Game Review - Super Mario Galaxy

Quick Notes -

Pros:
- It's a new Mario game! Do I need to say more?

Cons:
- The game is too easy (in my opinion).
- The noises some of the lumas make freaks me right the f@#$ out.
- Game play can leave some players nauseous.


Initial Impressions -

I suppose I am a little biased. I've been playing Mario games since the NES days. I have very fond memories of Super Mario World 3, but that is a different story. Even taking this into consideration, this game still blows me away. I can't tell you everything that's great about this game in the initial impressions though, because then I wouldn't have anything else to write about!


Graphics (9/10)

The Wii is not known for being a graphical powerhouse. Compared to some of the other next generation systems, it's almost laughable how underpowered it is. As I was playing this game, however, I never saw the game as ugly. I was having so much fun I didn't care that I couldn't see the sweat on Mario's brow as he fought a boss or the gum stuck to the bottom of his shoes. A Mario game doesn't need to be graphically amazing to be great; I personally think a photo-realistic Mario would be a little freaky. In short, this game is a testament to what great art direction and meticulous attention to detail can produce. If you're not a fan of primary colors, though, you're pretty much out of luck.


Music (9.5/10)

I was very pleasantly surprised by this aspect of Super Mario Galaxy. The game could have simply rehashed 20 years of Mario music, and the fanboys would have been happy. I am pleased to report that this is by no means what happened. There is a full symphonic score to back up Mario and his escapades; everything feels as epic as it should, and that's definitely a good thing. Of course, there are references and repeats of the sounds of yesteryear, but they aren't the main attraction. What really impresses me about the sound tracks is that it sounded great, even though my tiny TV's worthless, undersized speakers. That really is a feat!


Controls (8.9/10)

I'm going to give the controls a little lower of a score than any other section. I feel there are a few lingering problems with the controls that should be addressed before the next Mario game. First, underwater levels are still wonky. Minor spoiler alert (roll over to view): This same problem applies to when you get red-star flight in the post-Bowser game. Secondly, I would have liked to see more use of the Wii-remote. In game, the most you can do with the Mote is collect star bits with an on-screen pointer and spin attack by shaking the Mote. This works well for its intended purpose, but it be no means re-invents the wheel. I can appreciate this, "If it isn't broken don't fix it," attitude, but it might have been cool to see more control choices (or even the ability to hook in a classic controller). Finally, I think the power-ups are too few and far between. What's more, the spring power-up can be really tough to control accurately, but maybe that was just my experience.


Gameplay (9/10)

I was astonished by this aspect of Super Mario Galaxy. The level design was great up until the very end (i.e. fighting Bowser), and unlocking new galaxies to play was a great treat. There was a great amount of variation, and I never thought to myself, "Not THIS mission again..." I do have two complaints that keep this category from reaching a 10 though. First, I thought the game was too easy. I was able to breeze through the game and earn enough stars to beat Bowser without ever getting a game over. Granted, there are definitely some tough spots that will require many retries (the disappearing mansion in the Boo galaxy was a good example of this), on the whole you can be almost every level in a life or two. Even after collecting 80 stars, I've never seen this game as super-difficult. It could be that Nintendo wanted to make things family-friendly (and not mind-boggling frustrating for its key demographics), but at least part of me longs for a challenge that's a little closer in difficulty to "Asshole Mario (see below)," after I've completed two-thirds of the game. Secondly, I didn't think there was enough variation in the boss fights. They did become more difficult and demanding, but as long as you could bounce back a projectile or get Bowser tot smash his bottom into a lava pit, you were good. Fighting Bowser does get a little more interesting during the final battle (I won't go into details), but not enough to offset my complaints. Ultimately these factors can't tarnish the final game, but it should definitely be improved for the next game.

On a quick side note, this game is a real mind-bender with respect to moving around some of the galaxies. At some points, my brother came by and watched me play the game, asking, "How can you play that and not get sick?" It was never a major consideration for me, but if you get really bad motion sickness it might have a negative impact on your enjoyment on certain sections of the game.


Closing Thoughts

Overall this game is a great total package. It's got the gameplay, the graphics, the music, the fun factor, and the replayability out the ears. If you own a Wii and love platforming action, get this game. If you don't own a Wii and are willing to face-punch people to get one this holiday season, this game is definitely a great place to start of your collection.


Final Verdict (Not An Average): 9.6

(I have come to the realization that the last review I did had a letter grade for a final verdict, despite the fact that I had been numerically rating each aspect of the game. I'm not really sure what I was thinking. This review ought to set things right.)


Opening To The Game:



Asshole Mario: