Help me choose: SMO vs. BoTW!

[skarmoury]

So I'm deciding on getting another game next week after my exams (and right before the start of the semester, yes i love my priorities).

I've been contemplating on getting BoTW because of the overwhelming positive reviews and the lovely open world, but today I guess my mind shifted towards Super Mario Odyssey. I used to absolutely LOVE Super Mario 64 when it came out on DS, I could play it for hours and not get bored because of the immense things to do, the many other worlds, and the cute graphics.

BoTW looks absolutely fantastic, but I'm afraid of being overwhelmed with an open world kind of game with so many factors to take into consideration. I tried playing Skyrim before and got completely lost at some point haha. At least with SMO I kind of have a grasp from playing SM64 (with collecting stars and all, finding hidden things, etc.), and I would love to relive the same kind of excitement I used to feel playing SM64. I tried asking my friends but I don't think they knew enough of SMO so ofc they recommended BoTW to me. I'd like to hear a little bit more though so I thought of asking here haha.

I'm going to get both games eventually, but one will be next week and another will be maybe at the end of the year. I just don't wanna buy a game I might regret while waiting to earn enough for the second game.

So yeah, help me decide!! Lmk your experiences with either of the games! I am indecisive

 

[Alienfish]

I'd go for BotW, definitely. Aside from the DS games LoZ is definitely one of the better long-running games out there. I played SMO and I wasn't that impressed, mainly due to very flimsy camera and I feel those Mario games are not my cup of tea with the open world thing (I didn't like 64 either, lol). If you liked 64, Galaxy etc. go for SMO but personally since I loooved Skyrim even though I had to have 3 playthroughs due to PC glitches I enjoyed it and it was pretty good tied together for being open world.

Of course, I haven't played BotW but I think that'd be more enjoyable.

 

[DinosaurDumpster]

I'd personally go for SMO. If you liked SM64, Galaxy, or Sunshine, it's definitely that kind of experience. And if you're afraid of being overwhelmed of that open-world kind of thing BoTW has, i'd just go for this first.

 

[DarkDesertFox]

I have a good amount of hours in both and each one has their own appeals. They are both open world exploration, has puzzles, unique gameplay, great graphics, awesome level designs etc. What sets them apart is the narrative. BOTW is geared to invoke an emotional response with its deep story and the feeling of truly being alone in an open world. On the other hand, Super Mario Odyssey aims to be more lighthearted and silly. Post-game, like pretty much ever Zelda game I know BOTW will put you at the last save before the final boss and you are free to explore the world in doing side quests, collecting armor, finishing shrines, exploring areas you didn't visit before, playing the DLC, etc. Super Mario Odyssey post-game takes place after you beat the game letting you explore previous worlds on top of a new one to collect the rest of the moons, explore, play Luigi's balloon hunt, etc. BOTW can feel intimidating at first due to trying to adjust to the weapon breaking system and having the freedom to go anywhere, but eventually you'll get used to it.

Super Mario Odyssey on the other hand has smaller worlds and a clearer objective so it's not as intimidating. It all depends what you're more in the mood for. Super Mario Odyssey is a ton of fun exploring each world and collecting all the moons. BOTW has so much to explore and do as well, but I personally think it provides a greater challenge in shrine and Divine Beast puzzles. It sounds like you're leaning towards Super Mario Odyssey so I would probably suggest going with that one first!

 

[Mairmalade]

So I'm deciding on getting another game next week after my exams (and right before the start of the semester, yes i love my priorities).

I guess my mind shifted towards Super Mario Odyssey. I used to absolutely LOVE Super Mario 64 when it came out on DS, I could play it for hours and not get bored because of the immense things to do, the many other worlds, and the cute graphics.

I would love to relive the same kind of excitement I used to feel playing SM64.

Would like to touch on these.

Super Mario Odyssey is a lot easier to put down than Breath of the Wild. To clarify: I don't mean it's boring, but you can clear a world or get a few moons in 1-2 hours and feel a sense of completion. Given you're going into a new semester, the timing for SMO is perfect and you can savor your journey/excitement in smaller chunks.

You seem to enjoy experiencing different worlds and each of SMO's has unique themes, characters, puzzles, and music. One day you could be diving in the beautiful Lake Kingdom and moving to the colorful, whimsical Luncheon Kingdom the next. With BotW you're exploring one massive world and are constantly uncovering new things. It makes it a lot harder to put down. I'd recommend saving BotW for an extended holiday (e.g.: winter or spring break).

Did you enjoy Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Sunshine as well? You'll be pleasantly surprised with Odyssey.

 

[samsquared]

I agree with everyone else that SMO seems to be the best fit for you personally. Since you have such a short window to play the game in, it may be good to know that Odyssey is much shorter than BoTW. I was able to clear the game in under 20 hours, whereas botw is easily a 65+ hour experience.
As another person who was totally overwhelmed by skyrim tho, I wanna say that I barely ever got lost in BOTW. And when you do get lost the game barely ever punishes you with instant death like skyrim.
I loved Odyssey, it was so bright & fun & that’s really what we all need in this bleak time

 

[BalloonFight]

I would also vote for SMO being the better choice with a limited time frame to game. You'll have a guaranteed fantastic experience with SMO that you'll feel you completed with your short time window to play. BOTW is definitely a much longer commitment and hard to chunk out game play wise if you're busy, or will be busy soon after.

 

[Kaiaa]

They’re both absolutely amazing games, but if I was in your situation, and with your concerns, I would go for SMO. Either game you pick, you will love, I guarantee it.

 

[Foreverfox]

So I'm deciding on getting another game next week after my exams (and right before the start of the semester, yes i love my priorities).

I've been contemplating on getting BoTW because of the overwhelming positive reviews and the lovely open world, but today I guess my mind shifted towards Super Mario Odyssey. I used to absolutely LOVE Super Mario 64 when it came out on DS, I could play it for hours and not get bored because of the immense things to do, the many other worlds, and the cute graphics.

BoTW looks absolutely fantastic, but I'm afraid of being overwhelmed with an open world kind of game with so many factors to take into consideration. I tried playing Skyrim before and got completely lost at some point haha. At least with SMO I kind of have a grasp from playing SM64 (with collecting stars and all, finding hidden things, etc.), and I would love to relive the same kind of excitement I used to feel playing SM64. I tried asking my friends but I don't think they knew enough of SMO so ofc they recommended BoTW to me. I'd like to hear a little bit more though so I thought of asking here haha.

I'm going to get both games eventually, but one will be next week and another will be maybe at the end of the year. I just don't wanna buy a game I might regret while waiting to earn enough for the second game.

So yeah, help me decide!! Lmk your experiences with either of the games! I am indecisive

We have both - it's no contest for me, BOTW. it's just so awesome.

 

[Stalfos]

Super Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild are two of my most played games on the switch so I don't think you could actually go wrong with either. I did however enjoy my time with SMO more. BotW is so big that sometimes I'd feel that I was just my wasting time exploring huge areas that didn't really hold anything of importance. SMO on the other hand is a game I can pick up and immediately have fun with, for long and short sessions. It's a more consistent experience imo.

 

[Shellzilla_515]

I've played both games. Considering your situation, I feel like Super Mario Odyssey is your best choice. The game has an assist mode which makes the game easier for those who aren't highly skilled at playing video games.

As for Breath of the Wild, I've personally had a lot of fun playing the game with all of the adventuring around the overworld. I'll ask you this question: What do you want to take from the game? If you're playing for exploration, it's pretty awesome! But if you're playing the game for the story, you might be a little disappointed. Of course, Breath of the Wild has a few challenges that may be overwhelming to the player at first. Enemies can one shot you if you're not careful, especially if you're running around in only your boxers lol. Moreover, as you progress, the enemies will only get stronger. But fear not! You can cook meals to give yourself stat buffs and armor that you can upgrade. So even though you may not have the skills of an expert gamer, preparing yourself before combat accordingly can help you gain the upper hand. After all, you are adventuring in the wild!

 

[xSuperMario64x]

I can't really vouch for both games since I haven't yet played BotW but I can definitely assure you that Odyssey is a great game. It doesn't quite reach the tier of perfection (like, in my opinion, SM64 and SMG2 do) but it's really fun and there's a ton of stuff to do so I def recommend it!

 

[Belle T]

While they're both excellent games, I personally thought Super Mario Odyssey was the more consistently well polished and well crafted game. The game is more linear, and the story is considerably more basic, but every single set piece in the game is loaded with attention and care to the point where I never felt it got boring or that there were any sections that I just wished I could skip. Which isn't to say it's a perfect game or that there weren't bad points, but they weren't really game ruining or otherwise a complete hindrance to the experience.

Breath of the Wild is a spectacle that I think everyone should experience once. The minute you open the game, it just feels so vibrant and alive, I can see why it's so popular. And I did enjoy it, don't get me wrong. But the game really suffers from slow down and repetition once you get to a certain point. It does pick up again after awhile, but the problem is the low points are really low. The good points do certainly outweigh them, but they're still there.

 

[Mr_Persona]

You should have done a poll. But l say SMO, game is more fun and much longer, BOTW can get very unexciting after awhile anyways.

 

[g u a v a]

personally i really loved SMO! it was probably my favorite mario game to date (only exceptions being sunshine, that one reigns supreme)

 

[visibleghost]

i personally prefer breath of the wild but i suppose it can be an overwhelming experience, i became totally engulfed in it for weeks after getting into it both times. i 100%ed it twice and have spent SOO much time on the game, it's a little crazy.

super mario odyssey is a smaller (i guess? it feels smaller and easier to mentally handle to me) game but still has a lot of content. it's more divided into smaller sections than botw, the different worlds and missions are more goal focused i guess in odyssey than in botw. while botw has missions it's easy to get a thousand missions at once, get distracted and do something else completely. i personally love that part of the game, it is what made me so obsessed and focused but if you don't like that type of game i think odyssey is a better choice for you.

both are great games and i don't think you will regret playing either of them but yeah :')

 

[Aurita]

I also think you should go for SMO since you liked Mario 64 and the feel of the game and you don’t have a ton of time (I’m assuming bc of school?)

I loved botw but I agree that it can be a little overwhelming with the amount of stuff you can do. The art style is amazing, the combat is fun (polarizing opinions on weapons breaking tho), and there’s so much to explore. But the enemy types are lacking, you basically kill the same types over and over again so it can be repetitive. If open worlds are not your thing, it might be hard to get into but the game is fantastic for an open world experience and you don’t have to collect everything (lookin at you korok seeds) if you don’t want to!

SMO is so colorful and vibrant and there’s so many little puzzles for you to try! With cappy, you can be the monsters and use them to solve the puzzles which gets you to be creative. Of course the combat is just basic Mario combat lol
You also don’t need to collect a ton of moons to clear each area so you can move on pretty quickly if you just want to progress the story! But there’s a ton of hidden moons if you want extra challenges c: I think it could be good for small time bursts since you can finish a puzzle and call it a day if you’d like

 

[Vonny]

I love both Mario and Zelda games but I preferred Odyssey

 

[Crash]

i'd go with SMO. the story is a little weaker than previous titles (not that mario games are super story-driven lmao) but i found BoTW incredibly bland for both an open world game AND for a zelda game. super mario odyssey has simpler gameplay but it's much more enjoyable imo, especially since you're familiar with that type of gameplay c:

 

[Matt0106]

I'm late to the party, but I STRONGLY recommend BotW. If you're a sucker for exploration, you'll probably like it. Tons of stuff to do and it is visually stunning. Plus if you're interested in maybe getting the sequel when the time comes, you'll definitely want to know what goes on in the first game.