Super Mario Odyssey

Welcome to Lake Lamode, a submerged sanctuary of fashion inhabited by mermaid-like beings called Lochladies. The warm sand, colourful locals, and calm waters of this region combine to put a traveller’s mind at ease. It’s a relatively small kingdom, but the clothing motif is evident throughout. There are grasslands of shimmering silk thread, thickets that look like scrunches, rock walls that resemble loosely layered drapery… It is clear that the concept artists and designers of Super Mario Odyssey incorporated as many details associated with fashion and attire into the surrounding landscape as possible.

The stylish Lochladies can breathe both in and out of water, and are comfortable in both environments. Mario, however, can only hold his breath for a short time, which would usually make exploring the underwater sights of Lake Lamode difficult and stressful. Thankfully, there are plenty of Cheep Cheeps swimming around, and Cappy can capture them so that Mario can stay beneath the surface for as long as he likes.

If you want to go back to breathing air for a while, though, a visit to the Water Plaza is a must. This sprawling palace of intricately carved stone may be underwater, but it is kept dry by a magnificent dome. No one really knows how the doors work in the Water Plaza, but the large openings in the glass somehow keep the water out and the air in. A water-fuelled elevator lets Mario move to different levels of the structure. When you look up at the lake from within the plaza, you can see Dorrie – a large, friendly, plesiosaur-like creature – swimming around amid the stunning scenery. Lights on the water’s surface flutter like veils, and small fish glimmer as they pass by.

Back on dry land, the soaking pool in the kingdom courtyard has a rich history. It was once a spot for designers to relax and dye cloth. But once the city moved to the lake bottom, it no longer served this purpose and is now a well-known fishing hole. There are also several Goombas here, perhaps because this is the highest, driest ground in the Lake Kingdom.

The Lake Kingdom seems to be based on several different real-world locations. The underwater buildings have a classical, Ancient Greek vibe to them – just look at those broken, dilapidated Grecian-like columns in the image below to see what I mean. However, there’s a connection to Scotland, too, both in the name of the Lochladies (loch being a Scottish word for lake) and in the presence of Dorrie, who could be a reference to the Loch Ness Monster. And there’s clearly a French basis as well – ‘Lake Lamode’ comes from the French phrase à la mode, meaning ‘in fashion’ or ‘stylish’, and the Lochladies have a French accent.

The local Lochladies are accomplished designers. Their gorgeous scales sparkle like sequins; their hair hangs like veils; their fins fan out like the hem of a dress. Since Lake Lamode contains elements of Ancient Greek architecture, the Lochladies have laurel wreaths made from seaweed atop their heads. The calm words and gentle movements of the Lochladies are said to be like the ebb and flow of Lake Lamode itself. Yet these people are resilient and maintain a positive outlook that doesn’t falter under duress.

This is a kingdom whose industry relies entirely on fashion. The most luxurious garment on offer is the Lochlady Dress, which is usually displayed in the show window of the Water Plaza. This gown even qualifies as a national treasure! It is said that wearing the Lochlady Dress brings eternal happiness, so, naturally, every bride yearns for it.

But even Lake Lamode couldn’t escape Bowser’s evil clutches. When Mario first visits here, the Broodals can be found at the Water Plaza in the process of stealing the Lochlady Dress. Bowser intends to make Peach wear it as her wedding dress for their upcoming nuptials. The locals, naturally, are distressed that their pride and joy has been stolen.

During Mario and Cappy’s first visit to the Lake Kingdom, they must defeat a tall, lanky member of the Broodals called Rango, who attacks by throwing his spiked hat like a boomerang. Once Rango is defeated, Mario will gain a Multi Moon and be able to collect more Power Moons in the kingdom. When you have collected enough Power Moons, you’ll be able to move on to the next location – either the Wooded Kingdom (if you haven’t visited it yet) or the Cloud Kingdom (if both the Wooded and Lake Kingdoms have been visited). We looked at the Wooded Kingdom last time, so the next stop on our Super Mario Odyssey tour will be the Cloud Kingdom – a vast sea of clouds high in the sky that seems to go on forever.