Super Mario Galaxy (Nintendo Wii, 2007)

Super Mario Galaxy - Nintendo Wii (Released November 16th 2007)

Considered by many to be the true spiritual successor to Super Mario 64, Miyamoto's magnum opus hits a Nintendo Wii near you to make you forget all about that doom-trip to Delfino Isle.

Set on the final frontier, Galaxy intends, like its legendary forebearer, to lift the platforming genre to new heights (no pun intended). And what a job it does: while 'inspired' by Psychonauts (a 2006 PC, PS2 and XBOX gem), Galaxy manages to feel fresh, original and innovative. It's hard to see where the platforming genre can go from here, but then that's what we said back in 1997 and Miyamoto and his golden touch have found a way.

The layout of the game will be familiar to players of Mario 64, consisting of a hub-world (in this case, the magical space station of Rosalina- a mysterious woman who seems to have befriended all the burnt-out stars....) and, within it, transportation to each of the Galaxies. There are 120 stars to be collected (though only 60 are required to beat the game) and every few collected stars allows the player to collect a grand star, which in turn allows access to more levels.

The gameplay consists of the formula instantly familiar to anyone who has played the Italian stallion's previous two 3 dimensional outings. It's simple enough, with one major addition- Infra Red support. Players will now collect tiny luminal fragments named starbits, which are pretty much coins- *in space*, and this is achieved by pointing the wiimote at them on the screen. These can then be spent gaining access to new galaxies or Mario's staple diet of mushrooms. It's not a huge addition, but it at least adds a new element to a system which hasn't changed over the last ten years, and the infra red support eliminates the need to run around in circles gathering currency (although it doesn't stop you doing it if you really want to!).

While incredibly simple, the gameplay here shines. Intelligent level design, including some ingenious gravity effects keep things fun, while bright, trippy visuals and a gorgeous soundtrack keep your senses suitably impressed. Usually involving tiny planets and black holes, player will spend their time hopping from planetoid to planetoid, using changing gravitational direction and a host of different ways to jump. Some classic level designs, such as the one where you jump across platforms which fall away after you touch them have received an innovational revamp, with the above design receiving a rubix cube like setup where you run around the outside of the cube. Other designs have stayed the same and are usually worse for it, such as the mediocre swimming levels. There is also the occasional level which changes up the gameplay completely, be it with a race sequence atop a stingrayesque thing, or with a chance to transform into bee Mario, these levels do provide some variation and work very well indeed for the most part.

Far from the greyish browns and brownish greys of the latest simulation shooter, Galaxy delivers what all good games should- pure gaming escapism. It's not complicated, difficult or realistic, but the faithful plumber's latest outing is simply a blast to play. Between the fantastic soundtrack (and yes, it does deserve a second mention) and the simple fact that you're flying through space at dizzying speeds and heights, Galaxy just makes you feel happy. And isn't that what it's all about? It may not be the best game I've ever played due to it's limited lifespan and over-whelming simplicity, but it's the Mario game we've been waiting for and it'll be talked about for years to come. In an industry clogged with cookie-cutter shooters and RPGs, Galaxy is a breath of healthy air. Pick it up, and enjoy it while it lasts because it's the best Wii game to date and one of the greatest games of 2007. Whether you're a seasoned Nintendgod (wahey!), or if this is your first time rescuing the princess, it doesn't matter, because Galaxy will appeal to young and old, fat or thing and male or female alike- and it should be praised for this. The bottom line is this: whoever you are, Galaxy is a blast to play and a rare treat, but at the end of the day it's simple, honest to goodness, princess-rescuing, and it's never been this good. Recommended.

9.5/10