Super Mario Odyssey is the latest installment of the long-running Super Mario series of games. The game has been well received, noting it’s adherence to classic Mario themes while breaking new ground for the series. In particular, the environments are more complex and featuring scenery not unlike New York City. This may have been a conscious choice, as the improved engine allowed by the improved hardware of the Nintendo Switch allows for more immersive environment with more moving parts. Interestingly, as one Polygon article notes, the gameplay does not very often “punish” the player. There are no lives that would result in a game over, and the player only loses a minimal amount of coins. This was an interesting choice, as one could imagine it being less satisfying to win when you never could fail. However, the article argues that the reward value is not lost with the addition of this no-punishment system. You very well may have to attempt a puzzle over and over, but you will not be too harshly punished for your failure, only set back slightly. The triumph is still there, but the player is not discouraged from play.
https://www.polygon.com/2017/10/30/16577534/super-mario-odyssey-moons-coins-reward
