Super Mario Galaxy

[H-Man]

This, along with the fact that there isnt relaly much challenge is why it isnt quite as good as Mario 64 for me.

I'm hoping the difficulty picks up.

Creativity wise it's not possible to knock Galaxy - everything looks wonderful and there's a surprise around each corner - but it all feels a little Mario 64 with training wheels so far, both in terms of challenge and in taking control of the camera away from the player (I can't stress how much I miss being able to zoom in and out and flip the view around). Gameplay feels almost 2.5d.

[MikeRox]

I think that was done intentionally to simplify the controls. The game will have been aimed at newcomers as well as hardened gamers.

[rmoxon]

I'm hoping the difficulty picks up.

Creativity wise it's not possible to knock Galaxy - everything looks wonderful and there's a surprise around each corner - but it all feels a little Mario 64 with training wheels so far, both in terms of challenge and in taking control of the camera away from the player (I can't stress how much I miss being able to zoom in and out and flip the view around). Gameplay feels almost 2.5d.

You can flip the view behind you with the C button actualy, but that doesnt seem to even work half the time and does seem to be very limited.

[H-Man]

I think that was done intentionally to simplify the controls. The game will have been aimed at newcomers as well as hardened gamers.

No doubt, but it makes it less fun for me. Simply running along a path could be a joy in 64 - zooming in and flipping to a side profile, or running and jumping towards the screen.

On one planet the camera follows a path as it bends around a corner and the experience verges dangerously close to Crash Bandicoot territory. On another occasion - again, on one of the bigger planets - it was impossible to appreciate the scale of the level with the camera position. It would have just taken a few zooms and tapping of the camera to the right to make simply being there a whole lot more satisfying.

[djjimbob]

33 stars in so far and loving it. So much variety and fun.

->Open Spoiler<-

Luigi has just got lost in the Good Egg Galaxy

- I'm guessing incidents like these will point you to the hidden stars.....

Also had my first Fast-Foe Comet which made the level involved quite challenging.

[MikeF]

Why do I feel so guilty playing this game?

It's because I have my 2 eldest kids sat next to me asking if they can have a go and I keep saying no to them cause the game is too much fun (plus they would probably loose my save file)

Am taking my time with this and have 31 stars so far

The Mario magic is most definatley back

[Lyris]

For me, a lot of the magic (beyond visuals and the lovely night-time spacey feel) is the fact that it runs at 60fps. Anyone else agree?

[briareos_kerensky]

Anyone else agree?

I probably was too captivated by the game itself to notice that, but, yes, the game runs smooth and that's good.

I must say that the first hours were a bit slow, but fortunately it then explodes into a gameplay/graphics/sound joy rarely seen in a videogame.
Later on, the game acquires some sort of magic that wasn't even in any Mario game...the

->Open Spoiler<-

Library

is just unfair. You can't do that to me Nintendo,

->Open Spoiler<-

I was almost crying in chapter 4

. And who cares about Peach and Bowser, I just need stars

->Open Spoiler<-

to complete the Library

.

Technically, I'm very pleased that Nintendo Tokyo Team chose to implement specular lighting for most materials rather than going for usual diffuse/shadow graphics found in all Wii games, it makes Mario Galaxy a true joy for the eyes, it makes you forget that you aren't running the game in any HD mode.
As far as sound goes, the fact that the soundtrack moves from a collection of old tunes to brand new, orchestrated tracks that really fit into the game,

->Open Spoiler<-

the first Bowser battle was particularly inspiring

.

Nitpick: more Koopa Troopas. The game needs more Koopa Troopas.

[Lyris]

I probably was too captivated by the game itself to notice that, but, yes, the game runs smooth and that's good.

No I mean, that's partly *why* I was captivated by the game itself - it's smooth so it's visually immersive and sucks me in. I normally don't get the same immersion with 30 fps games, or even worse, ones that are 30fps and stutter.

[Yoshimax]

What I want to know is how they've managed to get that magic nintendo dust they used to hide in the cartridge onto a disc ???

Superlatives fail me on this one - It's amazing - I can see me still popping it on years from now much like M64.

[briareos_kerensky]

What I want to know is how they've managed to get that magic nintendo dust they used to hide in the cartridge onto a disc ???

Ah, you mean that when you had to blow onto cartridge connectors you were blowing magic dust out of them?

[Commander Marklar]

How far are you in it? Have you done that sweet sweet land level with the classic music. I thought it was very challenging, i heard it gets even more challenging later on.

I only borrowed it over the weekend to see what it was like. The last few Mario games have been..... interesting. I got 68 stars before I took it back. It's just Mario though innit? There's some very clever stuff but I don't think I'll buy it yet.

*dead inside*

[rmoxon]

Where exactly is this sweet sweet land thats a challange? I seem to have unlocked every level and havent seen it yet??

Anyway, Commander Marklar, no I dont think its just Mario theres a lot of brilliant gameplay touches that arent mario specific at all, the fact that it IS Mario and brings everything thats good about that with it will no doubt will just make it better still for most people, it really is a fantastic game, even if it does seem to totaly lack a proper challange.

[huxley]

talk to the luma next to the water pavilion, its a bastard by the way!

[Brats]

For me, a lot of the magic (beyond visuals and the lovely night-time spacey feel) is the fact that it runs at 60fps. Anyone else agree?

You've GOT to be kidding me?!?

I can just see the next Edge review. Super Mario Galaxy - 10/10 - The reason it's so good is because of the frame rate.