Reviewed by: Schwowsers on 11-Mar-08 Rating:

Strengths:Music, visuals

Weaknesses:Too easy

Summary:I enjoyed previous Mario games but this one didn\'t really do it for me. The presentation is fantastic with a wonderful soundtrack and beautitul visuals, and the game is polished like no other, but the gameplay leaves a bit to be desired. The platforming in this game is nearly all super simple and super easy. It really lacks a challenge. Super Mario Sunshine for Gamecube, while a very flawed game, at least had the special levels where they took away your water pack. Those levels were pure, concentrated platforming, and they were pretty tough. Galaxy only has a few moments like those and the rest is too simple for my tastes. I\'m apparently in the vast minority with my opinion on this game though, so if you\'ve liked previous Mario platformers, you\'ll probably love this one.

Reviewed by: botticus on 11-Mar-08 Rating:

Strengths:Stellar platforming

Weaknesses:Too restrictive with new costumes

Summary:Mario Galaxy is the Mario game everyone has been waiting for. For some, it will be the best Mario game in 10 years (Mario 64). For others, the best in 20 years (SMB3). For others, the best ever. While I haven\'t yet made up my mind, no platforming or Mario fan should pass this game up. Combining brilliant platforming with 3D spherical worlds, you have a new twist on an old genre, complete with new costumes for special abilities - that are unfortunately only available in prescribed locations. No whipping out your Bee suit on the last level of the game.

Reviewed by: edhoo on 05-Mar-08 Rating:

Strengths:Very fun classic Mario gameplay

Weaknesses:Camera can be a little awkward

Summary:Mario Galaxy is the next game in the famous Mario series, one of the best out there. Mario Galaxy takes the next step in platformer gaming, as it takes place is space on spherical worlds. This is a very unique idea and Nintendo pulled it off greatly. Nintendo did just a marvelous job on this game, and the only real fault is that the camera can sometimes be a little annoying, but for the most part, it works well enough. Overall I can\'t stress how much Nintendo did a great job on this game and I recommend it to everyone!

Reviewed by: Caliburnis on 28-Feb-08 Rating:

Strengths:It\'s-a Mario! Intuitive controls, throwbacks to previous games, and a unique experience.

Weaknesses:All good things come to an end?

Summary:Super Mario Galaxy is one game that should be in every gamer\'s library - hardcore and casual players will find tons to explore, enjoy and love about this game!

Continuing off the success and admiration of Super Mario 64 as the true spiritual successor, SMG introduc

Controls are awesome and very easy to master - on-screen displays will demonstrate how to perform each move.

You\'ll keep coming back to this title long after you\'ve completed it to collect all 120 stars as well.

SMG is another pinnacle of excellent in the Mario series and a new milestone for video game excellence.

Buy it!

Reviewed by: turtlebud on 28-Feb-08 Rating:

Strengths:* addictive & well designed* though not entirely multiplayer, can play with 2 people* replay value

Weaknesses:parts levels obscure mario, making it hard to see where he\'s going

Summary:I wasn\'t a huge super mario fan, but this game got such rave reviews I had to give it a shot. And it doesn\'t disapoint. The biggest strength is the replay value. There are so many levels to this game that you can play for weeks/months. The levels are short enough that you don\'t get too bogged down and do feel a sense of accomplishment. It\'s nice that there is a second player control that can \"help\" mario - makes it so you don\'t have to just play it alone. The levels are well designed. They start off relatively easy and teach you how to use the wiimote & nunchuck together, then get progressively harder as you get used to the controls. So much variety in the numerous levels that it doesn\'t get boring or repetitive. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by: mirado182 on 28-Feb-08 Rating:

Strengths:Great graphics even on a HDTV, solid controls, great replay ability, one of the best level designs for 3D games, but most importantly it\'s fun!

Weaknesses:Camera view (rare)

Summary:If you own a Wii, there is no excuse not to have this game. In all honesty, this has to be the best Wii game that has come out thus far. There are also some stages take take advantage of the Wiimote and introduce creative controls for it. The music is well thought out, graphics are clear and crisp, and replayability is very high. This game also supports widescreen so if you have a HDTV like me, don\'t worry!

Reviewed by: Supercop007 on 08-Feb-08 Rating:

Strengths:Soundtrack is incredible, innovative gameplay, ground-breaking spherical worlds, fun for all ages, Co-Star mode is great for a parent and child

Weaknesses:Camera angles are a little tricky, but not prohibitive

Summary:From veterans of Mario 64 back on the Nintendo 64 to newcomers on the Nintendo Wii, Super Mario Galaxy is one of the \"must have\" games for the system no matter what type of gamer you are. If you\'ve been a fan of Mario games (even back to the original Super Mario Bros. on the NES), you\'ll notice elements from each game incorporated into this game and more. The graphics, music, and controls are simply as good as you\'ll find on the Wii. Definitely worth a purchase and will last you hours on end collecting every star.

Reviewed by: yakkotank on 07-Jan-08 Rating:

Strengths:Great gameplay, graphics, sound

Weaknesses:Running around planets can make your head hurt.

Summary:Super Mario Galaxy is an amazing game that\'s easy and fun to pick up and play. The graphics and control are excellent, the levels are interesting and clever, and a welcome cooperative two-player mode is present. Highly recommended for all Wii owners.

Reviewed by: woodburymoon on 04-Jan-08 Rating:

Strengths:Fun for the entire family. Graphics are great.

Weaknesses:It was one of the more expensive games at around $50, but worth every penny. It can be a little confusing in the beginning, but one can figure it out at a few tries.

Summary:I purchased this game for my family for a Christmas present to go with the Wii that I bought. It has been such a hit. My husband, son, and even my daughter have be playing it. I haven

Reviewed by: rickgopack on 04-Jan-08 Rating:

Strengths:Extremely fun game. Easy to grasp concept of game and navigating is simple.

Weaknesses:None come to mind.

Summary:This game is a blast. It is fun from the moment that you pick up the controller. This is good clean fun for kids and adults alike. Graphics are good and the object of the game is easy to understand.

Reviewed by: evophile on 27-Dec-07 Rating:

Strengths:Long game, superb gameplay, tons of fun

Weaknesses:Camera is messing up sometimes, but not often

Summary:There\'s not much to be said about Mario Galaxy, the series\' greatest entry in since Mario 64, and very comparable to the classic Mario 3 on the NES.

The game has the amazing Mario gameplay that you\'ve come to expect from the series. Set on little worlds or \"galaxies\" now, each one has its own personality and gameplay styles that you get to play with.

The graphics are good, but constrained by the Wii\'s hardware, and the camera is mostly great, but very occasionally it will mess you up.

In the end though, this is Mario, you can\'t not play it,

Reviewed by: zmonkay on 27-Dec-07 Rating:

Strengths:Amazing graphics for a Wii game, rediculously fun gameplay, many stars to collect means this game will last a while

Weaknesses:camera can bug out at times, some challenges may be too hard for some players

Summary:This is the game we\'ve been wanting since Mario 64 came out. This game is just so good, it\'s hard to put into words. From the airships, to the fairly small but fun levels, to the myriad powerups, this game is to Super Mario 64 what Super Mario Bros. 3 was to the original (ironically making Sunshine the black sheep of the 3d games, just as Mario 2 is for the 2d games).

The platforming and controls are just so smooth and exact, you never really how to do something, you just move fluidly and naturally. The Wii controls are fairly superficial and little gimicky, but they work (shack the controller to spin attack, for example).

The game is a little sickeningly cute though, but as long as you can look past that, there is little not to love.

Reviewed by: mj_f on 26-Dec-07 Rating:

Strengths:Mario platforming at its finest - a must have game for the Wii.

Weaknesses:N/A

Summary:Super Mario Galaxy is a must-have game for the Nintendo Wii. It is a worthy successor to the classic Nintendo 64 game Super Mario 64 and the underrated Super Mario Sunshine for the Gamecube (both of which are also must-own titles that can also be played on the Wii - Mario 64 through the Virtual Console and Sunshine on a Gamecube disc).

This time Bowser has kidnapped Peach and brought her into space. After a brief intro level Mario ends up in a space station. There are several observatory domes though which Mario can access multiple galaxies. Each galaxy contains 1 to 4 or 5 stars that can be obtained. As you collect stars you unlock more galaxies. Beat the boss in a dome and you unlock the next done. After collecting 60 stars you can fly to your destiny with Bowser.

The game has excellent balance in that the main game (collect 60 stars, fight Bowser) is not too difficult, making it accessible to just about anyone. However, once you beat Bowser you unlock much harder challenges and can continue to play and collect the full 120 stars. After THAT, there is an additional bonus that I won\'t spoil. So the game provides a fairly straightforward 15-20 hours of main story gameplay and at least that much additional content that is considerably more challenging.

The Wii remote is used well in this game. The analog stick on the Nunchuk is used to move Mario (much like in the previous games). But the Wii remote can be shaken to pull of a spin attack. In addition, the pointer functionality is used to collect star bits and shoot them at enemies. There are times when this is necessary to solve puzzles and it adds a fresh gameplay element to the Mario universe. There is also a light coop mode where a second player can pick up a second remote and use the pointer capabilities as well. Besides collecting/shooting star bits, they can also hold enemies in place so the first player can get through the levels a bit easier. This is an ingenious system that allows for someone who might otherwise just be watching to join in on the fun. It also allows parents to help small children play (the child can either be the main player with help from the parent or they can be the secondary helper themselves).

As I stated at the outset, this is a must-have game for the Wii. It\'s simple - there\'s really no point in owning a Wii if you do not have this game.

Reviewed by: FOnewearl on 21-Dec-07 Rating:

Strengths:Innovative, Controls, Graphics

Weaknesses:Nothing I Can Think of

Summary:Super Mario Galaxy is the newest addition in platforming in Nintendo\'s biggest video game franchise that brought gaming back to glory back in the mid 80s when Super Mario Bros. came out with the NES system.

You start out the game heading to Princess Toadstool\'s castle for a big celebration but as your heading to the castle it all of the sudden gets attacked and lifted out of the ground and taken into space. You will then find Mario also magically sucked into space then awakened finding himself in a space world going from galaxy to galaxy in order to save Princess Toadstool and the the Toads that occupied the castle.

The first thing that should be noted about Super Mario Galaxy is that it is an A standard platformer much like Super Mario 64 was when it came out and while it was good Super Mario Sunshine did kind of have a side game feel to it has it\'s controls were kind of complex keeping it from being as easy to learn and get into as previous Super Mario games. So to recap Super Mario Galaxy isn\'t to the Wii what Super Mario Sunshine was to the GameCube and is what Super Mario 64 was to the N64!

You will find yourself in a central hub in which you can go into domes and enter different levels(known as galaxies) and in each galaxy will be star objective(s) in which you must find and free a star very much like it was in Mario 64. The main thing about Super Mario Galaxy is that it keeps what was good about Mario 64 yet it does new and innovative level designs that are fresh.

I would highly recommend Super Mario Galaxy has it is easily the best 3D platformer on the Wii or any of the current home consoles out right now!