Super Mario Galaxy, lets start with the bad news.
It makes every other game you've ever played, crap by comparison. I mean, since the last True Mario platform experience, (that title belonging to the one and only Mario 64, 10 years ago), what have we been doing? Im sure the majority of the gaming population slipped into a dull fixation with mediocre video games and gruellingly savage button bashers.
If what you have seen of it so far confuses you, here's all you need to know: it's Super Mario 64, back to basics. Of course there are minor changes, no attack button etc, but they are by no means set-backs of any sort. This the rightful successor to the N64 classic's throne. Scepter and all. The basic formula remains the similar: you'll go into a world, find the hidden stars, unlock new areas and missions, and inevitably thwart Bowser's plans to rescue good ol' Peach.
The game play is nothing short of revolutionary. The levels, or 'galaxies', consist of a huge network of buzzing planets to explore. The go on forever. Some planets built solely for the purpose of one joke or one puzzle, e.g one the shape of Yoshi's Head. I would never dream of spoiling any more of this game for you, as it would be essentially robbing you of the delight and crys of excitement that will break your skull on exit when you first experience this true classic. Preppare to meet all the sling pods, sweet sweets, junk toys, loopdeloops & melty molten spaces that you can shake a stick at.
Until your first delightful romp on this game, you will never have experienced the true meaning of gravity or the third dimension, (and probably the fourth)!
Can you imagine the immense pressure Nintendo must have been under? I mean the initial challenge of making an adequate follow-up to Mario 64 is enough to make any hardcore gamer weep. That's the traditions of two decades of Mario games and the expectations of millions of dribbling, anticipating fans we're talking here.
This is a mind-bogglingly unique masterpiece but it seems a shame that another decade might need to go by before we'll know whether it will come to be as revered as 64 did. Until then, guess what i'll be playing?
99%. I mean COME ON!!!!!!
~P
