Podcast Summary
Handling administrative matters: The hosts discuss their first month on Maximum Fun, thank their members, and discuss a bet they made last year, showing their ability to handle administrative matters and adapt to unexpected circumstances.
During their discussion about Super Mario Odyssey on Triple Click, the hosts Jason Dreyer, Kirk Hamilton, and Maddie Myers also touched upon some administrative matters. They mentioned that this is their first full month on Maximum Fun and thanked their members for supporting them. They also discussed a bet they made last year, where the winner gets to choose a game for the others to play. Since one of Jason's predictions for the year, that another company would pull out of E3, didn't come true due to the cancellation of E3 itself, he proposed nullifying that prediction and choosing a new one instead. This shows that despite their focus on discussing Super Mario Odyssey, they also handle administrative matters and adapt to unexpected circumstances.
Predictions and Triple Play Segment: The hosts introduce a new segment called Triple Play, discussing games they've all played, and share their unique experiences. Maddie shares her first experience of playing Super Mario Odyssey during a stressful time.
While having experienced half of the year can provide valuable knowledge, it also limits the time for making predictions. However, a bold and well-thought-out prediction, such as the anticipated release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake sequel part 2, can be intriguing. In this episode, the hosts introduce a new segment called "Triple Play," where they discuss games they've all played and share their experiences. Maddie shares her unique first experience of playing Super Mario Odyssey during a stressful time, appreciating its balance of relaxation and challenge. The hosts will discuss their recent playthroughs and reflections on the game in the upcoming episode.
Exploring Super Mario Odyssey's unique blend of stress and engagement: Super Mario Odyssey's open-world exploration and moon collection offers a memorable gaming experience with no lives and each moon holding significance.
Super Mario Odyssey offers a unique blend of stress and engagement through its open-world exploration and collection of moons, creating a memorable gaming experience. The game's lack of traditional lives and the significance of each moon collection sets it apart from other 3D Mario games. The speaker fondly recalls their initial experience with the game during its release in 2017, which left a lasting impression despite not completing it the first time around. The game's ending, which they've spoiled themselves, remains an exciting prospect for them to rediscover. Overall, Super Mario Odyssey's innovative gameplay and immersive world make it a standout title in the Mario series.
Mario Odyssey: A Solid Entry with Limitations: Though innovative, Mario Odyssey's repetitive trope of Bowser kidnapping Peach and challenging controls may limit its appeal for some players, but playing with a novice gamer adds a new dimension to the experience.
While Mario Odyssey is a well-crafted game with innovative elements, the repetitive trope of Bowser kidnapping Princess Peach remains a letdown for some players. For the speaker, the game was enjoyable but didn't capture his imagination like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild did. He also found the controls challenging, particularly the jumping mechanics. However, he noted that playing the game with a novice gamer like his partner, who was transitioning from Animal Crossing, added a new dimension to the experience and made it more enjoyable. Overall, Mario Odyssey is a solid entry in the Mario series, but its failure to break away from established tropes limits its appeal for some players.
Exploring Super Mario Odyssey with Assist Mode: Assist mode in Super Mario Odyssey offers benefits like double health and health replenishment, making the game more accessible and enjoyable for newcomers and those who struggle with challenging jumps and puzzles. It also features subtle signposting and cooperative 2-player mode.
The use of assist mode in Super Mario Odyssey can make the game more accessible and enjoyable for players, especially for those who struggle with the pressure of repeated deaths and long progress loss. Assist mode offers benefits like double health and health replenishment by standing still, allowing players to try and learn challenging jumps or puzzles without the fear of dying and starting over. However, it's important to note that boss fights and certain challenges still require skill to overcome. Additionally, the game's design, such as the frozen sand kingdom, employs subtle signposting to guide players towards progress, making it a helpful tool for newcomers to video games. Furthermore, the 2-player mode in Super Mario Odyssey offers a unique experience, with one player controlling Mario and the other controlling Cappy, the hat, allowing for a cooperative playstyle. Overall, the use of assist mode can enhance the gaming experience by reducing frustration and allowing players to focus on the exploration and discovery aspects of the game.
Cooperative play in Super Mario Odyssey with unique abilities: Players control different characters, Cappy enables aerial acrobatics and Goomba elimination, but sharing camera control can cause disorientation and communication issues. Super Mario Odyssey introduces distinctive mechanics in each installment, and the hat mechanic adds to its innovative gameplay.
In the cooperative mode of Super Mario Odyssey, each player controls different characters and can take advantage of unique abilities. Cappy, who is controlled by one player, allows for aerial acrobatics and Goomba elimination with no duration limit. However, sharing camera control can lead to disorientation and communication issues. In comparison to other Mario games, each installment introduces distinctive mechanics such as the tanooki suit for flight, Yoshi as a riding companion, and the groundbreaking 3D camera control in Mario 64. Super Mario Odyssey's hat mechanic, which allows players to possess various creatures and objects, adds to the game's rich history of innovative gameplay elements.
Departure from traditional level-based structure in Mario Odyssey: Mario Odyssey breaks away from the conventional level design, allowing players to explore large open worlds and collect moons at their own pace
The Mario series, known for its innovative gimmicks, has seen unique gameplay mechanics in each installment. Sunshine introduced the water-shooting mechanic, Galaxy offered the space exploration experience, Odyssey brought the hat-controlled open world, and 3D World featured the catsuit and multiplayer. However, Mario Odyssey stands out with its departure from the traditional level-based structure. Instead, players can collect moons in large, open worlds, and the game doesn't require 100% completion to finish. This change in design offers a more immersive and explorative experience, making Mario Odyssey feel distinct from its predecessors.
Exploring the world of 'Super Mario Odyssey' again: Through exploration and mastering new moves, 'Super Mario Odyssey' offers a unique and rewarding experience in each playthrough.
The repetition of receiving the same reward, a moon, after completing challenging puzzles or gauntlets in "Super Mario Odyssey" can be underwhelming. However, the game's exploration-based design and the abundance of moves given to players from the start, which can be discovered and mastered throughout the game, make for a more enjoyable experience during a second playthrough. The speakers also noted how the game caters to different playstyles, as seen when one of them played with someone who approached the game tentatively compared to their own more experienced playstyle. The game's design allows for players to discover new ways to use their moves and explore the world, making each playthrough unique and rewarding in its own way. Furthermore, the speakers drew parallels between the game and musical skills, as the fingers remember patterns even if not practiced for years, and players can recall and use their moves without conscious effort. This adds to the immersive experience and sense of mastery in "Super Mario Odyssey." Overall, the game's design and the speakers' observations highlight the importance of progression, exploration, and mastery in creating an engaging and enjoyable gaming experience.
Exploring Metroid's hidden gems and nostalgic connections: The Metroid series offers a unique sense of discovery and joy through open-ended exploration, attention to detail, and clever integration of old and new elements. Fans fondly remember finding hidden treasures, experiencing unexpected animations, and the game's connections to previous Mario titles.
The Metroid series, with its open-ended exploration and attention to detail, provides a sense of discovery and joy that is hard to find in other games. The speakers fondly reminisced about their experiences of finding hidden treasures and experiencing unexpected animations. They also appreciated the game's connections to previous Mario titles, creating a sense of nostalgia and continuity. One of their favorite areas was New Donk City, with its jazz musicians and the innovative way it incorporated 2D gameplay. Another area that stood out was the cooking-themed area later in the game, with its gross but entertaining food-related puzzles. Overall, the speakers emphasized the game's sense of exploration, attention to detail, and clever integration of old and new elements.
Exploring the Charm of 'Mario Odyssey': 'Mario Odyssey' offers a joyful and creative experience with charming elements like controlling forks and talking to NPCs. Developers' enjoyment adds to the overall fun.
"Mario Odyssey" is a joyful and creative game that stands out in contrast to heavier titles like "The Last of Us 2." Maddie and the hosts discussed the game's charming elements, such as the ability to control forks and talk to NPCs, and the various water-themed areas. They also appreciated the developers' obvious enjoyment in creating the game, which adds to the overall experience. Maddie shared a personal story about buying her girlfriend a Nintendo Switch and watching her become a dedicated player. The group encouraged listeners to share their thoughts on "Mario Odyssey" and invited them to write in. Overall, the game is a fun and lighthearted alternative to more emotionally intense titles.
Unexpected video game malfunctions disrupt gaming experiences: Video game malfunctions can leave gamers without their favorite devices for weeks, disrupting their gaming experiences and causing frustration.
Video game malfunctions, no matter how unexpected, can significantly impact a gamer's experience. In the discussed situation, a Switch belonging to a girlfriend named Dina suddenly stopped working, leaving her without her favorite gaming device. Despite attempts at a hard reset and contacting Nintendo, Dina was left with no solution but to mail her Switch for repair, which could take weeks due to COVID-related delays. The situation was particularly frustrating because Dina's first gaming experience had been with the Switch, and the sudden malfunction turned her favorite device into a piece of plastic. To add to the frustration, the store where they bought the Switch was only willing to offer a refund and not a replacement. Animal Crossing, Dina's favorite game, did not have saves in the cloud but could be recovered with her Nintendo Switch online account. However, the outcome of this situation was still uncertain, as it was unknown if Dina's Animal Crossing save would transfer to a new Switch. The situation reminded the speaker of his own experience with an Xbox 360 that stopped working during an exciting time for gaming. The unpredictability of video game malfunctions serves as a reminder that even the most enjoyable gaming experiences can be disrupted, leaving gamers waiting anxiously for a solution.
Exploring the depths of Animal Crossing: New Horizons: Players can engage in various activities, connect with others, and find a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, creating a unique and rewarding gaming experience.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers more than just a simple gaming experience. Players can engage in various activities, including farming turnips, using predictor websites to maximize profits, and customizing their islands to their heart's content. The game's social aspects also add to its appeal, allowing players to share their progress and connect with others, even during times when in-person interaction is limited. Additionally, players can experience a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction as they complete tasks and collect items, creating a mirror effect between the game and real life. The game's community is also active and creative, with players finding unique ways to engage with the game and each other. Overall, Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers a rich and rewarding experience that goes beyond just playing a game.
Exploring Extremes in Animal Crossing and Ozark: Animal Crossing offers optional black market interactions, while Ozark's gritty criminal activities involve the entire family, showcasing unique aspects of each world.
Both Animal Crossing: New Horizons and the Netflix show Ozark explore unique aspects of their respective worlds, where the extremes of these experiences can be intriguing yet far removed from the average user. In Animal Crossing, the black market and intense player interactions create a fascinating yet optional experience that many players might not encounter. Meanwhile, Ozark presents a gritty and dark portrayal of criminal activities, with the entire family being aware of their illicit actions, making for an uncomfortable yet compelling watch due to the exceptional performances of Jason Bateman and Laura Linney.
Assessing the Last Season of Ozark: The speaker and his wife felt the last season of Ozark wasn't as strong but praised the direction, cinematography, and Jason Bateman's performance. They suggest it for crime show fans with no other options, but prefer 'Better Call Saul' instead.
The speaker and his wife felt that the last season of "Ozark" was not as strong as the previous seasons, and they wouldn't necessarily recommend it unless one has nothing else to watch. However, they did praise the direction, cinematography, and Jason Bateman's performance in the earlier seasons. The speaker also suggested that those who enjoy crime shows might still find it worth watching. He also mentioned that he had preferred watching "Better Call Saul" instead. Overall, while there is good content in "Ozark," the speaker's recommendation depends on the viewer's preferences and whether they have already seen other highly-regarded shows.