In my opinion, the single greatest platformer of all time. Maybe it just happens to also be my favorite, but Super Mario Galaxy cannot be denied of its objective quality.
I have such a deep nostalgia factor for this game; it's one of my most influential childhood games and I've put countless hours into it. I'll never get tired of its worlds, movement, or characters. The music brings me back so much; it's crazy. Like just hearing the opening menu stinger makes me feel like I'm in third grade again.
This game is infinitely replayable. It features such smooth movement that it's ridiculous for a game that came out in 2007. Other than a few minor instances, the gravity mechanics work surprisingly well and going around the planets is super fun. The new Spin also feels like a very natural addition to Mario's toolkit and opens up a lot of ways to get around and fight.
The level design is, for the most part, innovative and enjoyable. Making use of the infinitude of space allows for nearly no limits on what can and cannot "fit," which opens up tons of room to play around. More classic Mario-esque worlds like Good Egg Galaxy and Gusty Garden Galaxy fit in just as well as newer, crazier settings like Battlerock Galaxy or Freezeflame Galaxy. While it is pretty obvious which galaxies got more time to cook, both linear and sandbox galaxies are fun to play around in. Entering the same galaxy but having different approaches and planets available per level keeps things fresh, and expands on the Mario 64 formula.
The visual design is gorgeous, remaining as a hallmark of Wii-era graphics and further proving the point that graphics fade but art styles stand forever. The soundtrack is also some of gaming's best; the full orchestra performing swelling scores truly enhance the feeling of being a lone explorer in the vastness of space.
Which brings me to the game's story and motifs...Super Mario Galaxy is a bright, bubbly game. It's got a silly plumber and is marketed towards children. I'm not going to try to act like the purpose was anything but that. However, it is POSSIBLE to dig deeper and find meaning from what is presented before you, and I think I've found some.
Super Mario Galaxy can be interpreted as an allegory for finding a community, and defeating loneliness. Mario starts in a happy world, full of life and color. He is content with where he is and is literally skipping to Peach's castle. But as the first act progresses, he is uprooted from his community. He wakes up in an unknown location, alone in the vast universe. He is confused, the sky is dark and endless, and the music is somber. Other than some rabbits and a Luma, Mario is alone. As the game progresses, however, Mario progresses into new worlds. He tries new things. He meets new faces. The worlds get cheerier, the music gets more grandiose, and your hub world literally brightens. Straight up, the more you explore, the more it glows and rooms lighten up. The more he branches out, the more his home expands. He brings friends home, and his world is improving. Mario starts as a loner in a vast new setting, and ends as a beloved hero who has become familiar and comfortable with the universe. He's a world-traveler who has acquaintances from all kinds of backgrounds, all because he reached out to people.
Once again--not trying to say the developer's intent was making some grand metaphor to make friends with people. But it's very cool how the game's presentation can let you connect the dots and find hidden meaning.
This game has influenced me more than almost any other, and I don't know where I would be without it. Thank you, Super Mario Galaxy.
I have such a deep nostalgia factor for this game; it's one of my most influential childhood games and I've put countless hours into it. I'll never get tired of its worlds, movement, or characters. The music brings me back so much; it's crazy. Like just hearing the opening menu stinger makes me feel like I'm in third grade again.
This game is infinitely replayable. It features such smooth movement that it's ridiculous for a game that came out in 2007. Other than a few minor instances, the gravity mechanics work surprisingly well and going around the planets is super fun. The new Spin also feels like a very natural addition to Mario's toolkit and opens up a lot of ways to get around and fight.
The level design is, for the most part, innovative and enjoyable. Making use of the infinitude of space allows for nearly no limits on what can and cannot "fit," which opens up tons of room to play around. More classic Mario-esque worlds like Good Egg Galaxy and Gusty Garden Galaxy fit in just as well as newer, crazier settings like Battlerock Galaxy or Freezeflame Galaxy. While it is pretty obvious which galaxies got more time to cook, both linear and sandbox galaxies are fun to play around in. Entering the same galaxy but having different approaches and planets available per level keeps things fresh, and expands on the Mario 64 formula.
The visual design is gorgeous, remaining as a hallmark of Wii-era graphics and further proving the point that graphics fade but art styles stand forever. The soundtrack is also some of gaming's best; the full orchestra performing swelling scores truly enhance the feeling of being a lone explorer in the vastness of space.
Which brings me to the game's story and motifs...Super Mario Galaxy is a bright, bubbly game. It's got a silly plumber and is marketed towards children. I'm not going to try to act like the purpose was anything but that. However, it is POSSIBLE to dig deeper and find meaning from what is presented before you, and I think I've found some.
Super Mario Galaxy can be interpreted as an allegory for finding a community, and defeating loneliness. Mario starts in a happy world, full of life and color. He is content with where he is and is literally skipping to Peach's castle. But as the first act progresses, he is uprooted from his community. He wakes up in an unknown location, alone in the vast universe. He is confused, the sky is dark and endless, and the music is somber. Other than some rabbits and a Luma, Mario is alone. As the game progresses, however, Mario progresses into new worlds. He tries new things. He meets new faces. The worlds get cheerier, the music gets more grandiose, and your hub world literally brightens. Straight up, the more you explore, the more it glows and rooms lighten up. The more he branches out, the more his home expands. He brings friends home, and his world is improving. Mario starts as a loner in a vast new setting, and ends as a beloved hero who has become familiar and comfortable with the universe. He's a world-traveler who has acquaintances from all kinds of backgrounds, all because he reached out to people.
Once again--not trying to say the developer's intent was making some grand metaphor to make friends with people. But it's very cool how the game's presentation can let you connect the dots and find hidden meaning.
This game has influenced me more than almost any other, and I don't know where I would be without it. Thank you, Super Mario Galaxy.