And that end takes some time to reach, too. The first 60 stars and your trip to the final fight with Bowser will probably take you anywhere from eight to twelve hours, and if you’re going for 120, expect to spend twenty-five to thirty. Galaxy is one of those games you will want to last forever, and yet you will probably find yourself so attached to it that you won’t be able to quit playing. As you approach the 120 mark, you will also approach the edge of your seat, as the gameplay becomes extremely heated near the end. You will need to master everything in Mario’s arsenal to make it to the special ending—which, by the way, is well worth the effort.
If you run into a snag and are in need of assistance (or if you’re playing with, say, your significant other), you’ll appreciate the cooperative mode, where the second player can wield another Wii-mote to control a second on-screen pointer. This pointer can be used to collect and fire Star Bits, as well as stun enemies, destroy boulders, deflect projectiles, and even make Mario jump. The general consensus seems to be that the cooperative mode is vapid and unnecessary; on the contrary, I actually found it to be quite clever and entertaining. My wife never would have made it as far as she did on her file if it weren’t for my support, and let me tell you, contributing (even ever-so-slightly) to the success of whomever you are gaming with is much more gratifying than simply cheering them on.
Polished Presentation
Not only does Super Mario Galaxy play better than nearly every other game on the Wii, it also looks like a million bucks… interpolated and upscaled from lowly 480p, of course. The graphical technology used is nothing new—some bump mapping here, a few specular highlights there—but coupled with the invigorating art style, the end result is visually thrilling.
The soundtrack is equally impressive. For the first time in a Mario game, Nintendo has chosen to supplement a solid MIDI soundtrack with a number of magnificent live orchestra tracks. Recorded in studio by a 50 piece orchestra, Super Mario Galaxy’s musical score sounds every bit epic as it should. Although strongly melodic tunes are still the emphasis here (as they should be), Galaxy’s orchestral tracks possess enough complexity and dynamism to be featured in a big-budget Hollywood action film—and anyone with even the most basic background in music will immediately appreciate the investment. Confident strings and driving percussion cheer our hero through the tribulations of space wars in Battlerock and Buoy Base, while the comforting waltz of the Comet Observatory slowly builds throughout the game from a simplistic flute-and-bells duet, to a quartet of strings, to a full-blown symphony as more Power Stars are collected. Gusty Garden Galaxy’s theme alone is probably one of the most amazing I’ve heard in any videogame—the word magical comes to mind.
If Super Mario Galaxy’s larger-than-life soundtrack isn’t evidence of the importance of live orchestra and inspired composition in videogames, I don’t know what is. Nintendo is late to the party on this one, but one thing’s for certain; when they finally do step up to the plate, they nearly always hit a homerun… and that’s precisely what they’ve done here. I just can’t say enough about the quality of Galaxy’s soundtrack. When you hear it for yourself, take a moment to appreciate the work that went into producing such a tremendous musical presentation.
One Terrific Game
All of these ingredients add up to one of the most magnetic and enchanting gaming experiences in years. Super Mario Galaxy is surely Miyamoto’s new magnum-opus; it is the best of the Mario series, and one of the best titles ever to emerge from Nintendo. That alone should be evidence enough that you need to own and play this title. When the unbridled imagination, seamless gameplay, rejuvenating innovation, clever design, depth and variety, and polished presentation coalesce, we’re left with one of the most thoroughly joyous gaming adventures ever known; this is one terrific game.
Twenty-two years ago, when I started playing videogames, it was the magic of Mario that captivated me. Today, it is the brilliance of games like this one that makes my position as a humble critic seem worthwhile. It is the opportunity to experience such inspired creations as Super Mario Galaxy that is the very reason we all play games to begin with. And when a game can bring me back to the sensation I felt those twenty-two years ago, what a truly special game that is.