why is Mario Galaxy so great?

I love this game, both the first and the second of the series. there's something about Mario games that is so great, that makes you don't wanna stop play them.

Now, what is it? I really can't find the right words to describe how and why those games are so great.

I'd need some examples, and comparisons with other games to understand the greatness of Mario games. like Rayman is a good games but nothing compared to Mario. yes, but why? what are those elements that tell Mario games apart from the rest?

thanks guys!

The character physics are just right. I think this is the most important aspect of the games.

What the post above me said.

Also, the fact it can use gravity the way it does, it pushes the 3D platform genre to its limits. I have a hard time imagining what they could do next..

Ah, time for shameless(yet relevant) self promotion. Here is a blog I wrote on this very subject a year ago

http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9031190

Level design having tons of innovation and variety;

These combined make every level feel different, unique, and ultimately fun, giving the Galaxy games more variety and innovation in their level design then just about any other platformer, and it makes every level a ton of fun to play, so that you just can't stop playing, and playing consistently great levels just feels magical.

The physics are just right, the level design is awesome and there's alot of charm.

I liked them well enough. A little bit on the easy side for my tastes (especially the second game, though I guess by that time I had had plenty of practice), but both still manage to keep you engaged. Sometimes I think the praise these games recieve is a bit excessive, though...

They're great games, but I highly prefer 2D platformers, so meh :P

Because the games are different to anything we have seen. The game has so much vareity and such awesome level design and it feels like its fresh not recycled.

why is Mario Galaxy so great?aia89

[QUOTE="aia89"]why is Mario Galaxy so great?yellonet

[QUOTE="aia89"]why is Mario Galaxy so great?yellonet

That's silly.

It's not the people's fault that the games don't hold up today.

Several reasons why they are so great.

1. Superb Mechanics
2. Excellent level design
3. Good variety
4. In SMG1's case, you have a lot of choice on what levels you want to beat and which ones you dont. I beat SMG before even touching some worlds.
5. Pleasing Aethestics
6. Superb Soundtrack

What Super Mario Galaxies is to 3D platformers is what Starcraft Brood War and Starcraft 2 is to RTSes.

There is a lot of variety in the gameplay and how the stages are designed. The game always manages to surprise players with every single new star they have to get. I also love the fact that the game is almost completely linear, it feels like a 3-D version of the original straightforward Mario games.

[QUOTE="yellonet"]

[QUOTE="aia89"]why is Mario Galaxy so great?nintendoman562

its great because it is, and SMG2 was even greater...

I like Super Mario Sunshine better anyway, so, I mean the Galaxy games a okay. I played through the second one and loved it, but the I LOVE the level design for Sunshine. Rico Harbor > Any level in SMG.

[QUOTE="Rod90"]I don't like SMG that much. And one Galaxy was enough.Michael0134567

lol

[QUOTE="yellonet"]

[QUOTE="aia89"]why is Mario Galaxy so great?nintendoman562

And I think it's the other way around. SM64 was something really special, the others did not bring nearly as much new things to platforming.
SM64 and SMS also offer much more freedom than the Galaxy games, thus being more true to the later 2D mario games.

[QUOTE="nintendoman562"][QUOTE="yellonet"]Because those who praise it to the skies probably didn't play SM64 or SMS when they were new.

yellonet

And I think it's the other way around. SM64 was something really special, the others did not bring nearly as much new things to platforming.
SM64 and SMS also offer much more freedom than the Galaxy games, thus being more true to the later 2D mario games.

This is what i think...

SM64 brought Mario (and the rest of the industry) to 3D platformers...What can you really do after that or follow up?

SMS brought HUGE levels compared to SM64 and the Water pack along with Yoshi were nice add ons

Galaxy Brought a whole new level design concepts to the table and brought back power ups

What they do next? Combine all 3? Add a Co Op? Whos knows but i have a feeling "Star Road" is going to be involved for the new Mario platformer for Wii U

Also OLD school Mario Fans will always prefer the side scolling mario games and N64 era kids will always perfer Mario 3d platformers...

I personally enjoy the RPG's the most for the story lines

Level design having tons of innovation and variety;

These combined make every level feel different, unique, and ultimately fun, giving the Galaxy games more variety and innovation in their level design then just about any other platformer, and it makes every level a ton of fun to play, so that you just can't stop playing, and playing consistently great levels just feels magical.

Shy_Guy_Red

The Super Mario Galaxy games are really cool. They're colorful and have imaginative gameplay.