Box Reviews: Super Mario Galaxy

Remember the days of Super Mario 64? The excitement you got from the first time playing as Mario in 3d? I sure don't, seeing as I was just being born around that time. If I would have gotten hold of that cartridge, I probably would of thrown it against the wall. Remember that in your mind, you knew Super Mario Sunshine wasn't the sequel, even though you loved it. Well now, the true sequel has shown up everywhere under the title Super Mario Galaxy!

The first time loading this game, I was so excited. I've read every preview there was to read. But now onto the meat of the review. This game is a lot like Super Mario 64. No water sprayer. But instead of punching or kicking, you get the spin attack. You give the Wiimote a small shake and Mario spins like a ballerina. But the ballerina packs a punch because this is most of what you'll be doing most of the game. You can't solve a puzzle without some sort of spin attack thingy. This isn't a bad thing, as I love it.

Speaking of the Wiimote, you will be ponting at the screen for most of the game. You can collect tiny objects called star bits by just pointing at them, no matter how far away you are. This is the game's currency, which is used to buy items, levels, and secrets. You can also shoot them at enimies, as long as you have them. If you choose to have a second player, they are basically just a star that can shoot and stop enimies. It's pointless.

So this isn't all just small planetoids in a row, as most areas are HUGE! Beach Bowl Galaxy being my prime example. There isn't any launch stars, just you and the bowl. The running upside, downside, leftside, rightside effect is nauseating a first, but soon you'll be doing it like a pro.

The hub area in this game is called the observatory. It's a hub. That's it. It isn't as much fun as roaming around the castle or the playground of Isle Delfino. But it is the only place you can use the star. This is a power up that lets you fly. Kind of like the wing cap in Super Mario 64.
Some of the power ups are really cool, but others are not. The highly acclaimed bee suit is one of the better power ups, as it enables you to fly. Even if I finished all of the stars in the galaxy, I would still go there to bee a bee (pun intended). The slinky suit (that's what I call it) is really hard to control, and thankfully only one of the galaxies have it. That's really my only big gameplay complaint.

Story goes as follows. Mario goes to meet Peach. Bowser kidnaps Pea and her castle and takes them into outer space. What!? A story. Maybe Nintendo will make better stories from now on. Don't count on it.

The variety of galaxies in the game really surprised me. It's not all space. Wow some galaxies such as Space Junk and Battle Rock Galaxies are, some like Beach Bowl Galaxy and Loop De Loop galaxy are the farthest thing from it. It just goes to show how much Nintendo loves us :p. With 120 stars and over 40 galaxies to chose from, you'll never be asking yourself what to do.

As for graphics, these are the best graphics on Wii period. This picture describes better than words how awesome this game really is.

The soundtrack in this game is really better than any other Wii game to date, even better than Brawl's soundtrack (I'll get to that one sometime). Just listen to this song.
http://www.imeem.com/people/VNUUWY/music/R1DoGqFi/super_mario_galaxy_main_thememp3/

Graphics: 10/10 You won't find graphics like these anywhere else on Wii, except maybe Brawl, which has a completely different art style.
Gameplay: 10/10 This is the true sequel to Super Mario 64, not that stupid watered down version of a sequel (pun intended)Sound: 9/10 Best original soundtrack you will find on Wii period.
Multi player: 3/10 Great for your mom, bad for your best friend.
Charm: 10/10 With cute graphics and umm... Mario! Yeah!
Replay Value: 5/10 There is a little something for you once you get all 120 stars that will make you want to replay it. Once
Overall: 9/10 Best title on Wii. But just don't break this one out at parties.