Over/Under: Super Mario Galaxy

[BreakABone]

Full disclosure, this is a game that is near to me. I mean I'll be frank, this remains my favorite game of the generation so I won't be completely unbiase here.

With that said, Super Mario Galaxy is the 2nd highest rated game of this generation (GTA IV is the first, which is why picked it), it won more than 20 Game of Year awards, and is generally heralded as the best Wii game so far.

And for some reason, I still think that this game is underrated, I mean maybe its just the people I talk with, but so many have never played this game nor complete the game. It is hardly ever held in the same light as major HD games. And almost certain most people won't mention it along the more fleshed out experiences or whatever.

With that said, Over/Under-Rated for Super Mario Galaxy?

http://www.starstore.com/acatalog/Mario-Galaxy-FP2025.jpg

[gekko]

Over. I didn't like it at all. A mix between the tiny planets and bizarre gravity and horrible use of that stupid controller caused it to be put it back on the shelf. I'll be passing on the sequel unless they provide Gamecube controller support.

[Bube]

Definitely under. People have started to get very obsessed with "maturity" in the recent years. They're missing out on a lot.

[BreakABone]

Over. I didn't like it at all. A mix between the tiny planets and bizarre gravity and horrible use of that stupid controller caused it to be put it back on the shelf. I'll be passing on the sequel unless they provide Gamecube controller support.

I knew I would find you in this thread, just didn't expect it to be so fast. :lolz:

[magus113]

Definitely under. I loved this game and I think I need to play it again before SMG2 comes out, but here's the thing..."Will SMG2 be overrated?"

I think that would be very interesting to see.

[KillerGremlin]

As good as any 3D Mario game....

While it doesn't have as special a place in my memories as Super Mario 64, still an awesome game. Definitely under.

[Typhoid]

I still haven't beaten this game, either.

Anyways, I say over.
I mean, sure it's a fun Mario game, I'm not denying that.
But each level is basically the same. The 3D-planet-gimmick wore off fast for me.
It was neat at first, like "Holy, I'm upside-down, and I'm Mario!" but then it was just "I want to finish this goddamn level so I can stop being upside-down."

I'm not denying it's not a fun game.
Maybe with the release of NSMBW, I just realized I like the side scrolling a lot more than a game that is centred around Mario.

[Jason1]

I say Under, after Sunshine which was not all that great, they came back and we got Super Mario Galaxy. I just found it to be the true successor to SM64. Although, 64 is still the best 3d Mario game.

[Primewax]

OK, time to finally state my opinion of this game in a format other than 140 characters at a time on Twitter.

Anyway, I say Over. The game was fun at first. Kind of hard to control, but the learning curve wasn't bad. But I noticed the more I played, the more nauseous I got. I just chocked it up to not being used to the game. But it happened more often the more times I tried to play it. And it
wasn't just me. My wife had to leave the room when I played it because she almost vomited. I ended up trading it in pretty quickly, but figured we were part of a small group who couldn't handle this game. However, I noticed when the game would come up in conversations with friends, more and more people said that it made them sick. One person even said it gave them worse headaches than a Virtual Boy. The problem seems to be pretty widespread.

OK, so some people can't play it. All games are that way to a degree, I suppose. However, its usually not due to physical illness. And my main problem? This is supposed to be a MARIO game, aka accessible to anyone, yet so many people just can't handle it. I guess I'm bitter, but it seems to me that a game people say to be one of the greatest Mario games of all time shoukd be playable by all. And the fact that so many people can't play it, that fact takes away its essential "Mario-ness" and therefore removes it from the list of great, or even good Mario games. I traded mine in and bought Super Mario 64 on VC and didn't look back. The planet gimmick was a cool idea, but it took away everything Mario stands for.

[Angrist]

OK, so some people can't play it. All games are that way to a degree, I suppose. However, its usually not due to physical illness. And my main problem? This is supposed to be a MARIO game, aka accessible to anyone, yet so many people just can't handle it. I guess I'm bitter, but it seems to me that a game people say to be one of the greatest Mario games of all time shoukd be playable by all. And the fact that so many people can't play it, that fact takes away its essential "Mario-ness" and therefore removes it from the list of great, or even good Mario games. I traded mine in and bought Super Mario 64 on VC and didn't look back. The planet gimmick was a cool idea, but it took away everything Mario stands for.
Hm that's a very good point. It didn't sell many copies either (although still much better than SMS).

I can't say whether it's mostly over- or underrated. Overrated by some, underrated by others.
It's one of my favorite games on the Wii, I beat it twice. I'm really looking forward to the sequel.

[magus113]

I think Primewax has a point that it should be accessible to everyone and it's not going to be if people are getting dizzy from playing, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it takes away from what Mario stands for.

It IS in all essences a platformer, and that's what Mario does best regardless as to whether it's jumping from ledge to ledge or in SMG's case planet to planet.

[manasecret]

I didn't know it was making people nauseous. I guess it makes sense because of the mini-3D world thing going on, perhaps causing motion sickness.

I used to get nauseous all the time from FPS games, mainly back in the N64 day with Perfect Dark and the like. But I don't think it was for the same reason. I think it was the inability to focus properly on objects in the game. The textures were so fuzzy and terrible, that I think to my brain, it felt like it could never focus my eyes on them. Then add in terrible framerates, and you get me sick.

I don't talk much about video games with my social circle, at least not SMG, so I can't say for them. As far as reviews go, I think it was slightly overrated. I loved the game and already have 2 preordered (with that Amazon deal), but the difficulty was extremely lacking in my opinion, and knocks down the score in my mind quite a bit.

Without a challenge, the game becomes an exercise in just getting to the end as fast as you can. Without a challenge, the game doesn't pace well.

[thatmariolover]

I still haven't beaten this game, either.

Anyways, I say over.
I mean, sure it's a fun Mario game, I'm not denying that.
But each level is basically the same. The 3D-planet-gimmick wore off fast for me.
It was neat at first, like "Holy, I'm upside-down, and I'm Mario!" but then it was just "I want to finish this goddamn level so I can stop being upside-down."

I'm not denying it's not a fun game.
Maybe with the release of NSMBW, I just realized I like the side scrolling a lot more than a game that is centred around Mario.

I don't really think you gave the game a fair chance. But if it didn't hold your interest, I won't judge. There are only a couple of upside-down moments, though. For the most part the camera reorients based on your position on whatever surface you're walking on. The side-scrolling Mario games do tend to be more accessible, though.

Regardless, I'm going to say Over by some but Under by most. It's a fantastic platformer and it has a lot going for it. There are things that could be better but those gripes are more aimed at Nintendo in general.

Nintendo seems to just snub evolutionary advancements in gaming, and I do think it hinders the quality of the stuff they put out. You can see this in their adaptation (or lack thereof) of HD graphics, online network/multiplayer, and mass storage. Nintendo wants nothing to do with an idea if it's been done by a competitor in the last five years - so they lag behind in every aspect but the one they focused on (this time around, motion controllers).

[BreakABone]

Hm that's a very good point. It didn't sell many copies either (although still much better than SMS).

I can't say whether it's mostly over- or underrated. Overrated by some, underrated by others.
It's one of my favorite games on the Wii, I beat it twice. I'm really looking forward to the sequel.
Actually, the first one is factual incorrect. I mean unless your barometer is stuff like MW 2 and Wii Anything.
The game sold close to 9 million copies worldwide, which is nothing to huff at.

I think it was made to look worse after the release of NSMBW which did like 10 million in 3 months. :lol:



Nintendo seems to just snub evolutionary advancements in gaming, and I do think it hinders the quality of the stuff they put out. You can see this in their adaptation (or lack thereof) of HD graphics, online network/multiplayer, and mass storage. Nintendo wants nothing to do with an idea if it's been done by a competitor in the last five years - so they lag behind in every aspect but the one they focused on (this time around, motion controllers).

I agree with this in general, but not really sure what any of it has to do with Galaxy.

Other than possibly being rendered in HD, not sure what online or mass storage has to do with THIS game. :p

[thatmariolover]

I agree with this in general, but not really sure what any of it has to do with Galaxy.

Other than possibly being rendered in HD, not sure what online or mass storage has to do with THIS game. :p

I think a decent online component and HD could have added a lot. More the online component than anything. An achievement system too. Mass storage more comes in for downloadable content (which is also becoming more important).

[Angrist]

I think it was made to look worse after the release of NSMBW which did like 10 million in 3 months. :lol:Yeah that's what I meant. I was comparing it to the other Marios, of which most sold better.

Nintendo had 'stamps' in Wiisort, I hope they have something like that in SMG2.

[BreakABone]

Yeah that's what I meant. I was comparing it to the other Marios, of which most sold better.

Nintendo had 'stamps' in Wiisort, I hope they have something like that in SMG2.

Saw something similar on another site, and it reminded me.

In addition to NSMBW and Mario Galaxy.

ALL 2D Marios have outsold the 3D Marios. I think 2D is just more appealing to a wider amount of people.

[Angrist]

I decided this will be a day-one-purchase for me. :D

[BreakABone]

http://www.destructoid.com/super-mario-galaxy-my-favorite-videogame-this-generation-170804.phtml

An excellent article that touches on some of the things that make this game great.

[BreakABone]

I'm trying to beat this game as Luigi before Galaxy 2 comes out. Don't think gonna go with the full 120 again, we shall see.

But it just reminded me of why I love this game, the sheer variety is just astounding.

I mean I'm only like 16 stars in and I've already raced on the back of a manta ray, guide Mario Monkey Ball style to a goal, fought a giant piranha plant, giant spider, climbed a mechanic colossus, beat the clock, helped a giant Bee, swung around the emptiness of space, and these are only the early levels. :lol:

And the music is so good.

Only problem is, Luigi doesn't control as tight as Mario so it makes some narrow platforming a bit more cumbersome than need be.

[Angrist]

Yeah Luigi sucks. He jumps a bit further (and higher?), but I prefer Marios precise controls.

2010 is turning out to be a great gaming year.