Super Mario Galaxy is the third 3D platforming Mario game and the first for the Wii. Super Mario Galaxy was first shown off at E3 2006 and was released in November of 2007. This game takes all of the abilities Mario had from Super Mario 64 as well as some of the gameplay elements and applies them to this game and adds new platforming elements from the gravitational effects from the planets and galaxies. This game also brings back some of the traditional power-ups such as the Fire Flower as well as add some new ones as well. With a new style of platforming added to some of past gameplay mechanics from previous Mario games, Super Mario Galaxy has the potential to be one of the best Mario games in the series.
Storyline is not normally the biggest factor in the 3D platforming Mario games but Super Mario Galaxy has a great story. The story takes place on the night of the Star Festival which is held to celebrate a comet that only comes once in a hundred years. Mario is invited to the Festival by Princess Peach so they could watch the comet pass by together. Soon after Mario’s arrival to the Star Festival, Bowser invades the Mushroom Kingdom with his fleet of airships. Bowser then summons a flying saucer to remove Peach’s Castle from its foundation and lift into space. As this is happening, Mario rushes to the castle in attempt to save Peach. Although, his attempt is foiled by a Magic Koopa who sends Mario into space. After waking up from the attack, Mario meets up with the Rosalina and the Lumas. Rosalina explains to Mario that she is the Watcher of the Cosmos and she uses her Comet Observatory to travel across the universe. However, the Comet Observatory is immobile because the source of power for the observatory, the Power Stars, was stolen by Bowser. After Rosalina gives Mario the power to travel through the universe, Mario sets out to each galaxy to recover the Power Stars. You will get more of the story as you progress through the game. Even though the 3D platforming Mario games are not that well known for their storylines, but Super Mario Galaxy has a story that has an epic feeling in it and this is apparent at the start of the game and towards the end when enough Power Stars have been collected for the final battle to take place. A great story for a great game.
The graphics and level design for Super Mario Galaxy is great. The graphics in the game are great and are perfect for a Mario game. The levels in Super Mario Galaxy are amazing and pull of the gravitational element of platforming. Although these levels vary a little more than the worlds from the previous 3D platforming Mario games. Instead of being the same big open area for you to explore for each star located in a world, the galaxies in Super Mario Galaxy vary a bit for each star a galaxy has. A nice addition that adds variety to each of the levels in the game. There are also many themes and some gimmicks to go along with these levels which also adds to the variety of level designs which is great. The soundtrack in Super Mario Galaxy is also amazing. All of the tracks in this game are orchestrated and sounds great. All music tracks fit the level it is used in and some of them add to the epic feeling in the game. There are also remixed music tracks from some of the past Mario games. Super Mario Galaxy definitely has one of the best video game soundtracks and its definitely one of my personal favorites.
The gameplay in Super Mario Galaxy is amazing and innovative. Super Mario Galaxy plays like the past 3D platforming Mario games with some new elements. The game takes most of the gameplay mechanics that were used in Super Mario 64 and uses them in this game along with some new additions. This game still revolves around collecting Power Stars, which you obtain by completing different levels and galaxies. Although, the platforming in this game revolves around galaxies and their small planets and the gravity comes with it. Every planet in each galaxy has their own type of gravity that manipulates the gameplay in each world. This effect is pulled of extremely well and each level is designed very well with this concept. There also times where the game reverts back to the basic 2D side scrolling platforming from past Mario games. At different points in the game, special comets appear in a level and have a new challenge. There are five different challenges that come from the comets and range from beating the level in a certain time or beating a level with only one hit point. These challenges are great and add a bit of difficulty to getting all 120 Power Stars.
The controls for Super Mario Galaxy are very basic. The game plays with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck. Movement is dictated by the control stick on the Nunchuck and jumping with the A button on the Wii Remote. Mario has all of his abilities from Super Mario 64 such as the wall jumping and the triple jump. One new feature that has been added to Mario’s move set is the ability to spin. Spinning is the main ways of combat and one of the main ways of navigating a level. Mario can defeat or stun enemies by spinning into them and Mario can get further in a level by spinning into Launch Stars in a level to get to different planets in a level. A great addition that works very well in this game. In addition to the spin mechanic, Mario also gets new power-ups as well. Except the Fire Flower, most of the power ups in this game are new such as the Bee Mushroom which transforms Mario into a Bee and most of these new power-ups adds a gameplay element to the game as well. An example of this would be using Bee Mario to climb up sticky walls or fly across large holes to get to new areas in a level. Another new addition to this game is Luigi. Luigi is an unlockable character and he is unlocked after you beat the game and collected all of the Power Stars as Mario. Luigi plays almost the exact same way as Mario except Luigi slides around more and can jump higher than Mario. Overall, every gameplay element and mechanic in this game is very well done and make Super Mario Galaxy a blast to play.
Overall, Super Mario Galaxy is fantastic in every aspect. The storyline is great and definitely has an epic feeling, the soundtrack sounds great and the graphics and level design were very well done, and the gameplay that takes mechanics from previous 3D platforming Mario games as well as some elements from past 2D Mario games and adds a new style of platforming to the gameplay make this game a blast to play. Super Mario Galaxy is definitely one of the best games for the Wii and quite possibly one of the greatest games ever made. I can say that it is one of my favorite Mario games and I cannot recommend buying this game enough. Super Mario Galaxy is truly a master piece of a game. I would give Super Mario Galaxy a 10 out of 10.
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