Super Mario Galaxy, is not only one of Wii’s most anticipated games, but a sequel to Mario Sunshine, which was considered a hit among some fans and a miss among others. Sunshine played it safe and strayed little from the 3D Mario formula established in Mario 64. It added a water pack, but had very little innovation other than that. Despite what you thought of Sunshine, most Mario fans will love Super Mario Galaxy. Mario 64 was previously my favorite Mario game, but Galaxy even tops that legendary game. Instead of adding a measly water pack, Galaxy adds space and gravity to the mix. This isn’t just a change in scenery; space affects gameplay in multiple ways. Mario can run around spherical objects, and the camera controls flawlessly while doing this. Unlike previous 3D Mario games, the camera adjusts automatically, and almost always gives you the appropriate viewing angle.
Controlling Mario is a blast. He has many of his moves from the previous games, but Galaxy includes a few new ones, such as a spinning attack and spin jump, which you perform by shaking the Wii remote. Unlike some games that offer unnecessary controller waggle, Galaxy adds the perfect amount. There are also special bonus stages, such as moving a ball or bubble using motion control. These levels offer a refreshing change of pace from normal Mario action. Most of the regular levels are a lot of fun as well. There are plenty of physics based puzzles that have you walking up walls and moving upside down. Power-ups also make a return to the Mario franchise. You can use fire flowers, coil up and jump like a spring, turn invincible, as well as other things. Many of the levels also include boss fights. Most of these boss fights won’t be challenging to seasoned gamers, but they’re still fun, memorable experiences. I found most of the levels in Mario Galaxy to be relatively easy, but a few of the challenges towards the end will force you to use your skills you should have developed from your time playing the game. Some players may find the coin levels to be a nuisance, but many of them have you doing different things, such as finding 100 coins in a time limit, or figuring out how to get the coins on a level with falling floors. I found them to better experiences than coin levels in previous Mario games, and only a couple of them were a tad frustrating. One of the things Galaxy does best is that it is able to cater to casual and hardcore gamers alike. Almost anyone can complete the game with 60 stars, but some of the optional stars are more difficult to obtain.
The storyline in Super Mario Galaxy doesn’t go beyond typical Mario fare, but it is well done. There are cutscenes at the appropriate moments, but Nintendo never overdoes it. They use the in-game engine during cutscenes, unlike Mario Sunshine’s pre-rendered scenes. I wasn’t a fan of the Piantas in Sunshine, so I was happy to see all the classic Mario characters, such as toads and goombas make a return in Galaxy. Airships from Super Mario Brothers 3 also make a return in Galaxy. There are plenty of new enemies in addition to classic Mario foes. It is a perfect combination that will please long-time series fans.
Super Mario Galaxy has phenomenal graphics. While it is unfortunate that the game can’t run in 720p, it looks great on analogue and HD sets alike, and runs in widescreen at 60fps. The art design is gorgeous, and the wide variety of locales keeps the game fresh. The levels in this game are broken up into short segments, much like Super Mario Brothers 3, so none of the areas ever become boring. The only Wii game that looks as good as Super Mario Galaxy is Metroid Prime 3, but what Galaxy does with its environments and camera is impressive.
The music in Super Mario Galaxy is excellent, especially in comparison to Sunshine. It has plenty of remixes of songs from Super Mario Brothers 3, which has a place in many gamers’ hearts. The new songs are also of excellent quality. I was glad to see that Nintendo finally went ahead and orchestrated many of the tracks in the game. Unfortunately, voices weren’t added to Galaxy. Some gamers may not care, but it would have been cool to see the portly plumber speak, or at least his nemesis, Bowser. I suppose it’s better to have no voices than bad voices though.
Excellent controls, an enjoyable story, memorable music, and innovative gameplay make Super Mario Galaxy a classic that will be remembered for years. It makes up for all of Sunshine’s shortcomings, and brings innovation to what could have become a stagnant series. If you only buy one game in 2007, make it Mario Galaxy. This game should not be missed, whether you are a casual or hardcore gamer.