Let’s get it over with — Super Mario Galaxy is the best game I have covered since I started writing about games for Boys’ Life.
| THE LOWDOWN
Nintendo of America for Wii
Graphics: 10.0 Sound: 9.0 Gameplay: 10.0 Replay Value: 9.0 Overall Score: 9.5
Pros: Great graphics that wouldn’t look any better on a more powerful system; a HUGE universe; challenging puzzles that sometimes seem impossible but are beatable if you keep at it.
Cons: Does not save extra lives when you quit; some camera issues. |
Here’s the story: Once again, Princess Peach has been kidnapped by the evil and lovesick Bowser. This time, though, Bowser takes her into outer space. Instead of running from castle to castle in search of Peach, you fly from one planet to the next.
Going from one world to the next is nothing new with Mario. Mario games have long been collections of unrelated mini games and adventures brought loosely together by a skinny storyline. The only things holding Galaxy together are the basic characters, graphics and in-game physics. Some parts of the game are about exploration, and others are about fighting, racing and puzzle solving.
The neat thing about Galaxy is how well all these elements work together to create one spectacular game.
OPENING NEW DOORS
Before Mario can rescue Princess Peach, he must collect stars by going to various realms and solving problems. In Super Mario 64, the realms were hidden around a castle. In Super Mario Galaxy, the realms are hidden around an enormous universe. Don’t take the name “Super Mario Galaxy” to mean this game is limited to one single galaxy, or you will be in for a big surprise.
Mario can collect just over 120 stars in this game, and he simply jumps from one planetoid to the next. Flying through space is done without suits or breathing gear. The hub for all of these worlds is the Comet Observatory, a cosmic campus floating in space.
Around the Comet Observatory are several domes through which Mario can enter multiple galaxies. Mario can’t enter every dome or every galaxy until he’s earned his stars. You start out with one dome and open more by rescuing Power Stars from the galaxies in each dome.
Mario’s chief mode of transportation is a cannon called Launch Stars. To use it, simply walk Mario close to it and shake your controller. It pulls Mario in and shoots him straight to his next location.
Sometimes Mario uses Pull Stars instead, which draw him in using some kind of tractor beam. Like Launch Stars, Pull Stars are safe and easy to use.
Finding a few stars in one galaxy will generally open another and then another. Pretty soon you can enter every galaxy in the dome. Then, when you find a few more stars, you get the biiiiiiiig battle against a member of the Bowser Clan.
Galaxy includes lots of battles against large and mean boss-type characters. Don’t expect to win all of these battles your first time out. When you win against a galactic boss, you get a Grand Star, which is more important than the Power Stars you collect throughout the game. Finding Grand Stars speeds you on your way toward the ultimate battle.
THE MANY FACES OF MARIO
Mario is a plumber of many skills. In this game he flies through space, explores water planets both above and below surface, competes in high-speed races riding a manta ray like a jet ski, rolls through obstacle courses on a giant ball, travels in a bubble and flings himself through space using rubbery plants called sling pods.
Obviously he didn’t learn all these talents in plumbing school. He develops many of them in the game as he finds mushrooms and flowers that enable him to change. Finding a Boo Mushroom, for instance, changes Mario into a ghost that can fly between bars and through special walls, as well as turn invisible.
Bee Mushrooms turn Mario into a worker bee, allowing him short bursts of flight and making him light enough to stand on flowers.
Some talents, however, come naturally to Mario. He needs no special gear to ride a manta ray, other than the ray itself. Ditto for riding in bubbles or on top of a rolling ball.
MORE AND MORE CHALLENGING
Be warned: Super Mario Galaxy is not an easy game. The first levels are little more than a tutorial. It doesn’t take much to win that first ray-surfing race, and the friendly bee galaxy is easily conquered, as long as you learn how to fly in spurts.
Don’t get cocky when you beat Bowser Junior and his planet-stomping robot. You may have won yourself a Grand Star, but you’re still playing on the JV level.
Things get harder almost immediately. You won’t make it through the Sling Pod Galaxy until you develop fast reflexes and a sharp aim.
With a game this size, you’re bound to stumble into one or two styles of play that test your abilities. My biggest challenge was the sling pods. They were easy enough to use, but my aim was often just a tad off. Instead of sending Mario from one pod to the next, I would launch him into space.
Super Mario Galaxy will test you, and it will taunt you with levels you didn’t quite pass that you’re absolutely sure you can pass with one more try. You will get frustrated while still having a good time.
CELEBRATE THE OLD WITH THE NEW
For better or worse, your parents may like Super Mario Galaxy as much as you do. For one thing, they might have grown up playing the original Super Mario Bros. Galaxy has many of the same traps, settings and villains encountered 20 years ago, but now in gorgeous 3D.
Galaxy also has a lot of cool new stuff. Along with the new worlds, new abilities and amazing new graphics, it also has terrific new styles of gameplay. And the controls are right on. Whether you’re playing as a ghost, rolling the ball, flying through space or whatever, the controls behave exactly as you expect them to.
The game is not perfect, but the flaws are small. My biggest complaint was that you can’t save free lives. It’s fairly easy to build up a good supply of them by gathering little gems called Star Bits. But no matter how many lives I earned, when I quit the game there would only be four men when I started it up again.
So here’s the bottom line: If you don’t own a Wii, Super Mario Galaxy probably isn’t a good enough reason to buy one. If you were thinking of getting a Wii, this game might tip the scales. If you own a Wii—what are you waiting for?
it is the best game i have ever played on
My score out of 10: 9.25 Second Opinion: my little brother rates it 7.9
This game is one of my favorites
This isn’t a good game, its dumb.
2 year old explosions, etc
if you like that, though, buy the game
Really, then why did all the major review gave it over a 9/10?
This game rox!
This is a great game! !!
! o
I WONDER WHY THEY DON’T MAKE IT FOR DS?
My cousin has the game.Its awesome
THIS GAME ROCKS!!! (i have it)
this game RULSE!!!
well iv only had a wii for one or two years and iv already saved princes peach and after that you need to get a lot of power stars to open an entire new world!!! how many? go figure.
i love the game because im almost at the end.
Its a good game! i would give it a 100!
i own that game, and i love it!!!!!
I love the game me and my freind all ready saved peach and I got past the last Bowser battle it was HARD!!!!!!!!! The hardest Bowser level is the dark matter base. My faveret levels are beach bowl galixy,ghostly galixy,hony hive galixy and Fate of the univers. I LOVE THIS GAME!!!!!!!!!!!
I beat this game and it was tuff. I sujest you try the game it was fun and I beat the Mario side and Luigi.
Super Mario Galaxy is a great game because I already have 3 Grand Stars and I am working on my 4th one.
I beat it in 1 min easy with a cheat because I work at nintendo and if you have new super mario brothers hold down L and R and pick a file and you will be luigi only for DS.
YO drake bell ,you really him? wered u gt it!
BEST GAME EVA!!
I got all 120 stars and unlocked playing as luigi. He is faster and jumps higher. now I’m trying to win with luigi so i can get the 121st
IT’S AWSOME!
I love this game because you can change into Bee Mario,boo Mario,rainbow Mario,ice Mario,fire Mario,and spring Mario.Also becauseit has new foes.
sometimes it can be easy but sometimes it can be hard and when you can’t beat it for a long time it gets boring
Wow and I thought it would be EASY
i got this and won it 100% like a munth ago!!! if u get 120 stars with mario, u get luigi. you get 120 stars with luigi and u get the star festavull lvl!!! relly, it ant that hard!
i loveeeeeeeee this game becuse i have a wii
this game is AWSOME!!!!!!!! I mean,floating in a galaxy,its in 3-D,you can fight other foes (exept for Bowser that`s a old one) you can find Luigi and last but not least YOU CAN CHANGE OF MARIO!!!!!
I would like to play Super Mario galaxygame because I am a huge Mario fan
It looks REALLY COOL
i would like to play super Mario Galaxy game becuse i lika Mario
i only need 17 more stars. this game is awesome!!! i have an idea. when you are luigi its not super mario galaxy. its super luigi galaxy.
super mario galaxy is the best game ever please play
i beat it in 30 min easy you try i did a code and i won ha
I have all three green stars.
Do you mean you play with luigi, or you are luigi?
cool
I LOVE HOW MARIO LOOKES IN 3D [EVEN IF I DON'T HAVE THE GAME]!
So I beat the finnal level and rescued Peach. But why do i need 56 more stars, and then what happens please tell me.
it is a toataly coooooooool game
woo hoo 5 stars
The last stage is probally the best.
Super Mario Galaxy is an amazing game. I love it that once you beat it with Mario you go back and beat the whole game again with Luigi.
im only on the bedroom part.
I L-0V-E SUPER MARIO GALAXY ITS FUN TO PLAY ON
I LOVE SUPERMARIO GALAXY, im almost beaten the game you know after you save the universe from Boswer.
A real fun game.I havent beaten yet but im at 4th observatory.Ill give the game a 9.5.
i liek supr maareo golikxy. it is funy to plya.
advice man plz give me advice for the flipswitch galaxy
make it for ps2 i can’t afford a wii
Love it. I just need to know how to beat bowser the first time you met him