1.12.2012

or Mario's Wii debut Nintendo decided to take their most famous character and send him where no plumber has gone before . . . into deep space! The main game play of SUPER MARIO GALAXY features Mario running around small planets, space debris, water levels, and other colourful Mario themed levels. This is a very long review, so the Intro pretty much tells you what I think and the Overall Information on the Game goes into more detail on the game itself-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------INTRO and Purchase Recommendation:Although the game is great, if you should buy it or not really depends on if you have gotten the superior sequel,SUPER MARIO GALAXY 2. For the first two and a half years of its existence, SMG was an unequivocal title which if you wanted to have the best that the Wii offered, this was the title for you. Like any main entry in the SUPER MARIO series, Nintendo has put all their efforts into making one of the best titles around, and as evidenced by the almost unanimous reviews from professional gaming critics. That all changed in the summer of 2010, when Nintendo released SUPER MARIO GALAXY 2.SMG, along with a handful of other titles (including Zelda's TWILIGHT PRINCESS) have been released as a series of budget line titles called "Nintendo Selects", which exclusively features a physical red box. These titles are normally priced under twenty dollars and quite frankly a steal.However, if it comes down to purchasing SMG or SMG2, go with SMG2. Please refer to my SMG2 review for more information on that title, but overall everything SMG does, SMG2 does bigger and better.There are a few design choices that are rather strange to me that I want to note here rather than the general body of the information section. First, to get all possible stars, you have to beat Bowser FOUR TIMES. Yes, four. Not that Bowser is particularly difficult, but really, four times? And it's the same battle and stage.Overall the power stars are not overly challenging with one notable exception: the Dread Nought's Secret Star. While SMG2 has "The Perfect Run" which is intentionally exceptionally intense, the Dread Nought's Secret Star isn't even a major stage. Instead, you have to blow up six piles of rubble for a Gearmo using bombs, and you only have 30 seconds to do so. Only problem is there is a several second delay from when you throw the bombs to when they blow up. It is by far the most frustrating star in the game, so much so that I wanted to punch whoever designed that star in the face. It's borderline impossible, it's that difficult. And then the Gearmo gets mad at you that you didn't clear the trash. I'm like if you gave me more time or this wasn't such a stupid star, you'd be done! [Extremely frustrating and not even remotely fun.]A close second is Boo's Bone Pen Star where you have to collect 100 purple coins in a MINUTE. While in SMG 2 after you get all 100 purple coins and you are on a time limit, the time limit will stop and you can go collect the star. Not so in SMG. After getting all 100 coins, the timer is still going, so you can get the necessary coins and still lose. [Extremely frustrating and not even remotely fun.] - Another quick purple coin star is when Gusty Garden star "Purple Coins on the Puzzle Cube" [on a Cube Box] -Also, after beating SMG with Mario you are given the option to beat it again with Luigi. While it's a nice game style change, it's not really much of a difference - just the same with slightly different play control. And you have to go through that if you want to get all 121 stars with both. While I'm not detracting for the game for this, it just feels like Nintendo was adding artificial length to the game. The first time I beat the game I didn't play through it again with Luigi for a few months, because it wasn't that important to me to get all 121 stars, given the fact the 121 star was just a purple coin walk in the park that I saw on Youtube.Although I've read lots of reviews that SMG2 could never have the same impact as the original (due to all the main ideas that make SMG2 so brilliant were first introduced in SMG) , ultimately SMG2 wins out every time. Yes, SMG is what first introduced us to the Galaxy style gameplay with gravity, physics, planetoids, etc, and all SMG2 just expands the template and builds on the foundation already laid down by SMG (which is very true), SMG2 is just so bloody great it makes you want to cry. Absolutely amazing.Still, the original SMG is absolutely amazing, even though it is now outshined by its sequel. Although there are individual stars and galaxies here and there I prefer in the original SMG, over all SMG 2 is the better game. Fortunately, though, if you have the fundage you can get both of these absolutely classic titles!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Overall Information:The game has a lot of motion controls built into it, which is quite suitable for the Wii. By spinning your Wii controller Mario does a spin move. There are also things called Pull Stars, where you most point your Wii controller at the pull star to activate it, which will make Mario go in that direction. There are also bubble-blowing, where you use blow Mario around with a blaster while he is encased in a Bubble, a Star Ball where Mario stands on a ball and you have him roll around a course by positioning the Wii remote in certain angles, and Stingray surfing where Mario rides a stingray on a water course.Mario also collects "Star Bits", which can be used as ammo but comes in more useful as food for "hungry Lumas", which are stars Mario encounters on the way. By feeding these Hungry Lumas a predetermined amount of Star Bits, Mario will unlock previously locked levels.SUPER MARIO GALAXY, like its previous predecessor SUPER MARIO 64, is built around collecting Power Stars. The main goal is to collect sixty power stars so that you are able to have the final showdown with Bowser.Like Princess Peach's Castle from SUPER MARIO 64 and Delfino Plaza in SUPER MARIO SUNSHINE, SMG features a hubworld called the Comet Observatory. There are seven main areas in the Observatory: tThe Gate (one galaxy and one Hungry Luma galaxy), the Terrace, the Fountain, The Kitchen, the Bedroom, the Engine Room, and the Garden. Each of these areas with the exception of the Gateway feature multiple galaxies and one Hungry Luma galaxy, as well as a Bowser themed level boss level. As you proceed, through these stages and earn more stars, you will gain Grand Stars (which are in the Bowser levels). When Mario starts out there is not enough power to bring all the areas online, so each time Mario earns a Grand Star, power is added to the Comet Observatory, unlocking another area that can be explored (much like Peach's Castle was locked).Overall, the Comet Observatory can feel overwhelming and awkward to navigate, which would explain why in SUPER MARIO GALAXY 2 Nintendo completely did away with the hub world and instead did an overworld linear map similar to SUPER MARO BROS. 3 and SUPER MARIO WORLDThere are 42 galaxies in the game (six fewer than its sequel), of which there are ten twelve unlockable galaxies and [thirty two] thirty main galaxies. There are seven Hungry Luma galaxes, the final boss galaxy where Bowser is at, and the three trial galaxies which are challenging courses involving stingray surfing, star ball rolling, and bubble blasting, and then the Grand Finale Galaxy.The galaxies themselves are highly inventive and feature remarkable gameplay. There is everything from honey themed galaxies (to tie in Bee Mario) to deep space battle station galaxies to ghostly galaxies to tropical galaxies to desert galaxies and fire/ice galaxies and even a tory galaxy and a sugary candy galaxy. Each star in the galaxy is clearly defined and the player never feels a loss at what to do next. Overall the game is very intuitive in leading the player to the next goal without holding the player's hand, which is one of the hardest balances to obtain in game design these days.As far as linear gameplay, both SMG and SMG2 are more linear than SM64 and SMS. One of the things I loved about SM64 is the ability to obtain pretty much any star at any point that was available in the level (with very, very few exceptions to that rule). Those days are gone, largely because depending on what star you select there are changes made to the galaxy layout and design.Although there are 120 stars in the main game, in reality there are really 90 main stars, with 30 additional stars being "comet stars".The comet stars will begin appearing after you have beaten various galaxies. There is also a special type of comet (the Purple comet) which, when it appears, means you must collect 100 purple coins spread throughout a level.The other type of comets are all repeats of stars already played, only with some extra criteria included. There are daredevil runs (Mario only has one hit), speed runs, Cosmic clone runs (where Mario or Luigi races his clone), and double-time runs where everything is sped up to super speeds.Although the comets are largely fun, with the exception of the purple comets, they are all repeats of previously featured content, which doesn't make the game feel as long as it should be had Nintendo come up with new stars to come up with the 120.To get the purple comets to appear you must defeat Bowser. Then, after getting all 120 stars, you must beat Bowser a second time, which will then unlock SUPER LUIGI GALAXY, where you play through the game as Luigi.The Luigi mode of SMG is very much a LOST LEVELS throw back. In the 1986 game Famicom Disk System SUPER MARIO BROS 2 (THE LOST LEVELS), you can play as either Mario or Luigi. If you play Luigi, he jumps higher but does not have nearly as much traction, meaning he slides around a lot. That is exactly how Luigi plays in SMG as well. It's nice to see such a nod to one of the more obscure (if there is such a thing) titles in the Mario canon. Other than how he controls, there is no difference between playing through the levels with Luigi or with Mario, with the exception that Luigi's cosmic clones are MUCH MORE DIFFICULT than Mario's. The underwater race in BEACH BOWL GALAXY will have you SWEARING, it's that much more difficult.After defeating collecting the 60 stars with Luigi, defeating Bowser, getting the purple comets to appear, then collect the other 60 stars, you then beat Bowser again with Luigi. After doing so, you then unlock the Grande Finale Galaxy, which is the 121s star for both Mario and Luigi. Don't expect anything epic though like SMG2's insanely masochistic "The Perfect Run Level"; the Grand Finale Galaxy is just a boring purple coin hunt, not even challenging. Actually you'll have a hard drive even getting hurt in the galaxy it's that easy.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Boss information and Power Ups [Over all information regarding the game]There are 15 bosses in SUPER MARIO GALAXY, with several being fought more than once.1. Dino Piranha (fought twice)2. King Kaliente (fought twice)3. Bugaboom (fought once)4. Megaleg (fought once)5. Kamella (fought three times)6. Tarantox (fought once)7. Topmaniac (fought four times)8. Bouldergeist (fought twice)9. Major Burrows (fought twice)10. Baron Brrr (fought once)11. Undergrunt Gunner (fought three times)12. Kingfin (fought once)13. Fiery Dino Piranha (fought once)14. Bowser Jr. (fought once)15. Bowser (fought three times)The game features seven power ups.1. Bee mushroom - turns Mario into a bee for short extended periods of light2. Boo mushroom - make Mario transparently so he can float through solid objects. He will also attract other ghosts who will fall in love with him while using this power up.3. Fire Flower - the classic power up that allows Mario to shoot fireballs. Unlike the 2D side scrollers, Fire Mario has a time limit. In several stages he might light torches or burn items to proceed4. Ice Flower - first appeared in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Ice Flowers appear in three galaxies (Beach Bowl Galaxy, Freezeflame Galaxy, and Deep Dark Galaxy). Allows him to shoot ice balls at enemies and also turns water surfaces into ice, allowing Mario to skate across bodies of water and access areas otherwise inaccessible. Like the Fire Flower, it has a timer5. Rainbow Star - the invincibility star from days of yore, and has a time limit6. Red Star - makes Mario fly. Only appears in the Purple Coin challenge in the Gateway Galaxy and in the hub world of the Comet Observatory.7. Spring Mushroom - turns Mario into a bouncing spring. This can be challenging to control as Mario is constantly jumping while using this powerup.

4.12.2017

Super Mario Galaxy was the last time the Mario Franchise truly spread its wings and innovated, well at least before Mario Odyssey. While it hits the same marks as a Mario Game always does, Princess is Captured by Bowser, Mario goes to the rescue her and collect stars for whatever the contrived reason is this time around, it makes up for this with the gameplay. Now you might be thinking going to space is something a franchise does when it has no more tricks to pull and yes, that is true but makes Mario Galaxy great is the level design.You travel to small planets in different galaxies, each with a different theme and you complete basic platform challenges but the basic tricks the game pulls with gravity and the varied enemies and obstacles make the game shine.

11.5.2014

Before I bought this game, I actually already had SUPER MARIO GALAXY 2. Loving that game so much, I then wanted to get the first in the Super Mario Galaxy series, to see where it all began. I am so glad that I did. Having already played SUPER MARIO GALAXY 2, it was easy to see where similarities lay. In SUPER MARIO GALAXY, Mario is given the ability to fly through the universe so that he can collect star bits and stars in order to travel across the universe to save Princess Peach from Bowser. As in the sequel to this game, SUPER MARIO GALAXY sees Mario killing his enemies manly by swivelling close to them. This either stuns them or turns them into star bits, which you can then collect. Also,

16.1.2012

It's amazing how Nintendo have made this last. Mario arrives in a town, everyone is pleased to see him. Bowser arrives and steals Princess Peach. Mario has to rescue her. That's the plot of every Mario game so far, but the gameplay is always different.The key difference here is that Mario is taken into 3 dimensions. Using the control stick on the nunchuck moves Mario around, while shaking the wiimote spins him around, plus you've got the A and B button doing jumps and firing "star bits."The bit that's hard to get round is that Mario can now walk around in three directions, so it's occasionally forgotten that Mario can walk off the edge of something and underneath it.

16.9.2014

What my 11 year old son has to say: Greeeeaaaat! I love this game! I'm currently on my 24th star, cosmic Mario race 1. The game is quite complicated, but rescue Luigi (the best fiction character EVER) from Ghostly Galaxy and he might start getting power stars for you. Luigi is playable, but not until you collect 120 power stars and beat bowser 3 times. The best part is the skills Mario (and Luigi) have, returning from sm64, including the backflip, the ground pound and who could forget, the triple jump. And it is 3D. And those lumas! They're so cute (not like Mario and Luigi aren't cute themselves)! By the way, always try the missions first yourself before looking it up on YouTube,

4.3.2014

I bought this for my 10 year old and it is an amazing game. It is designed to be mainly a one player game, two can play but the second player is a sort of "assistant". It has fantastic graphics that are so realistic. I have had a go myself on the 'water planet' and you have to surf around a course and it made me feel dizzy it was so realistic! My daughter doesn't have this problem - it is my age! There are many different planets and levels, and you have to achieve all you are supposed to (killing aliens, finding things) and progress to each different planet in order to rescue the princess. My daughter has been playing this for a while now, and has still not got to the end, so there is a lot of play value in it.

8.1.2012

Last december we bought a WII for our 5-year old son, as there are not that much games suited for him on the PS3. Since he's a Mario Kart fan (on the DS), we started of with that game. Many reviews were very positive about Mario Galaxy as well, so we bought that one too. Although it still is a little bit too difficult for him (dad needs to do most of the work ;)) he really enjoys this game and I must say, so does dad! The control can be a little tricky at first, as soon as you've got the hang of it, it's a lot of fun. We're still pretty much at the start of the game so I can't really judge on difficulty, but so far it's not too easy and not too difficult either.

13.5.2012

This game is so much fun, Mario games have so many different types of gameplay, that are very replayable, especailly the star worlds which are often very difficult. Am a big fan of Mario! he has the best games available on Wii, If I were to recommend any games for Wii then it would be New Mario bros Wii, Paper Mario, Mario Galaxy, Okami, Mario Kart and Geometry Wars(with a gamecube controller). Mario maybe 50 years old but he's better than ever in my experience, he brings action adventure to all ages with interestingly humorous charactors that you won't soon forget. You won't find this cheaper else where so why not start your adventure here!

24.10.2011

I have been playing Mario games from the beginning with Super Mario Bros on the N.E.S and for me Mario 64 was the best Mario game until Super Mario Galaxy came along. I don't know how Nintendo do it but they some how always find new ways in keeping the Mario games fresh and they always play like a dream. As you might have already gussed in Mario Galaxy you travel the universe and the levels are simply breathtaking. Mario has never looked so good and I can't stop smiling as I try collecting all the stars in this most amazing game. If you love this game then buy yourself a copy of Super Mario Galaxy 2 which improves on this amazing game!

30.6.2013

I'm not a big gamer but I do occasionally enjoy playing platform games. I worked my way through Mario Bros. Wii before buying this and while I enjoyed that too, this is a revelation. The game story is fun and not too intrusive as some can be. Mario faces new and fun challenges with interesting twists on the original platform style and some levels are frustrating- as they should be!I've not finished this yet, but when I do I'll certainly be looking at Super Mario Galaxy 2.

16.5.2012

Mario at his best! This completely incredible game, with multiple characters included such as Luigi, Rosalina, Bowser and Bowser Jnr, is well worth the money. Although some levels are difficult, the inspiring background story that supports the game, about Rosalina's past and the stars, more than makes up for it, highly deserving the fifth star. A good quality game with sharp, colourful graphics that's easy to get the grips with. Good for kids between seven and twelve.

24.7.2013

My Grandson who is 8 was here on holiday in June and he asked for this game, and hoped it was in England when he got home. He had made a pact with his Mum that if he was good!! I would send for it for him. He knows I see no bad in him so he was on a winner!! He is thrilled with it and it arrived only two days after they got back to England, which was quicker than we expected.

30.12.2011

We have Super Mario Galaxy 2 which my 7 year old son really enjoys. He asked for the original game for Christmas and Santa delivered. He hasn't completed the game and is having great fun with it. I have to say that so far things for the 2nd player to do are few and far between (yes - I am that 2nd player!).Worth buying, but probably better for just one player.

15.8.2012

I love super mario and have nearly every mario game for wii, the delivery was fast and the game was in perfect condition over all this game is great, It's very different from other mario games i have Played before but it's easy to get used to and learn the controls, I would deffo recommend you get this game lots of fun !!!

4.12.2015

Product arrived as expected which is a great plus! My son already bought SM Galaxy2 and asked for this one and I am sure he will be over the moon once he opens this for Christmas! Packaging is brilliant and the tracker is very helpful as you can follow your purchase once ordered! Highly recommended for everyone! 5 Stars!

Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) - Reviews

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