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| Super Mario Galaxy | 
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| From: Nintendo
Category: Video Games
List Price: $49.99
Buy New: $29.00
You Save: $20.99 (42%)
Buy New/Used from $28.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  (359 reviews)
Sales Rank: 12
Platform: Nintendo Wii
ESRB: Everyone
Media: Video Game
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Age: 5 - 20 years
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 0 x 0 x 0
MPN: WI-RVLPRMGE
UPC: 045496900434
EAN: 0045496900434
ASIN: B000FQ9QVI
Release Date: November 12, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Revolution in Platforming November 15, 2007
Super Mario Galaxy may go down as the best platformer of all time. Though most folks may disagree, I believe this game surpasses its spiritual predecessor, Super Mario 64. I understand the nostalgia behind the classic Mario games, but when those games came out, no one was longing for the Atari and Pong days.
It's time for the next generation to take its place in the timeline. Galaxy is a revolution in platform type games, and NOT an evolution. Ratchet and Clank 2 & 3 are fantastic platform/shooters that probably innovated the "limited horizon mini-planet" game-play in a few of their levels. However, Galaxy takes it to the next "galaxy" with some of the most physics intensive and innovative levels ever witnessed in a video game. Said levels are a pure joy and exceedingly fun to experience.
The production values of Galaxy are right there with some of the greatest video games of all time-not just Mario games: GTA San Andreas, Ninja Gaiden Black, Half Life 2, Oblivion, God of War 1 & 2, Metal Gear Solid 3, as well as Super Mario 64. In a year that may be the most prominent in video game history with a plethora of quality titles released, I still would not be surprised if Galaxy takes game of the year in many different categories and from a variety of video game establishments.
Pros:
Unprecedented platform level designs
Stellar production values
Addictive game-play that is accessible for the novice and hardcore gamers alike. My 5 year old loves this game and so do I.
Does not abuse the Wii controller. Control of Mario far surpasses that of Mario 64. We are talking Ninja Gaiden Black tightness here for those of us who know what I am talking about.
While not in HD, graphics are still a wonder. The total crispiness is not present like a quality XBOX 360 title running 1080i, but one can only fault Nintendo hardware design decisions and not their software developer on this issue. With that said I have yet to see any frame rate drops. The color explosions are a incredible. Anything viewable on the internet does this game no justice. Certainly, these are the best graphics on the Wii, and far surpass all previous plat-formers - Mario or otherwise - period.
Musical score is on par with the great CG movies of our time. It has a top notch Disney film feel to it.
Sound effects are spot on with nostalgia galore built in. Very little voice acting is present and although that is criticized, I applaud it for a Mario game. Who knows what cheesy Japanese voice acting we would have had to endure. Some things are best left unsaid.
What sets this game apart from most others and puts it in the realms of the greats I listed above is that magical other-worldly feel you get when you dive into it. It's the same feeling you get when you played Mario 64, the Zelda games, and even GTA San Andreas.
The simple Co-op functionality has been criticized, but it is good enough for the parent who wants to assist their young child get through some challenging areas of a level (or vice-versa!!)
Cons:
None that I have yet experienced
Some will criticize the "old hat" story premise. However, this is a platform Mario game. You don't engage yourself in this type of game for the story.
Bottom line: If you own a Wii, this is THE must-have title. Not that Nintendo has trouble selling Wiis, but if this is the game you have been waiting for to justify the purchase of a Wii, then now is the time to buy!
The best game ever. November 15, 2007
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
Super Mario Galaxy is amazing. Even in it's flaws I find it to be perfect. The game will keep you interested from beginning to end. When you do reach the end of the game, if you're like me, you'll do it all over again. This game is an instant classic and the pinnacle of both platforming and Mario games. The only thing wrong with Super Mario Galaxy is the feeling you get when you have to stop playing. I could spend forever in this game... It's quite possibly the best game ever made... ever.
 Disappointing November 15, 2007
29 out of 228 found this review helpful
Mario has lost his way since the days of the 8 bit nintendo. While Super Mario Galaxy is an improvement from Sunshine, I think that Mario 64 is better than Galaxy. The best of the Super Mario series of course being 1 and 2.
I found the orientation of Galaxy to be disorienting and uncomfortable. As Mario, you move from planet to planet as levels. The object typically being to find and collect the Super Star. Each planet is like a ball that you run around on, but the camera does not change perspective. [..]
Graphically, this game looks good for a Wii game, though only somewhat better than what you would expect from a Gamecube. The music scores are orchestrated, but uninspired. The music from the old 2D Mario games were much more spirited.
Mario Is Brought To The Next Level November 15, 2007
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
I have been an avid fan of the Mario games ever since I was a child. After playing Super Mario Sunshine for the Nintendo Game Cube (which I found to be rather disappointing), I have waited for years for the true spiritual sequel to Super Mario 64, arguably one of the best games in the series overall.
Super Mario Galaxy did not disappoint. The game takes what was good about Super Mario 64 and remixes it with a space age theme.
The controls, which I feel are one of the game's stronger points, are very intuitive. Mario is able to perform many of his classic moves from Super Mario 64 with a similar button configuration. This made it fairly easy for me to transition into this new game. Additional controls, such as the spin dash, are executed by shaking the Wiimote. Using the Wiimote to collect star bits (which is done independently of controlling Mario himself, who is controlled by the Nunchuck) does not get in the way of the game play and adds an additional amount of fun to the game. With a tendency for many Nintendo Wii games to have either unresponsive or oversensitive controls, I would argue that these are the best controls on the console to date.
The gameplay is stellar, although for hardcore Mario fans, it might be too easy. I was able to successfully complete the game in one day and accumulate most of the game's stars. The old formula of star collecting featured in the previous two 3D Mario games has returned. However, the outer-space aspect adds new additions to the game play. Mario is heavily affected by the gravity of various objects in space, such as planets and satellites, and awareness of one's surroundings and effective manipulation of the events and situations are key to solving the game's many puzzles and challenges. Regardless, the paths to obtaining many of the game's stars are often scripted along a predefined path, which is a dramatic departure from the series' usually open-ended nature. What the game lacks in open-endedness, it makes up in its content. And there are still some open-ended areas where you can explore which add a level of realism to the game.
The music is the best in the Mario series to date. There is orchestral music in the game, which is a first for the Mario series. Arguably the best music plays during the battles with Bowser, which have a dramatic, feel and are performed by a choir. The beat, rhythm, tempo and sound of the music often changes depending upon what Mario is doing. Old school Mario music plays in a few of the game's levels, lending a nostalgic feel.
The graphics are the best on the Wii to date. Lush and vibrant colors dot many of the landscapes in the various galaxies. Surprisingly, the "cartooniness" of the Mario games is wedded to the space theme quite well.
Super Mario Galaxy is just one proof that a game doesn't need violence or guns to be successful. The Mario formula has been successful for approximately 20 years and it is the application of this formula that I think can really make a game successful. Super Mario Galaxy is a game that captures the essence of everything Mario is with unique and innovative features that do not damper the game's approachability. It is for this reason I give the game a perfect score.
Too easy? Perhaps. But then there's the added bonus of doubling the game's length if you unlock every feature. And once you beat the game for the first time, additional challenges are presented for the hardcore gamer. In this respect, I think there's a perfect balance.
Out of This World November 14, 2007
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
Mario is a huge staple in gaming. When a Mario game comes out it can't just be "good" it has to be "great." In the past, Mario games have defined the platformers of their generation. From Super Mario Bros. over 20 years ago, to Super Mario 64 bringing platforming into 3D in a whole new light. Super Mario Sunshine, however, did not turn nearly as many heads as Super Mario 64. Understandable, seeing as how Super Mario 64 is a tough game to compare to. Super Mario Galaxy does compare, though. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, it serves as an example of why Mario continues to rule the platforming genre.
Mario has never been a game to pick up for its storyline. As usual, things are peaceful in the Mushroom Kingdom. In this case, they're enjoying the star festival. As usual, Bowser comes in and decides to stir up trouble. He ends up kidnapping Princess Peach and once again its up to Mario to go rescue her. In order to reach Bowser's hideout, though, he'll have to collect power stars to do so. It borrows a lot from Super Mario 64 in the plot development, but this is hardly the same game. Like all Mario games, the story is simplistic. We've been saving Peach for over 20 years and it won't be stopping soon. You do not pick up Super Mario Galaxy for its storyline. It's all about the gameplay.
Like every Mario game, Galaxy is easy to pick up and learn but incredibly difficult to master. Through your travels you'll control Mario as you tackle the bad guys of the Galaxy. Mario's basic movies are all here. He can jump, triple jump and spin. It's very similar to Super Mario 64. The obstacles in Mario's way however range from Bowser's troopers to natural disasters like black holes. Getting every single star can be a tough task. Like the other Mario games in the past, though, it isn't necessary to get every single star in order to fight the end boss.
There are also suits for Mario can wear in his travels. There is the usual flower power and invincible star, but you'll also find new suits. There's the bee suit, which lets Mario fly. He can turn into a Boo and go through walls. He can even become a spring. Needless to say, there's a lot of variety in this gameplay.
There are several Wii games where the motion sensor controls have either been overused or they feel downright tacked on as an afterthought. In Super Mario Galaxy that's not the case. The motion sensor controls are not overused, nor are they forgotten about. From time to time you may find yourself rolling a ball around using the Wii remote like a joystick. Or you might be surfing on a manta ray. You'll shake the remote to execute Mario's spin move, and there's also a star you can control to pick up star bits and fire them off at enemies.
There's also a multiplayer aspect to Super Mario Galaxy, but it's certainly not all that engaging. Player 2 can use a separate remote to control a star and collect star bits and shoot them at enemies. Player 2 can also hold enemies still for Mario and make him jump. That's really all there is. Nothing more. It's interesting at first, but it's hard to shake the fact that player 2 just doesn't do a lot of anything.
Visually, Super Mario Galaxy is a pretty good looking game. By far the best the Wii has to offer. The detail is just incredible and the environments are gorgeous looking. There's also a great deal of attention done with the physics. It's fun to just jump up and watch Mario get pulled into the gravitational pull of another object. It's pretty cool stuff. If there was anything wrong with Super Mario Galaxy's presentation it would be that the player doesn't have complete control over the camera. The camera work isn't bad but from time to time there will be an object in your way. Luckily, this doesn't happen often enough to be a problem.
The game also sounds brilliant. Easily some of the best music the series has ever had. You'll hear remixed tunes from previous Mario adventures as well as whole lot of new stuff. It's perfectly orchestrated. There isn't a whole lot of voice acting in Super Mario Galaxy aside from Mario's shouts and screams and Bowser grunting. This probably won't bother most players as there isn't much story in the game anyway.
Super Mario Galaxy is a great game. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it has fantastic gameplay that is unmatched and unparalleled. If you're a Wii owner, this is the game to get.
Pros:
+Strong and varied gameplay
+Gorgeous looking environments
+There's co-op play for those who want it
+The game sounds really good
+Tight intuitive controls
Cons:
-The multiplayer is not very involving
-The player doesn't have control over the camera, which can be a burden in some spots
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