The Rules: How Captures Compete in Mario Odyssey

To keep this competition fair, every capture is placed at the start of the game, each aiming to reach the highest possible point in each kingdom. Mario is only allowed to help in specific scenarios where the capture absolutely cannot progress otherwise, but each capture must mostly rely on its own abilities to advance. The goal is simple: make it through each area and collect as many moons as possible. With each kingdom offering new trials and obstacles, only the most versatile and resilient captures will make it to the end.

Round One: Cap Kingdom

In Cap Kingdom, the Frog takes the lead with its impressive jumping abilities, easily clearing stairs and obstacles. Captures like the T-Rex, while powerful, struggle due to their sheer size and lack of agility. Others, such as Goombas and the Cheap Cheep, can’t clear certain jumps or obstacles, leaving them eliminated early on. The Frog’s ability to navigate the tricky terrain, however, secures its spot for the next round.

Making it Through Cascade Kingdom: A New Set of Obstacles

The Cascade Kingdom is where things start to heat up. With no mandatory moons, only the toughest captures can advance by skill alone. Surprisingly, some unlikely contenders—such as the Onion-like uproot—show promise by leveraging their ability to reach higher areas. The Frog continues its winning streak, while other captures such as the Goombas and the T-Rex struggle to keep up. But the ability to “capture” moments by scaling obstacles ensures that only the best move forward.

The Frog Room: A True Test of Vertical Skill

The Frog Room brings new challenges, with several vertical jumps only accessible by a handful of captures. As expected, the Frog excels here, using its leaps to easily make it through. However, the Uproot’s unique stretching ability allows it to reach high platforms, advancing it to the next round. Meanwhile, others are left grounded, unable to reach the necessary height and ultimately eliminated.

Surviving the Sand Kingdom: Only the Strong Survive

The Sand Kingdom raises the stakes with its requirement of 16 moons to advance. Here, even captures that previously did well, like the Gushen (the water-based squid), struggle due to limited water resources. But with clever conservation and strategy, the Gushen manages to collect enough moons, showing its surprising resilience and adaptability. The Frog, while agile, finds fewer opportunities in this desert terrain, putting it in a precarious position.

Final Contenders: Wooded Kingdom and Beyond

Only three captures remain: the Gushen, the Frog, and Pokio. Each one has its strengths, but the Wooded Kingdom’s variety of obstacles and moon requirements present a challenge for all. The Gushen shines in areas where water-based mobility helps bypass obstacles, but Pokio’s unique ability to cling to walls also proves useful. The Frog, however, starts to struggle as it’s limited in its ability to interact with certain objects, making this round its last.

Lake Kingdom: The Ultimate Showdown

With only the Gushen and Pokio left, it’s a final showdown in the Lake Kingdom. Both captures must rely on precision and strategy to collect the last moons. The Gushen’s water propulsion abilities make it ideal for navigating underwater sections, while Pokio’s wall-clinging skills allow it to grab hard-to-reach moons. In a dramatic turn, the Gushen manages to collect an elusive moon from a chest, securing its final victory.

Conclusion: The Gushen’s Triumph

After countless challenges, the Gushen emerges as the champion of Mario Odyssey’s Capture Survivor competition. Its water-based mobility, combined with adaptability across a variety of terrains, made it the ultimate survivor. Despite initial challenges, the Gushen demonstrated that sometimes, persistence and resourcefulness matter more than sheer power.

Through this quirky yet intense competition, the captures of Mario Odyssey showed just how diverse their abilities can be. And while the Gushen took the crown, every capture’s unique traits highlighted the creative possibilities that make Mario Odyssey such a beloved game.