8 Video Game Franchises That Reclaimed Their Throne
3. Super Mario Odyssey Embraces Nintendo's Past
Between 2010 and 2017, after the release of Super Mario Galaxy 2, Nintendo's long-running mascot appeared to have a bit of a problem. Both 3D World and New Super Mario Bros. U were popular among fans, but there was something missing.
As successful as those games were, the lack of true 3D freedom was starting to become apparent. Even the Galaxy games were linear affairs, with levels that tunnelled you down a set path, while 3D World opted for a similar approach. Like the fans, it appeared that Nintendo had grown bored with this approach. They wanted to remove the limitations on Mario and let him roam free.
Which is exactly what they did, using the open-ended structure of Super Mario 64 and Sunshine to craft his newest adventure on the Nintendo Switch. Dubbed Super Mario Odyssey, Nintendo took the sandbox style of both 64 and Sunshine and merged them together.
What followed was a delightful experience. Odyssey's supremely detailed, finely crafted 3D worlds were an absolute joy to explore. The variety was also excellent, as you went everywhere from the prehistoric vibe of the Cascade Kingdom to the urban streets of New Donk City. Nintendo showed us that in the world of 3D platformers, Mario was still the king.