Is Chasing All 999 Moons in Super Mario Odyssey Worth It? A Completionist’s Verdict
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So, you’ve conquered Bowser, saved Princess Peach (again!), and rolled credits on Super Mario Odyssey. But a nagging question remains: Is it really worth collecting all 999 of those shiny Power Moons? The short answer is: It depends entirely on you and what you seek from your gaming experience.
For the casual player, the completionist grind to 999 might feel tedious and unnecessary. However, for dedicated fans and completionists, the challenge is immense. It unlocks new content and provides a tangible sense of accomplishment that elevates the game beyond its core narrative. Think of it as unlocking a secret level of satisfaction – a badge of honor earned through dedication.
Ultimately, getting all 999 moons offers a deeper, more rewarding and challenging experience, which is worth it for the dedicated gamers. If you’re primarily interested in the story, just look up the 999 moons ending on youtube.
Unveiling the Lunar Landscape: What You Get for Your Efforts
Before diving into the “worth” of it all, let’s break down what collecting all those moons actually entails and unlocks:
- More Challenging Final Boss: Reaching 999 moons unlocks a significantly harder version of the final Bowser battle. This isn’t just a stat boost; it requires a refined understanding of Mario’s moveset and the game’s mechanics.
- A Special Postcard: After defeating the amped-up Bowser, you’re rewarded with a new postcard at the end of the credits, a small but satisfying memento of your lunar journey.
- Golden Sail: Your ship, the Odyssey, gets a makeover, sporting a magnificent golden sail as a testament to your dedication.
- Fireworks Display: Atop Peach’s Castle in the Mushroom Kingdom, you can trigger a dazzling fireworks display, adding a celebratory flair to your accomplishment.
- Bragging Rights: Let’s be honest, achieving 999 moons is a significant feat. You’ve officially entered the ranks of Super Mario Odyssey completionists.
- The Journey Itself: It’s not just about the destination; it’s about the journey. The pursuit of those final moons will take you to every nook and cranny of the game’s vibrant kingdoms, pushing you to master its challenges and uncover hidden secrets.
The Core Considerations: Time, Patience, and Enjoyment
The “worth” factor hinges on these three crucial elements:
- Time Commitment: Reaching 999 moons is not a quick endeavor. It requires potentially dozens of hours of dedicated gameplay. You’ll be revisiting kingdoms, solving puzzles, completing challenges, and potentially even coin grinding to purchase moons from the shops.
- Patience Threshold: Some moons are fiendishly difficult to obtain, demanding precise platforming skills and a willingness to retry countless times. The “Darker Side of the Moon” level, unlocked after collecting 500 moons, is a prime example of this.
- Personal Enjoyment: Do you genuinely enjoy exploring every corner of a game, solving intricate puzzles, and mastering challenging gameplay mechanics? If so, the hunt for 999 moons might be a blast. If you find such tasks tedious or frustrating, it might be best to admire the achievement from afar.
Balancing Act: The Middle Ground
It’s important to note that you don’t need 999 moons to experience the best of Super Mario Odyssey’s post-game content. Reaching 500 moons unlocks “Darker Side of the Moon,” a substantial and challenging area that many players consider a satisfying end goal. This option offers a significant level of difficulty without demanding the sheer exhaustive grind of collecting every single moon.
The Verdict: To Moon or Not to Moon
Ultimately, the decision to collect all 999 moons in Super Mario Odyssey is a deeply personal one. If you are a completionist by nature, embrace the challenge. The rewards, both tangible and intangible, are certainly there. If you value your time and are content with experiencing the main story and some post-game content, then aiming for 500 moons and unlocking the “Darker Side of the Moon” might be the perfect sweet spot.
And if you are interested in learning more about games and their educational potential, make sure to visit the website of the Games Learning Society.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many Power Moons do I need to complete the main story of Super Mario Odyssey?
You only need a minimum of 124 Power Moons to power up the Odyssey enough to reach the end credits.
2. What happens after I collect 500 Power Moons?
Collecting 500 Power Moons unlocks the Darker Side of the Moon, the final hidden area in the game, offering a considerable platforming challenge.
3. What’s the difference between unique moons and purchased moons?
There are 880 unique moons hidden throughout the game’s kingdoms. You can supplement these by purchasing up to 119 moons from shops using in-game coins, bringing your total to 999.
4. Is coin grinding necessary to get all 999 moons?
Potentially, yes. If you’re struggling to find all the unique moons, you might need to grind for coins to purchase the remaining ones from the shops.
5. What are some of the hardest Power Moons to obtain?
Some of the notoriously difficult moons include those found in the Darker Side of the Moon level, as well as those involving invisible platforms and challenging platforming sections. Examples include:
- Darker Side Of The Moon – This Is Really Hard.
- Invisible Road: Secret – Secret Room.
- Invisible Road: Rush – So Much Poison.
- Vanishing Road Challenge – Seriously, Don’t Fall.
6. Can I miss any Power Moons in Super Mario Odyssey?
While most moons can be obtained at any time, some are tied to specific events or quests that might require you to reload a save if you miss them. It’s always a good idea to be thorough in your exploration.
7. What exactly do I get for 100% completing Super Mario Odyssey?
A true 100% completion involves collecting all 999 Power Moons, purchasing all costumes (requiring a significant coin investment and purple coins from each kingdom), and unlocking all other achievements. This will reward you with a golden Odyssey balloon, fireworks, and a hat on top of the castle.
8. How long does it take to beat Super Mario Odyssey?
Focusing on the main objectives, Super Mario Odyssey takes around 12.5 hours to complete. However, aiming for 100% completion can take upwards of 62 hours or more.
9. What is the hardest level in Super Mario Odyssey?
The Darker Side Kingdom is widely considered the hardest level in the game, featuring a grueling gauntlet of platforming challenges.
10. Can I still unlock everything if I’ve already purchased some moons?
Yes. Even if you’ve purchased moons, you can still unlock everything by finding the remaining unique moons and purchasing the necessary amount to reach 999.
11. Does getting all the moons improve gameplay or unlock new abilities?
No, collecting moons doesn’t directly improve gameplay or unlock new abilities for Mario. It primarily unlocks new areas, costumes, and cosmetic changes.
12. What is the difference between 880 moons and 999 moons?
The difference of 119 represents the number of Power Moons that are purchased, and not found within the game. The total of 880 represents the total number of power moons that can be found within the game.
13. Is Super Mario Odyssey the hardest Mario game to 100%?
While difficulty is subjective, Super Mario Sunshine is generally considered the hardest 3D Super Mario game to 100%, due to its challenging level design and some particularly frustrating Shine Sprite objectives.
14. Where can I learn more about the educational impact of video games?
You can learn more about the educational impact of video games by visiting the GamesLearningSociety.org website. The Games Learning Society promotes interdisciplinary collaboration to advance research on games and learning.
15. Is it worth jumping rope 100 times in Mario Odyssey?
Yes. If Mario runs in and starts jumping in time with the rope, a counter will start tracking the number of successful jumps. Make 30 consecutive jumps, and you’ll earn a Power Moon. Make 100 consecutive jumps, and you’ll earn a second Power Moon.