The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds/Super Mario Maker
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds defied its genre’s own conventions by giving fans both 3D and 2D fields to play on. The implementation of a 2D play style was not only integral in reaching new areas or bosses to defeat, but provided for a clever means of obstacle variation and a unique challenge that few other titles explored before. The same degree of challenge and novelty that A Link Between Worlds’ 2D levels introduced could only be matched by Super Mario Maker, as the title also made the concept of playing in one less dimension fun and rewarding again.
When it comes to enjoyment and breaking convention, Super Mario Odyssey provides in spades. Lifting a page directly from the aforementioned titles, Odyssey unexpectedly thrusts fans into a 2D segment within any platforming context. It’s not uncommon to be navigating from one floating platform to the next only to then enter a green pipe that leads to more jumping, albeit within a giant wall this time. As in A Link Between Worlds and Mario Maker, the mechanic constantly keeps players on their toes, providing no shortage of remarkably innovative challenges in between. Nintendo seems to rely on its past a lot, though it always makes a case for that being its strongest suit.
