Super Mario Galaxy

The Good
I have nothing against Italian people. In fact, I think I really like Italians. I mean: they have really smoking hot women, excellent food, a long and fascinating history, and I enjoy the works of Dario Argento, and Federico Fellini. I just thought that it was a funny one-liner. So please, no hate mail as I already have an inbox full of it already.

So, I finally got a Wii. I knew the first game I had to get was Super Mario Galaxy. So this is my first Wii review. Are you as excited as me? No? Well that’s just because you are an assh…..I mean on to my review!

Like many gamers I grew up playing Mario games, and many other plat-formers. Even now as an adult I still enjoy them every now and again. There is just something fascinating to me about a game that is fun whether you are 8 or 80.(Unlike some callous gamers, I do not think that Mario games are just for certain age groups.-MM-)

In Mario’s latest adventure, we find that the Mushroom Kingdom, is celebrating the Star Festival. When the stars are out in full twilight, and magical Star-bits fall from the sky. Our fearless hero is invited to the castle, for a private party with the Princess.(Possibly for some backdoor action.-MM-) When, gasp! Bowser attacks, and Princess Peach, and her entire castle are spirited away. Mario gives chase, but cannot catch up. He is then sucked into space. He eventually ends up on a Space Station, where he meets the mysterious Rosalina. She offers him a Quid Pro Quo, help recover enough Power Stars, 60 total, and the Station will be powered up, allowing Mario to fly to the center of the galaxy and rescue The Princess….again.

Of course, this a Mario game. So completionists, can score all 120 Power Stars. I ended the game with 64 or so.(However, I am going to try and get them all.-MM-) There are also special Stars to collect. Red, and green. Red allows Mario to fly, while green opens up a new area to explore, or “galaxy”. There are also many other secrets. What’s a Mario game without them? Eventually, Luigi, and the toads, will help Mario find some of the “hidden” stars. Mario will be on his own for the rest.

There are many Galaxies to explore, and many of Mario’s old super powers return. Starman and Firepower. As well as new ones, Boo Mario, and Ice Mario. He will also fight old foes, goombas, boo’s, and green and red turtles.

The boss fights are much better. Now you do not repeat the same fights over and over again. Like in some Mario titles. Like Super Mario 64. The stages or, “Dark Star Reactors”. Are always different as well. Some times you will battle a big baddie. Other times it will be Baby Bowser, and yet other times it will be the big dingus himself: King Bowser.

Don’t be scared by the Wii Remote and Nunchuck. Once you learn how to use it, you will find that it is second nature. And Mario Galaxy is a good game to start with, as the learning curve is low.

The graphics are very good. And while it’s no: Xbox 360, high-end PC, or even Playstation 3. It still looks good. Better yet it looks good either in SD or HD. Unlike many Jap games for the other two consoles. One of the only other Wii games, that looks this good is Sonic: And The Secret Rings.

The music is quite nice, from the spacey themes, to the remixes of familiar old tracks. The sound effects are much what you would come to expect from a Mario game, love it or hate it. There is minimal voice acting. Which sucks, but the little that there is sounds good.

The Bad
This game is very easy. Much more so than Mario 64, or Super Mario Sunshine. Some levels do offer a challenge, but most of these can be skipped. On the plus side, it is better than getting stuck in the game and getting frustrated.

Some of the new powers are dubious. Like Bee Mario, for example.

My mushroom kingdom for full voice acting! Since Nintendo usually hires quality voice over people, would it kill them to have more of it?

The Bottom Line
I was skeptical. Epically after the let down of Super Mario Sunshine. Don’t be, Super Mario Galaxy, is a fine example of how Nintendo has still got it, even after all these years. And is a great game for those new to the Wii.

The Good
Super Mario Galaxy is bright, colorful and inoffensive. The game play is solid and the music is competent if a little derivative. The inclusion of symphonic tracks is finally welcome.

The Bad
The fact that barely anything has changed. Admit it, take away the sphere walking and star grabbing and you have essentially the same game that Nintendo released in 1996. Call me cynical but I don't believe 1 gimmick can carry an entire game and the sphere walking thing doesn't really impress me. The fact that little has changed since 1996 is weak and the only reason people love this game is because of a certain mustachioed plumber that has become somewhat of a messiah.

The Bottom Line
Super Mario 64 with Sphere Walking.

The Good
Well, graphics are colourful, and controls are reliable. Musics is the best part in this game, nicely done music with orchestrated soundtrack, which adds atmosphere in the game.

Good thing is bubble blowing, where you get stuck in the bubble, and then you use star pointer to blow bubble around.

Rolling the ball is also one of the good things, which I discovered. You jump to the ball, and then you must tilt Wii Remote to the specific direction where you want to roll the ball.

The Bad
Controlling Mario or Luigi in Spring suit is kind of frustrating.

And even amongst other thing is, that there is one "grisly" death animation, where Mario or Luigi is Drowning, or possibly getting killed in Poisonous Swamp, which I founded too offensive for younger players.

The Bottom Line
It is actually same as Super Mario 64. You collect stars to gain access to more and more of the galaxies. Some of the galaxies can only accessed, like feeding Hungry Lumas, and even amongst other things. If you love 3D platformers, then you may love this game, because this game is AWESOME!!