Super Mario Odyssey’s Outfits Are A Clever Reference To The Plumber’s Many Spinoffs

Super Mario Odyssey looks like no Mario game before it, but that doesn’t mean Nintendo is casting aside the franchise’s history. Far from it! Super Mario Odyssey is packed with references to the mustachioed one’s storied past – for instance, in a recent Treehouse livestream, it was confirmed the game’s New Donk City stage is actually the setting of the original Donkey Kong. Pauline has even overcome her giant ape encounter to become mayor!

Well, here’s another neat little reference. In Super Mario Odyssey our hero can finally use his coins to buy new hats and outfits. So far, we’ve seen Mario parading around in a sombrero, explorer’s outfit, chef’s uniform, and an odd striped number. Well, games writer and historian Henry Gilbert noted all these outfits are actually references to Mario’s many spin-off games, and some of them are pretty deep cuts…

For those without an encyclopedic knowledge of all things Mario, the explorer outfit is a reference to Mario’s Picross 2, the sombrero to Mario x Qix, the chef’s uniform to Yoshi’s Cookie, and the striped pajamas to NES Open Tournament Golf. I told you they were deep cuts. Even I haven’t played some of these, and I’ve played just about everything Mario related at least once.

How deep does this well go? Could we finally get to do some platforming as Dr. Mario? Obviously, he also needs the referee outfit from his appearances in Punch-Out!! and Tennis. It’s all canon!

Super Mario Odyssey leaps onto Nintendo Switch on October 27. You can check out WWG’s coverage of all the big Switch games, right here.