Whatever the Nintendo Switch 2's opening lineup looks like, there's a fairly strong chance it will include a flagship Super Mario title, as it's been nearly eight years since the last major 3D Mario platformer. This theoretical game will have to follow Super Mario Odyssey, though, which leaves behind some massive shoes to fill.
Bowser's Fury was technically the last 3D Mario, but it is generally considered more of a DLC or spin-off than a flagship release.
That said, perhaps this next Mario game will actually be a direct sequel to Super Mario Odyssey, retaining its core design principles, tone, and structural elements. While every 3D Mario game has received stellar reviews and enjoyed commercial success, it's been surprisingly rare to see a follow-up for any particular game, with the only numbered sequel to a 3D title being Super Mario Galaxy 2—a terrific game in its own right. With the Nintendo Switch 2 potentially ushering in a new era of first-party Nintendo games, it would certainly make sense for the company to move on to a completely new 3D Mario formula, but there may be benefits to reprising Mario Odyssey as well.
The Pros and Cons of a Super Mario Odyssey 2 on the Nintendo Switch 2
Super Mario Odyssey Deserved a Longer Game
Perhaps the greatest criticism one can leverage against Super Mario Odyssey is its lack of content compared to other Mario games. There are just 17 levels in Odyssey, compared to the 49 of its predecessor, Mario Galaxy 2. Moreover, some of the levels in Super Mario Odyssey feel like filler, almost as though they shouldn't really "count." While levels like Metro Kingdom and Sand Kingdom are vast, inspired, and creative, others, like Cloud Kingdom and Ruined Kingdom, are rudimentary and tacked-on, providing next to no valuable gameplay opportunities.
In other words, the worst part of Super Mario Odyssey is that there simply isn't enough of it. Its movement mechanics and moments of genius level design deserve a bigger sandbox, offering more chances for players to experiment and overcome tailored challenges like those of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Sunshine. By the time that players get to the endgame, it can feel like Odyssey is just getting started—a good thing for some, but underwhelming for others. With Super Mario Odyssey 2, Nintendo could revisit the original's most inventive and exciting features, cranking mechanics like Cappy up to eleven, and fully realizing its vast potential.
Super Mario Thrives On Constant Reinvention
While Super Mario Odyssey might have potential for a sequel, it might be best to leave such potential unrealized in favor of new ideas. After all, many believe that a golden rule of entertainment is to leave audiences wanting more, which is exactly what Odyssey does. It's certainly better than having certain mechanics or ideas wear out their welcome, which is a problem that many other AAA franchises face in their attempts to mine a design style for all it's worth. Super Mario Odyssey itself would never have come to fruition if Nintendo simply opted to release Super Mario Galaxy 3, Super Mario Galaxy may have never been released if Nintendo just kept making Super Mario Sunshine sequels, and so on.
Rather than milk the franchise until it runs dry, it could be better to treat Odyssey's unrealized potential as the seed from which a new 3D Mario might sprout. Contrary to what some might argue, it is ingenuity, passion, and creative vision that make great games, not kowtowing to the consumer's every whim. If Nintendo's developers are genuinely bursting with ideas for Super Mario Odyssey 2, then great; if not, then it's into the great unknown that Mario will go.
Super Mario Odyssey
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 97 /100 Critics Rec: 98%
- Released
- October 27, 2017
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Super Mario Bros.
WHERE TO PLAY
Explore incredible places far from the Mushroom Kingdom as you join Mario and his new ally Cappy on a massive, globe-trotting 3D adventure. Use amazing new abilities—like the power to capture and control objects, animals, and enemies—to collect Power Moons so you can power up the Odyssey airship and save Princess Peach from Bowser’s wedding plans!
Thanks to heroic, hat-shaped Cappy, Mario’s got new moves that’ll make you rethink his traditional run-and-jump gameplay—like cap jump, cap throw, and capture. Use captured cohorts such as enemies, objects, and animals to progress through the game and uncover loads of hidden collectibles. And if you feel like playing with a friend, just pass them a Joy-Con™ controller! Player 1 controls Mario while Player 2 controls Cappy. This sandbox-style 3D Mario adventure—the first since 1996’s beloved Super Mario 64™ and 2002’s Nintendo GameCube™ classic Super Mario Sunshine™—is packed with secrets and surprises, plus exciting new kingdoms to explore.
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- How Long To Beat
- 13 Hours
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
