We can't even begin to explain how excited we are that Super Mario Odyssey is finally here. We've been waiting with baited breath ever since Nintendo announced the proposed adventure. Now we have our hands on it and we can't seem to put it down. It's everything we could have hoped for, with heavy Super Mario 64 influences and a stellar new possession-based gameplay mechanic. We aren't afraid to say that Super Mario Odyssey is easily in contention for Game of the Year in our eyes. Hopefully, it receives the accolade it definitely deserves.

What shocked us the most is how absolutely massive the game world is. Super Mario 64 felt like a grandiose adventure, but Super Mario Odyssey feels like a never-ending quest. There are an insane amount of things to collect, secrets to uncover, Easter Eggs to discover, and locations to explore. It's mind-boggling how much content developers managed to cram into this beautifully designed title.

We wanted to share our love for this instant Nintendo classic with all of you amazing gamers out there, so we tossed together a list of our favorite secrets, tips, and tricks, to help you on your journey through the Super Mario Odyssey universe.

Be warned, this list is chock FULL OF SPOILERS!

25 Graffiti Leads To Hearts

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We're a bit disappointed with Super Mario Odyssey's "death" system. The small penalty (and lack of lives) allows players to race through each level without much regard for enemies or dangers. That said, there are still those of us that prefer to keep Mario alive as long as possible. If you feel the same way, you're going to need to occasionally grab hearts to keep your health meter full.

Hearts can sometimes be found in question blocks, but are also hidden throughout each kingdom. One of the sneakier secrets comes in the form of strange graffiti. You'll see these sticker-like icons plastered on walls (or other surfaces). Tossing Cappy towards them will cause a happy heart to pop free. Make sure you're constantly scanning your surroundings for these colorful markings.

24 Crouching Mario, Hidden Coins

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Developers had a field day hiding coins throughout the Super Mario Odyssey universe. You'll spy them floating in hard-to-reach places, or splattered across the ground in unique designs. You'll need coins to purchase items and outfits, so it's important to grab up as many as you possibly can. Don't worry though, there are an abundance of the gold discs hidden throughout each kingdom.

In fact, some of them are actually invisible. The only way to access these coins is to walk over them. This will cause the golden goodies to phase into view. This makes it vitally important to search every possible nook and cranny found throughout each kingdom. Even if a particular ledge looks like it serves no purpose other than decoration, make sure you slink your way across it to uncover any hidden goodies.

23 Capping All The Coins

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Cappy isn't just a mentor. The spunky little Bonneter has a multitude of uses, so you'll want to make sure you're constantly looking for ways to utilize Cappy. At the very beginning of the game, you're taught an important lesson about Mario's stylish new lid that can go unnoticed if you aren't paying attention. There are a ton of cosmetic objects hidden throughout the small opening areas of the Cap Kingdom that Cappy can latch onto.

If you toss him at nearby lamps, he will turn them on and reward you with coins. He can even slap posters off the wall and unlock hidden crevices. Later in the game, you'll be able to reach seemingly inaccessible areas by using Cappy. There are many hidden secrets strewn throughout the game that Cappy can latch onto (and that the game never tells you about!). Don't be afraid to constantly toss your buddy at random items. You never know what you might uncover.

22 Power Moons Aren't Just For Show

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Remember how you needed to unlock a specific amount of Power Stars to enter new stages in Super Mario 64? That concept is back in Super Mario Odyssey but uses colorful Power Moons in place of the bright star shapes. You'll be forced to uncover a certain amount of Power Moons to progress through the story and reach the next kingdom. The amount varies by level, but in reality, it's minuscule compared to how many Power Moons are available to collect in each zone.

These extra collectibles aren't just for show either. Collecting all of them won't give you a hastily tossed-together visit with Yoshi. Instead, you'll gain access to secret kingdoms and areas. Collect enough and you'll even gain access to the Moon itself.

Be warned though, this is no easy feat. There are approximately 836 Power Moons (even more if you purchase some from shops) available throughout Mario's lengthy adventure.

21 The Lost Art Of Mario-Jitsu

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Nintendo is no stranger to tutorials. We're so used to seeing elaborate starting levels that give us details on game mechanics and movement. You'll still find tips and tricks scattered throughout Super Mario Odyssey, but they aren't nearly as straight-forward as other Nintendo releases. In fact, there are a ton of mechanics and movements that you'll be completely unaware of (unless you seek them out or discover them on accident).

What you may not know is that there's an Action Guide (in the pause menu) that will teach you everything you need to know about Odyssey's elaborate mechanics. It feels a little strange, almost like a fighting-game Moves List, which is why we're bringing it to your attention. You can also learn about potential moves by reading plaques hidden around each kingdom, or learning from Cappy during a ride in the Odyssey.

20 A Familiar Hop Into Paintings

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This is one of our favorite Easter Eggs because it's such a clever tie-in to the title that inspired Super Mario Odyssey. Many gamers fell in love with Super Mario 64 when it released back in 1996. Perhaps that's why most of us were so excited by the prospect of Super Mario Odyssey. First glances showcased a title that looked like the Nintendo 64 classic we'd all fawned over.

Now that it has finally released, it's safe to say, we were all completely correct. Super Mario Odyssey is like a beautifully expanded version of Super Mario 64. In fact, it even features a rather clever nod to its predecessor. Hidden throughout the expansive world are 10 portraits that you can enter to gain access to secret Power Moons. The portraits will actually warp you to another kingdom (usually to an otherwise inaccessible area) which can even give you a small visual preview of zones you have yet to visit.

19 Checkpoints Do More Than Save Progress

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The kingdoms featured in Super Mario Odyssey are rather large. Nintendo did a fantastic job creating worlds that feel open and expansive. In fact, some worlds feel a bit too big. You'll find yourself running for ages to reach landmarks, which can get exhausting if you need to return to them for any reason.

Thankfully, Nintendo added a nifty mechanic that can solve this problem, but some of you may not be aware it's even there. As you journey through each kingdom, you'll come across special checkpoint flags that you can activate. At first glance, these markers seem like nothing more than a placeholder (in case you perish). The truth is, they're much more useful than that. By opening the zone map with "-" you can warp to any previously unlocked checkpoint. This is especially useful in massive areas (like the Sand Kingdom).

18 Leap Like A Tiger, Roll Like A Boulder

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Some areas can be incredibly exhausting to explore. If you're hunting for Power Moons or trying to reach a particular location, without many checkpoints, you'll be forced to run there on foot. Thankfully, there are a few tricks you can use to help you travel faster through wide open spaces.

If you want to cover a lot of ground quickly, you can spam the long jump mechanic. To do this, hold ZL (or ZR) and tap B (or A). It's important to note that you'll need a running start (or any forward movement) for this. If you attempt it while standing still, you'll simply backflip instead.

If you find yourself on a slope, you can tuck into a ball and roll (like Samus!) by holding ZL (or ZR) and hitting X (or Y). You can perform the roll while standing still.

17 Like The Exorcist, But With Rump Roast

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Your possession-based task is to toss Cappy at a nearby frog and use its powerful legs to propel you up a tower. From that moment on, you become accustomed to tossing your beloved hat at nearby critters in an attempt to take control of their forms. This is a monumentally important mechanic in the Super Mario Odyssey universe. You'll need to take control of different beasts in order to unlock Power Moons and progress through otherwise inaccessible areas.

What you may not know, is that creatures are not the only thing Cappy and possess. There are a wide array of inanimate objects (that become animated) when Cappy cloaks over them. For example, in the Metro Kingdom, you can take control of inconspicuous marking cones which you can then use to launch yourself into the air. You'd be surprised how much Cappy can really control.

16 Jump Up, Superstar!

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There are a lot of ledges and platforms that seem just out of reach. Even with a triple jump or a backflip jump, you'll find yourself falling a tiny bit short. Usually, you'll be forced to find another route in order to reach the area you desire. However, in some instances, you can actually use a possessed creature or item to give you an extra boost into the air.

Whenever you possess something, you can quickly "hop out" of its body by tapping the ZL (or ZR) button. This exiting motion features Mario leaping into the air above the creature. If the creature (or item) you're currently controlling has a jumping capability, you can leap into the air and then exit the possession to give you an extra high jump. Use this mechanic to launch yourself onto ledges or platforms that are barely out of Mario's reach.

15 The Environmental Details Are Astounding

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Creators put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, into the creation of Super Mario Odyssey. It wasn't enough for them to create an astonishingly large Super Mario adventure. They wanted to craft an experience that looks as amazing as it feels. Based on the array of colorful landscapes and gorgeous backdrops, we believe they did a stellar job. Yet, each time we load up our game, we discover new (and awesome) little visual details.

The environment plays a big role in the Super Mario Odyssey experience. Each area is so drastically different that it creates an illusion that you're really traveling the globe. To make things even more engrossing, developers added some unique animations and visual cues. For example, if you bump into a cactus in the Sand Kingdom, Mario will end up with a nose full of spines. If you run through the "bushes" in the Cap Kingdom, he'll end up covered in soot. There are a lot of fun (and funny) visuals to discover.

14 Mario Talks In His Sleep

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While we're on the subject of amazing visual details, we might as well talk about what happens when you idle (outside the pause screen) for too long. Let's be honest, many of us have set down a game (forgetting to pause it) and run to grab something real quick. For many, this is the only way we ever discover the unique idle animations that developers include within their games.

The idle animation for Super Mario Odyssey is a bit more elaborate than most games. If you manage to stand around too long, Mario will drop to the ground and sprawl out for a much-deserved nap. If you listen closely, you can hear him mutter in his sleep about Princess Peach (among other things). Wait long enough and a bird (native to whatever kingdom you're currently in) will fly over and perch atop Mario's nose.

13 The Adventure's Just Beginning!

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There are 17 separate kingdoms (including secret ones!) for you to explore during your journey through Super Mario Odyssey. Along the way, you'll need to find over 836 Power Moons. Average that out and you're set to collect approximately 49 Power Moons per zone. Some areas will have far more (and some far less) but it definitely won't seem that way from the start. When you first visit each kingdom, it will seem like it's impossible for even a fraction of those stars to be present.

The secret lies in re-visiting the zone after you've beaten the main boss there. Many more stars will appear (and some areas will open up considerably). You'll also have the ability to "disperse" more Power Moons to each level AFTER you complete the main showdown with the title's end boss. To do so, you'll have to find strange looking metal cubes located in each zone and Ground Pound atop them.

12 Humble Beginnings In New Donk City

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A lot of gamers felt a bit strange when Nintendo unveiled New Donk City in the Super Mario Odyssey trailer. There is something so uncanny about seeing the cartoonishly-designed Mario standing next to realistic-looking human beings. We won't lie, it's a bit unsettling to us as well. Yet, if you can get past the odd visuals of New Donk City, you'll discover a zone rich with Super Mario Bros. history.

The entire zone pays homage to Mario's humble beginnings. You'll engage in a festival that plays out like the original Donkey Kong arcade release. There are markings all over the area that depict Donkey Kong himself and there are many streets named after his family (from the Nintendo 64 release Donkey Kong 64). Even the Mayor is in on the theme. If she looks familiar, it's because she's Pauline. For those unaware, she was the original damsel in distress for the Donkey Kong arcade game.

11 Music In The Metro Kingdom

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Music plays a powerful role in the Metro Kingdom. When you first arrive, you're tasked with destroying a powerful energy-sucking monster from the cityscape. Once the evil is vanquished and the sky has cleared, music takes center stage. The first thing Mayor Pauline asks of you is to locate four band members for her so that the town can throw its annual festival. Doing so will allow you to take part in the festival (and also listen the amazing vocal track, "Jump Up, Super Star!").

Hidden throughout the Metro Kingdom are other specialized areas where you can hear some pretty famous Super Mario Bros. music. You can hear an interesting take on Mario Kart's music by engaging in an RC Car Challenge or catch a Jazzy Super Mario World tune from a nearby boombox. There are many audible goodies for those willing to explore.

10 A Wardobe Fit For A King

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Each zone presents an opportunity to purchase a new outfit for Mario and Cappy. These items are themed to the world (for the most part) and are sometimes required to gain access to specialized areas and Power Moons. Some can be grabbed with coins, while others require the special collectible currency from their respective world.

Dedicated fans of the Super Mario Bros. series will likely recognize some of these outfits. A lot of the costumes you can purchase were featured in other titles, or are a direct reference to other games. For example, the Chef Outfit correlates with Mario's costume in Yoshi's Cookie, while the Builder Outfit is what he wore on the cover of Super Mario Maker. There's even a Super Mario 64 costume that's sure to spur some nostalgia.

9 Enter The Odyssey Like A True Plumber

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A lot of the tips, tricks, and Easter Eggs featured on this list serve some kind of purpose. This tip, however, is just for fun. It's not going to alter your experience and it won't unlock anything else for you to explore later on. In short, it's simply an Easter Egg that's there for the enjoyment of the player. Nintendo wanted to have a little fun with development and they slipped this unique entrance in as a way to add a little extra detail to the Odyssey itself.

Anyone can walk through the front door of the magnificent hat-shaped flying machine, but only Mario can enter via its piping. At the back of the ship, you'll notice a large steam pipe that looks oddly like a metallic metal version of the warp pipes we all know and love. Hopping onto that pipe and hitting the crouch button (ZL or ZR) will send you into the cockpit of the Odyssey in true Mario fashion.

8 Stack The Goombas High

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During your Super Mario Odyssey adventure, you'll occasionally come across towering sets of Goombas. These iconic Super Mario Bros. critters have a unique mechanic in this release, allowing them to hop onto each other's backs and create an imposingly tall structure. They're not hard to defeat since you can possess them with Cappy or hop on their heads from high above. Sometimes you're even required to possess large stacks of them to reach higher areas.

What you may not know, is that you can actually create a stack of Goombas yourself. You can either possess a premade stack or start with a lone Goomba. By using the hop button near another Goomba, you'll automatically hop onto its "shoulders." Be warned, though, if you don't have enough height you'll take damage from bumping into the non-possessed enemy.

7 Squish The Goombas Low

So now that you've created an imposing stack of Goomba, how do you get rid of them? Well, you could just leap from their form and walk away, but you'd be leaving valuable coins in your wake. You'll definitely want to dismantle each tower and collect the golden goodies waiting inside. There are a few ways to do this.

You could hop down on the stack from a taller perch, bouncing over each Goomba in succession until you reach the bottom. You can also lead the group into any nearby water (which causes them to poof).

If you're really looking to eliminate the totem pole in style, you'll want to use the Ground Pound method. If you leap out of the possession (with ZL or ZR) and line yourself up correctly, you can slam directly downward and smoosh all of the Goombas in one powerful strike.

6 Gardening Takes Heart

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Developers were crafty in hiding secrets throughout Mario's journey. There are some things that seem like elaborate puzzles, but end up not serving much purpose other than visual detail. Then there are inconspicuous items that seem like visual details but actually unlock hidden items if uncovered correctly.

A great example of this are the flower pods found in some kingdoms. These small bulbs are usually grouped into odd shapes and will bloom if you toss Cappy towards them. The blooming motion seems like a cute Easter Egg at first, but you'll actually receive a reward if you uncover all the flowers in a given bunch. Each time you "complete' a blooming pattern you'll unlock a health heart. It's not much, but it's nice to know there's health hidden if you need it.