Super Mario Odyssey released to critical acclaim back in 2017. This reaction is justifiable, as Odyssey's design, ecstatics and controls were perhaps the tightest Mario has ever been. The most noticeable thing about Odyssey is just how well-realized it truly is -- in particular, its fantastic ending.
Every world in Super Mario Odyssey feels purposeful and unique. Cappy's ability to take over enemies and allow Mario to control them gives the game even more depth. Many of the mechanics in Odyssey are both revolutionary, yet very simple at the same time. Odyssey is the best Mario game in nearly a decade and it should be used as a template for new games to come.
While Mario has dabbled in the realm of RPGs and party games, Odyssey proves that Mario's still got it. The entirety of Mario's Nintendo Switch debut is a consistently enjoyable romp, but the ending of the game is something special. Odyssey's core gameplay revolves around a mixture of Mario's acrobatic abilities and skillful usage of Cappy's possessions. Cappy's aid to Mario proves to be more than sufficient constantly, but the end of the game flips this concept directly on its head in a subversive and fun way.
Of course, the plot of Mario Odyssey revolves around Mario's newest adventure to save Peach from Bowser's clutches. The entire game builds up to the final world. At the end of this world, Mario comes upon a church. As he approaches it, the music distorts until it is impossible to hear. Wedding bells ring as Mario busts down the door to find Bowser (quite comically) attempting to give Princess Peach an oversized ring.
Bowser forces Mario down a trap door, where the player faces Bowser for the final time in the main story. Part of what makes this scene so memorable is the grandiose nature of it. The sound design as Mario walks into the church is masterful and once he finds Bowser and Peach inside, they are wearing extravagant wedding outfits. It feels akin to something a player would find in Super Mario 64, as it is such a traditional setup done right. It's quite comical in hindsight, but at the moment it is fantastic at setting the mood.
What comes after is the final battle. It's an incredibly fun romp were Mario utilizes Bowser's cap against him. However, after Mario wins the fight, debris falls onto the battlefield causing Mario, Peach and Bowser to fall into another hole. What comes after is a stroke of pure brilliance: Mario finds Bowser passed out from the fall and throws Cappy at Bowser's head, possessing him. This is where things get fun for the player. As Mario falls deeper and deeper into Bowser's subconscious, Mario is shown images of Bowser's past -- and it's not only a hilarious moment, but a somewhat humanizing one.
From this point on, Mario takes control of Peach with Bowser on his shoulder. Bowser is shockingly fast and he hits like a truck. Playing as him gives the player a sense of immeasurable power. While players have controlled Bowser in other titles, he has never been playable like this in a mainline Mario platformer. As the ground below Mario falls, the song "Break Free" plays. It's an immensely addicting pop-rock tune that strangely goes very well the tone of the scene. As Bowser, the player must quickly smash down debris, run past obstacles and take down huge, cube-like pillars to escape.
The final scene in Super Mario Odyssey sees the three characters escaping, as both Mario and Peach are reunited. However, Bowser wakes up and both Mario and Bowser begin to fight over Peach, trying to earn her affection. Peach eventually shouts, "Enough!" She is clearly frustrated with the way both men have treated her. She walks onto Mario's ship ignoring both of them. This is such a great scene for Peach, as it makes her out to be more than the damsel in distress. Hopefully, future games will acknowledge this side of Peach's character.
After this scene, Mario and Peach both go home as the music closes and a title card is shown. Overall, it is a fantastic ending to a fantastic game. Even if it's only for a small moment, it provides a shocking amount of depth to Bowser, Mario and Princess Peach. Gameplay-wise it's a blast to playthrough. Playing as Bowser in more mainline Mario games sounds like it could be so much fun if it was handled like it was in Odyssey. Future Mario titles should take note.