Super Mario Galaxy Post Mortem

[BreakABone]

I will start this off by saying I am 120% completely bias towards Mario. Sure most people see me as a Nintendo fanboy, but I have always stood by the notion that I am a Mario fanboy, Nintendo just happens to make his games.

With that said, it is now time for the 3rd in a somewhat lackluster series :( . The video game post mortem.

Now this game was the highly anticipated sequel to the o so aged Super Mario 64 and of course the most recent in an over 20 year old franchise. To see that this game had a lot to live up to was an understatement.

But in some eyes and even my own eyes. This game not only lived up to expectations, it actually surpassed them. While some will disagree, I preferred that they switched the focus from a wide open world instead focusing more on a linear path. Exploration was still encouraged but this allowed a greater focus on puzzles and platforming.

And the platforming was top of the line. They really don't make pure platformers like this anymore.

The game also just beat you over the head with variety. Where as most games will mix it up with 3-4 different game types. Galaxy seems to do something different around every corner. And it does it in a way where you get it right away.

There are some clever worlds/levels that use the Wii-mote not in some super creative way but in a way that adds to the experience.

The game also features some of the best music EVER in a Mario game.
Good Eye Galaxy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l7uFETC-Yc)

Gusty Gardens Galaxy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0R6FnpqylE)

Toy Town Galaxy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et4JXYP8r1E)

The game featured a nice balance of old and new. Fun and challenging. And while a second quest with everyone's favorite ignored sibling.

I remember we once had a discussion on these forums on what a 10 game would be. It wouldn't be perfect, but it had to excel in a lot of areas. At the time, I didn't really feel any game deserved a 10 but while thinking about this thread, I couldn't see any reason why this game doesn't deserve it.

The game's only fault in my eyes is the fact it re-uses assests and bosses in the latter half of the game, but even then they mix it up and throw you for a loop.

So thoughts on what was my game of the year 07?

[Aladuf]

Mario's not totally my favorite, but I thought it was a great game. Even though I didn't get far in... I will be buying it again sometime soon-ish though. :D

[Renwood]

The camera still gave me problems. While some levels made good use of your expectations and perceptions in respect to gravity, others were more straightforward been-there-done-that-but-damn-this-is-polished designs. Thats not bad, but it was uneven.

The few retreads that crop up in the last two areas are disappointing after the initial areas always offering new levels.

Still very fun. Looked nice. Great controls. Evolution, not revolution, and that's okay.

[Yoda9864]

I absolutely loved it. Fantastic level design. I wish that it was a little more challenging though. I know that it has to be accesible to all age levels, but at many times I felt that I was just going through to motions to get the stars.

Nintendo did give some challenging levels in the latter half of the game, so I guess that was ok.

The camera/controls got a little funky in a couple places, but I can't expect too much more when you do the things you do in that game.

I will never forget that impossible Luigi's Purple coins! Impossible!

[Swan]

Really? It was pretty easy.


All you had to do was go left

[Angrist]

I was really disappointed by Luigi's Red Coins. People said it was the hardest level, but I got it in 3 or 4 tries. Just long-jump a lot.

But I loved the game. I hadn't had that much game fun in years. Right now I have about 20 stars with Luigi. Busy with real life and other games, but it's so refreshing to go back to Mario Galaxy once in a while.

[bobcat]

I loved Mario Galaxy. The game felt so fresh to me , even though the mascot has been around for so long. Still my favourite game of next gen. Great visuals, fantastic level designs, awesome replay value.

This is the only game i've come back to and wanted to play more even after collecting all 120 stars!

[manasecret]

This is the only game i've come back to and wanted to play more even after collecting all 120 stars!

This is exactly how I feel. It's very rare nowadays that a game makes me want to come back to it. But that's what Galaxy has done.

Luigi's Red Coins? I don't even remember that challenge. I do think the game was a little easy, but then I remember that I've been playing platformers for some 15 years or so now, and 3D platformers for, what? 10 years? My 10-year-old niece, who is no newcomer to video games, plays it and has trouble on that very first galaxy. I've heard complaints here and elsewhere about the camera, but it was never a problem for me. Getting used to being on the other side of a 3D world and only seeing the outline of Mario was a bit of a challenge, but fun to play around with all the same. There were a few times I just jumped as high as I could from a planet to see how the gravity would interact.

[Bube]

I loved every second of it. I may have a second go, using Luigi. I probably need to :)

I also agree that it could've been a little harder. Not harder as in the frustrating "daredevil comet challenges", but maybe they could've made the levels longer. I could probably get 90 of the games stars in under 3 minutes each. Even most of the bosses.

And I never heard that Luigi's Purple Coins (which, I don't know why, the game made me play under the name "Mario's Purple Coins) was a hard level. I beat it on my 3rd try. I'm sure I would've wasted hours if I knew that people thought it was hard. I'm weird like that :)

[manasecret]

Ahhh yes... now I remember Luigi's Damned Purple Coin Challenge --

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[Angrist]

I also agree that it could've been a little harder. Not harder as in the frustrating "daredevil comet challenges", but maybe they could've made the levels longer. I could probably get 90 of the games stars in under 3 minutes each. Even most of the bosses.I disagree. I think the length of most levels was ok, but they were just too easy. I wanted more difficult jumps, enemies coming from all sides, quick reflexes... Stuff like that. And I liked the comet challenges. :)

[Bube]

And I liked the comet challenges. :)

I liked them too, just not the daredevil ones.

Actually, they were just the right difficulty for me. They were just too hard in contrast, and frustrated me :)

[Angrist]

Do you remember the weird sand levels in Super Mario Sunshine where you didn't have FLUDD? Those were great because they were hard. A month ago I played those with my brother, one took us more than 10 tries.

[Bube]

Do you remember the weird sand levels in Super Mario Sunshine where you didn't have FLUDD? Those were great because they were hard. A month ago I played those with my brother, one took us more than 10 tries.
I loved those levels! And SMG has the exact same game style as those levels. Perfect control, great level design and no gimmicks, just pure platforming.

[Jason1]

I think the game was a little too easy. But, I do feel like im very good with 3D platformers. My brother for instance, who is usually very good at video games, had a LOT more trouble with the game that I did, mainly on levels like that luigi one. That being said, an absolutley awsome game, obviously Mario's best outing since 64.

[Dyne]

I just realized I haven't put my thoughts on this yet but BaB's heard them more or less.

My gripe is that I miss the scope Sunshine had. I loved that huge carnival level. However, this is totally made up for with 60 FPS and pick-up and playability. I just thought there would be gigantic planets, but they never showed up. :(

I loved the game to death, though. So good.

[Yoda9864]

Wow, I watched that video and realized that I didn't use the spin at all to stabilize my jumps. I'm thinking that would've been a lot easier if I would've done that.

[Angrist]

Yeah, the spin is a life-saver. Sometimes I felt so cheap using it.
I'm really digging a SMG2!