Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

It arrived today, on release, around four o'clock... and it's now nine, and I still can't stop playing it!

The music... is so awesome... going to some areas and hearing classic Mario tunes really brings a smile as you instantly remember it!

When you fly through the Galaxy ... the only word that can be used is... Wow!

Its a really really beautiful game, It's so relaxing, and some of the levels are fiendishly clever, with tricks everywhere.

The Graphics... are AMAZING! They really must have been working on this game's looks because it looks like a 360 title! This raises the bar for future Wii games... and (hopefully) stops lazy developers taking Playstation 2 ports to the Wii.

This is the game of the year IMO.
Mario is back on form. Well done Nintendo, you deserve a pat on the back... *pat pat*
It's a Me! Mario!

Super Mario Galaxy was one of the most eagerly awaited games for Mario fans and Wii owners alike. It was set to be the next leap in platforming games, much like Super Mario 64 was in 1996. To achieve this, the team at Nintendo worked space and gravity into the equation whilst keeping the core Mario gameplay we all know and love. So just how good did this game turn out?

The answer is quite simple. Super Mario Galaxy is arguably the best platforming games released in recent years and quite possibly one of the best, if not the best, games ever released. This may sound slightly exaggerated but trust me, it's not. The gameplay is flawless, the graphics are polished, the soundtrack is phenomenal and the presentation is sublime. What more could you ask of a game.

Gameplay

Like most Mario games, Super Mario Galaxy provides an excellent experience for the gamer. The controls are tight and have very few flaws. If there is one problem with the controls it would be when Mario is swimming. During this period sometimes it can be quite frustrating when it doesn't do exactly what you would have wanted. The camera very occasionally (and I mean very occasionally) leaves you a bit stuck when you cant quite see what comes next. For those of you worrying don't, as it's 10 times better than the camera in Super Mario Sunshine. It is automatic and does a very good job of keeping you right next to the action. The new special power-ups such as Bee Mario and Ghost Mario all control well and add some variation to the game.

Graphics

Super Mario Galaxy features the most gorgeous and polished graphics we have yet to see on the Nintendo Wii. The slowdown is minimal and it runs at a very constant 60fps. The animations are gorgeous and all the characters are flourished with detail and personality.

Presentation

You've got the basic Mario storyline of Princess Peach gets kidnapped and you have to rescue her. If you are buying Super Mario Galaxy for its story then think again because it is hardly the most original story. This time there is a slight twist and you get the option to hear a `side story' which tells the story of Princess Rosalina and how she ended up where she was. There is WiiConcect24 support where you can send shots of your high score tables for your friends to view. Overall presentation is fantastic.

Sound

The music which Koji Kondo and his team have conjured up for this game is incredible. The orchestrated music contrasting with the classic Mario themes works a treat. The minimal voice work which is in the game is also good and Mario is well voiced by Charles Martinet. This is definitely a massive plus for the game.

Overall

Super Mario Galaxy is clearly one of the best games ever made. Nothing else could really be done to make this game any better and to call it anything but perfect, would be a lie.

It is simply stunning. What more can I say? As a somewhat jaded 49 year old gamer, I have been laughing with glee, my jaw has been dropping time after time. The graphics are the best I have seen on the Wii to date. The controls are easy to pick up. Don't waste any more time reading this and hit Buy Now!