super mario odyssey party room sand kingdom

As I reflect on my journey with Super Mario Odyssey, I'm reminded of the empty years that followed its release. It was as if fate had aligned once more to bring me back to the world of Mario, and this time, it was in a big way.

My introduction to Mario began with Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, which I received as a gift many years ago. Although I never owned Super Mario 64, I would occasionally test it at friends' homes, getting brief glimpses into the world of 3D gaming. Those early experiences left an indelible mark on me, and I fell deeply in love with the two-dimensional sprites on a massive TV screen.

Those casual after-school sessions at classmates' homes taught me the core gameplay mechanics and even helped me develop creative insults for Koopa brothers! It was during this time that I first met Mario in the 1990s. Fast forward to Super Mario Odyssey, which I quickly grew to understand is an incredible physical manifestation of Mario's legacy.

The game successfully blends past, present, and future into a cohesive whole, restoring Mario's primitive 2D roots like a rare painting while introducing innovative dimensional shifts to 3D gaming that will leave you awestruck. It was only natural that I, a Nintendo diehard, exploded with happiness upon realizing my sister had purchased it as a Christmas gift.

Nintendo's knack for fun-crafting hasn't atrophied, and gamer feedback is testament to this fact. The game's charm, volume, and remarkable density have earned it the title of an 'essential' Switch experience. In fact, Super Mario Odyssey has demonstrated a consistent awareness of the player psyche, rivaling critically acclaimed titles like Super Mario Sunshine.

As a first-party title released during the 2017 holiday season, Super Mario Odyssey had a lot of pressure riding on its shoulders. Would it achieve the distinguished, mould-breaking status of its premillennial platforming ancestor, or lose its way and fail to impress modern-day fans and critics? Traditionally speaking, Mario games have always fared well, with franchise best-sellers like Super Mario Bros. and renowned classics.

In conclusion, Super Mario Odyssey is a masterpiece that has left an indelible mark on the gaming industry. Its ability to blend past, present, and future into a cohesive whole while introducing innovative gameplay mechanics has earned it near-perfect scores of 97 on game rankings website Metacritic. It's no surprise that it sits perched at the peak of the Switch podium alongside other critically acclaimed titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Super mario odyssey party room sand kingdom