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SUPER MARIO GALAXY (WII)
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Publisher: Nintendo.
Developer: Nintendo EAD Tokyo. Released: November 2007. Genre: 3D Platformer. Posted 7th September 2023. By Tom Clare © 2023 |
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Nintendo’s gamble on motion controls for their seventh-generation Wii was as brave as it was groundbreaking. The two home systems that preceded it, the N64 and the GameCube, had struggled both for market share and identity during a period of ever-increasing competition. The Japanese giant prioritised cutting-edge hardware over innovation, and likely had the success of their handhelds to thank for surviving the period. The Wii flipped this trend on its head, and whilst the system was both a beacon of creativity and immensely popular, it’s too often dismissed as a novelty. Detractors point to the celebrity-backed advertising campaigns, lifestyle games and liberal quantities of shovelware, though if the poorest output from the PS2 or the DS is anything to go by, this is as much a metric of a truly successful console as a bad one. It’s easy to forget that, for all of the media distractions, the Wii gave rise to some of Nintendo’s greatest-ever games, of which Super Mario Galaxy most assuredly is one.
Mario is summoned by his beloved Princess Peach to her castle, only to arrive in time to see her being kidnapped by Bowser and Bowser Jr., with a veritable space armada in tow. So far then, it’s par for the course for the plumber’s adventures. The setting itself is what gives this outing oomph: Mario ends up in a celestial hub of sorts, based around parts of a house that’s overseen by Rosalina, a mysterious, comforting presence and mother to the luma, the young stars you’ll find dotted around. This grants Mario the appetising prospect of launching to all manner of different galaxies, where a trove of adventures, and a dream of a 3D platformer, lie in wait.
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No HD, no problem: every last bit of Super Mario Galaxy looks sumptuous
SMG may have had to weather fairly modest tech specs, but the vibrancy and ingenuity of its design saw it decimate its HD genre contemporaries. The unusual, planet-hopping theme means it rekindles the kind of buzz you get when experiencing the very best games, leaving the player in suspense as to what new tricks it’s going to pull from the hat next. That everything fits together so effortlessly should not be taken for granted. There was nothing quite like Super Mario Galaxy at the time, and that’s even without factoring in the controls. Nintendo has always understood the basic tenets of what keeps the player absorbed, and here they learned and built upon the likes of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. Basic platforming controls have been refined to a level of excellence, and though for as long as we live, we may never experience motion controls we feel are entirely perfect, SMG does a remarkable job of making them feel seamless rather than finicky. Alongside a raft of clever mechanics, the game manages to feel at once joyously novel and reassuringly traditional.
Each level consists of a planet (or collection of planets) that Mario can circumnavigate. These vary in size and every one produces a vastly different playing experience. You might be challenged with something as simple as defeating all the enemies, finding key pieces or picking your way through platform traps and mazes. There’s never time for things to stagnate, as whilst the core platforming remains recognisable, Mario is roped into a range of different pursuits. Some very pleasant swimming levels serve as a breather from the oft-fraught platforming. For those after an engaging challenge, there are some brilliantly fiendish, gravity-reversing 2D segments as well as various mini-bosses that demand carefully timed uses of the spin and ground pound moves. The versatile plumber can transform into a bee (to reach higher ground) and a ghost who can float and move through certain barriers.
Each level consists of a planet (or collection of planets) that Mario can circumnavigate. These vary in size and every one produces a vastly different playing experience. You might be challenged with something as simple as defeating all the enemies, finding key pieces or picking your way through platform traps and mazes. There’s never time for things to stagnate, as whilst the core platforming remains recognisable, Mario is roped into a range of different pursuits. Some very pleasant swimming levels serve as a breather from the oft-fraught platforming. For those after an engaging challenge, there are some brilliantly fiendish, gravity-reversing 2D segments as well as various mini-bosses that demand carefully timed uses of the spin and ground pound moves. The versatile plumber can transform into a bee (to reach higher ground) and a ghost who can float and move through certain barriers.
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Whilst the controls would likely have proven a source of concern for fans, any worries are soon allayed. Mario navigates with ease via the nunchuck, and most of his conventional moves, including jumps, are executed with the buttons. A few well-timed flicks from the motion controller help achieve the full range of platformer gymnastics. There are a few sections that rely entirely on the Wiimote and these are mostly really good, too. The best are the balance ball sequences, which task Mario with rolling around pitfalls and thin ledges. It works fantastically well and, thanks to some fiendish design, will have you holding your breath as you come perilously close to plunging into the abyss.
Once again, it’s a Mario game that appears inclusive to everyone across the gaming spectrum, from young beginners to veteran platformer fans demanding challenging gameplay. This is a vastly underrated quality. Too easy, and the levels would pass by without having left an impression. Too hard, and it would have risked turning players away. The player’s efforts are persistently rewarded and it will keep you gripped until you rescue the princess.
Once again, it’s a Mario game that appears inclusive to everyone across the gaming spectrum, from young beginners to veteran platformer fans demanding challenging gameplay. This is a vastly underrated quality. Too easy, and the levels would pass by without having left an impression. Too hard, and it would have risked turning players away. The player’s efforts are persistently rewarded and it will keep you gripped until you rescue the princess.
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For all the talk of the Wii languishing in the realm of standard definition, Super Mario Galaxy looks breathtaking. It remains a wonderful showcase for Nintendo’s creative mastery of established technology and it’s hard to think of another Wii game that could hold a candle to it, visually, in 2007. Mario’s flights into levels are always a wonder, the stars sparkling around him as the player gets a glimpse of the scale of the surroundings that lie in wait. The water sections are also striking, particularly when the game experiments with weird physics and some creepy marine foes. Every last bit of SMG is easy on the eye, from its sumptuous, colourful character design to the shiny gold stars and the endlessly, meticulously crafted levels that offer a stunning and fully-realised range of themes. Its gorgeous presentation extends to the audio. Anthemic, rousing platforming music lends impetus to the levels whilst the relaxing vibes of Rosalina’s hub are equally welcome.
There are a few small quibbles, of which camera issues are perhaps the most surprising. The inverted camera swivel is less intuitive than would have been ideal, attached as it is to the D-Pad, and there are a small number of instances where a right analogue stick would have saved some awkwardness. It should be noted, however, that in most instances the ‘C’ button swiftly centres the camera behind Mario, so it’s not a big problem. The only weakness I could find in the platforming concerned the spring suit, which rather novelly sees Mario pogo-ing like a coil but, rather less novelly, feels frustratingly hit and miss when it comes to converting button presses into springs.
There are a few small quibbles, of which camera issues are perhaps the most surprising. The inverted camera swivel is less intuitive than would have been ideal, attached as it is to the D-Pad, and there are a small number of instances where a right analogue stick would have saved some awkwardness. It should be noted, however, that in most instances the ‘C’ button swiftly centres the camera behind Mario, so it’s not a big problem. The only weakness I could find in the platforming concerned the spring suit, which rather novelly sees Mario pogo-ing like a coil but, rather less novelly, feels frustratingly hit and miss when it comes to converting button presses into springs.
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As you'd expect from the series, there's no shortage of novel twists and neat platforming puzzles
The Galaxy is as big as it is rewarding. The fifteen main levels each have three separate variants that see the player beginning in the same location before branching off to new areas and planets tied to the area. Many additional galaxies offer just a single star but typically challenge the player in a particular gameplay area. Depending on thoroughness, you’ll have likely amassed somewhere between 60 and 80 stars by the time you beat the final boss, after which Rosalina reveals that, alongside the stars acquired from challenge stars, finding lost Luigi, as well as any secret stars and bonus galaxies you unearth, the total number for full completion is 120. You’re looking at thirty to forty hours of gameplay, a remarkable stretch for a 3D platformer, especially given it remains so compelling a journey, well into the post-game.
Mario’s trip to the stars heralded another absolutely unforgettable platformer for Nintendo’s faithful. Super Mario Galaxy entices players with its clever ideas and superb gameplay, and keeps you hooked through an endless stream of perfectly-judged challenges that ensure the levels' enormous depth of quality is appreciable. One of the most rewarding and satisfying games you could hope to play.
Mario’s trip to the stars heralded another absolutely unforgettable platformer for Nintendo’s faithful. Super Mario Galaxy entices players with its clever ideas and superb gameplay, and keeps you hooked through an endless stream of perfectly-judged challenges that ensure the levels' enormous depth of quality is appreciable. One of the most rewarding and satisfying games you could hope to play.
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VERDICT
"Mario's trip to the stars heralded another unforgettable platforming experience from Nintendo. The successful integration of motion controls, gorgeous presentation and phenomenal level design confirmed the Wii didn't need HD to deliver best-in-class games." OVERALL: 10/10 |
OTHER MARIO GAMES REVIEWED
Mario Kart Wii (2008, Wii)
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New Super Mario Bros. U (2012, Wii U)
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