Super Mario Odyssey

It’s almost impossible for me to pick my favourite 3D Super Mario game, but the one that I’ve spent the most time playing is certainly Super Mario Odyssey. Partly, that’s because the worlds in Odyssey are larger and more expansive than previous titles in the series, and also because there are many more stars… sorry, I mean moons… to collect than ever before. But it’s also because the worlds themselves are so immersive and infinitely explorable.

Following the central theme of travelling the world, Odyssey embraces diversity and wonder, placing Mario into new kingdoms that vary in scope and aesthetic. There are countless nooks and crannies to find. There are hidden easter eggs and references galore to past Mario games. Then there are all the new local people, such as the Tostarenans, the New Donkers, and the Lochladies, each with their own culture, history, and inspirations. Even now, after sinking over 80 hours into the game, there are still a few Power Moons that evade me, and I’m sure there are small details here and there that I haven’t noticed.

So that’s why I’m returning to Super Mario Odyssey – not to hunt down those last few Power Moons (although it’d be great if I happen to stumble upon them). No, I’m going to thoroughly explore each and every kingdom, check out the local people and their architecture, and even examine some of the design notes and concept art from the game developers themselves, courtesy of The Art of Super Mario Odyssey (which I encourage anyone with an interest in art, game design, or even just Mario in general to check out).

We begin our tour in the Cap Kingdom, on a top-hat-shaped island called Bonneton, in the middle of a sea of clouds. This is where Mario finds himself after his defeat in the opening cinematic of the game, and it’s unlike anything he’s ever seen before. Most starting areas in Super Mario games are characterised by colourful landscapes and cheery atmospheres (think Bob-omb Battlefield in Super Mario 64 and Bianco Hills in Super Mario Sunshine), but that’s certainly not the case here. This is a strange, gloomy, monochromatic land perpetually shrouded in thick fog, which wouldn’t look out of place in a Tim Burton film. The night sky is dark, but the light of the gigantic yellow moon is more than enough to illuminate this mysterious land.

You start off standing amid gently rolling fog that has settled between low, blackened hills. The ground underfoot is soft and slightly bumpy. Here, the player is eased into the game, and Mario is introduced to the friendly locals – ghostly, floating beings called Bonneters, which are named after this island town (‘bonnet’ being a type of headgear, of course). They may have been influenced by a type of yōkai from Japanese folklore called tsukumogami, which are objects – in this case hats – that, after being used for a very long time, acquire a spirit and become alive and self-aware. Indeed, these little beings are never without their trademark hats – top hats for the men and bowler hats for the ladies. (Unsurprisingly, the best-selling item at the local Crazy Cap store is the classic black top hat).

In fact, as the name Cap Kingdom may imply, hat motifs are everywhere in this land. Hats aren’t just fashion here; they’re practically part of the ecosystem. In addition to ‘hat people’, there are hat houses, hat lights, a hat tower – even the local currency resembles a top hat. If you look down, you’ll see that the dark ground is fuzzy and slightly striped, as if it is made from hat felt rather than grass.

The Cap Kingdom seems to be based on Victorian London, as evidenced by the buildings and architecture visible in the background, and the fog commonly associated with the city in that era. The Bonneters also use many stock British expressions and wear traditionally British hats. But the aesthetics of this kingdom also remind me of The Nightmare Before Christmas – it seems eerie and mysterious at first glance, what with its ‘spooky’ colours and set dressing, but it still has a darkly whimsical charm.

Bonneton is a quiet land, and its citizens have a strong sense of formality and tradition. To fit in, Mario can buy an impeccably tailored black tuxedo from the local Crazy Cap shop. Most items of clothing that you can purchase in this game are references to outfits that Mario has worn in previous (and often quite obscure) games. The top hat/tuxedo outfit available from the Cap Kingdom is actually a combination of two outfits. The tuxedo, trousers, and brown shoes are based on the official artwork used for promotional material for the 1992 SNES game Mario Paint (below, left), while the top hat seems to be from the box art of Super Mario: All-Stars, a 1993 compilation of Mario platform games for the SNES (below, right).

But let’s get back to the Cap Kingdom. A bridge connects the dark, rolling hills to the Central Plaza of Bonneton. This bridge is called Glasses Bridge. It’s a long, double-arched structure whose bottom is hidden in a sea of clouds. When you see it, you’ll understand its affectionate nickname immediately.

On the other side of the bridge is the Plaza, a whimsical town where most of the Bonneters on the island live. Life here is simple and safe. Even the few Paragoombas that flutter around the area seem to pose no problem. You can do some souvenir shopping here or simply enjoy the romantic glow of the moonlit, fog-shrouded streets.

The Bonneters absolutely love hats and go about their lives manufacturing all manner of hat-inspired creations. They excel at ship-building and can even attach sails to their hat-shaped homes to convert them into airships. Some of these larger ‘houseboats’ even have two stories. Since they are private dwellings, you can’t just stroll inside, but the natives don’t seem to mind Mario climbing on top of their homes.

In the Cap Kingdom, Mario encounters a Bonneter named Cappy, whose sister, Tiara, has been kidnapped by Bowser. Cappy proposes that he and Mario work together to take down the King of the Koopas and rescue their loved ones. Mario’s newest friend embodies the Bonneters’ ability to take the form of ordinary hats – in this case, Mario’s iconic red cap – and ‘Capture’ other beings. Together, Mario and his friendly little hat ghost will spend most of the rest of the game possessing living things to advance. Since Super Mario Odyssey‘s core mechanic revolves around Cappy and Mario’s ability to capture objects, it’s unsurprising that the opening world establishes hats as central to the setting and story.

The most famous landmark in Bonneton is the eye-catching Top-Hat Tower. The views from the ‘brim’ are spectacular. In fact, the brim is so large that several Bonneters have built their homes up here. Visitors are allowed inside the tower, but many creatures call it home, much to the surprise of first-timers. It is here that Cappy helps Mario perform his very first Capture – a frog, whose excellent jumping abilities allow Mario to ascend the tower from inside.

At the peak of Top-Hat Tower, Mario and Cappy encounter and battle Topper, one of four Broodals who act as Bowser’s wedding planners. Topper is quickly defeated, but if Mario and his new friend want to chase Bowser across the world, they’ll need a ship. Fortunately, Cappy seems to have a lead on such a vessel, so the two of them head over to the neighbouring kingdom to continue their adventure… but that’s a story for another time.