I have a yearly Christmas day tradition to replay this game and I'd say that's all that needs to be said.
Zenith of the medium and a true masterpiece.

I don't have too much nostalgia bait because I started gaming somewhat later than most. But if we're talking nostalgia this is the one. From sneaking downstairs early mornings to play and experience an incredible world and somehow not minding the clunky wii controls. I had a great time with this one and I still use the music to assist while I'm studying or just relaxing.

When I think greatness in a videogame, this is the first game to comes to mind. It is not my favorite game but there's just so much to love. The art, the music , the variety in bosses, the difficulty that rode that fine line of a fun challenge and the occasional bump in the road that needed to be overcome.
(Now this is without the run and gun levels because they should not exist and the longer it has been since I played the game ,the easier it is to just not acknowledge them.)

My fondest memory of this game is accidentally chucking my Wii-mote out of my window because I was so happy that I finally beat the last green star level and got all the stars.

Turns out it was more than just nostalgia on replay not too long ago because while difficulty was obviously gone after being molded into a true gamer after many years, the simple joy of playing this game and vibing to the soundtrack and the colors and all the crazy planets still held up for me.