Super Mario Galaxy RULEZ!

Hanson Yoo · 11-17-2007, 06:01 PM

A must have for Wii owners. The pace is faster than Mario 64 or Sunshine, and the planetary physics allow for inventive and trippy gameplay design. The game frequently pretzel bends your mind and you constantly need to reset your bearings. Graphics, music, and controls are top notch.

**HTF Ads**

Patrick Sun · 11-17-2007, 10:18 PM

Would a first grader enjoy Super Mario Galaxy?

Hanson Yoo · 11-18-2007, 12:04 AM

If that first grader were good at videogames, yes. But it does require a high level of coordination and spatial processing. For instance, I grabbed 20+ stars in about 4 hours of play. In that time, my wife got 4. Her biggest issue was working out spatial relationships between objects.

The more I play, the more impressed I am with the game. It's actually not like Super Mario 64 -- it's much more linear and platform oriented, and it moves at a very brisk pace.

Just to add: unlike SM64, there is a lot of falling and dying in SMG. Not for the easily frustrated.

Richard Kim · 11-18-2007, 09:00 AM

A second player can help out the first player using the Wii Remote, so that role would be perfect for a first grader.

Thi Them · 11-18-2007, 09:04 PM

I'm liking it a lot. I wasn't a big fan of Mario 64 (motion sickness had something to do with it), but this one is a lot more like the 2D games for me.

The music is really good.

~T

brentl · 11-19-2007, 10:36 AM

"Just to add: unlike SM64, there is a lot of falling and dying in SMG. Not for the easily frustrated."

I'm with you on that, just finished the "candy" galaxy question, and I died probably 10 times in that short level.

Brent

Hanson Yoo · 11-19-2007, 11:45 AM

Only 10 times? You must be good. I think I died 20-30 times. It's hard to tell because there's a 1up loop if you can get to the midpoint, and I kind of lost track. So much dying.

I've got 38 stars and opened up all the observatories, and I have to say that this game is still getting better and better. SMG has that hallmark of superior game design where a you're faced with a seemingly insourmountable obstacle or foe, but through repetition you figure out the proper technique and finally defeat the enemy.

My only complaint is that some of the levels are too short/easy.

Spoiler:

Also, while the swiming mechanics are better here than in Zelda:TP or SM64, I still hate the swimming levels.

While I got queasy on occasion during SM64 and Metroid Prime 3 made me nauseous a few times, SMG has been absolutely motion sickness free, with is surprising considering the constant shifts in perspective and being upside down and whatnot. I think it's because it was designed to not have the camera whipping around so much.

Hanson Yoo · 11-23-2007, 06:13 PM

Just wanted to update for anyone sitting on the fence (and to tempt anyone who has the game under the tree and not in their Wii):

After you open up your fourth observatory, the game just becomes AMAZING. I mean, the first 20-30 stars are fun, but starting with the

Spoiler:

the levels become long, complex, and require both problem solving skills and good to great reflexes. I loved Mario 64, but SMG is a whole 'nutha level -- this is easily the greatest 3D platformer ever made, if for no other reason it feels more like a 2D platformer with 3D elements rather than the usual exploration and collect-a-thon that almost all 3D platformers are nowadays. The level design is absolute genius -- I am constantly muttering, "that is *bleeping* amazing" all the time when I play because the cleverness just gushes off of the screen. The ingenuity is endless, and there are some levels that have 3 or 4 moments where your admiration almost distracts you from the task at hand.

SMG is not meant to simply be beaten. You owe it to yourself to at least try every level, because it's a despicable waste to get just enough stars to beat the game and then leave all that untapped genius untouched, especially when the better levels open up after you have the minimum amount needed to reach the ending. Don't worry that this game is too short. It will only be short if you cheat yourself out of the privilege of trying every single level.

SMG is one of those games where the hype is totally justified. And it should be believed.

Thi Them · 11-24-2007, 12:31 PM

I used to be a big videogamer. The last system I was truly into was SNES. Since then I've had 3DO, Saturn, PS1, Gameboy Advance/SP, PS2, and N64. For those systems, I never had a game I was really excited about and made me glad to own that system, except probably Final Fantasy 7 for PS1. Mario Galaxy is the first game that I've felt that way about.

~T

Thi Them · 11-24-2007, 11:28 PM

I just played the level where you roll around on top of the ball. So much fun!

The level design is indeed genius, and it doesn't sound like I've reached the really great ones.

~T

JohnS · 11-26-2007, 06:19 AM

I'm patiently waiting to play this on Nov 30th, when my 10 day paid vacation starts. Along with Paper Mario from the VC collection.(which I've NEVER played)

TonyTone · 11-26-2007, 12:51 PM

FWIW--I believe there is a Best Buy $10 off video game coupon floating around (I know it's legit 'cuz I used it to buy MLB Power Pros for the Wii this past Saturday--which BTW got favorable reviews and is on sale this week at BB for $19.99...LOL I had to go back to get my 110% pricematch because I bought it before it went on sale), so if you were looking for another incentive to buy SMG...that should get you off the fence.

Dave_Brown · 11-26-2007, 02:41 PM

www.dealcatcher.com and search for the BB coupon. Expires 11/28