Mario Odyssey 2: Everything We Know Right Now

Super Mario Odyssey revolutionized the way we perceive Mario games, introducing fresh concepts and diverse level designs. With the immense success and innovation of the first game, the anticipation for Super Mario Odyssey 2 is palpable. Let’s dive into what we know so far about this much-awaited sequel.

Everything We Know About Super Mario Odyssey 2 So Far

The internet is buzzing with information and speculations about Super Mario Odyssey 2. Fans are eagerly dissecting videos and sharing their hopes for the sequel. One of the burning questions is whether Super Mario Odyssey 2 will debut on the current Nintendo Switch or if it will be a flagship title for the rumored Nintendo Switch 2. Given the recent whispers about an announcement following a Switch 2 Dev Kit Leak, it’s a possibility worth considering.

What Can We Expect From Super Mario Odyssey 2 Gameplay?

Over the years, Super Mario games have evolved, offering players new and exciting mechanics. One of the most anticipated features of the Odyssey sequel is the potential for cooperative gameplay. Imagine teaming up with a friend as Mario and Luigi or Mario and Yoshi to tackle challenging bosses. A tweet from a user named @Matthasnocuts hinted at the inclusion of Luigi and a whopping 20 playable locations, which is a step up from the 18 Kingdoms in the original game, but that “leak” came all the way back in December 2021…so it’s possibly not going to be completely accurate.

New Rumored Super Mario Odyssey 2 Levels

The sequel will undoubtedly bring innovative levels to the table. While the core gameplay might remain consistent, we can expect the return of beloved characters from previous Mario titles, like the Pianta and Noki from Super Mario Sunshine. An open-world Mario experience would be groundbreaking, but it might deviate too much from the traditional formula. Powering up the Odyssey with Power Moons is likely to make a comeback, given its popularity in the first game.

The Main Super Mario Odyssey 2 Rumors

Cappy, Mario’s trusty cap companion, is expected to return. If Luigi joins the adventure, he might also harness a similar power, possibly with his own unique cap. The sequel might introduce more intricate puzzles reminiscent of the Korok challenges in Breath of the Wild. One of the most exciting rumors suggests players will be able to customize both the interior and exterior of their ship, the Odyssey (via RetroDodo), akin to the customization features in Animal Crossing.

Super Mario Odyssey 2 Rumored Release Date

Based on online discussions and Nintendo’s recent release patterns, Super Mario Odyssey 2 is projected to launch in Spring 2025. This aligns with speculations that the game might be released alongside the rumored Super Nintendo Switch.

FAQ:

  • When was the original Super Mario Odyssey released?
    • The first Super Mario Odyssey debuted on October 27, 2017.
  • Can I play Super Mario Odyssey 2 with a friend?
    • While the original game was single-player, there are strong rumors suggesting co-op gameplay for the sequel.
  • Why should I play Super Mario Odyssey?
    • The game elevates traditional Mario mechanics, introducing the innovative cap possession feature and diverse levels, making it a standout title in the series.
  • How many copies of Super Mario Odyssey were sold?
    • The game has sold over 26.44 million copies, ranking as the 5th best-selling Switch game.
  • When is Super Mario Odyssey 2 set to be released?
    • The game is anticipated to be available in Spring 2025.

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“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” Skates By On Charm (But Not Much Else)

The character of Mario‘s storied history has spanned over 200 video games, several animated adaptations, myriad comics, and now a trio of feature films. Since his creation in 1981 by legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, a gaming figure hasn’t been as recognizable as the red overall-wearing plumber. Like characters such as Superman and Mickey Mouse, Mario is part of the cultural zeitgeist due to the sheer volume of media output featuring his likeness and his innate charisma. With The Super Mario Bros Movie, directed by filmmaking duo Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go! To the Movies), the omnipresence of the titular turtle-stomping elder brother continues to grow, for better and worse.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie, produced by amination powerhouse Illumination (Minions, The Secret Life of Pets), manages to distill over forty years of pop culture into a tight ninety-two-minute run time. This truncation sacrifices any meaningful storytelling to please the broadest of audiences. The film’s plot centers around a pair of scrappy Italian American plumbers struggling to make ends meet in modern-day Brooklyn. Meanwhile, the villainous Bowser (Jack Black) is ravaging through a fantastical realm to court Princess Peach (Anna Taylor-Joy). After a botched job back on Earth, Mario and Luigi (voiced by Chris Pratt and Charlie Day, respectively) find themselves entangled in the conflict.

“Super Mario Bros” Was All Vibes; No Filler

The soon-to-be super brothers are separated early in the film, leaving Luigi stranded in the Dark Lands. Mario trains to become a hero to help Peach defeat Bowser, save her Mushroom Kingdom, and reunite with his brother. It’s all pretty textbook stuff. There isn’t going to be much in the way of shock and awe here. The Super Mario Bros Movie might be rote and simplistic, but where it lacks creative storytelling, it more than excels in charm and wit.

The film appeals to fans no matter when they may have fallen in love with these characters. Sadly, this appeal is often akin to rattling keys at an infant. You can be a 10-year-old who brags about the number of moons they have acquired in Super Mario Odyssey. Or rather, an aging millennial who knows every word of “The Mario Rap” from the 1989 animated series The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! The film provides something here for everyone.

Myriad callbacks aside, a few sequences are clever from both a narrative and visual standpoint. Illumination’s soft-edged animation style lends itself well to the plush visuals of Mario’s world (both the grounded and fantastical). The film takes moments to illustrate how the once 2D environments of Mario and Luigi would play out in the real world to houmous effect. There are wonderful creative side-scrolling cartoon gags employed that are fast-paced and beautifully rendered. Yet, some viewers well-versed in the franchise may find these segments a bit grating or downright silly…even if that’s the point.

Introducing The Cast

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 01: Chris Pratt attends special screening of Universal Pictures’ “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” at Regal LA Live on April 01, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/FilmMagic)

The voice cast here is mostly solid. Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Charlie Day (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as the titular brothers are charming, if not terribly inspired. Keegan-Michael Key (Key and Peele, Schmigadoon!) is almost unrecognizable as the pint-sized hero Toad. Additionally, Seth Rogan (Pineapple Express, This is the End) is infectiously hilarious as Donkey Kong. The only weak link is Anna Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit, The Menu) as Princess Peach. She comes off as disinterested and somewhat bland, which is a huge disappointment considering her immense talent and captivation as an on-screen presence.

Khary Payton & Jack Black Steal The Show

Jack Black (School of Rock) as Bowser is the biggest standout in the voice cast, who gets to flex his vocal range by growling through insane dialogue. There are even a couple of musical numbers that might take some fans out of the film but will delight most movie-goers. The other vocal highlight is Khary Payton (The Walking Dead) as the adorable Penguin King. There’s something magical about Payton’s stern timbre coming out of the mouth (beak?) of an adorable blue flightless bird. It is immensely charming and magnetic…but when is Payton’s presence not charming and magnetic?

Ultimately, The Super Mario Bros. Movie manages to be entertaining despite not being terribly engaging. There isn’t a lot of depth here. The film relies mostly on nostalgia and pretense from audience members of all ages. Casting such a wide net makes it a great time for kids and a sweet, albeit vapid, experience for more discerning fans. It’s hard to call this one a wash, but it is far from being a benchmark for video game adaptations. It suffers from the same rudimentary trappings as films like Uncharted and Sonic the Hedgehog, which came before. However, if you can look past the simplicity of the film’s narrative and predictable plotting, you might just find yourself “h-hooked on the brothers.”

Nike Dunk Low “Super Mario” Concept Surfaces Online

There is a new Super Mario movie out in theaters right now, which means the hype surrounding the series is very high. Of course, Super Mario is one of the biggest IPs out there. It is a classic and iconic video game from the 80s that is still going strong today. Although the reviews for the new movie have not been great, it is clear that a lot of casual fans actually love the film. Overall, the game could not be in a better place right now. Moreover, if a new game is, indeed, on the horizon, then gamers are going to be in for a real treat.

Additionally, it should be noted that the new movie has a lot of concept designers hard at work. This is especially true in the world of sneakers. When it comes to shoes, the possibilities are endless. In the past, we have even seen Nintendo 64 versions of the Nike Air Max 97. However, now, we have a “What The Super Mario” Nike Dunk Low concept. This comes to us from @andu.c on Instagram, which was promptly reposted by the good folks over at @zsneakerheadz.

“Super Mario” Nike Dunk Low

If you are familiar with the Nike “What The” series, you know that these are incredibly colorful shoes that are mismatched. Having said that, it should come as no surprise that the artist would go for that look with these. Above, you can see an incredibly colorful pair of kicks that possess numerous references to the Super Mario world. Overall, these would be a lot of gamers’ dream shoe. Although, it should be noted that these will not be coming out anytime soon, which is pretty disappointing.

Some sort of official Super Mario sneaker tie-in would be nice to see. There are plenty of directions that Nike could go with something like this. For instance, there are a whole bunch of amazing Jordans out there that could suit each Mario character. One can just imagine the Mario Air Jordan 1s or the Luigi Air Jordan 4s. Let us know your thoughts on this concept, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sneaker world.

‘The Super Mario Bros Movie’ Opens with $377M Global Opening

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The world is going crazy over The Super Mario Bros Movie. The movie is now the biggest global opening for an animated film. The movie made a total of $377.5 million, $172.8 million of that total comes from international tickets.

According to Deadline, the film is potentially a billion-dollar film if the performance continues on this trajectory. The film is now the biggest video game adaptation ever and the fourth-biggest Hollywood opening movie since the beginning of the pandemic.

Showing the power of the film, The Super Mario Bros movie opened to $27.4 million in Mexico, the third biggest opening weekend for the country in all time. The film is still to come to the Korean and Japan markets.

The Super Mario Bros. movie stars Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charles Martinet, Jack Black, Charlie Day, Keegan-Michael Key, and more.

The post ‘The Super Mario Bros Movie’ Opens with $377M Global Opening appeared first on The Source.

Seth Rogen Calls Live-Action Super Mario One Of The “Worst Films Ever Made”

Seth Rogen has enjoyed a successful run for the past 20 years. He appeared in his first film,  Donnie Darko, in 2001. That movie was followed by a supporting role in the critically acclaimed The 40-Year-Old Virgin. These led to starring jobs in 2007’s Knocked Up, and 2009’s Funny People.  Now, the comedian is tackling the voice of Donkey Kong in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. However, he has some critiques about the original 1993 live-action film. 

In a recent interview with Variety, he shared how he looked forward to seeing the movie thirty years ago. Unfortunately, the experience was not a pleasant one. In fact, Rogen said the film was likely the worst he’ll ever see. “I was so excited,” he told the publication before dropping a bombshell. “It’s one of the worst films ever made. I was so disappointed.” He explained that this movie was the first time he realized that lousy cinema could exist. 

Seth Rogen Is Sure The New Super Mario Is Better

Rogen feels his role will “vindicate that moment” for fellow 11-year-olds who turn out to see this latest adaptation. He promises they will be satisfied with the Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic-directed new version. Rogen previously told The Hollywood Reporter that the plot also drove him to join the cast. He found humor in Donkey Kong and Super Mario being rivals. The 40-year-old found comfort in knowing he didn’t have to change his voice much to be effective. Chris Pratt voices Mario, while Charlie Day takes on Luigi. Famed comedian Jack Black brings Bowser to life, and Anya Taylor-Joy takes on the pink royal character Princess Peach. 

In that 1993 live-action version, director Rocky Morton caught flack for Nintendo’s lack of involvement in the project. While that wasn’t completely Morton’s fault, everyone didn’t receive the story well. The plot surrounded Mario and Luigi, played by Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo, respectively, as they relentlessly tried to stop King Koopa from bringing his dinosaurs to the planet. Since then, there have not been any more live-action adaptations of the film, which is surprising considering many older animated films are getting the live treatment. The Super Mario Bros. Movie arrived in theaters on Wednesday.

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First Mario Movie Reviews Drop, Twitter Reacts

For over a year, the internet has gone wild about The Super Mario Bros. Movie. With every announcement, the internet has found something to obsess over. Whether it was Chris Pratt’s Mario impression, the Japanese dub’s “sexy Mario”, or simply the mere existence of an animated Mario movie, the internet found something to talk about.

However, the wait is finally over and the film, starring Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Jack Black amongst a host of others, opened for general audiences on April 5. Along with fans being able to watch the film, review embargos were lifted, allowing the internet to see what early preview audiences thought. The result? According to Rotten Tomatoes, critics are fairly cool on the film while audiences love it. The exact numbers, at the time of writing, have the critics score at 53% on 111 reviews and the audience score at 98% on 100+ verified ratings.

Strong Showing For Mario Movie

While critics were never going to adore The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a 53% rating is a strong showing for a video game movie. It is especially strong considering that the infamous 1993 Super Mario Bros. sits at a critics rating of 29%. 53% puts the 2023 Mario Movie on par with the likes of 2018’s Tomb Raider and 2021’s Mortal Kombat. However, unfortunately for Illimuniation Studios and Nintendo, it falls well short of rival company SEGA’s recent movie outings, with Sonic the Hedgehog’s two recent films rated at 64% and 69%.

Despite the critical reception, The Super Mario Bros. Movie appears to resonate with early audiences. While the number is likely to fall from the lofty height of 98%, it just goes to show that the critic’s word is not everything. Furthermore, there has been some fan criticism of early reviews. With some reviews criticizing the feeling of watching someone else play a video or overly explaining ground-level Mario lore, some fans argue that the critics are out of touch. On the other hand, there were those who rejected the tomato meter altogether, citing that critics will always undervalue while fans and audiences do the opposite.

Twitter Reacts To Mario Movie And Reviews

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