Super Mario Galaxy is unlike anything you've ever seen before, and it's quite possibly Mario's greatest adventure yet.
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The Good: Amazingly unique and clever platforming abilities and puzzles really test your maneuvering and skill with the red hatted plumber; blasting from planet to planet is loads of fun; different costumes such as Bee, and Ice Mario are a blast to use; a myriad of charming characters; graphics look amazing; some of the best orchestrated music that I've ever heard; a long adventure to journey through with bonuses and extras to keep you busy.
Think back. Remember, a long time ago, when Mario was a 2D sprite who jumped from object to object, Koopa to Koopa, and Goomba to Goomba with mastery of mid-air control? Now, think back, a little closer to the present. Mario in 3D. A mastery of jumping, flying and rapidly spinning Bowser until he hurled the giant Koopa into a bomb that floated lazily on the outside of the platform. And who can forget Mario with his Flash Liquidizing Ultra Dousing Device: Fludd in Super Mario Sunshine. Now, the present: Super Mario Galaxy. Yes, this is that same Mario, but you've never seen him like this before.
Super Mario Galaxy keeps up with all of the original formulas. Mario basically jumps from object to object and from enemy to enemy. However, now he can launch from planet to planet. He also comes equipped with a handy new spin attack, which can send his enemies flying in a dizzy spiral. How does he have all of these new abilities? It turns out that Bowser has struck again. Big surprise, huh? This time, during the Star Festival: a festival that occurs every one hundred years, when a meteor flies across the sky, and small bits of stars fall from the heavens. Bowser suddenly swoops out of the sky with a fleet of pirate ships. He lifts up Peach's castle from the ground, and drags her to the center of the universe where he plans to make his own galaxy, and, pretty much, destroy the current one. Mario is blasted into space where he meets Rosalina and little star children called Lumas. Rosalina wishes to reunite you with Princess Peach, but, sadly, her ship doesn't have power. To give it power, you have to collect Grand Stars, and in order to collect grand stars, which are currently in Bowser's possession, you need to find regular stars. Stars are found on all of the planets which you must travel to. When you collect enough stars, you are able to unlock new planets, and, eventually, you'll unlock the planet holding the Grand Star (which is also the boss level). To help Mario on his way, she gives him a little Luma, one which helps him blast to different galaxies and planets, and lets him use the aforementioned spin attack which is done by shaking the Wii Remote.
You've probably noticed that the most unique feature of this new Mario title is the gravity. Each time you land on a planet, you're able to keep your feet on ground by the realistic gravity effects. You can run around the planet, jump over the edge of some, and emerge completely harmless on the other side. It's amazing! Sometimes planets are even clustered together closely, so all you have to do is jump, and viola, you're on another planet. It's one of the most unique feelings that you'll ever feel in any video game. Platforming and gravity effects make this adventure the best on all fronts.
I cannot stress enough how amazing the platforming scenarios are. Walking on ceilings, blasting out of a volcano right when it erupts, ice skating on lava! There is simply no end to the innovative level design.
To help Mario on his way, various costume mushrooms are spread throughout the necessary stages. You've probably seen Bee Mario, and there's no doubt that you know about Fire Mario, but there also a couple of others that make the platforming elements shine even brighter.
With Ice Mario you're able to walk and skate on the surface of the water as it freezes beneath you. Ice Mario can also work his magic on lava! Boo Mario is a new addition. By shaking the Wii Remote, Boo Mario can turn transparent and travel through specific walls and bars. Also, if Boo Mario touches light, be it from chandeliers or holes in the ceiling, he'll turn back to normal. Spring Mario is also a new addition. Though a bit harder to control, Spring Mario is a blast to play around with. Spring Mario has no Wii controls. Instead, it all comes down to pressing the "A" button right when Mario hits the ground to get a high bounce. Finally, my personal favorite, Rainbow Mario. He doesn't appear as much as you'd like him to, but when you find a star, Mario goes into Star Mode. He's invincible, and his speed increases drastically as you continue running. Mario's ready for anything this time around.
Now for the graphics. They look amazing. Mario's been cleaned up nicely, and so have all of friends...and enemies. The frame rate is also constantly smooth. Super Mario Galaxy looks amazing, plain and simple. It's no doubt the best looking Mario game ever!
The music is *sniffs*...beautiful. It's some of the best orchestrated music that I've ever heard. It's amazing! If I could give it a 15 out of 10 I would. I'd even go higher! The sound effects are the same bloops and bleeps you've' been hearing from the series for a while. Mario makes a little...yelp, battle cry...or something when he jumps, and when you jump on a goomba, you hear a...sort of...you know....bloop. It still sounds great after all of these years.
There are 120 stars to collect, but you only need to collect sixty to reach the final stage. However, you'll be coming back every once in a while to collect the extras for the secret surprise at the end.
Altogether, Super Mario Galaxy, in my eyes, is perfect, and I rarely ever give a perfect rating. I cannot urge you enough to get this game. Between the different suits, platforming scenarios, and gravity functions, there's absolutely no reason why Super Mario Galaxy shouldn't be in your collection.