Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) Review
Posted by Ramon Aranda on 12.05.2007
Beam me up and leave me in space. Mario Galaxy delivers the finest platformer to date!
Title: Super Mario Galaxy
Publisher: Nintendo
Type: Platformer
Players: 1-2
When Mario 64 burst out into the scene for the N64, it was quickly acknowledged as one of the best games of all time. It redefined the franchise in its first foray into the 3D world while also redefining video games in general. Though fans waited patiently for its sequel, codenamed Mario 128, Nintendo instead gave us Super Mario Sunshine. A pretty good game in its own right, but a far cry from the Mario we’ve come to know and love. The Mushroom Kingdom was nowhere to be found and instead of donning super cool outfits like the Tanooki suit, Mario was relegated to carrying around the FLUDD in a remote island. Again, the game was pretty solid but for a Mario game, something seemed a little bit off.
But after a decade of waiting, fans finally get the true sequel to “Mario 64” in “Super Mario Galaxy”. As usual, Bowser is up to his old tricks in capturing Princess Peach in what appears to be his most devious scheme yet. After Mario fails to thwart Bowser’s plans, he finds himself getting blasted into space. The adventure that follows finds Mario where he has never been before.
Gameplay
Within the first few minutes of tackling Mario’s latest adventure, I couldn’t help but put on a huge grin. You’ll realize immediately that this is the true Mario game you’ve been waiting for since his Nintendo 64 debut. You’ll control Mario with the analog stick while jumping with the A-button. The Wii remote is used to point at the screen and collect starbits which can be used for attacking by using the trigger button. Shaking the Wii remote or nunchuck causes Mario to use his spin attack. The great thing about the controls is that although you are using both nunchuck and controller, the waggle functionality never seems forced or cumbersome. Before I ever had a chance to play Galaxy, I feared that the controls would be confusing and seeing videos of the game in motion didn’t put me at ease either. I’m happy to say though that everything just feels very natural and you’ll never feel lost controlling Mario.
A neat little feature that was added to the game is the inclusion of a quasi 2nd player. With a second Wii remote in hand, a second player can take control of another cursor on the screen that can help you collect starbits as well as use them against enemies. The first player will still be able to use his own cursor so you won’t lose any functionality by allowing someone else to jump into the game.
As you kick off your adventure, you’ll find yourself on a strange planet with a new set of friends headed up by a new princess named Rosalina. To help her out as well as the Mushroom Kingdom, you’ll encounter new planets within new galaxies in search of Great Stars which will help power up Rosalina’s station; thus enabling you to go find and rescue Princess Peach. You’ll have access to a single galaxy when you first begin. While in Rosalina’s station, you’ll find various observatories that house newer galaxies. Much like in Mario 64, you’ll be able to visit the same planet more than once to collect extra stars that will unlock newer planets. I was a bit concerned at first as I feared that every planet would be miniscule in size but as I progressed further into the game, I encounter much larger planets. What makes each planet so intriguing is that they each have unique environments and new and exciting ways to control Mario. Platforming has never been this much fun and you’ll also find new powerups that will help Mario gain access to areas that appear impossible to reach at first. Each planet just appears to be so well done as the developers used some new ideas mixed with old formulas that makes everything appear very fresh.
While the game appears a bit on the easy side at first, you’ll find out sooner than later that the difficulty level ramps up. Though it’s possible to beat the game with under 70 stars, you’ll want to revisit some older planets to attain the 120-plus stars available in the game. Some added twists are found when meteors rain down on some of the galaxies. These meteors will open up new stars to be found in planets already visited and work like challenges. For instance, you maybe find yourself back on a planet you thought you had already completed only to find a new challenge such as beating the level within a certain time frame or with low health. It’s a nice touch and more reasons to visit past galaxies to see if any meteors have opened up new stars to find.
A new twist to the game is that although you are in search for Princess Peach, you’ll discover that Rosalina has a story of her own. When you wander into her library, she’ll read from a story book to the Lumas (living star-creatures that she is helping out) where she explains the story of why she is there. It’s a side story that you don’t have to bother with but it’s a welcomed addition that makes the game that much bigger.
Graphics
To be frank, when Nintendo President Satoru Iwata told Nintendo fans that we’d all say “wow” after seeing the graphics on the Nintendo Wii, we all expected something special. After seeing some of the titles on the Wii, fans were clearly disappointed. Super Mario Galaxy however finally takes us to that special place that we’ve been looking for. The game looks absolutely beautiful and though it’s not in HD, the look rivals even some Xbox 360 titles. The game looks exquisite in widescreen and progressive scan as the vibrant colors and rich atmosphere scream “look at me!” There is excellent use of lighting and bump mapping that makes the characters and environment come to life. The water effects are superb while the textures look magnificent.
This is one of those games that has to be played on an HDTV to truly be appreciated as an analog TV does not do this game justice. “Super Mario Galaxy” is a technical achievement on many fronts and Nintendo really pushed the hardware to maximize its potential. Developers need to look here when designing their games as Mario Galaxy shows what the Wii can really do. One of the things that really stood out for me was how beautiful the backgrounds looked as well as all of the characters who seem to come to life. You seriously need to see it to believe it!
Sound
If there is one thing besides the graphical brilliance of Galaxy that makes it any better is the stupendous musical score. One of the complaints about Twilight Princess was that reviewers wondered why Nintendo didn’t add orchestrated music to a game that seemed tailor made for it. Not to mention that the Wii was clearly capable of such a thing. Well Nintendo finally got it right with Mario Galaxy as the orchestrated music is so beautifully performed that you can’t help but smile. You’ll find new music that seems like candy to your ears while also finding new takes on older tunes. The first time I heard the music from Bowser’s ships (Super Mario Bros. 3), I thought to myself, “hell yes!”
You won’t be alone if you ever just let Mario stand around while listening to the music that sounds magnificent coming through a surround sound. Using Pro Logic II is highly recommended and you’ll be missing out if you stick with a stereo setup.
Fun Factor
“Super Mario Galaxy” is one of those games that you’ll enjoy whether you’re part of the hardcore or casual crowd. It’s easy enough to pick up and start playing but the hardcore gamer will find a lot to look forward to. As I mentioned, not only does the game’s difficulty increase exponentially but there are many times where the game forces you to think about your next step. The music and graphics are awesome but the most fun comes from simply controlling Mario through the various galaxies that you’ll come across.
There are so many things to do and things to explore that you’ll be hard pressed to put the controller down. You’ll rarely feel like you’re in the same place twice as there are so many intriguing planets to visit, each with their own unique flare. The newer power ups such as the Bee suit give Mario new ways to interact and that’s just the beginning.
Lasting Appeal
As I mentioned before, the game can be completed with about half as many stars as there are available but there are tons of hidden passageways and stars for you to find that even if you beat the game in a few days, you’ll want to keep coming back. Even as I’m writing this, I can’t stop thinking about wanting to go back and find some of the stars that I missed out on.
The addition of Rosalina’s story is also a nice touch and extends the game which means more Galaxy. Just as some of Mario’s greatest adventures such as Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World and Mario 64, Galaxy is one of those classics that you’ll want to revisit over and over again.
The 411
Though we had to wait a long time for a true sequel to Mario 64, the wait was most definitely worth it. Nintendo got everything right on so many levels and I don’t exaggerate when I say that “Super Mario Galaxy” is the greatest platformer of all time and one of the greatest games I’ve ever played. No Nintendo Wii owner should go without this gem and soon to be classic in their game library. NO ONE!!
Graphics
10.0
Best looking Wii game, period. Highly detailed and rich in style.
Gameplay
10.0
The controls work seamlessly; everything just works extremely well.
Sound
10.0
The musical score would sell itself. Astounding!
Lasting Appeal
10.0
A timeless classic.
Fun Factor
10.0
I haven't enjoyed myself with a game this much since Ocarina of Time.
