Pays des Chutes : le royaume où tout démarre

Land of Falls: the kingdom where it all begins

1320 mots | Temps de lecture : 6 minute(s)

The Cascade Kingdom is the first true adventure area in Super Mario Odyssey, released in 2017. It is here, in a prehistoric setting dominated by an immense waterfall, that the journey truly begins.

The second kingdom visited right after the Cap Kingdom, it brings together everything that makes up Odyssey's DNA: the discovery of Capture, an iconic T-Rex, the repair of the ship, and a memorable first boss.

Summary

The Second Kingdom, First True Playground

After the misty, narrow streets of the Cap Kingdom, which mainly serves as an introduction, Mario arrives in the game's first large open world. The Cascade Kingdom is an open and vertical sandbox where exploration becomes the real reward.

The kingdom is dominated by a striking landscape: a colossal waterfall gushing from the fossilized skeleton of a Triceratops, an image that has become one of Odyssey's visual emblems. Suspended rocks, plateaus, and cliffs immediately invite climbing.

This is also where the game's rhythm is established. The calm and contemplative tone of this area contrasts with the hustle and bustle of subsequent kingdoms and lays the groundwork for the sandbox formula that will punctuate the entire adventure.

Where Mario Discovers Capture

The Cascade Kingdom is the kingdom where the player truly learns about Capture, Odyssey's signature mechanic. Thanks to Cappy, the living hat that accompanies Mario, it becomes possible to take control of many enemies and objects to exploit their powers.

Here, one can capture a Chain Chomp: launched like a wrecking ball, it allows one to pulverize rock walls that block the passage and reveal new nooks and crannies to explore.

But the big moment remains the presence of a very much alive T-Rex. Once captured, this prehistoric colossus crushes everything in its path with a simple stomp. This spectacular gag from the very first minutes perfectly illustrates the creative madness that Capture allows.

Repairing the Odyssey to Set Sail

Mario's hat-ship, named the Odyssey, crashes in this kingdom at the very beginning of the game. Before resuming the pursuit of Bowser, it is therefore necessary to make the ship flight-worthy again.

To restart it, Mario must collect a sufficient number of Power Moons, the energy that serves as fuel for the ship. The Cascade Kingdom thus becomes a life-sized lesson: explore, capture, and collect to progress.

The end-of-zone reward, a multi-moon obtained after defeating the boss, provides the decisive energy. It allows Mario to set course for the Sand Kingdom, the desert kingdom that is the next destination of the adventure.

Madame Broode and Chain Chompikins, the First Boss

The kingdom's boss is Madame Broode, the matriarch of the Broodals, the group of rabbits organizing the forced marriage between Bowser and Princess Peach. She is the first of these adversaries that Mario truly faces.

She fights alongside Chain Chompikins, her golden Chain Chomp which she holds on a leash like an expensive pet, wearing a pink hat matching her own.

The strategy teaches the fundamentals of Odyssey's duels: you must send Chain Chompikins back against his owner using Cappy, repeating the maneuver until victory. This fight serves as a disguised tutorial for the more difficult confrontations to come.

A Prehistoric Setting Inspired by Reality

The atmosphere of the Cascade Kingdom is openly inspired by the Iguazu Falls, the spectacular natural site located on the border between Argentina and Brazil. The kingdom's tiered waterfall directly mirrors its immensity.

Fossils, dinosaur bones, and massive stone blocks compose a raw and mineral landscape, very different from the colorful worlds Mario will visit later. The Jurassic theme gives the area a strong and immediately recognizable identity.

This setting creates a lasting nostalgia: because it marks the first hours of gameplay, the Cascade Kingdom remains, for many players, the most iconic setting in all of Super Mario Odyssey.

Collecting Everything: Moons, Coins, and Souvenirs

The kingdom contains a total of 42 Power Moons, including the multi-moon, which alone is equivalent to three classic moons. Enough to turn every corner into a hunting ground.

You can also collect 50 regional coins in the shape of stone disks, the local currency to spend in the Crazy Cap traveling shop to equip yourself and decorate the Odyssey.

  • The T-Rex model costs 5 regional coins and freezes the predator in a realistically roaring pose.
  • The Triceratops trophy costs 25 regional coins and reproduces the fossil that dominates the entire kingdom.

Finally, once the main adventure is completed, new additional moons appear in the area, extending exploration well beyond this very first visit.

Cascade Kingdom at a Glance

French Name Pays des Chutes
Original Name (VO) Cascade Kingdom
Game Super Mario Odyssey (2017)
Visit Order 2nd kingdom, after Cap Kingdom
Boss Madame Broode and Chain Chompikins
Power Moons 42 (including 1 multi-moon)
Regional Coins 50 (stone disks)
Real-life Inspiration Iguazu Falls (Argentina/Brazil)

🍄 Want to extend the adventure? Discover our Mario posters in the shop.

FAQ

  • Is the Cascade Kingdom the first kingdom in Super Mario Odyssey?
    No, it's the second. It comes right after the Cap Kingdom, which mainly serves as an introduction. The Cascade Kingdom, however, is the game's first true open exploration area.
  • What do you discover for the first time in this kingdom?
    You learn about Capture, Odyssey's central mechanic. It's here that Mario takes control of a Chain Chomp to break rocks and a living T-Rex that crushes everything in its path.
  • Who is the boss of the Cascade Kingdom?
    It's Madame Broode, the matriarch of the Broodals, accompanied by her golden Chain Chomp named Chain Chompikins. You defeat her by sending Chain Chompikins back against her with Cappy.
  • How many Power Moons does the Cascade Kingdom contain?
    The kingdom contains 42 Power Moons in total, including a multi-moon which is equivalent to three classic moons. You also find 50 regional coins in the shape of stone disks.
  • Which kingdom comes after the Cascade Kingdom?
    Once the Odyssey is repaired and the multi-moon is obtained, Mario sets course for the Sand Kingdom, a vast desert and frozen kingdom that is the next destination.
Back to blog