I feel like Odyssey is a much better game, especially if you really like exploring in video games. Unlike Sunshine, which was largely linear tasks to get shines, Odyssey challenged the player to explore on their own to seek out moons, from the easy ones that are just handed to you when you look around a corner, to the harder ones that require a challenging platforming section.
1. Mario Odyssey is too easy
While the game looks great and has some great ideas (Cappy!), the difficulty of Mario Odyssey is just too easy. Most of the time you do not have to put in any effort to get a star. They are too easy to get. In addition to that, you will never see a screen saying 'Game Over', you have like infinite tries, if you fail (which is very unlikely due to its easy difficulty).
Mario Odyssey has plenty of moons of varying difficulty. On a first playthrough, you probably won't only go after the easy ones unless you're struggling with the game, and I think it's a smart way to handle difficulty. The veteran players will likely find and play the difficult challenges, while the novice players will simply skip them and spend time finding something else.
As far as the Game Over screen, I feel like it realistically won't add anything to Odyssey. When you die you need to restart at a checkpoint, which you can just warp to, anyway. The only thing I can see a Game Over screen changing are the sub-areas.
2. Mario Odssey's stages fall flat, somehow
Before you try getting at me: Some of the stages are great, however, I feel like the stage design is somehow not thought through. If Mario Odssey had had only stages which were quality wise like New Donk City, the game would have been just amazing! However, the way the stages are designed and the way you find stars within the stages is just random. I very often felt like 'Oh another star just around the corner for no specific reason, oh well." Or to put it in a hyperbola: I feel like at times you start a new world and all you have to is walk straight just to get a star. It does not really pay off and I did not feel like I had to cope with a challenge before earning the star. Mario Sunshine however can be quite challenging because they not only have the amazing platforming section but also some great stages and missions within them. Building the stages vertically was a great choice and makes good use of the F.L.U.D.D. and its noozles.
I think that's part of what makes Odyssey great - it's a game that equally rewards exploration with solving tough challenges. Similar to what I was saying above about novice players being able to skip the tough challenges, rewarding exploration with a moon encourages exploration and caters to the gamers who prefer that kind of gameplay. It's a much better reward than, say, the blue coins in Sunshine IMO, which feel less meaningful because you need five of them to get one shine.
3. For a game from 2002 Mario Sunshine looks and plays great
Alright, Mario Odyssey does have better controls and looks better, obviously, however, for a game which came out 17years ago Mario Sunshine still looks amazing and the way you control Mario feels great too. I really like all the moves you can do, even in combination with the F.L.U.D.D.
Personally, I was disappointed by Sunshine's controls. They really are great for a game of that age (and even compared to a lot of games today!) but when I first played it I didn't think Fludd was a great addition, and I was annoyed that they removed some of Mario's moves from Mario 64. Now I appreciate Fludd more, though.
I just feel like Mario Odyssey was rushed and they did not think everything through. It just feels too bland too often. After I beat Mario Odyssey I felt like: And that's it? I do not see why this game receives so much praise...Mario Sunshine is different, in a good way (even though a lot of people hate it).
To me, what makes me love Odyssey is mostly the exploration. The fact that I could just go in a world in Odyssey, relax if I want, or look around and find moons is a big deal to me. The feeling finding a moon on my own is a greater payoff than being told where the shine is. In Sunshine I felt tied to a specific shine challenge, and restricted from going off the given path of a specific shine to do whatever I want. This was the absolute biggest reason why Sunshine disappointed me over Mario 64.
But, while I feel like Mario Odyssey has a great post-game, based on your post I can see why you wouldn't agree, since it's just more of the same. That being said, I think where Mario Odyssey easily passes Sunshine is in the initial playthrough, where you're going from world to world, discovering everything each one has to offer. Sunshine has less worlds, many of which felt too similar to other words, and it barely ever surprised me or made me think "Woah this is so cool!" (The exceptions are some of the bosses, and that awesome amusement park level). It was just like, "Now I'm in a town. Now I'm in a harbor. And now I'm in another town." And the most unique area (the fire area) was very short, most of it took place on a boat, and it didn't feel fleshed out at all. That game felt
really rushed to me.
Good game, though.
