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About TIME!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 11
Date: November 26, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R7CAC3BO21ZRZ Finally Nintendo puts out a Super Mario Bros. game for the Wii. The game has a great Nintendo 64 feel and the content is awesome. Lots of stuff to do and just the design is great. If you buy any Wii game, BUY THIS ONE!! You will not be disappointed.

Nintendo's masterpiece!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 13
Date: November 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Super Mario Galaxy is one of those games you have to buy simply because you own a Wii, because having any Nintendo console (home or handheld) and not owning part of the main Super Mario series is pretty darn near to self-deprivation. So, with reading a shockingly minimal amount of the hype surrounding this game, I pre-ordered and purchased it. I brought it home, and after a brief system update, I was utterly blown away by this incredible creation Nintendo made.

Super Mario Galaxy is, without a doubt, the greatest game on the Wii, the greatest in the Mario series, and quite possibly the best action platformer ever made. Everything from the graphics to the mostly orchestrated music to the actual gameplay itself is virtually perfect.

The 3D Mario games began with Super Mario 64 and continued with Super Mario Sunshine. However, those two games featured busy levels with several missions each...all within the same area (finding stars to move on to new worlds). While that provided incentive to keep playing each level over and over again, it got redundant because nothing was different. It was more like playing an RPG sometimes. What I love about Galaxy is that each level (or galaxy) has three separate and distinct levels, so you're not doing the same thing again and again. Because of this, the game doesn't drag or get tedious...it just keeps getting better. And with 40 vastly different galaxies and a possibility of finding 120 stars, this is more like a 3D Super Mario World, complete with new power-ups and suits for Mario to use.

The graphics...oh my goodness the graphics! I had already succumbed to the thought that the Wii will never measure up graphically with the other next-gen systems. But with Metroid Prime 3, and now this game, it's clear that we're starting to see what this console is capable of! The textures are flawless, the water effects are incredible, and there is no slowdown, flicker or drag at all. Moreover, the galaxies are detailed and colorful, making this the prettiest game you'll ever see! The music is the best of the series. Most of it is fully orchestrated, and it's nice to hear familiar tunes sound so much bigger and expansive. The controls are fun, though not as focused on motion sensing as other games. However, this is not needed in this game, and I'm glad that eloquent control schemes aren't forced on us simply for the sake of showing off (see Lair for PS3!). But the parts that do take advantage of the Wii remote are fun, quirky and extremely enjoyable!

Simply put, this is a must-own title. I simply can't remember the last time I was addicted to a game like I am now. I played for hours on the first sitting and had to rip myself away from it to get some sleep! If you have a Wii, you'll be doing yourself a disservice if you pass this one up.

The "Super Mario 64" for the Wii

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: November 13, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Without a doubt, this is THE game to get for your Wii. While the Wii has recently acquired a great selection of games (with more on the way pre- and post-holiday season), there are very few must-haves. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Guitar Hero III, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, WarioWare Smooth Moves... and soon, Smash Bros. But I own all of those games, plus much of the rest of the higher end Wii software collection, and Galaxy is without a doubt the best game of the lot. Upon purchasing it, I didn't stop playing for six hours with the exception of the short break where I changed the batteries in my Wiimote. (Caution: addicting)

If you don't own a Wii, this is the game that could change your mind as far as purchasing one. The controls are instinctive, and use every single aspect of the Wii's controls to their fullest. Not only are you using the buttons and joystick, you're shaking the 'mote to perform special attacks and you're aiming the 'mote at the screen to collect items and shoot enemies. And many of the "bonus" levels require you to use the Wiimote in new ways, like the level where you're surfing and are controlled solely by the left/right tilt of the remote. Or the level where you're balanced atop a ball and control the action much like you would in the Wii's version of Monkey Ball.

If you're like I was, afraid that after Mario 64 Nintendo couldn't match their old standards of re-defining gameplay (Super Mario Sunshine seemed to point to that), then worry not. Super Mario Galaxy is, without a doubt, the best video game I've played since my SNES days (and, to be fair, back then I was 12, so maybe my judgment wasn't as clear). Galaxy isn't so difficult that you can't get into it, nor is it too easy that you can't enjoy it due to frustration. Plus, there are so many extra levels beyond "beating the game" that a true fan could easily put as much time in the extras as they did rescuing the Princess in the first place.

In short, this is a game I'd recommend to gamers of all ages and skill levels. If you doubt the quality of the game, just remember this was slated to be released at the Wii's launch a full year ago, but was held back in production to get everything just right. In my opinion, it was well-worth the wait.

Fun for a while, but gets boring

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 28 / 52
Date: November 29, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game is addictive - very addictive. It does have a lot of unique qualities and takes advantage of the Wiimote action (though only the buttons on the nunchuck). Time really does fly by when you get into playing this. It's really fun too - well, at first.

While the galaxies are really pretty, the fact that you have to visit and play through a galaxy 6-7 times in some cases can make for really boring gameplay. Seriously, if I have to go to Good Egg Galaxy for one more freakin' star, I'll let Bowser have at it. Also, the comets are annoying. I hate having to complete comet challenges to get a star and wish the game would have done away with these altogether. These two things dropped my rating to 4 stars.

Some other negatives of the game dropped it down to that three-star level though. I get that Mario is the hero and all, but do the other characters have to be so completely useless. Peach is, of course, in Bowser's clutches, and Luigi needs help, as does every other person in the game it seems. Even Roselina needs help, though you do start wishing Mario would just hook up with her and leave Peach to her own devices. The other main negative is the camera. Most of the time, it is intuitive and works well. Sometimes though, the camera decides to throw caution to the wind and stick you with a wonky angle. This is frustrating, especially when the camera decides to follow a certain galaxy's boss instead of Mario, resulting in yelling at the game about how you can't see what you are doing.

So, overall the game is good. It has flaws though in repetitiveness, camera issues, and having to help every single person.

Mind blowing level design + no camera issues + fun

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: November 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Pro:
-- Level Design is unique and jaw dropping
-- Camera behaves great, doesn't get stuck
-- Fantastic colors, characters, animation, and sound
-- Incredibly fun, I had to MAKE myself stop playing

Con:
-- You probably will initially get motion sickness
-- Voice work (lack of) is not great

This is a must own for the Wii. Once you get the hang of the control scheme and overcome that bout of queasiness it is addictive. I am 37 and my son is 5 and we take turn playing and have a blast.

Wow is an understatement!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 15
Date: November 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Well, we had to wait a year after the launch of the Wii for this game, and was it worth it? Heck Yeah! This is the most fun I've had with a Mario game since Super Mario Brothers 3 (which is now on my VC since the day it got released to VC), I can't think of anything bad to say about this game, the theatrics were at a good moderation, unlike it's predacessor, Super Mario Sunshine, and there was no annoying talking FLUDD thing (Which in itself was an improvement). To say that this isn't this seasons must-have game would be just plain ignorance. Speaking of Super Mario Sunshine, despite what some PS3 fanboys, and gamespot . com might say, you can tell the difference in graphics big time! I, myself went out of the way to play a board or 2 of every single key mario game since Mario Brothers, and compared to SMS, the picture on SMG is beyond UNBELIEVABLE! To say that the Wii is just another Game Cube, is now an official falsehood! If you don't wanna take my advice, do the judging yourself, but you can't be judging through PS3 fogged glasses, you have to be very open when observing it for yourself. Nintendo came through big time.

The Video Game Equivalent of Fantasia

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 11
Date: November 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This Near Perfect Game has received a combined critical score from 38 magazines and game sites of 9.8! That score is higher than Halo 3, Gears of War, Call of Duty 4, Assassin's Creed, The Orange Box, BioShock, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, God of War, Resident Evil 4 and as far as I can tell every other game so far!

This is as close as a video game has ever come, in my opinion, to something that could actually be considered a real and True work of Art. The orchestrated soundtrack, beautiful, The colors, brilliant, the game, Mind bending Fun! Art is something that either brings enjoyment or changes the way we see and/or feel, perceive, or it does both, and at least for video games this accomplishes both triumphantly. M. C. Escher as well as Walt Disney would be awed by this magnificent creation.

This All ages release will bring joy to children and teenagers and make adults feel like children again. It's like a trip to the Magic Kingdom, a ride on a roller coaster, a beautifully animated movie, This game is like other Classic Video Games, like other Classic Mario games, and in the future even after there is another Nintendo people will seek this game out to experience what is sure to become a timeless Classic.

Is this the best game ever? Is this the best game of this current generation of consol gaming? Maybe to both but who can really answer such a question because opinions and tastes differ but what 38 professional video game reviewers and I agree on is this is one of the best Must play video games on the market today.

If there is any higher praise then this is it, this is worth buying a Wii for and if you already have one then this game should be without question at the top of your buy list.

Amazing

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: November 13, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I can't remember the last time I was ever this impressed with a game. The graphics are stunning for a Wii game and the gameplay is so much fun that it reminds me of the first time I played Super Mario Brothers as a kid. This is a must buy for any Wii owner.

Classic References and New Elements

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: February 16, 2008
Author: Amazon User

A game intended to continue the line set by Super Mario 64 and later Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Galaxy is the latest in Nintendo's star franchise. Exploring the depths of space, Super Mario Galaxy braves a new frontier and also returns to many familiar settings.

As per usual, the game centers around rescuing Princess Peach from the grip of Bowser, who uses a spaceship to steal Peach's entire castle. Mario, attempting to defend her, is flung into space, where he encounters the Luma, friendly star-shaped creatures. The Luma take him to their "mama", Rosalina, who operates a space station / observatory. Bowser has stolen the Grand Stars that power the station, and they must be retrieved to chase after him.

The space station is the central hub of the game. The player arrives after receiving a Grand Star, which is used to power the first doorway. This doorway leads to several different "galaxies" - collections of floating planetoids - with more being accessible the more stars are collected. Each collection of galaxies ends in one of Bowser's bases, where a full-strength Grand Star is hidden. Much like Mario 64 and Sunshine, each galaxy represents a stage, and there are different objectives to go after (with a selection screen to determine which one you want to go after). The galaxies themselves consist of small planetoids with their own gravity; this can be disorienting at first, as you are essentially running across a sphere that is holding you down, instead of across a flat plain. You can jump up and you'll just fall back inwards to the planet, though the camera is usually above the planetoid and not right behind you (which is also a bit confusing). You must jump from planet to planet using the Luma's star launchers, which are usually unlocked through some deed on the various planetoids. There are a wide variety of galaxies, ranging from the "main" galaxies - with story events and multiple stars - to the "bonus" galaxies that tend to only have one star but are given in a minigame or similar test (for example, the Manta Ray surfing games that use the Wii remote to steer and boost).

The gameplay itself, apart from the planetoids, is similar to earlier 3d Mario games. Mario jumps and hops the same as other games, though his melee attacks are replaced by a spinning attack. Mario can still fall into "pits", though due to the gravity this usually means the planetoid's exposed core or a black hole. Another big difference is that the player also uses the Wii remote's cursor to collect Star Bits - little colored pieces of stars that can be used to shoot enemies or feed the Lumas. Many parts require a certain amount of star bits to feed a hungry Luma so that he transforms into a new planetoid or even a galaxy. Furthermore, collecting 50 star bits gets you a level up (this is also true for coins, which normally restore health). Mario has some new powerups, too; in addition to old standards like fireballs and flight, Mario now also has a Bee Mushroom (which allows him to fly and climb on certain walls), a Spring Mushroom (which gives him more jumping power in exchange for some reductions to other abilities), and a Boo Mushroom (which turns him into a Boo, the series' famous ghosts, and pass through walls). Finally, a co-op mode is available where one player takes the role of the cursor, collecting star bits and shooting them at enemies, as well as several other boosts that can be given to the first player that make the game easier (for example, stunning enemies and giving Mario a jump boost).

The graphics are the bright, colorful, rounded graphics familiar to Mario fans, though they are smoother and brighter with the Wii's technology. The levels are varied, but tend to be fairly bright and cheery. The music is similarly cheerful, with a HUGE amount of callbacks to old games, with recognizable songs from the original Super Mario Brothers, Super Mario Brothers 3, and Super Mario World. Sound effects are often of a musical nature, providing a sort of active symphony as you fight bosses or enemies.

As a whole, this game seems much more like a return to the classic days of Mario gaming. With an abundance of references to old games and a lot of new elements as well, Super Mario Galaxy is well suited to continuing the tradition that the Mario games have upheld.

10/10.

Out of This World

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: November 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Mario is a huge staple in gaming. When a Mario game comes out it can't just be "good" it has to be "great." In the past, Mario games have defined the platformers of their generation. From Super Mario Bros. over 20 years ago, to Super Mario 64 bringing platforming into 3D in a whole new light. Super Mario Sunshine, however, did not turn nearly as many heads as Super Mario 64. Understandable, seeing as how Super Mario 64 is a tough game to compare to. Super Mario Galaxy does compare, though. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, it serves as an example of why Mario continues to rule the platforming genre.

Mario has never been a game to pick up for its storyline. As usual, things are peaceful in the Mushroom Kingdom. In this case, they're enjoying the star festival. As usual, Bowser comes in and decides to stir up trouble. He ends up kidnapping Princess Peach and once again its up to Mario to go rescue her. In order to reach Bowser's hideout, though, he'll have to collect power stars to do so. It borrows a lot from Super Mario 64 in the plot development, but this is hardly the same game. Like all Mario games, the story is simplistic. We've been saving Peach for over 20 years and it won't be stopping soon. You do not pick up Super Mario Galaxy for its storyline. It's all about the gameplay.

Like every Mario game, Galaxy is easy to pick up and learn but incredibly difficult to master. Through your travels you'll control Mario as you tackle the bad guys of the Galaxy. Mario's basic movies are all here. He can jump, triple jump and spin. It's very similar to Super Mario 64. The obstacles in Mario's way however range from Bowser's troopers to natural disasters like black holes. Getting every single star can be a tough task. Like the other Mario games in the past, though, it isn't necessary to get every single star in order to fight the end boss.

There are also suits for Mario can wear in his travels. There is the usual flower power and invincible star, but you'll also find new suits. There's the bee suit, which lets Mario fly. He can turn into a Boo and go through walls. He can even become a spring. Needless to say, there's a lot of variety in this gameplay.

There are several Wii games where the motion sensor controls have either been overused or they feel downright tacked on as an afterthought. In Super Mario Galaxy that's not the case. The motion sensor controls are not overused, nor are they forgotten about. From time to time you may find yourself rolling a ball around using the Wii remote like a joystick. Or you might be surfing on a manta ray. You'll shake the remote to execute Mario's spin move, and there's also a star you can control to pick up star bits and fire them off at enemies.

There's also a multiplayer aspect to Super Mario Galaxy, but it's certainly not all that engaging. Player 2 can use a separate remote to control a star and collect star bits and shoot them at enemies. Player 2 can also hold enemies still for Mario and make him jump. That's really all there is. Nothing more. It's interesting at first, but it's hard to shake the fact that player 2 just doesn't do a lot of anything.

Visually, Super Mario Galaxy is a pretty good looking game. By far the best the Wii has to offer. The detail is just incredible and the environments are gorgeous looking. There's also a great deal of attention done with the physics. It's fun to just jump up and watch Mario get pulled into the gravitational pull of another object. It's pretty cool stuff. If there was anything wrong with Super Mario Galaxy's presentation it would be that the player doesn't have complete control over the camera. The camera work isn't bad but from time to time there will be an object in your way. Luckily, this doesn't happen often enough to be a problem.

The game also sounds brilliant. Easily some of the best music the series has ever had. You'll hear remixed tunes from previous Mario adventures as well as whole lot of new stuff. It's perfectly orchestrated. There isn't a whole lot of voice acting in Super Mario Galaxy aside from Mario's shouts and screams and Bowser grunting. This probably won't bother most players as there isn't much story in the game anyway.

Super Mario Galaxy is a great game. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it has fantastic gameplay that is unmatched and unparalleled. If you're a Wii owner, this is the game to get.

Pros:

+Strong and varied gameplay
+Gorgeous looking environments
+There's co-op play for those who want it
+The game sounds really good
+Tight intuitive controls

Cons:

-The multiplayer is not very involving
-The player doesn't have control over the camera, which can be a burden in some spots

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