Comparison shows Nintendo has improved Super Mario Odyssey's visuals

Nintendo has shown one of the scenes in Super Mario Odyssey for a second time, showing improved visuals from a few months ago.

[Erik7357]

I thought I noticed this in the direct , I bet you money when they first revealed this game it was a game ported from the wiiu to run on Switch and now they have touched it up.

[inStereo]

Umm... it's not coming out for the Wii U. Why would they develop an entire game for a system that it's not coming out for, then port it?

[Erik7357]

I understand But since the Wiiu got ended early nor did it ever got a Big mario title like mario galaxy/mario sunshine you have to wonder if Mario odyssey started development on Wiiu....Its also weird how they were able to have it in the first year of Switch coming out.

Not at all trying to insult the game I think it looks great I just think it was switched over to Switch and was at some point being fully developed for Wiiu. Wouldn't you think that too?

[InTheZoneAC]

Learn to read

[conanlifts]

It would have been in development for years, likely before Switch hardware was made. So it is possible, as Erik7357 says, that it started out as a Wii U title and is now being touched up using Switch Dev kits.

[Neonridr]

what he is saying is it might have originally been developed for the Wii U in mind, but then when the Wii U ended early, they had to switch platforms. Now that they have been given time they have probably taken advantage of the extra horsepower.

[MoveTheGlow]

I think what Erik's saying is that Odyssey started out as a WiiU title and got moved to Switch. Considering how long it takes to design and develop a new Mario title, I'm sure that's the case, and they've taken the time to maximize the visuals to meet the Switch's power boost. (Which isn't that much, mind you - the key feature of the console is its portability.)

[Darkwatchman]

Your comment felll apart at your last statement. While it is true that the Nintendo Switch is an underpowered video game console released in 2017 with even weaker hardware than the Xbox One, that still doesn't take away from the fact that it is still a much more powerful machine than the WiiU. It is not an incremental or minor improvement over WiiU. Sure, maybe it's not the huge generational leap it should have been, but then this gen in general in comparison to previous generations hasn't seen the same drastic leap we've seen before.

Regardless, the Switch is much more capable hardware than the WiiU.

[Genuine-User]

You're a presumptuous little monkey, aren't you.

[Erik7357]

yes

[Genuine-User]

Alright then.

[deafdani]

The Wii U got a big Mario title. It was Super Mario 3D World. Stop downplaying that game just because it didn't use the exact same gameplay formula as the Galaxy games before it (which also had a different approach from 64 and Sunshine).

It was a legit 3D Mario game. If you go for a completionist run, 3D World takes longer to beat than Super Mario 64, Sunshine and Galaxy 2. Only Galaxy 1 is longer on a completionist run.

[letsa_go]

This is true, and I thought that Super Mario 3D World was an amazing game. Possibly one of the best in this generation.

[Neonridr]

It was still more multiplayer focused, which has never been a thing of the true 3D platforming Mario games. I liken it more to 3D Mario Land from the 3DS. It's still a solid 3D game don't get me wrong. But it definitely had a bit different of a feel from Mairo 64, Sunshine or the Galaxy games.

[360ICE]

I don't understand how this could not be the case.
Ask yourself the following:
- Were they planning a full-fledged Mario for Wii U, like they have for every other console?
- Given Super Mario Galaxy came out in 2010, had they already started on it?
- Were they expecting the Wii U to last longer than it did?
- Would they keep the concept / other elements of the game they were working on?
Surely the answer to all four is 'yes'. Well, there you go.

[The 10th Rider]

You're completely skipping over 3D World . . .

They planned and released a full fledged Mario for Wii U.

[360ICE]

You consider 3D world a full-fledged Mario game? Don't get me wrong, it's a great game, but it is a multiplayer-centered console port of Nintendo 3DS's 3D Land.

It's not the typical single player Mario experience that Nintendo has launched for every console. Like 64, Sunshine, Galaxy, Odyssey. Much in the same way Hyrule Warriors wouldn't count as Wii U's big Zelda game.

[Lexreborn2]

Your probably right, I remember back when Switch wasn't even named Switch yet and Nintendo were doing directs they were talking about how the Wii U, 3DS and Switch would all live in the same ecosystem.

It lead a lot to believe that what we saw with BoTW would be a norm for Switch and WiiU owners. That's probably why you have all the games coming out first year with switch because development more then likely started at WIi U.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2, splatoon 2, Pokken DX, Mario Kart 8, Odyssey and More don't seem to impossible to have Wii U versions. So I don't see why anyone would disagree with your analysis.

[Miss_Weeboo]

Wild speculation

[GameBoyColor]

This is usually how it goes for nintendo games. The first few trailers are just to show the game and closer to release they work on polishing it up.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

Yeah. Miyamoto said that when they are developing a game. They do all the graphic polishing last instead of first like many developers. Which is good. When developer polish up the graphic last the game is better.

[Takwin]

It is weird how Nintendo games don't get downgraded. They have a history of NOT showing bullshots. They are upfront, show true alpha/beta/conceptual stuff, and then actually optimize and debug their games.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

I mean the same thing happened with Super Mario 3D World on Wii U. The first trailer at E3 2013 everyone saying it look like terrible and then the Fall Trailer in 2013 showed dramatic improvements and everyone all of the sudden started praising it.

[ChickenOfTheCaveMan]

I think the term bullshot is too freely used. Games that gets visually downgraded may only be because they added enemies, buildings, mechanics and whatnot hence the need to downgrade the visuals whereas Nintendo shows acceptable visuals at first and add polishing if resources are available when enemies, buildings, mechanics, etc.. are done. It's the very same finish line, only in one people think they got screwed and in the other one people think they've been given additional effort. Illusion. That's also why you don't take a first date to the fanciest place :)

[deathtok]

Yes, agree with what you said... except for the date... go big or go home alone.

Worth noting too there is a long history of "downgrades" that are being compared to conceptual (not in-game) trailers. The first big one being Killzone 2 or more recently The Division.

[Bran]

What a time in gaming.. the least powerful console and the most powerful console of our current gen drop in the same year and one will probably have 2 of the highest reviewed games in ages. Props to Nintendo on this crazy first year.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

Make that 3. Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 will have have above 90.

Super Mario Odyssey may have between 93-98
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 may have 88-94
Zelda: Breath of the Wild has a 97

[JimmyDM90]

It's hardly guaranteed that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 will be a 90+. The first game scored a 92 on metacritic but Chronicles X scored 84 (still a great score). I wouldn't be surprised if Chronicles 2 is closer to the 84 as it seems they've made this game in a more condensed time span. It's only been two years since X came out.

Assuming there are enough worlds I think it's likely that Odyssey scores as well or better than Breath of the Wild's incredible score.

[deafdani]

Don't be so sure. Xenoblade Chronicles X has a metascore of 84.

I still loved that game, and I especially love the first one on Wii (my favorite game that generation). But the Xenoblade series still has a long way to go to be able to claim the same kind of pedigree as Zelda and main 3D Mario games.

I expect Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to score pretty well, but it isn't an absolutely guaranteed 90+ on Metacritic unlike Odyssey or Zelda BOTW before it.

[The 10th Rider]

Yeah, as others have said Xenoblade isn't a lock in for such a high score. Now Odyssey, I'd be surprised if that averaged below a 95.

[TheFirstClassic]

Idk looking at 2 I think it will be a good game but not on the same level as the first. The character design doesn't have quite the same appeal.

[Neonridr]

well XC2 will follow the original closer, which I think will be more of a recipe for success. Plus it looks awesome. XCX just felt odd. It had these huge worlds but large stretches of nothing.

[scarface0121]

They always do. The first showing are usually for the haters to have orgasms about "look at all those jaggies" it was the same with 3D world.

[InTheZoneAC]

60fps?

[CyrusLemont]

Runs at 720p 60fps docked and in handheld. I believe this was confirmed by Digital Foundry.

[Neonridr]

that was an old analysis from E3

http://nintendotoday.com/su...

it is 1080p 60fps when docked, 720p 60fps in handheld.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

That is not confirmed. And if you compare the screenshots from E3 2017 to new one. It has a resolution bump.

[DivineAssault]

They know how to get the most out of their systems

[greywolf39]

Amazing news

[gbsrnctaln]

Im torn. I WILL play this game...but do I really want to pay $400 to play this game on release...or wait to get a used switch and game???? Dammit this game looks fooking amazing!

[deafdani]

Why $400? Switch is $300, game is $60.

Your point still stands about the initial investmen, but I'm still curious.

[gbsrnctaln]

Tax..., oh yeah and pro controller, so you can jack it up to $470 plus...

[jagermaster619]

Then also get Zelda to justify your purchase.

[gbsrnctaln]

Is Zelda free now?

[Prince_TFK]

Well Zelda is not free, but it is Switch's current greatest game. It is a no brainer that if you purchase the Switch, Zelda should be a companion along side it.

Everything doesn't have to be free in order for you to justify your purchase. You get what you pay for.

[IanTH]

What if you are like me and have a Wii U with some of Switch's best games like BotW & MK8 already? I've been hmming and hawing over whether to snag a Switch since I finally found a couple places online where it is in stock. I'd basically be getting it for Mario in October, knowing Switch's will go back into being hard-to-obtain mode, but also knowing that the only other game this year that really jumps out at me is Xenoblade in December. Strange considering buying a console with basically no immediate game on the radar (maybe Mario+Rabbids?)...But man, Odyssey looks great.

[jagermaster619]

@instantstupor

You should just wait and pick up the Mario Odyssey switch bundle.

[deafdani]

Tax, fair enough. But trust me, you probably won't feel the need for a Pro controller. The joycons feel great when attached to the grip.

I've had Switch since launch and I don't need the Pro at all. In fact, when I decide to get a second controller, I'll just get another pair of joycons and another grip.

[About30Ninjas]

Mario Odyssey look so good it almost look like a PS4 game

[jagermaster619]

PS4 makes good games but this is Mario we are talking about. It's completely different from anything they develop.

[Nivekki]

PS4 games this year are so good, they're nearly as good as Zelda and Mario Odyssey.

I love my ps4 btw, but I'm getting a Switch as soon as I can.

[scarface0121]

It Will definitely play better than a Ps4 game and have higher ratings.

[Instantnoodles88]

Another potential GOTY contender, what a great launch year for the Switch.

In Nintendo we trust.

[JimmyDM90]

I'll have to take your word on it. No way I'm watching anymore trailers this close to launch. I've been sold on this game since it was first shown.

[gedden7]

I just think it's funny that Nintendo is one of the somewhat rare devs that ACTUALLY IMPROVE THEIR GAME'S VISUALS BURING THE RELEASE OF THAT GAME.

[Blu3_Berry]

If anything it looks cleaner overall. The game still lacks Anti-aliasing though from what I saw. Looks crisp and colorful overall though.

[Prince_TFK]

This game is getting better and better by the day. It seems that the dev isn't content with themselves and is set on improving the game till its released, at least based on the latest trailer. Can't wait.

[Omnislashver36]

Oh wow that looks nicer... The only thing I'm wondering is if they've improved resolution or AA... even 900p would be nice.

[Jayszen]

The game was likely in development before the Switch and was probably started during the early days of the WiiU as Erik7357 comments below. The devs have probably been improving the visuals steadily over the duration of the development of the Switch and release and finally, the visuals are in keeping with the power of the Switch.

I am really looking forward to playing Nintendo staples again - Zelda was an excellent starter, Mario is will be a wonderful main meal and XenoBlade Chronicles 2 and Fire Emblem Warriors will be a lovely double dessert this year. Welcome back Nintendo!

[OpenGL]

Glad to hear it, looking forward to it.