don't get mad at me for this, but I'm not sure i understand all the hype.

this game undoubtedly has some amazing aspects: the absolutely monumental soundtrack, the lonely and desolate atmosphere, and the fluid level design to name a few. what I've always struggled to get behind with these Mario games though is the lack of an intense impassioned story and empathetic engaging characters. without those things, Super Mario Galaxy is just a bunch of half-interesting levels with a few poignant moments. reading the storybook with Rosalina, slowly watching the observatory light up and fill with so many Lumas, the first time visiting the garden at the top of the observatory are some very endearing moments in this game that could have meant so much more to me.

Nintendo has clearly found a very successful formula that consistently excites and satisfies fans, yet i can't help but wonder how much better these games would be with a more compelling story and interesting characters...

despite the story being poignant, concise, and cute, the gameplay is what truly stands out here. the movement is smooth and intuitive. if you do a casual playthrough, the difficulty of the chapters increases in such a way that your level nicely matches it. although collecting strawberries are optional, i find collecting at least the ones you come across critical to the enjoyment of the game. everything else, the focused and engaging soundtrack, the vibrant art style, and the limited story interaction keep the game moving in such a tight manner you can easily get yourself lost in the chapters for hours on end.