Super Mario Odyssey redefined what a platformer could be when it launched alongside the Nintendo Switch in 2017, and it remains one of the console’s defining titles today. Unlike traditional Mario games where you jump on enemies, Odyssey introduces Cappy, Mario’s sentient hat, which enables the core capture mechanic that transforms how you interact with every level. This isn’t just a visual gimmick, it fundamentally changes combat, puzzle-solving, and exploration. Whether you’re a completionist hunting every Power Moon or a casual player enjoying the story, understanding Odyssey’s systems will unlock everything the game has to offer. This guide walks you through the capture mechanics, all eight kingdoms, and strategies to conquer boss battles with confidence.
Key Takeaways
- Super Mario Odyssey’s capture mechanic fundamentally transforms platforming by letting you possess enemies and objects to gain unique abilities, making it a defining Nintendo Switch title.
- Mastering capture timing and range—including chain captures and double-throws—is essential for solving puzzles, unlocking secrets, and progressing through the eight kingdoms.
- Each of Odyssey’s eight kingdoms contains 100+ Power Moons with hidden collectibles, secrets behind cracked walls, and Shady totems that reward thorough exploration and revisiting with newly unlocked abilities.
- Boss fights require observation and strategic capture selection rather than reflexes alone; study enemy patterns and exploit weaknesses by using specific captured forms at the right moments.
- Finding all 880 Power Moons demands systematic exploration across multiple playthroughs, with many secrets locked behind post-game captures that earlier kingdoms taught you how to use.
What Is Super Mario Odyssey and Why It Matters for Switch Players
Super Mario Odyssey stands as one of the most innovative 3D platformers ever made. It launched as a Nintendo Switch flagship title, proving the hybrid console could deliver AAA experiences that felt fresh, not recycled. The game’s brilliance lies in its core mechanic: instead of collecting power-ups that transform Mario temporarily, you throw Cappy to possess enemies and objects, gaining their unique abilities.
This possession system means you’re not playing as Mario navigating a static world, you’re constantly shifting perspectives and abilities. Throw Cappy on a Bullet Bill and you become a self-guided projectile. Possess a T-Rex and you can smash through obstacles. Each enemy type has its own physics, movement style, and abilities, making exploration feel completely different depending on what you’ve captured.
The game features eight distinct kingdoms to explore, each stuffed with secrets, platforming challenges, and 880 Power Moons to collect. IGN’s review of Super Mario Odyssey praised its level design and capture system for creating infinite variety in a single game. The switch between Mario’s traditional platforming and possession-based gameplay keeps the experience fresh across all 15+ hours of content. For Nintendo Switch owners, this is essential.
Mastering the Capture Mechanic: The Game-Changing Feature
The capture system is what separates Odyssey from every other platformer. You throw Cappy with the Y button (or ZR in handheld mode) to possess enemies and objects. Once captured, Mario disappears and you control the creature’s unique moveset. Releasing capture returns Mario to his normal form.
Capture isn’t just tactical, it’s essential for progression. Certain doors only open when you’re a specific enemy. Platforms crumble unless you’re the right creature. Boss fights often require you to switch between multiple captures to exploit enemy weaknesses. Understanding the subtle differences between captured forms is crucial for both offense and puzzle-solving.
How to Capture Enemies and Objects Effectively
Timing your captures determines success. You can’t capture everything instantly, some enemies require a split-second delay or multiple throws. Bullet Bills take one throw. Stacked enemies require capturing the top one first. Moving targets demand leading your throw like you’re playing pool.
Capture range extends further when you’re standing still versus moving. Jump and throw simultaneously for maximum distance. Practice throwing upward at angles, many secrets hide above your head. Chain captures together: throw Cappy on a Goomba, then while controlling it, jump on another enemy to capture that too. This stacking mechanic solves complex puzzles.
Some captured forms grant temporary abilities. Possess a Hammer Bro and you can throw projectiles. Become a Cheep Cheep to swim freely. Game Informer’s review noted that each kingdom teaches you new capture possibilities, making later levels exponentially more complex. The game never wastes a mechanic, every enemy type serves a purpose.
Exploring the Eight Kingdoms and Their Secrets
Each kingdom in Odyssey is a full region designed around different themes and capture mechanics. The Mushroom Kingdom serves as your introduction, teaching basic platforming and capture fundamentals. It’s short and straightforward. The Luncheon Kingdom shifts focus to food-themed enemies and fire hazards, introducing heat-based puzzles.
The Shivering Kingdom (ice-themed) requires snow-related captures to progress. Darker Side (post-game) combines everything you’ve learned into brutal challenges. Each kingdom contains roughly 100+ Power Moons, hidden coins, and optional puzzle shrines. Exploration is rewarded constantly, nearly every corner hides collectibles.
Finding Hidden Power Moons and Collectibles
Power Moons are earned through multiple methods: finishing story missions, solving puzzles, completing racing challenges, discovering hidden areas, and defeating enemies. Not all moons are obvious. Some require you to return to earlier kingdoms with new capture abilities unlocked later in the game.
Golden coins appear throughout each kingdom and unlock hint tokens, moons, and cosmetics. Collect 50+ coins per kingdom to fully unlock that region’s content. Secret areas exist behind cracked walls, use captured Bullet Bills to break them. Underground caverns hide rare moons: look for subtle visual cues indicating hidden passages.
Each kingdom features at least one Shady totem hiding a challenge moon. Find them by exploring thoroughly. The game’s world design makes backtracking feel rewarding, revisiting the Mushroom Kingdom after mastering captures feels completely different. Metacritic aggregates critical reviews, and critics consistently praised Odyssey’s secrets density and level replayability. Like other must-play Nintendo Switch games, discovering everything demands attention to environmental detail.
Combat Tips and Strategies for Boss Battles
Boss fights in Odyssey aren’t traditional damage-race encounters. Instead, they’re elaborate puzzle encounters requiring specific captures and positioning. The first major boss, Madame Broode, requires you to capture her Lil Sparky minions and throw them back at her. You can’t defeat her with Mario’s jump alone, the mechanic demands creative thinking.
Later bosses layer complexity. Some bosses cycle through multiple phases requiring different captures each time. Others fight you using the same captures you’ve mastered, you’re essentially fighting a skilled enemy version of your own abilities. This forces you to think offensively rather than defensively.
Key boss strategies: Always observe enemy patterns before engaging. Look for visual cues indicating which capture ability exploits their weakness. Never throw Cappy randomly, wasted captures leave you vulnerable. Position yourself before capturing to maintain momentum. Some bosses require throwing Cappy while captured, you can perform double-captures where the captured creature throws Cappy at another enemy.
For challenging encounters, maintain distance and observe. Let bosses commit to attacks, then counter with your possession. Ring damage often matters less than hitting the right button at the right time. Practice quick captures, some boss phases demand you capture and attack within seconds. Unlike traditional Mario games relying on precise timing, Odyssey boss fights reward observation and mechanical understanding. Master the capture system first, and boss encounters become puzzles rather than tests of reflexes.
Conclusion
Super Mario Odyssey on Nintendo Switch remains the gold standard for creative platformer design. The capture mechanic transforms from simple gimmick into a deep system that defines every aspect of gameplay. Mastering when and what to capture separates casual playthroughs from complete mastery.
Explore methodically, revisit kingdoms with new abilities unlocked, and don’t ignore boss patterns. The 880 Power Moons await those willing to understand Odyssey’s systems. This is essential Nintendo Switch gaming, a masterclass in mechanical depth disguised as accessible fun.
