Super Mario Galaxy: Best Mario in 5 Years

By Lyle Roser

Super Mario Galaxy is the latest in the long running saga of Mario, his damsel in distress, and the evil reptile Bowser. However, this new game manages to show that Mario is still a very relevant franchise. It is both innovative and fun.

Galaxy is once again a tale of Mario and his quest to save Princess Peach. However, the twist of the game is where it takes place. Instead of journeying around a kingdom, Mario must battle his way through a number of different galaxies in order to defeat the Koopa King. A galaxy is a level typically split into several planets, which can range from huge to very tiny. Mario must solve a puzzle or complete a task to continue to another planet, and eventually complete the level by retrieving a star. As would be expected, there are bosses at the end of some levels. The different galaxies each have their own theme and no two are alike.

The most interesting thing about the different planets is that they all have their own gravity. Even the smallest sphere does, which allows Mario to run on a planet in three dimensions, adding an exhilarating, although occasionally disorienting, gameplay mechanic. Players will find it fun jumping to escape the gravity of one planet to get into the grip of a second, or running underneath a planet to find hidden coins or level-up mushrooms.

Another gameplay twist is Mario’s new costumes. They give him new abilities that he must use to complete some levels. They range from the Bee Suit, which gives Mario the ability to fly short distances, to the Spring Suit, which allows him to jump far higher then he normally could.

Galaxy is a good display of what the Wii is capable of. The game uses the power of the Wii to create simple, colorful graphics that are also very smooth, clean and sharp. Galaxy also makes use of the motion sensor Wii controller. Players flick the remote side to side for the all-important spin attack. It stuns or defeats enemies and breaks objects in the world. Catapulting from planet to planet using star shaped devices requires the player to spin the star to activate it. These controls are tricky at first, but in a short time the player will not even notice they are doing them.

Galaxy is a great step up from the last game, Super Mario Sunshine. Breaking each galaxy into separate planets turns each level into bite sized pieces, compared to the intimidating levels of Sunshine. I found the giant worlds and labyrinthine tasks to be frustrating and overly difficult. However, Galaxy is still a challenge. If the regular galaxies are not difficult enough, the player can unlock hidden, secret planets, which have difficult challenges on them for more experienced players. On top of that, there are comets that randomly appear in some galaxies, which add a new challenge to that level. These include racing a shadow Mario to a star or collecting 100 purple coins. Also, there is the monumental task of collecting all of the stars in the game.

Anyone who owns a Wii will want this game in their library. It is everything we have come to expect from the Mario series and Nintendo. It shows what the Wii can be used to create in capable hands. Galaxy delivers an experience that is a perfect mix of old Mario and new technology. It will be appreciated by old fans and new players alike, as well as inexperienced and hardcore gamers.