Nintendo’s highly anticipated video game Super Mario Odyssey collected its fair share of awards on the morning of August 24th at Gamescom, an annual convention for video games hosted in Cologne, Germany. The convention showcases the most critically acclaimed video games of the year, one of them being Nintendo’s new Super Mario video game, Super Mario Odyssey.
Nintendo received a grand total of six awards, five of them awarded to Super Mario Odyssey, including Best of Gamescom, Best Console Game: Nintendo Switch, Best Action Game, Best Family Game, and Gamescom “Most Wanted” Consumer Award. The only other award Nintendo received at Gamescom that did not go to Super Mario Odyssey was awarded to Metroid: Samus Returns for Best Mobile Game.
Unlike Nintendo, other video game companies such as Microsoft, Ubisoft, EA, Sony, Bandai Namco, and Activision Blizzard only received two Gamescom awards each.
Not only did Super Mario Odyssey receive acclaim through the awards, but it also gained attention on the show floor. IBTimes UK stated that the Super Mario Odyssey booth was “easily among the most popular at the show,” due to the long lines of those eager few waiting to test the game.
Apart from the Super Mario Odyssey booth, Gamescom also treated attendees to an interview with Super Mario Odyssey producer Yoshiaki Koizumi at the Nintendo stage where fans were given a closer look at what to expect from Super Mario Odyssey.
When asked what Super Mario Odyssey was about, Koizumi, with the help of a translator, stated, “we on the development team thought it would be really cool to make a Mario game with the theme of travel,” hoping gamers would gain a sense of traveling and discovering new places around the world.
Mario is able to travel himself between kingdoms through the use of his ship called the Odyssey. “You choose a location on the globe and you can travel there directly,” said Koizumi. Super Mario Odyssey is the first Mario game created without a “central hub world,” such as Peach’s Castle in Super Mario 64 or Delfino Plaza in Super Mario Sunshine, and instead focuses more on the concept of travel, chasing Bowser around the world. Only by collecting “power moons,” which are present in each kingdom he visits, can Mario power the Odyssey and continue on his mission.
Koizumi gave fans a look at the gameplay of Super Mario Odyssey while showcasing the new area called Luncheon Kingdom, which includes a new level called Under the Cheese Rock. “The theme of this kingdom,” said Koizumi in the interview, “is something that I personally always really look forward to when I’m traveling around, and that’s food.” Luncheon Kingdom was inspired by Italy and other European countries since they are known for having “a rich variety of food cultures and cuisines.”
Koizumi also introduced Mario’s new partner Kappe, the red cap that Mario traditionally wears, now personified and donning a pair of eyes. Koizumi stated in the interview that, “Kappe gives Mario some new moves, so by throwing Kappe, Mario can capture an enemy, which means taking them over and using their skills.” Kappe also has the ability to attack enemies from afar and can collect items for Mario.
The full live stream interview with Koizumi at Gamescom can be seen here.
Super Mario Odyssey will be available on October 27th for Nintendo Switch.
Sources:
https://dotesports.com/general/super-mario-odyssey-gamescom-award-16890
