Perhaps a little harsh on you, Odyssey.

When I first played it, it was 3 1/2 stars. The main game was too short, there were too many filler moons, and some of the worlds were wasted. Then a few months later, I picked it up again so I could beat one of the bonus levels. Then I said, “you know what, lemme go hunt for some moons real quick.” And then I found a moon. And another one. And another one. And another one. I was… having fun. Like, a lot of fun. Gathering up these hundreds of power moons was suddenly so satisfying and exploring each level was an absolute joy. When I’d finally gathered up all the power moons, I just couldn’t have enough of Odyssey, so I played through the main game again. Suddenly, I realized just how much fun it was and how unfair I’d been on it.

Yeah, my initial criticisms do hold up. There are too many power moons, many of which are recycled. There should be more levels. The Cloud and Ruined Kingdoms are utterly wasted. Yet despite that, this is some of the most fun I’ve ever had with a Mario game. Secrets to find, items to collect, a quirky sense of humor, a good (by Mario standards) story, and meticulously designed levels. I love this game.