The game's wide-open 'Kingdoms' don't have any set end points, instead they exist more as spaces to run and jump around at your leisure. Even more open 3D games like Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy have retained this model to some extent, ending with a run through the level and putting Mario back to the start after he collects a star (or 'shine').īy this strict definition, Super Mario Odyssey can't really be considered a core Mario game at all. While a core Mario game could have secondary goals (like collecting red coins or one-ups) and while there might be multiple exits in a single level, getting from the start to the end has always been a defining characteristic of his adventures. One proposed definition relied on Mario trying to reach an explicit 'goal point' or exit at the end of the level. Further Reading Settling the debate: What makes a “core” Mario game?A few weeks ago, I got dragged down a rabbit-hole discussion of what defines a 'core' Mario game.
