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Well built with a few quirks

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 28, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Graphics
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Graphically, Super Mario Galaxy is not as detailed as some other titles (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix); however, we can overlook that and just ask whether the graphics are appropriate for a Mario title. The answer to that question is a resounding yes. Many games are inconsistent between movie cutscenes and gameplay, but this Mario title never misses a beat. There are lots of bold solid colors, minimal shading, minimal anti-aliasing, and almost no shadows or lighting effects. This is deliberate, and evokes the feel of the original Mario title (and so I'm told the Mario 64 title, which I have never played).

This lack of detail conveniently also allows the game to work nearly flawlessly on the Wii with almost no frame rate issues (the exception being at least one of the underwater sequences - water is hard to animate). It does tend to look a little jagged at times on larger screens because of the Wii's limited output resolution, but it's an acceptable sacrifice. Overall, I give it a 4/5 stars for graphics. I suspect that future titles will find ways around the Wii's graphical limitations, and we'll see better-looking games with the same or better performance, but for a relatively early title it looks pretty darn good.

Music / Sound
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This is where Galaxy shines. A lot of the music is fully orchestrated, and it blends almost seamlessly with the more electronic musical themes, including all of the old favorites. They have cleverly layered multiple tracks so that they can switch between them to add or subtract additional orchestration at key moments (like when you set Bowser spinning around the planet, the orchestra suddenly chimes in much louder), and even the sound effects (with a few exceptions) are engineered so that they stay in the same key as the music. This is all designed to make the game as immersive as possible, and they pull it off beautifully. (Incidentally, this multi-layered musical approach was also used to great effect in Twilight Princess. Other game manufacturers really ought to pay attention to this and consider using this technique for their own games.) I give the music and sound easily 5/5 stars.

Controls
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The main problem that I've found is that the Nunchuk thumb controller is a little hard to steer accurately. Also, there are times when you really want to adjust the camera *just so* and the game just won't let you do it. This gets frustrating when you're forced to jump over chasms at awkward angles. Part of this is deliberate (for example, when gravity changes, you can't adjust the world to be right-side up and you have to compensate), but at other times it just seems like poor implementation. It seems to me that using the Wiimote pointer would be the "right" way to aim the camera, but instead they force you to use an awkward combination of the D-pad and the Nunchuk's C button. There is a way to temporarily look at your situation in first-person view, but it's rarely useful and frustrating to control. I also had a great deal of trouble controlling Mario underwater, and flying was really quite frustrating.

Other than that, the controls are fairly smooth and responsive. The use of the Wiimote pointer to pick up starbits is very efficient, and the Z button works pretty well to do long jumps and back-flips, although if you're not lined up exactly right (darn camera!) you'll go flying off the edge of a cliff pretty quickly.

The 2-player option is surprisingly useful for later levels where you're too focused on not dying to worry about picking up star bits, so you can have a buddy focus on that and provide you with cover fire. While not the best feature of Galaxy, it's an appreciated and useful addition. Overall, I give the controls 3/5 stars.

Overall Gameplay
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As just about everyone else in the world has pointed out, the level design is phenomenal. There will be countless moments when you look at an upcoming challenge, ponder it for a moment, and then mutter "Oh!" when you figure out what you have to do to overcome it. Then, you'll probably say to yourself, "How clever!" Almost every level has a new and totally unique challenge of some sort. The new Mario suits, which are required to complete your quest, range from the familiar to the rather bizarre. Far from just being power-ups, each suit poses its own unique challenges and limitations.

Each level takes roughly 10-15 minutes to complete - perfect for a quick break between other activities. I like to do the dishes, take a quick Mario break, then go fold some laundry, etc. My only complaint was that if you do save your game and reload, you start back at the observatory and lose all of your extra lives. (Granted, free Marios are exceptionally easy to come by, so this is more of a quibble, although the first time I saw it happen I was a bit taken aback.)

For the exceptional creativity, level of challenge, secret levels and entertaining sub-plots, I give Mario a 5/5 for sheer entertainment value.

Replayability
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For the most part, once you've figured out how to conquer a particular puzzle, you don't really need to tackle it again. Therefore, I'm not sure how replayable this particular title is, as the details of the levels don't really change much (once you've gathered all of the stars from the area). I think some of you might enjoy replaying past levels and trying to better your coin totals. I don't get much out of that personally. I give it roughly 3/5 for replayability, meaning, I wouldn't trade the game in after I beat it, but I'm not sure I would play it again afterwards.

I might consider playing through some of the levels with a second player around to help out, or perhaps I'd be the second player just to see exactly how much I can contribute.

Wow. Who is this Mario guy and where has he been?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 27, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This is my first real Mario game. I never owned Mario Bros. on the NEC or Mario 64. I only picked this game up because my wife read a review on CNN and thought it would be fun. Yeah right, this is Mario...where is Master Chief...

OK. I must hang my head for doubting. This is FUN. First, you can play in short 15 minute bursts or you can pull an all nighter. I am glad it is not the type of game where you have to hit 'check points' in order to save. At least that is the way it seems, I think I saved it on a mission but if I am wrong, I apologize.

The world is amazing. The graphics are very very nice. The control is actually pretty reactive. I thought it might be a bit sluggish with the wii controller and numhcuk but it is pretty tight. The next thing is that there is little frame of reference with respect to what is up, down. It is conceptually like being in space (which I guess you are, hence the word Galaxy). At times, my wife yells in frustration because she moves the wrong way and crashes head first into a baddy but I like it and have not had such problems.

The story is compelling. It is nothing as earth shattering as defeating an alien race trying to end humanity but the game has a point and I am having a lot of fun getting there. I have only had the game for about a week but have put in an hour a night and have actually repeated a few completed levels to see if I could do it better. I do not see myself rushing through this.

The other thing that I keep in mind is the legend of the Mario games for having hidden things and easter eggs. Though, I have no first hand experience with such, I take great pleasure in figuring things out in this game. I will not use a guide and I will not look online for hints. So far, so good.

SUMMARY: I am an adult without the ability to spend hours and hours gaming (though I wish I could). I never thought I would like this game but once I put it in you can get playing and actually start accomplishing goals in a short time. I mention that because I also have the Zelda game for the Wii and did not really like it because it takes some time to get into the game and I never have gotten into it.

Fun, but no 5 stars

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 26, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I got this the day it was released, but waited a long time to review - I was hoping to discover "5-star utopia" but it hasn't quite materialized. Don't get me wrong - this is a great game - but I find myself playing Super Paper Mario a bit more than this.

Awesom

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 22, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Mario Galaxy Stretches the limit of creativity in this new installment of mario. Who would've known that an italian plumber created by some japanese would be so famous today.

Good Mario Game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 21, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I have to admit when I first saw the screen prints of this game I thought it was going to be awful and wrote it off as a bad game. Then I was in Bestbuy and they had it set up where you can play it so I thought let me give it a try. I was so surprised how much fun the game was that I got it that day.

The game is a lot of fun and controling mario is very easy. The premise of the game is that these star bits have been lost amongst different galaxies. Mario has to ghather them all up and then for save Peach. I enjoy the game a lot and am so glad I had an opportunity to play the game or I would have missed out on one of the best Wii games

My son loves it!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 20, 2008
Author: Amazon User

My 10 year old is a Mario junkie, and he loves Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii. It's a different point of view, as your taken upside down and all around.... very interesting from a viewers point of view. Graphics are good, game is different then most Mario Games, as it is set in space, yet has some of the same game playing aspects you'd expect from a Mario Game.

Best. Mario. Ever.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 20, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Or rather the best 3-D mario ever. Simply one of the greatest games I've ever played. I've always been a mario fan but THIS really blew my mind. And I think even non-mario fans would enjoy it because it's really unlike any game I've ever played. Although the controls get a little confusing- just because you're upside down so much- this is definatly a buy for any Wii owner, and really is a reason to buy the wii. It's that good.

A Mario You Will NEVER forget!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 19, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game is simply amazing. The graphics are probably the best I have ever seen on the Wii, and it is definitely the best Mario game out there right now. Players will find themselves immersed in the game from the get go. The controls are very easily understood, and the wii does a great job of balancing those controls. I'll admit, some of the boss battles are annoying in which you have to throw koopa shells at a ship in front of you while monsters are attacking you from all around, but hey, that's the point of a video game. If the boss battles were easy, nobody would have any fun. The galaxies themselves are simply amazing. Over time, the game's story gets more intense as you unlock chapters in a storybook that you can read anytime you like in the library. You only need to collect 60 stars to beat the game, but die-hard Mario fans will eagerly collect all 120. When this game was released, I bought it on impulse, seeing the catchy title, and hearing the good reviews. However, the only problem with this game is the swimming controls. It is very difficult to attempt to do well in underwater levels because the controls often do the opposite of what you're trying to do. Otherwise, this is a nice solid game with a perfect balance of just about every aspect of gameplay. Well done nintendo.

My son thinks this game rocks

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 18, 2008
Author: Amazon User

If 3D games make you sick, stay away. There is no up, down, sideways, or any such direction. Very cool. Just like the Galaxy. Very nicely done. No wonder its one of the top rated Wii games so far.

Absolutely Fabulous!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 25, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I have yet to write a review for a video game, but this warrants a review. This has to be the best $50 I ever spent on a video game (or on anything for that matter). For starters, this game is never ending. We got it for my 6 yo for Christmas and I have yet to complete it (and the 6yo) is even further behind. Not only is it long it is very exciting and engaging and you are always playing to see what is in the next level

I will be disappointed when I actually finish the game

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