Super Mario Odyssey: Original Game Music

Just when you think Nintendo couldn’t outdo themselves after Mario Galaxy, what should come along during the Switch era but a soundtrack that is truly an Odyssey in and of itself, which more than fits the Mario game’s namesake.Like the best Mario games, each level’s theme grabs your attention and hooks you right in, starting with the “Fossil Falls” theme. Just the start of that theme alone will get you ready to put on your sneakers and head off for an adventure of your own! Then there’s the “Steam Gardens” theme, which harkens back to rock tunes from the 1960s and 1970s.In all, this is a soundtrack that truly showcases the musical talents from the sound team at Nintendo, and with Koji Kondo still doing his thing over there as well.This soundtrack is in short supply, so get it now while you have the chance, you won’t regret it! 😀😃👍

Great physical release of an incredible soundtrack!

I knew when buying this that it came with every single track in the game, but I didn't expect the quality of the case and box sleeve to be so nice! I also really like the little photos and booklet that came with it, even if most of it is in Japanese. When I ripped it all of the metadata was in Japanese too, so translating was a bit of a pain, but that's not really anything against the product itself. I'm super pleased with it, and I'm in love with the soundtrack!

Expensive, but worth it for those who enjoy soundtracks, particularly Super Mario Odyssey's. You certainly aren't shorted on the number of songs.

MARIO fun at its best! 4 discs of awesome. Packaging is top notch.

Nintendo's games always have the best soundtracks, and Odyessey is no different.

It is beautiful

As the date for Super Mario Odyssey's release drew close, Nintendo released a video featuring its famous Italian plumber running, jumping and dancing amidst a sea of men in black suits. Mario was once again having so much fun! But this video was also showcasing the first key vocal theme in series history, "Jump Up, Super Star!" This genius composition featured catchy melodies, witty lyrics (that sound even better if you've experienced the game), and unbridled joy, all set to a snazzy jazz beat.And so begins our introduction to one of the best video game soundtracks in Nintendo's rich and storied history. This four-disc, 138-track set is essentially the work of three main musicians: longtime series veteran Koji Kondo and relative newcomers Shiho Fujii and Naoto Kubo. Together, they craft a soundtrack way better than expectations, but they deserve recognition on an individual level too.First, Koji Kondo is brought back to handle a few new tracks, which makes for the most original Mario material he's contributed in years. The track that will probably resonate most with fans is "Steam Gardens", an absolute riot of a guitar track, but other themes like the jungle-oriented "Forgotten Isle" and the dark, Asian-influenced "Bowser's Castle" sound great too. Later, "Slider" from Super Mario 64 finally gets its successor in "Run, Jump, Throw! 1", making us wonder when to expect "Koji Kondo's Hillbilly Hits". And how can his work on Super Mario Odyssey be discussed without mentioning "Crazy Cap"? This track, heard many times throughout the game, is actually an awesome medley of short, catchy tracks. Kondo's work here is certainly memorable and worthy of praise, which is impressive for someone doing this for 30+ years.Second, Shiho Fujii flexes her orchestral muscles throughout her many tracks. Her work on the main world themes is reminiscent of Yoko Shimomura, particularly the latter's work on the Kingdom Hearts franchise. Especially is this evident on "Bonneton", "Lake Lamode", and "Shiveria: Town". But don't think this means she doesn't have her own style--"Peronza Plaza" is a light-hearted mandolin piece, "Honeylune Ridge" is minimal and mysterious, and "Koopa Trace-Walking" is simple and fun. My personal favorite of hers is "Run, Jump, Throw! 2". This piece starts with a muted-organ, ever-so-lightly echoed, before transitioning to popcorn synths over a bouncy acid bassline. It's so catchy, so creative, and so good. Throw in the synthetic "Another World" for good measure, and you have a very strong performance from Fujii.But the real star of this show is Naoto Kubo, and this is somewhat surprising given that his only major Nintendo contribution to date had been an orchestral Zelda medley for the ending of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D. In addition to being the main man responsible for the impeccable "Jump Up, Super Star!" as mentioned earlier, he also contributes a second vocal track, "Break Free (Lead the Way)". The first time I heard this song, played during a key moment during the game, I thought it was fine and appropriate for the scene, but I wasn't terribly impressed. However, I have come to love this track for its raw energy, and it makes an awesome reference to Super Mario 64's "Koopa Battle". Of course, his efforts extend far beyond just the two vocal themes. "Fossil Falls" is a fantastic orchestral piece just brimming with power and a broad sense of adventure. Its style could draw comparisons to "Gusty Garden Galaxy" by Mahito Yokota from Super Mario Galaxy, but I will offer the personal opinion that I much prefer "Fossil Falls", despite my enjoyment of "Gusty Garden Galaxy". His work on the Tostarena and New Donk City songs is also high-quality, and he offers many strong arrangements of classic Mario tunes. If this is Kubo's big opportunity to earn future chances at big-budget titles, he aces the test with flying colors.So...this soundtrack is pretty long and fairly expensive. And there is a digital version of the Super Mario Odyssey soundtrack that contains 12 tracks for much cheaper. Is it worth it, then, to scoop this up? That depends more on you, the listener, than it does the soundtrack. Since the 12-disc digital sampler contains both vocal themes, and "Fossil Falls", and "Steam Gardens", you may feel that the sampler is enough for your tastes. But if you don't mind spending a little extra and if you love Mario music--especially if you've actually played the game--this makes a great purchase. Also included are the boss themes, incidental event pieces, all the 8-bit versions of the world themes...the list goes on. I'm not especially fond of the last six (!) tracks in a row on disc 3 being versions of the same two songs, but this is a minor quibble with an otherwise flawless effort.The final question, then, is a tough one: Might this be the best Super Mario soundtrack ever? Well, that's a difficult question, and it probably depends on your definition of "best". If "best" means simply a collection of music that represents the most classic and most defining tunes in a series' history, it's still hard to mess with Super Mario Bros. or Super Mario World. But if "best" means a work that is both creative and accessible, both simple and powerful, both diverse in its arrangements and expertly composed throughout, then this one tops my list, even over Super Mario 64. Highly recommended.