WithThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2on the horizon, fans are speculating how the direct sequel will handlereturning elements like the Master Sword. It’s uncommon to see Nintendo produce follow-ups for its flagship games, but another Switch title that deserves the same treatment isSuper Mario Odyssey. One of the best things aboutOdysseyis its creative world designs facilitating the return to a 3D platforming style not seen sinceSuper Mario Sunshine, and a sequel using the same engine could amplify that creativity in a second go.
If there is aSuper Mario Odyssey 2,it should move beyond a “rescue Princess Peach from Bowser plot,” as blasphemous as that sounds. The first game’s story follows Mario traveling the world with Cappy as Bowser wreaks havoc to steal wedding supplies. Each new land perfectly encapsulates these supplies while maintaining unique atmospheres from the Seaside Kingdom of Bubblaine with carbonated seas to the overgrown Steam Gardens of the Wooded Kingdom with beautiful flower fields. Add inOdyssey’s smooth-as-butter controls, and it’s a real crowd pleaser, including forNintendo of America President Doug Bowser.
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Once Mario saves Peach from a marriage on the Moon, she rejects his and Bowser’s advances, then goes on vacation with her new friend Tiara. This is a well-deserved ending toSuper Mario Odysseyfor the Princess, and feels like a perfect endpoint to her story if the developers start a new adventures in the same continuity. The game’s global level select confirms that almost everywhere Mario travels is outside the Mushroom Kingdom, and some of the most interesting world building in previous Mario games has occurred when Peach takes a backseat to new locations and lore.
Mario RPG series have multiple examples of this. For instance,Mario & Luigi: Superstar Sagabrings the brothers to the adjacent Beanbean Kingdom built around a monarchical society of Beanish people with just one pocket of Toads in the immigrant community of Little Fungitown.Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Doorfeatures an island just a boat ride away from Peach’s Castle with a sketchy criminal hive called Rogueport, a floating combat arena, a great tree full of cute sentient insects, and more. AssumingOdyssey 2would avoidBreath of the Wild 2’s approach of reusing its Hyrule map, it could incorporate some of these long-forgotten locales or at least venture to make more unique Kingdoms that flesh out Mario’s world.
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Another reason why Odyssey should move on from a Princess Peach “damsel in distress” story is because those aforementioned RPG games (while still using the trope) are able to explore other avenues for her characterization than a mainlineMariotitle. The upcomingPaper Mario: The Origami Kingwill make Peach a brainwashed villain, for example, building upon an idea also seen inThe Thousand-Year Door. Meanwhile,Super Paper Mariomade her one of the four playable characters with unique story beats — most infamously defeating a fandom-obsessed chameleon in a dating sim.
Super Mario Odysseywas chock full of creativity, as can be seen by its368-page Dark Horse Comics art bookand sales numbers that continue to rise. If Nintendo decides to capitalize on this popularity like it will throughThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, it should elevate this philosophy rather than falling back onto the series' staple basic desert, ice, and lava worlds. One of the best ways to do this would be letting Peach enjoy her vacation so more ideas can be reigned in.
Super Mario Odysseyis available now on Nintendo Switch.
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