Super Mario Galaxy was touted as the "spiritual successor" to Super Mario 64, referring to the style of gameplay, and variety found in the level design. After just a few minutes of playing, it's easy to see why the claim was made. With an expansive 3D world - not limited to a track, court, or playing field - and a non-linear level progression, the experience can be as unique as desired. With the game being under development for many years, everyone is expecting it to be good. But how well does it really do? Click "read more" below to read the full review.

Story

The story of Super Mario Galaxy opens with Mario heading to the castle to meet Princess Peach, when Bowser intervenes and steals her away. Mario is taken to a star ship that can send him to nearby galaxies, but requires stars to travel to get Peach. Lumas (small star-shaped characters) populate the ship and the various galaxies, and help Mario along the way. Over time, you learn some of the back story behind Rosalina and her caretaker role on the star ship.

As you find more stars, you unlock new galaxies to visit. There are secret galaxies that are found by feeding star bits to hungry Lumas, and by finding the three green stars. This creates an ever-expanding number of worlds to visit. The story doesn't change as you travel to different galaxies, you're simply getting closer to reaching the goal of rescuing Princess Peach.

The story isn't complex, but traditional Mario games have never had much of a story. It's not really necessary either, as each new world tells a story on its own, showing off the crazy ideas that Nintendo came up with for this new Mario adventure.

Gameplay

If you've played any 3rd person 3D game, you'll understand the basic controls of Super Mario Galaxy, but you'll literally have to turn your expectations upside down throughout the entire game. Almost every level involves the concept of a spherical world, in which you can run on walls and even to the underside of the level. The first few galaxies you visit introduce these concepts very clearly, but you'll have to master them before completing the game.

Fans of Super Mario 64 will be thrilled to know that all the special moves from that game return, including running long jumps, ground stomps, standing back flips, and the quick-direction-change somersault. In addition, a new spin-attack has been added that is performed by wiggling the Wii remote. The attack is used throughout the game, and is effective in 99% of cases, so you'll get used to wiggling quite often.

The biggest gameplay variant are the new power-ups that Mario finds in the various galaxies. A bee suit gives Mario the ability to fly, as well as stand on delicate items like flowers and clouds. A Boo suit turns mario into one of the ghosts that originally appeared in Super Mario World, giving him the ability to travel through metal bars.

Mario also learns how to control a ball by standing on top of it, and ride a manta ray in ocean currents that inexplicably are able to hover in the air. The control schemes used for these portions have been used in other titles, and although precise, take a little getting used to. Bonus galaxies (found with green stars) use these control schemes more completely, but it's nice that the primary objectives don't depend on the mastery of these somewhat awkward controls.

The gameplay is fun, and never becomes boring due to the constantly varying nature of the galaxies.

Graphics

Super Mario Galaxy touts some of the best graphics to date on the Wii console, as least for cartoon-style games. The levels are vibrant and active, with most areas showing creativity and lots of thought.

Mario is well animated and is much improved over the iterations on prior consoles. Looking very similar to the Mario in Mario Strikers Charged, he has the fluid motions of a gymnast, and in fact uses the same landing motion of a gymnast whenever he arrives on a new galaxy.

Mario will never look realistic due to his cartoon roots, but I never felt like I was missing anything while playing through the adventure. This is definitely the best Mario has ever looked.

Sound/Music

The new theme music for Super Mario Galaxy is an instant classic, and is sure to be remembered for the awe-inspiring feel that it gives the player. Classic themes also return throughout the game, each implanted in areas that are sure to remind you of the games they came from. Certain themes are even presented as notes that can be collected, where each collected note plays a corresponding musical note, leaving the exact tempo up to the player.

There is almost no voice-acting in the game, which is almost a staple of first-party Nintendo titles. I can understand not having voices for every toad and luma you meet, but it would have been nice for Rosalina's story to be read by Rosalina herself. As it stands, she says "Let's begin!" and then lets you read it for yourself.

Challenges

After some time playing the game, comets begin to orbit the galaxies you've visited, presenting new challenges. In one type of challenge, you must race a copy of Mario through the level to another star. In another challege, you must complete a level or battle a level boss without being hit; and in another challenge mode you must collect 100 coins scattered throughout the level. These challenges range from fairly simple (a race through a known level) to the tedious (collecting 100 coins and returning to the beginning of the level without dying). They do add a certain amount of replay value, and give a way to compare your Mario obsession with that of your friends. The game even provides a way to take a screenshot of the scoreboard so you can send it to your other Wii friends, thus proving that "yes huh, I do have 120 stars, neener neener neener."

Summary

If you've been looking for a game where you can shoot things to solve problems, and never have to change how you hold your controller, pass on Super Mario Galaxy. If you're looking for a good single player experience, but wanted something a little less cartoony, at least give it a chance by renting it. But if you're looking for a game that takes a little plumber man on a silly, slightly-physics-based romp across planets covered in crazy characters, you should definitely pick up this game.

Bonus tips:
Locations of Green Stars
Fountain - Battlerock
Kitchen - Buoy Base
Bedroom - Dusty Dune - After killing a red snake, you'll find a hungry luma underneath the next platform. Feed it 20 star bits.

How to find a few Secret Stars
Bedroom - Dusty Dune - After you destroy a big thorn bush on its own planet, wait until the planet shrinks. This will reveal music notes. Collect all these to make a secret star appear.
Kitchen - Ghostly Galaxy (A Very Spooky Spirit) - When you are coming in for your landing, you can see one of the stalagmites sparkling. Spin Attack it to reveal a launch star that will lead you to a secret star.
Kitchen - Beach Bowl Galaxy - Grab a turtle shell and take it on land to the opposite side of the waterfall from where you start. Open the chest with the shell and get your reward.
Bedroom - Freeze Flame Galaxy - Use the fountains that you find on your way up the side of the cliff to create stairs to get to a launch star. You'll have to jump off the back wall to reach the ledge.
Garden - Deep Dark Galaxy - after you open the gate with fire, dive to the very bottom of the lake. Use the shell to blow up the floating mines around the sunken ship, and take the shooting star to find another secret star.
Garden - Dreadnought Galaxy - on the underside of the first platform you'll find a pipe. Destroy the trash within 30 seconds to receive a star.