It’s been nearly 15 years since Nintendo released Super Mario Sunshine for the Gamecube, and fans have been clamoring for a sequel the entire time. Though it’s not an exact sequel, gamers’ hopes for the next sandbox game starring the big nosed Italian plumber have finally been answered with the reveal of Super Mario Odyssey.
Alongside numerous other games, Nintendo revealed a trailer for the game at the Nintendo Switch conference earlier this week. The trailer displayed an array of features and places that have never been seen in any Mario game before.
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The first noticeable difference revolves around the setting, as Mario and company will journey to an unknown world that contains aspects strikingly similar to our own. Though there were plenty of shots of deserts and other landscapes familiar to the series, the world shown in the trailer is filled with jungles, temples and even a sprawling city (similar to New York).
Accompanying the new terrains in Super Mario Odyssey are refined platform methods in which to get around them. With the ability to spring off cars, swing around light poles and parkour up skyscrapers, the next iteration in the saga looks both refreshing and reassuring.
One of the new important methods of platforming will stem from the use of Mario’s new hat, which allows him to throw into a space and jump off to reach further distances. The hat isn’t just a normal cap though, as it appears to be a sentient being, with blinking eyes resting in the center of the hat.
The currently unnamed hat – though billboards call it Crazy Cap – will likely play a big role in the game, as multiple billboards and mentions of the cap can be see throughout the trailer. Apart from helping traverse long jumps, the cap will also be available as a boomerang-esque ranged weapon.
While no exact release date was specified, Nintendo stated their goal was to have Super Mario Odyssey on Switch consoles by holiday season 2017. For more information on Mario and the Nintendo Switch conference, be sure to stay tuned to The Nerd Stash!
