Everyone seems over the moon about those different costumes, but while they look cool they don't do anything (besides opening up certain areas). So in that regard they are totally pointless. I also don't get why they chose for kingdom coins AND normal coins. Why not just all normal coins? I don't get it...
The transformations are cool though, and I also like the idea of entering certain areas of kingdoms when you are in another kingdom (though maybe not painting-hopping style, but more like Banjo Tooie). On the other hand, maybe they should have just made it 100% open-world (they didn't have the guts to do that for some reason, but it seems like they where almost there with those big worlds). Oh, and I want to see Bean bean kingdom, Sarasaland kingdom and maybe the Waffle kingdom (lol), though that looks unlikely. Anyway, I'll get it down the line of course. But not this year since I'll buy a Switch next year ( or maybe even later. Also depends on price of the Switch, wich won't go down soon).
One last thing: I don't know what kind of contraption that is on the beach level, but it looks very cool. And of course that picture of Mario sleeping beside the t-rex. Nice!
I think it's fair to say that many of the specific challenges found in platforming games lend themselves to focused, directed, self-contained environments. However, the good thing about an open-world game is that it offers plenty of space to embed these areas within it.
Odyssey seems like a sensible mix of truly 'open' open-world areas, and more confined spaces offering specific challenges.
It doesn't offer a 'seamless' open world experience of (for example) Breath of the Wild, but in going for a 'hybrid' approach - by inserting tight, linear 'challenge-zones' into wider kingdoms - I'm hoping we can literally get the best of both worlds.
Mario's acrobat-tastic moveset lends itself just as well to nail-biting, pixel-perfect platforming as it does to joyously unfettered exploration, and I t's a balance Nintendo have toyed with ever since 64. No 3D Mario game has ever been truly 'open-world', nor truly 'linear' either. I feel Odyssey continues this trend, even if it places more emphasis on the former than any game before it.
It might be useful shorthand to call it an 'open-world Mario game' - especially in relation to the 3D Mario games that preceded it - but I don't feel we should be using the term too earnestly in a wider sense.
Really though, I need to get my hands on the game before I start proselytising on 'correct terminology'.
Really. I need to get my hands on the game. Really really.
Well I for one am glad they're getting away from the episode-restricted, load-in-from-a-menu format. I hope there are still episodes that alter the world in the quests within each region, but the more a game can put you into a world and away from a menu, the better. I do kinda wish there was still a hub world though.
It really is quite similar to Monster Hunter: World in the respect that they're taking steps like moons not kicking you out of the level (contrast with World's free hunting and being able to change weapons or eat within a hunting ground). Not to mention the fact that both series have previous installments with similar immersive ambitions that were more limited in some respects and criticized for lack of content — Sunshine and Tri, respectively.
But about Odyssey exclusively, I've always liked using the term 'sandbox' for games with larger environments which might not all be connected to each other but which have a lot of things to play around with. I feel like Windfall Island is a good example of this. It's a relatively small play space, so when you're there you're not doing the waiting it takes to travel in TWW or Breath of the Wild.
Games like Breath, Xenoblade, and Skyrim are distinct experiences for me because of all the time spent walking and the emphasis on graphics. They're simply too long to be sandbox or very pick-up-and-play. For most games, I like the rich, concentrated maps of a sandbox. They're just great to mess about with and explore, but explore in a way that doesn't take four-ever.
@Haru17 I agree a term is useful for exactly the sort of games you've described, and I'm happy to go along with 'sandbox' in lieu of an agreed upon alternative.
There was a period where 'sandbox' was the go-to term for games like Minecraft (and even Gary's Mod), where the act of shaping the worlds was as important as playing in them. It was almost shorthand for 'comes with a creation tool'.
The term Nintendo used at E3 to distinguish 64, Sunshine, and now Odyssey from the more linear 3D platformers was (verbatim) '箱庭/hakoniwa', which means 'box garden' or 'miniature garden'. You can stick it into Google to get a feel for the word.
Perhaps something like 'diorama worlds', or 'snow globe worlds' would be a decent equivalent. Although the latter might be biased towards ice levels.
But anyway, I think you've really clearly and eloquently outlined what makes Odyssey (and others) distinct from games we'd typically describe as 'open world', and I'm happy to use 'sandbox' to describe that for the time being.
Maybe you are right, though I am not sure. Personally I think it could be great if they made it 100% open-world, if done right of course. Don't get me wrong, I don't think every game should be open world. But a 100% open-world 3D Mario could be great, that's just my feeling.
I don't see the point in open world Mario. Mario is a platformer, not an adventure game. It needs condensed little world full of objects to jump on/against/off. I am already a bit worried after seeing those big grassy plains in Odyssey, or that empty desert. I don't play Mario games to mindlessly run around. I'll go play BOTW if I want to do that.
@Octane
Somehow, I felt bored with 3D Land & 3D World due to Time Limit, Ridiculous Hard Obstacle, Smaller world, Not really impressive Storyline (Typical Damsel in Distress).
Playing 3D platformer shouldn't limited by Time Limit. It will be better if we can enjoy the scenery while playing.
Also, other 3D platformer such as Poi: Explorer Edition, Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2, etc are good example of 3D platformer.
@Snaplocket
There are also some good Open World type games such as Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles ps4, My Time at Portia, LEGO CIYTY UNDERCOVER, etc.
Open World games are Good as long the world is Not empty. Also, who don't want to explore and enjoy "What a Wonderful World" during gameplay ?
@Octane
But, exploring soooo Huge World is really fun, eh ?
Like a Young kid who is excited to getting know about something. Running there, running here, exploring the world, etc.
@Snaplocket
Indeed, 3D Land & 3D World were Great games.
But, my mood right now tells me if Open World style feels better than Old fashioned style Mario games after I played other games with Open World style (Portal Knights)
@Octane I think Nintendo have been really putting a lot of emphasis on the idea of jumping on/against/off things in their trailers and I am not worried that the levels won't feel empty, there will be plenty to do. How that translates into actual gameplay when we get hold of it next week is something else entirely. But I trust Nintendo not to mess about with their biggest and most valuable IP especially at a time when they need him to do really well.
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@Anti-Matter Not sure what you're trying to say, but the world size in Sunshine was perfect IMO. 64 was a on the small size compared to Sunshine, but there were more of them. Odyssey's worlds are a lot bigger, which is fine, as long as they're filled with actual platforms, enemies and/or other objects, i.e. content. The Dino world had a few wide open grassy plains, and I can't help but wonder why? That didn't look like a fun level TBH.
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