The must-have Super Mario Galaxy outshines the disappointment of Sunshine and earns the hype of the Nintendo Wii.
While exploring outer space automatically makes Super Mario Galaxy seem like a breath of fresh air, the game is collection of familiar characters and themes that continue to make Mario games great.
As far as familiar goes, Bowser is one again up to his annual (or is he on monthly now?) kidnapping trip to Mushroom Kingdom with a certain blond princess in mind. Completing his mission as usual, Bowser rips the Princess' Castle from the ground and travels into space with it, and Mario, in tow.
Familiar characters and plot devices aside, Super Mario Galaxy really takes off with its brand new way to play. Using the Wii's unique controller, players are able to control Mario's movements with the nunchuck controller's joystick. Opposite of the nunchuck, the Wiimote allows players to aim at the screen and collect colorful items called star bits. These items in turn can be shot back at enemies to stun them from afar, allowing Mario to finish them off up close.
Even though the game's main objective remains collecting stars throughout the various levels, this new way of controlling Mario makes the familiarity of item collecting seem fresh again.
Also new to the way Mario is played is the introduction of spherical worlds. These round planet-like levels allow Mario to run completely around the sphere while being held to it by its gravitation pull. If near a larger spherical object, Mario can jump in the air and become pulled into the larger object's pull. For planets or objects too far away, star launch pads are found or uncovered for the sole purpose of launching Mario into deeper space so he can reach his next destination.
Once players get accustomed to the slightly disorienting controls, the game really takes off into the stratosphere of fun. By collecting stars from each of the numerous galaxies, more galaxies are then opened to explore. These galaxies all contain a central theme, such as a haunted house galaxy with the timid Boo ghosts or an aquatic galaxy with race-happy penguins. Any and every galaxy is wonderfully realized with tons of challenges.
With a game this perfected and fun, it really is hard to pick out negative aspects to point out, but Super Mario Galaxy isn't without a few. While incredibly fun, boss fights are too easy and can usually be beaten with one life. Even the final boss, who requires hours upon hours to get to through star collecting, is embarrassingly easy and requires no skills gained throughout the game.
Also, the star bits seem sort of a gimmick rather than a necessity. Rarely is it necessary to use a star bit to battle an enemy, but good news is that they can be used as a sort of currency to reach new levels, which is always appreciated.
These things aside, Super Mario Galaxy truly is a return to true Mario perfection, especially after the disappointing Super Mario Sunshine on GameCube. With 120 stars to collect, numerous secrets to discover, and even a simple two-player mode that allows a second player to help collect star bits and shoot them back, Super Mario Galaxy is the biggest reason to continue to hunt through stores and eBay for the still ever elusive Nintendo Wii.