Super Mario Galaxy

The graphics in this game are technically the best you'll currently find on the console and there is no shortage of detail in the indulgent world of Super Mario Galaxy. The level design is brilliant, you'll have the wide, open cosmos around you at most times and the levels all look fun, with each keeping its own theme. The game also uses its level design to take a jump back in time, reflecting environments such as the sandy beaches of Sunshine and the icy landscapes we saw in 64. The game also thankfully manages to keep a stable frame rate at all times. Basically the whole game doesn't quite live up to some of todays super-HD standard but it still looks great and the level design more than makes up for any technical visual shortcomings.

To explain the game, you'll start off in the lobby where you can go into one of the rooms to see a solar system, each solar system is full of lots of different galaxies where there'll be a few different stars to get and getting stars will unlock new galaxies and levels, pretty much your usual setup. The gameplay pretty much embodies fun and the balance of old and new and is absolutely perfectly balanced. You'll have your good old-fashioned platforming, collecting all 120 stars, stomping enemies and more classic 3D Mario tasks like your traditional 'weak-point' bosses. But everything now takes place on a number of planets within the levels, they might be a huge planet with a lot of obstacles and jumps to clear before you can move onto the next one or it may be a tiny planet consisting of a single puzzle and this compartmentalisation of the gameplay is great and all planets play at least as good as they look, leaving you once again in awe of the games brilliant level design. Other new additions include you (or your friend in co-op mode) collecting star bits, small easy-to-get items that let you stun enemies and unlock new galaxies, new power-ups like the Bee Suit and the Ice Flower and each time you play the game you'll start out with just 3 lives meaning that you have a chance in levels (especially as 1Ups are much easier to get), but you can't hold back a whole number of lives at once to make yourself effectively invincible. Another nice feature of Super Mario Galaxy is special comets that hang around random stages for a bit and allow you to play through specific challenges like speed runs or you'll situations where you'll have to run the entire level with only one life.

Of course being a Wii game the difficulty slope in this game needs to be just right and it is, most newbies will be able to finish the game but veterans will definitely be challenged if they want to get all 120 stars. The controls are also pretty good, the game goes for the basic 3D Mario controls but with the motion controls used to collect star bits and execute spin attacks and this works well with the Wii. The most notable problem with normal gameplay is the dreaded dodgy platforming camera. It's been somewhat improved since previous Mario adventures and a first person mode and toggle-able camera positions have also been added but the camera will often not go into first person mode, change angles or centre behind your character when need it to and it can indeed still occasionally get stuck in awkward spots for a second too long.

Galaxy has very good sound. Nintendo seem to be keeping up their tradition of no real voice acting but the small sections of speech are kind of nice. You'll also of course be playing with the crisp and quirky classic Mario sound effects as well as a few new ones which manage to fit very well and add to the games rich feel. The games sound really picks up in its music though and features excellent remakes of the timeless old Mario tunes and new, quite atmospheric music including a full orchestral piece as its theme. The developers really aim to leave you with an epic feeling and that effect is achieved.

There's a little more story here than your average Mario game but all the real stuff takes place in an area called the library where you can see different sections of the storybook which you'll unlock as you make your way through the game. Apart from the storybook it'll just be your basic 'Peach kidnapped by Bowser' scenario. The game benefits from having the story separated out like this and the storybook may provide some interest for older players but kids will love it and keeps extensive story from getting in the way for those who just want to jump in and play.

All in all Super Mario Galaxy is not just one of the greatest Wii games, it is some of Miyamoto and Nintendo's finest work and it's a game that's virtually perfect for anyone.