Super Mario Galaxy (Wii Review) by Llama

Super Mario Galaxy
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo EAD Tokyo
System: Nintendo Wii
Release: November 1, 2007 (JP), November 12, 2007 (NA), November 14, 2007 (CA), November 16 (EU), November 29, 2007 (AU)

October 19th, 2009, by Llama (Max W-T)- Back in 2002, Super Mario Sunshine practically redefined the gaming genre of platforming. It’s new and creative use of water and related physics, as well as the classic remnants of Super Mario 64, captivated the Nintendo world. Five years later, the folks at Nintendo gave birth to Super Mario Galaxy, which boasted one of the most complex and creative aspects of gravity ever to make it into a video game. But is Galaxy just another platformer with a gravity engine, or does it bring something more to the table?

Quite similar to its predecessors, Super Mario Galaxy’s main plot revolves around Bowser capturing Princess Peach. However, this time around things are a bit different: Bowser and his space fleet yank the castle from the rocky firmament and haul it off to the depths of space. Mario, being the brave plumber he is, grabs onto the castle just before it becomes airborne, but is forced off the structure after they’ve all left the atmosphere. After some undetermined period of time, Mario awakens to be met by Rosalina, a watcher of the stars, and something of a mother figure for Lumas, star-shaped creatures that “grow-up” to become planetoids and galaxies. Together, Rosalina and the Lumas wander the galaxies in their mobile observatory. However, the primary power source of this station, the Power Stars, has been nabbed by Bowser. Thus, Mario’s task becomes to gather the Power Stars to charge the station so that he can be taken to where Princess Peach is and save the day yet again.

The main marketed gameplay element of Super Mario Galaxy is, of course, its gravity simulations. While playing, you’ll have to take into account the gravitational pulls of different planetoids. These pulls permit Mario to walk all the say around more spherical objects, as well as stand on the sides of, and underneath, the flatter celestial bodies. However, not all objects have the same gravitational effect. Mistaking this will lead you spiraling into a black hole and losing a life, in a comical, but mostly frustrating way. Despite this, the gravity is a major redeeming quality that will keep you surprised with its many applications. Planetary gravity simulation is not the only new gameplay feature, though. Galaxy contains races, time challenges, 2-D plane segments, purple coin collections, bubble mazes, brand new transformations, and many other new features.

If you’ve ever picked up a Mario game in the past, you’ll know that certain items provide certain power-ups. Galaxy is no exception. In addition to the classic 1-Up Mushroom, Starman, and Fire Flower, Mario can gain the powers of the Ice Flower, which transforms Mario into a body of ice momentarily, which allows him to move across water and other liquids as if they were solid ground. There’s also Bee Mario and Boo Mario, which give Mario the ability to fly briefly and pass through walls respectively. Finally, there’s the unlockable Red Star, which is somewhat like the Wing Cap in Super Mario 64. A Red Star will allow Mario to fly around the stage until the music ends. This final power-up is used for coin collection missions and to fly around the observatory to gain access to a multitude of hidden 1-Up Mushrooms.

Typically, when the word “Wii” is spoken, most people will imagine intense flailing of the arms in order to do a simple task. Galaxy, however, can easily be played sitting down. The Nunchuck Analog Stick controls Mario’s basic directional movements, while the A Button allows Mario to jump. In addition, the Z Button can be used to crouch down and the B Button fires Star Bits at the enemy. These Star Bits serve as food to the Lumas (allowing certain ones to transform into necessary planetoids and galaxies) as well as a minor long range weapon used to stun simple foes. Finally, spinning the Wiimote quickly causes Mario to launch a useful spinning fist attack that can break open obstacles and bust the heads of some of your enemies. All in all, the controls are very easy to master and even easier to apply.


Super Mario Galaxy has many unique levels to explore, called ‘galaxies’ in-game. Each different galaxy will usually have a particular theme to it that sets it apart from other galaxies. For instance, one level particularly focuses on the use of Bee Mario to overcome your obstacles, while another favors a coin-like approach, where one side of the flat plane is both similar and different to the opposite side. After collecting enough Power Stars in a galaxy, you’ll unlock a boss galaxy. These levels are a little different, as they require a full on battle against a foe many times your size. Completion of these boss galaxies earns you a Grand Star and access to another section of the observatory.

Completely unlike Sunshine or 64, Galaxy also supports a second player. Whereas player 2 might not have a physical manifestation like Mario, he/she does control a sort of magic circle. This directly affects most of the objects and enemies in the game. Holding this circle over a chain chomp will freeze it in place, for example, while, with correct timing, the circle can boost Mario’s hang time, allowing him to reach slightly higher platforms. It may not be a perfect 2-player system, but it certainly makes particular aspects of the game a lot easier, in a way reminiscent of the Tingle Tuner in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

The Verdict

Sound
15/15- Mario games have always been famous for their music, but this one takes the cake. Not only is Galaxy PACKED with new tunes (and good ones at that!), but it remixes a few old favorites. These jams will be pulsing through your brain with every Power Star you collect.

Graphics
20/20- Mario is usually synonymous with good graphics of the era, but Galaxy takes the cake. Its signature style combines not only elements of cartooning, such as Mario himself, but elements of realism, such as the fur on the Queen Bee. Every time Mario is shot through space, the complexity of each individual level is wowed right into your head. A truly outstanding job.

Appeal
25/25- Super Mario Galaxy is a stunning game. It takes platforming and turns it upside down, rotates it, shoots it across the universe, and all in the perfect timing. This game will appeal to both the hardcore gamer and the casual gamer. The former has all the fun of collecting all 120 Stars as quickly as possible (although the story only requires 60 Stars), while the casual gamer has the option to achieve a Power Star in only 5-10 minutes at a time. Whichever your preference is, Galaxy is sure to draw you into its addictive orbit.

Gameplay
38/40- Repetition rarely rears its ugly head in Galaxy. Despite traveling back to the same galaxy more than once, you’ll travel to parts of that galaxy you’d never been to before, as well as achieving Power Stars entirely unique to each individual galaxy. To put it briefly, it’s a blast.

Overall
98/100- Super Mario Galaxy is certainly one of the best platformers to ever grace a Nintendo system, not to mention gaming as a whole. Its intricate levels, simplistically efficient controls, and catchy tunes will keep you playing again and again.

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