Mario Odyssey‘s “Snow World” is seriously underwhelming and not cozy at all :(

[60fps]

[Mild Spoilers, I guess]

Do you remember Mario 64's, Banjo-Kazooie's, or, my favorite, Diddy Kong Racing's lovely snow-themed environments?

As someone who loves snow in movies, games and reality I was really looking forward to see what kind of cheerful snowy playgrounds Nintendo's magicians have created this time.

But man, was I disappointed. The "Main Hub" looks, feels, sounds and plays so unbelievably uninspired that it's hard to believe it comes from the creators of Mario. Plus an unsatisfactory racing minigame against charmless snow-humanoids living in a charmless tiny cave that acts as the "highlight".

It was hard to believe this was everything Nintendo could come up with. Upon entering stupid Snow Town I thought now must be the point where the real deal opens up, full of white wonders and delightful atmosphere, but NO. Nothing. Just endless depression :(

Anyone else who likes snow and was endlessly disappointed?

 

[Nekyrrev]

I agree with your sentiment. There are a lot of wonderful worlds in this game but the snow one just feels like a missed opportunity for so much more. It's pretty underwhelming and uninspired.

 

[Raptomex]

I agree. It was very bland and lifeless. I like snow-themed environments but this was one of the weaker kingdoms in the game.

 

[raketenrolf]

Yes I was disappointed too. That world along with the ruined Kingdom being too short were my biggest disappointments in an otherwise awesome game.

 

[New Fang]

In hindsight that world does stick out as being particularly uninspired.

 

[Casual]

Agreed.

Awful snow level. Snow levels are usually my favourite in games...

Freezeezy Peak
Phendrana Drifts
Literally every DKC snow level
Winterspring
etc.

 

[Deleted member 2793]

Yeah, it's not as good as the other ones, but I enjoyed the race minigame at least.

 

[Aftervirtue]

True.... Nothing will top Banjo Kazooie's winter level. So much charm and fantastic music.

But those little Eskimo guys were adorable in Super Mario Odyssey and that race was fun.

 

[Not]

The character design was actually pretty good I thought. But yeah, not an amazing level all things considered.

 

[Dyle]

By far the worst kingdom in the game, only one that comes close is the Lake Kingdom. The way it was set up with a small over world and a bunch of little challenge levels was very disappointing. Since they revealed it ahead of release I expected to see a 2nd snow/ice level. The music of the town area is nice with that flute, but otherwise it has very little going for it. The race minigame was very one dimensional

 

[Strat]

As much as I wanted to love it, it's definitely one of the weakest worlds in the game. The outside area is pretty bare and the inside is just a couple of linear areas strung together by a hub.

I'm with you in loving snow levels, OP and was similarly disappointed.

 

[HaNotsri]

Bad level. Bad race. Biggest disappointment in the game.

 

[Zoantharia]

Most underwhelming level in the game

 

[Brazil]

Off the top of my head, I really can't think of a worse world than the snow one.

I really liked the racing minigame in there, but the entire thing feels undercooked and unremarkable.

 

[Thatonedice1]

I liked it but it's not as good as Banjo and Kazooie's snow world. I do like the characters from there though. The Russian inspired clothing is cute.

 

[NotLiquid]

It's the kingdom I spent the least time in but the blizzard at the start made a huge impression and Bound Bowl was radical so even if it's the "worst" I still can't call it bad. It'd be more fair to call it "least favorite".

 

[Nintenleo]

I enjoyed it but it's definetely the only uninspired kingdom of the game. Some nice challenges, but as a snow world is probably the worst among Mario 64 and Galaxy 1/2.

 

[Serenitynow]

I loved the Snow Kingdom in Odyssey. The Shiveria music is some of the best in the game, and I liked the mini levels inside the hall, specifically the cloud blowing one, the one where you have to stack Goombas, and the one with the pillar monsters popping out of the snow. Bound ball is fun too. One of my favorite kingdoms.

 

[Grapezard]

I liked that it was more "Arctic" than anything, really felt desolate and freezing.

 

[NeonStars]

[Mild Spoilers, I guess]

Do you remember Mario 64's, Banjo-Kazooie's, or, my favorite, Diddy Kong Racing's lovely snow-themed environments?

As someone who loves snow in movies, games and reality I was really looking forward to see what kind of cheerful snowy playgrounds Nintendo's magicians have created this time.

But man, was I disappointed. The "Main Hub" looks, feels, sounds and plays so unbelievably uninspired that it's hard to believe it comes from the creators of Mario. Plus an unsatisfactory racing minigame against charmless snow-humanoids living in a charmless tiny cave that acts as the "highlight".

It was hard to believe this was everything Nintendo could come up with. Upon entering stupid Snow Town I thought now must be the point where the real deal opens up, full of white wonders and delightful atmosphere, but NO. Nothing. Just endless depression :(

Anyone else who likes snow and was endlessly disappointed?

Click to shrink...

Yeah but to be fair 64s snow levels weren't that great either, especially the 2nd one.

 

[Deleted member 15428]

The food world is worse. It's like they gave some world's to the interns and the best ones to the veterans. The quality and consistency are all over the place.

 

[No Audible Release]

The outside part of the snow world is pretty dull and the obvious low-point of the game for me. I do love the cave though, and I can't agree with OP's assertion that the racing minigame is unsatisfying at all. It's actually my favourite minigame in the game. I think for the outside area the creators were trying to channel the feel of Super Mario 64 levels (similar to the Lost Kingdom), but overshot it in terms of simplicity.

 

[MysteryQuesadilla]

The music was good tho

 

[Kinsei]

The Snow kingdom is great. Much better than stuff like the Sand, Wooded, and Seaside kingdoms.

 

[Anth0ny]

Well it doesn't compare to the GOATs (Mario 64, BK, DKR), but I still liked it!

 

[purseowner]

One of my favourites in the whole game actually.

Come on - those seal things are adorable.

 

[Amirnol]

I agree. For me it was a low point in an otherwise amazing game. I too share your fondness for snow environments and left this world hugely disappointed.

 

[ghostemoji]

I thought a lot of the worlds late in the game felt this way. Sadly.

 

[Deleted member 176]

I thought it was pretty cozy. It's mid tier for Odyssey. Not great, but way better than something like Moon or Desert or Woodland.

 

[Deleted member 5853]

charmless snow-humanoids living in a charmless tiny cave that acts as the "highlight".

Click to shrink...

I'm sorry, let's stop right here.

How dare you, sir or ma'am. How. Dare. You. The Shiverians are the most adorable thing to exist in SMO.

They're cute puffballs that just want to sit by the fire and watch some idiots bound around a track.

 

[NeonStars]

The food world is worse. It's like they gave some world's to the interns and the best ones to the veterans. The quality and consistency are all over the place.

Click to shrink...

Nah the food one is great. Tons of fun platforming and great music.
I think all the Kingdoms are at least good. There wasn't one that I walked into and said "ugh I hate this"

 

[KelThaFunkee]

Yeah kinda tend to agree thinking back on it. The races were a bit annoying, I was especially bothered by the "bound" command and still not sure if that was actually a typo for bounce.

Also those 4 levels within the second part of the world reminded me of BotW shrines, which I also wasn't a huge fan of

 

[Dynamite Cop]

Felt like a level from one of the 3D Gex games, to be honest... I wanted to be done with that world as quickly as possible.

 

[Alexander_Wand]

I agree, it is the worst level of the game and one of the worst 3d-mario stage ever.

What's more, it was horribly placed, if i remember well just after NDCity that is one of the best, and after the Festival that is the best part of the game.

 

[Bakercat]

I wish it was like Paper Mario's Shiver Mt. that place is such a cool snow level and the music is perfect.

This level was just a whole inside a whole in the ground. Was so mad when the blizzard went away and it was just a so small. Might as well called it Crystal pond or something.

 

[yap]

I wish the blizzard stayed tbh.

 

[Jared Babitsky]

While not the best kingdom by a mile, I really liked the Snow Kingdom, the Shiverians were adorable, the racing mini-game I found to be very fun, and I liked how they did an ice level where not EVERYTHING is slippery and hard to platform on. As one of the of kingdoms on the smaller side that weren't just boss fights, (Cap, Lake, Snow, Lost, and Moon I'd say are this category) this is one of my favorites out of those.

 

[KINGOFSHIBUYA Ltd.]

I agree. It was probably either cut down from being much more, or maybe just included because what was there was still usable.

Would I have want it cut? Nope. I was actually fine with a smaller level as an option, even though it's a far less compelling world to visit. It's less believable that some people group live there, as opposed to just showing up for a race minigame like Mario does.

I'm still fine with how the entire game turned out, even with this lesser world included. I liked the mini game, and some of the hidden levels.

 

[hotcyder]

The Music is Wonderful though. It feels like they cribbed it from a Zelda game.

 

[CopperPuppy]

I enjoyed it, but it's definitely a weak spot.

 

[Carassius Auratus]

It would have been better if the challenges were integrated into the world as opposed to being sectioned off in their own rooms IMO. The seals were really cute though ^_^

 

[Metallix87]

I enjoyed it, but it's definitely a weak spot.

Click to shrink...

Same. Weakest spot, though, is Ruined Kingdom. Could've been so much more.

 

[Servbot24]

Yeah, I didn't like that area, it's the one place I wanted to get over with.

 

[ClickyCal']

I liked the lake kingdom a lot more.

 

[unicornKnight]

I enjoyed it but it should have been bigger.

Same. Weakest spot, though, is Ruined Kingdom. Could've been so much more.

Click to shrink...

Such a wasted opportunity, I was 100% sure that there was a bigger level and they only teased you with a small part the first time.

Who knows maybe the luigi's mansion dlc will expand it.

 

[Kino]

Agree. There was just so little to do and see, and what was there wasn't particularly compelling.

 

[Clix]

The food world is worse. It's like they gave some world's to the interns and the best ones to the veterans. The quality and consistency are all over the place.

Click to shrink...

Food World was one of the best in the game, and just so visually unique and gorgeous.

 

[unicornKnight]

Food World was one of the best in the game, and just so visually unique and gorgeous.

Click to shrink...

Definitely the most fun I had!

 

[Droyd]

I loved this level. Mario's animation, his pattering footsteps, the gentle ringing of town music... The game slows down in Shiveria and takes a quiet, deep breath (before letting Ty-foo blow you off the cliff side).

Also, the Snow Kingdom really made me appreciate Odyssey's art and sound design. They really stand out here (arguably because the level is so bare and empty) but I enjoyed the contrast. It's self contained and no worse than the Lake Kingdom.

Having said that, my least favourite level is the Wooded Kingdom (I'm not a graphics snob but I hate the aesthetic here) so maybe my tastes differ

 

[Sloppyjoe_Gamer]

Bad level. Bad race. Biggest disappointment in the game.

Click to shrink...

The worst part about those races are the fact that if you want to get all the moons that level has, you have to do that race like 4 different times if memory serves me right.