November 25, 2007

If you're anything like me, you've been waiting for Super Mario Galaxy over ten years now. This is the true successor to the ground breaking game that is Super Mario 64. Sorry Super Mario Sunshine, but you'll always live in the shadow of something greater. This game is like a gourmet steak. Everything was prepared and tested to near perfection.

The first thing that you'll notice is the shear amount of visual quality. This is probably the best that Wii can process, and it's not too shabby. This game's graphics can be compared to the likes of Kameo, which was a launch game for the Xbox 360. However, the sound is even better. Sure, you've got your usual Mario fare. Coins ka-ching, jumping on Goombas make a cool sound when jumped on, but orchestrated music ups Nintendo's standards. As soon as you arrive at the overworld, you will be treated to my favorite video game song ever. This song belongs on a Mozart CD. Of course, there are many other good songs. Some are even interactive. Don't worry though. I won't spoil those for you.

You probably don't care so much about all of this. Mario games are supposed to be all about the gameplay. That is very true in this game. Everything that you love about platformers and more is included. You've got your common levels, but with a twist.  There are some very interesting levels. For example, one has a number of spotlights, but everything outside of them disappears. And since you're in space, gravity plays a big role in the game's mechanics. You can jump off the side of a celestial body, and you may end up on the other side, or on another object.

Overall, get this game if you have any good appreciation of Nintendo. You will not be disappointed. I can't say that for Sunshine.