Current Events > The Moon in Mario Odyssey is kinda disappointing (spoilers ahead)

(+) Yeah! (+)

I didn't read much about Odyssey before playing it, so I didn't even know you visit the Moon in the game until I got to that point. I was pretty stoked. You start off exploring individual little kingdoms, which have 2-3 hours worth of exploration, and then you visit the entire MOON? That's gotta be amazing, right?

So the first visit to the Moon, it's basically open fields, one short (though cool) dungeon, a boss fight and the escape sequence. Not bad. After beating the game you go back and it has a few more puzzles and challenges unlocked, just like beating any kingdom does.

Then I found out, if you collect enough power moons, there's a Dark Side of the Moon you get to visit? And a DARKER side?! Those have got to be freaking amazing!

So I collect some moons. Unlock both. The Dark Side is a couple of plateaus (with re-used assets from the Luncheon Kingdom, just gray) followed by a long tunnel that leads to a boss rush. Of bosses you've already fought. Okay, that's cool I guess. And...that's it. You beat the bosses (that you've already beaten) and get a multi-moon. Okay. Then when you go back for the new stuff that unlocks upon beating a kingdom, there are a few cool things. But the vast majority of the power moons you can earn on the Dark Side, WHICH YOU HAVE TO UNLOCK, are literally just hints that tell you to go to another kingdom. That you've already done. So your reward for unlocking a new level is to be told "Fuck off, go here instead"? What the cheese, Nintendo!

...So whatever. You go to the Darker Side, which should be cool right? The mysterious, unknown side of the Moon? It's basically one long dungeon that takes some elements from previous levels. The ending sequence was cool. But like...that's it. It took me maybe 15 minutes to get through it?

Come on Nintendo, you have an entire gigantic orbiting rock to work with, and you gave us a repeat boss fight and two dungeons. Weak sauce.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Dis. Also the darker side of the moon is supposed to be the final challenge. Guess you're that good of a gamer.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


Yes, the one you're referring to unlocks directly after beating the first Moon level.

tbf the cave theme is bad ass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zg3xhmUmkg

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


It is good, but I've already done it. Kinda wish they utilized Yoshi a little more, but not bad. Right now I'm doing the moon rocks in each kingdom. Just finished Cap, Cascade, and the Sand kingdom ones. These are pretty fun and a good end-game addition.

Tyranthraxus posted...

tbf the cave theme is bad ass

Yeah, one of the best tracks in the game! I'm still missing I think one track, I gotta figure out which one it is...

The moon at first is epic with the bell ringing in the background. I like the atmosphere. A real final feel to it.

Dark side of the moon is eh and darker side is even more eh. I like the final challenge, but they should have designed the darker side to be more aesthetically interesting. It's just cheering from friends when the thumbnail shows and implies aurora borealis kind of weird dimension.

That last platforming challenge was fucking rough. People talk about Nintendo games being easy, but they still know how to fuck you up when they want to.

I still say the game peaks at New Donk City, and only reaches that level again in Bowser's Kingdom

PowerOats posted...

I still say the game peaks at New Donk City, and only reaches that level again in Bowser's Kingdom

Dis.

New donk, bowser's weeby deeby awesome phase and wooded kingdom are the main 3 that prevented me from putting the game down because of being hooked.

The final badge challenge in Super Mario Wonder is even worse.

But yeah I prefer a fun final level than just a remixed challenge thing.

PowerOats posted...

I still say the game peaks at New Donk City

They could make an entire game with New Donk City if they fleshed it out well.

While we're here, I have to say I absolutely loathe the Luncheon Kingdom. It looks awful and is way too bright. The pepto bismol looking lava is bad enough, but a lot of the terrain is just green. It looks like they ran out of time or got too lazy to add actual texture. I didn't even revisit it for more moons, except to do the Koopa Freerunning because I love those.

Punished_Blinx posted...

The final badge challenge in Super Mario Wonder is even worse.

Worse than Crown on 3D World or 8 crown on 3d land?

It's kind of short but I liked it. In the upper tiers of levels I think. Better than the sea levels.

MisterPengy posted...

While we're here, I have to say I absolutely loathe the Luncheon Kingdom. It looks awful and is way too bright. The pepto bismol looking lava is bad enough, but a lot of the terrain is just green. It looks like they ran out of time or got too lazy to add actual texture. I didn't even revisit it for more moons, except to do the Koopa Freerunning because I love those.

I remember getting a preview of it with one of those warps and saying, "Jesus Christ."

It looks untextured.

New Donk City had one really distracting issue too: the uncanny valley low framerate walk the citizens would have whenever they were more than twenty feet away.

S Tier:
Wooded Kingdom
Lost Kingdom
New Donk City/ Metro Kingdom
Bowser's Kingdom

A Tier:
Sand Kingdom (although its a little too big)
Mushroom Kingdom (This was almost B rank, but then I remembered Yoshi)

B Tier:
Cascade Kingdom
Luncheon Kingdom (I like the look of the pepto bismal lava <_<)
Moon Kingdom (last level sequence)

C Tier:
Cap Kingdom
Lake Kingdom (water level meh)
Dark Side
Darker Side
Ruined Kingdom (wasted potential)
Cloud Kingdom (wasted potential)

D Tier:
Seaside Kingdom (another water level, and somehow even less fun)
Snow Kingdom (Boring as hell, unless you are in a pipe level)

I liked Odyssey, but the game frontloaded the amazing kingdoms.

Going from Wooded > Cloud/ Boss > Lost > Metro is prime 11/10 gaming, and it never reaches that point again until Bowsers Kingdom. The other kingdoms just arent that fun in comparison

^I mostly agree, though I would put Cascade in A Tier. It's a fantastic step up from the tutorial kingdom (Cap), and you get to be a fucking dinosaur. I also love the waterfall. The only real shortfall it has is, well, being quite short.

I liked Seaside, though that might be more for the vibe than the actual content. I agree with Ruined and Cloud. Those could be amazing worlds if they, ya know, actually had content.

I was so surprised that you didn't have a minigame or something where you possessed the dragon in Ruined Kingdom. I think it even has a spot on its nose or something where Cappy would go.

pegusus123456 posted...

I was so surprised that you didn't have a minigame or something where you possessed the dragon in Ruined Kingdom. I think it even has a spot on its nose or something where Cappy would go.

That would have been awesome.

Also I found it a little off-putting that Bowser apparently controls this gigantic monster. I get that Bowser is tough but the thing could just eat him. <_< It kinda made Bowser seem like he's not the biggest threat around.