Super Mario Galaxy is gushing with cachet
Thursday, November 15th, 2007 at 3:44am by Blake
What started as a slow and disorientating experience has quickly become one of my favorite games released in more than a decade. Some five hours in, I honestly can’t remember the last time I’ve beheld such creativity in games.
The superlative level design immediately makes you want to double back and play it again. The colorful artwork and convincing lighting display a level of polish rarely seen on any platform. The cohesive powerups make Mario feel new even though he’s been saving the same princess for more than 20 years.
Galaxy is challenging without being inaccessible — the music on par with that of a John Williams score, and the gravity effect feels like a mini leap of faith every time you’re tasked with jumping to a neighboring planetoid.
I don’t know how influential this game will 10 years from now, but I know I’m playing something special.
November 15th, 2007 at 4:37 am
It’s not released until 29th here, but still, I know that this will be a great game. We haven’t seen massive sneak peeks and stuff, but I believe Nintendo has spent heaps of time perfecting it.
November 15th, 2007 at 4:58 am
WOOT! Because of Game’s official early launch events in the UK I’ll be getting it tonight!
98 on Metacritics? HOLY $#!~!!!!
4th highest rated game of all time there!(well joint second really)
November 15th, 2007 at 7:34 am
There’s so many good things to say about this game, but the one I’m surprised I haven’t seen mentioned anywhere yet is that it has the best camera I’ve ever experienced in a third person game.
November 15th, 2007 at 7:45 am
It is a good camera, i hadn’t thought about that.
The first hour or so was slow and had me worried, but now I’m on the bandwagon.
November 15th, 2007 at 7:47 am
The music is what’s really struck a chord (HA!) with me. This is the best soundtrack to a first party Nintendo game EVER. The controls and level design are great, we knew that would happen, but the difference between a midi soundtrack and an orchestral soundtrack is astonishing. If only Twilight Princess had gone that route.
November 15th, 2007 at 7:55 am
Level design, graphics, music are all awesome. I’m 20 stars in and this game doesn’t cease to amaze me. My eyes keep darting back and forth to try to catch every little detail. It’s just amazing. Games like this is why Nintendo has such a loyal fan base.
November 15th, 2007 at 8:21 am
Oh and there were some areas in the game I would swear were in HD.
November 15th, 2007 at 8:47 am
The music and level design have to be my favorite parts as well. All of the themes fit the locales perfectly and it has some of the best level design I’ve seen in a Mario game ever.
November 15th, 2007 at 10:04 am
I´m only 5 stars in(got my copy yesterday) but i´m pretty sure this game will be defined as the pinnacle of 3d gamming.
There are no words, is simply perfect.
November 15th, 2007 at 10:19 am
I’ve had some problems with the camera, actually. If you squeeze through a space that the camera can’t “fit” through it gets left behind… A very disorienting experience.
November 15th, 2007 at 10:29 am
I just got mine yesturday, I’m about 21 stars in now, and this game has my jaw on the ground. The music score, the amazing level design and creativity is amazing! I wouldn’t have any irks about going through every stage I just beat all over again. Awesome!
November 15th, 2007 at 10:49 am
I’m ten stars in and this game is absolutely perfect. The co-op aspect of the game has been completely ignored and is completely amazing. From the start I played with my five-year-old as co-pilot. After he went to bed I tried playing by myself and it just wasn’t as fun (or easy). I don’t think I can play this game without him. Now I understand why Zaphod Beeblebrox had a third arm.
November 15th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Galaxy reinvents 3D gaming. Walking off the edge of a platform in a Mario game is counter-intuitive. It means instant death in every 3D game since 1996. But now, if you take that leap of faith and walk off the edge of a planetoid, you find another world on the underside of that platform that you didn’t even know was there.
Nintendo Logic has been the foundation of all gameplay for 20 years. Simple things like lighting unlit torches to open doors in Zelda or finding invisable blocks to reach a point you can’t jump to in Mario. Nintendo Logic dictates the rules of videogame worlds. And now, Nintendo goes against those very rules they created. It’s like everyone, hardcore gamers, casuals and newbies, are on even ground again. 20 years of gaming experience and a deep understanding of Nintendo Logic does not give you any advantage in Galaxy (just as dual-analog controller mastery is of little value when playing Wii). Everything is so new you simply have no idea what to expect.
Nintendo really pulled it off. Wii evens the playing field with unique controls that give little advantage to hardcore gamers against newbies. And Galaxy turns traditional Nintendo Logic on its ear and forces you to unlearn the way you played every other 3D game of the last decade.