario. I wish the hat dive had a bit more finesse to it, and that they didn't completely change the dive to accommodate making it easy to pull off that combo. That is my issue here.
It's okay not to like things that are popular. Play what you enjoy, OP, and don't stress it :).
I've had a copy of Mario Odyssey sitting in my room since the day it came out. Have I played it? No. I don't own a Switch.
I've had a copy of Mario Odyssey sitting in my room since the day it came out. Have I played it? No. I don't own a Switch.
I find myself going back to Odyssey a lot. I even started a new save file just to go through the main story again. I just find it a joy to play. Some of the worlds are so much fun to play around in (Seaside Kingdom is incredible).
I really liked BOTW but I absolutely do not get the whole "GOAT masterpiece" status that people bestow upon it. But I could give a shit. To me, it's definitely not a masterpiece and that's all that matters.
Don't need to make sense of these things, OP. Just appreciate your own opinion.
I really liked BOTW but I absolutely do not get the whole "GOAT masterpiece" status that people bestow upon it. But I could give a shit. To me, it's definitely not a masterpiece and that's all that matters.
Don't need to make sense of these things, OP. Just appreciate your own opinion.
I don't really understand the point of creating threads for why others love a game that you don't. I mean, there's not much else to say other than they disagree with a lot of your own points and had a great time with it. I personally hate the Soulsborne games and don't like them for precisely the reasons why everyone else on this forum loves them. I just don't see the same value in the game as everyone else and that's okay. There's no point in making a thread about it
While the different captures are different from one another, I'd argue that Cappy does compliment the core platforming because of how well the ability works and flows from capturing the enemy, leaving it, and using it for various other purposes. It's certainly one of the most creative abilities I've seen, at the very least, and one of the most smoothly integrated
I enjoyed my time with it, but I think it will age the worst out of the mainline 3D Marios, even behind Sunshine. It's hard to escape the hyperbole when something is fresh, but it's really not that good of a Mario game. Like you said, outside of the movement, everything else is average at best. My largest beefs are the moon bloat and level design. There are wayyyy too fucking many moons that are braindead to collect. It makes all of them feel worthless. They should have focused on 240 or so instead of haphazardly shitting them all over every area. The art style is disjointed by design, but it doesn't work. The food kingdom is the only level that worked for me, aesthetically. The amount of empty space in a lot of the levels felt more like checking a box for size than serving any actual purpose. The desert level is the best example of how awful the empty space is, but every level has it to some extent.
If I ever replay it, I'll probably skip 70% of the moons.
If I ever replay it, I'll probably skip 70% of the moons.
It's a good game but also the most overrated game this gen. The controls are amazing but there isn't anything in the actual design of the game that deserves that metacritic
I'm right there with you OP. I think a lot of people just love Mario and how he controls so much to the point that the actual content itself is irrelevant, and is just an excuse to continue playing as this character with this game feel. It's nowhere near enough for me but it is for a lot.
It's a GOAT game. Also, you don't need to collect all of the stars, just like you don't need to collect all of the korok seeds in BOTW. You only need enough to get to the next area.
There's plenty in the game's design that earns merit. It's by no means perfect but it's hardly the most undeserving of its accolades
Like what? the actual platforming and level design isn't on par with previous Mario games or some other 3D platformers. The story isn't really worth mentioning. The collectibles don't feel engaging due to lack of challenge. Cappy is a fun mechanic but executed with little depth. Honestly, the only moment of brilliance came with the hidden moon.
Well it's a more open 3D Mario than any of the others and it's focused more so on exploration than the platforming. In that regard, it handles it fantastically, as I was constantly finding new areas to explore, new enemies to capture and experiment with, and new ways to utilize Mario's fluid expansive moveset
Odyssey's story in no way takes away from the game, seeing as, like with nearly every other Mario game out there, it's not a focus
Lack of challenge doesn't make something unengaging. The fun comes from the options you have to obtain the collectibles and finding them as you explore
...executed with little depth? Mario's move set is so expansive and the capture mechanic is integrated so well that this isn't a point that makes much sense
You not finding much enjoyment in this doesn't make it undeserving of its accolades any less than me disliking Bloodborne makes it unworthy of the same
Thing about Mario games for me is that I've played soooo much 2D and 3D Mario in my life that I feel absolutely nothing when a new one comes out. I tried Odyssey but just felt kind of bored while playing. I couldn't shake that feeling that it was something I've already played a million times.
I think I still like Mario Sunshine better. After the first few worlds I got pretty bored with Odyssey, but it starts so incredibly strong.
Yeah, I am not sure what it was, but I just could not get hooked on this game. I was just not having fun and felt the game was a little generic overall. I have played almost every Mario game and this one is not even in my top 5. Perhaps I am feeling like Zukkoyaki when he said that he has played so many Mario games that new ones come out and he feels really nothing. Franchise fatigue perhaps, but did not have this with any other Mario game.
Odyssey almost feels rushed to make sure it hit the launch year. The underlying skeleton is great but the tissue on top of it is really thin.
I think that's why there are so many moons in such mundane places, since it makes it less noticeable that the same area is missing an actual sequence. Like they got near the end of development and just dropped moons everywhere.
Odyssey needs a Galaxy 2 type sequel.
I think that's why there are so many moons in such mundane places, since it makes it less noticeable that the same area is missing an actual sequence. Like they got near the end of development and just dropped moons everywhere.
Odyssey needs a Galaxy 2 type sequel.
I wonder if the people complaining about lack of challenge really got all moons. I'm not saying it's the hardest game ever, but I'm fucking good at 3-D platformers, and there's definitely some challenging stuff post-game.
I hear the "most moons are meaningless" angle a lot, but I never fully connected on it, because the sheer joy of running around and exploring levels is the real game, and moons are just a way to formalize that structure. Sure, they aren't stars, but they were never meant to be. "What's that over there?!" is a feeling I want to feel in a game like this, but in previous iterations, the best the game could do was give you a 1-Up mushroom or some coins, and frankly, I don't give a shit about those. They reward exploration at the slight cost of "cheapening" the experience of getting a moon, but because it doesn't take you out of a level, I never felt bothered by it.
I absolutely love Odyssey, and the lack of DLC for this game has troubled me from the outset.
I hear the "most moons are meaningless" angle a lot, but I never fully connected on it, because the sheer joy of running around and exploring levels is the real game, and moons are just a way to formalize that structure. Sure, they aren't stars, but they were never meant to be. "What's that over there?!" is a feeling I want to feel in a game like this, but in previous iterations, the best the game could do was give you a 1-Up mushroom or some coins, and frankly, I don't give a shit about those. They reward exploration at the slight cost of "cheapening" the experience of getting a moon, but because it doesn't take you out of a level, I never felt bothered by it.
I absolutely love Odyssey, and the lack of DLC for this game has troubled me from the outset.
"Pedestrian"? Because games like Tony Hawks Pro Skater deserves to be up there more, right?
Odyssey is one of the most creative, polished, surprising, and joy-filled games I've played in my life. It literally oozes creativity.
Pedestrian. A Mario game where you transform into 50+ entities, each with unique gameplay mechanics, movement, abilities, etc. Including a dinosaur. World themes never before seen in a Mario game and surprising as hell.
I swear this place is fucking hilarious sometimes. I know, "opinions".. but wow. There's absolutely nothing pedestrian about this game.
Also love all the "I haven't played the game but this post affirmed my concerns" posts, as if the overwhelmingly positive impressions and reviews did nothing to influence you, but this single OP did. Gold.
It's ok not to like things. Not all games appeal to everyone. It is definitely one of the best feeling platformers to play. I personally do like a lot of the things that you said that you dislike however. I will say that the only reason you feel a lack of challenge from the collectables is because there are so many. If you seek to find all of them, you'll find plenty of challenge. I played this game nearly non stop in my free time until I had 999 moons, then I was sad because there was nothing left to do. The balloon challenge thing isn't really my sort of thing, so it's been collecting dust ever since. It's one of the hardest stops I've ever had in a game I like so much.