Mario Galaxy Review [Archive]

Vandenh

11-04-2007, 05:23 PM

Eurogamer seems to be one of the first out of the blocks with a Mario Galaxy review (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=86873) and it looks like a big winner.

Bright, bold, unrepentantly loony, Galaxy is everything you wanted it to be. It's beautiful and inventive. It's pure-blood Mario without being a retro indulgence. It's a stiff platforming challenge and a free-wheeling romp. It's the best thing on Wii, and the best traditional game Nintendo has made in a decade. The only thing about it which dulls your enjoyment is the memory of all the mediocre games you've had to play in the meantime.
Impressive... now only Mass Effect and the really big guns have all been fired this Xmas.

Edit from KefkaTaran: As has been pointed out in this thread, a couple reviews did beat out Eurogamers. Quotes and discussions of those reviews (and more as they come in) can be found on our official Super Mario Galaxy review thread (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38895).

Dr.Finger

11-04-2007, 05:27 PM

See, this time I didn't put [sic] in front of unrepentantly. Happy, Europe? ;)

Sandman

11-04-2007, 05:33 PM

I think 1up might have beat them by a bit.

Spectre-7

11-04-2007, 05:36 PM

See, this time I didn't put [sic] in front of unrepentantly. Happy, Europe? ;)

Why on Earth, in the name of all that is holy, would you put a [sic] in front of unrepentantly?

archon

11-04-2007, 05:37 PM

ooo, better than Ocarina of Time? That's some big talk! Guess we'll see.

brokenFUN

11-04-2007, 05:39 PM

I think Jeramey Parish reviewed (http://ct2.enews.1up.com/rd/cts?d=42-309-402-673-343031-51673-0-0-0-1-7-150)this game before they did. But w/e its not a race or anything.

Sandman

11-04-2007, 05:50 PM

I think 1up might have beat them by a bit.

I think Jeramey Parish reviewed (http://ct2.enews.1up.com/rd/cts?d=42-309-402-673-343031-51673-0-0-0-1-7-150)this game before they did. But w/e its not a race or anything.

I think I might have beat you to the punch there....and yeah; it is a race :D

Siraris

11-04-2007, 06:14 PM

http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38895

Chainblast

11-04-2007, 07:32 PM

I cannot wait to pick up my copy. I wonder if Nintendo will do any VC tie-in like they did with Metroid. I'd like to get my hand on Super Mario World 2.

Kefkataran

11-04-2007, 07:34 PM

What Siraris said! I'll add a link to the full review thread to the OP later tonight.

NationalKato

11-04-2007, 08:25 PM

This game is the first on the Nintendo platform to make me want a Wii. Maybe a future purchase, but for the time being the 360 releases are owning my wallet (I'm looking at you, Mr. Mass Effect).

All the videos I've seen for MG have been fantastic.

Hydroeric

11-04-2007, 08:32 PM

Waiting for this is tough. Sounds awesome. Pfip

HaZer

11-04-2007, 08:45 PM

I'd say Rock Band is gonna be a pretty huge gun this Christmas, especially when everyone catches wind of it. Much more than Mass Effect.

I'm still buying both on release date, but just sayin'!

TheHulk

11-04-2007, 08:49 PM

Saw some people playing this a couple of days ago at Gamestop. Looked amazing. Made me want to buy a Wii.

KingGorilla

11-04-2007, 09:11 PM

Wolvie

11-04-2007, 10:14 PM

Kinda makes me want my Wii back. Ah well, time to start saving my pennies again.

DylonCorp

11-04-2007, 10:14 PM

... a sinister son, etc....

??? Did I miss a story line in Super Mario? Bowser Jr.?

Maybe this is what stroke feels like.

Phanto

11-04-2007, 11:07 PM

Wow just wow... the guy that wrote that review was inspired...I'm interesting in seeing others review as well but this is a great start indeed.

TheFlyingOrc

11-04-2007, 11:12 PM

I cannot wait to pick up my copy. I wonder if Nintendo will do any VC tie-in like they did with Metroid. I'd like to get my hand on Super Mario World 2.

Mario 3 is apparently coming out tomorrow. I have a special thread planned for the event. :)

TheFlyingOrc

11-04-2007, 11:14 PM

Jeremy Parish brought something up this week. At what point did Mario, and Super Mario Bros titles turn away from quirky, weird, acid trips that had mushrooms to jump on, hills with eyes, a sinister son, etc. and into this cutesy little kid veneered game?
When you grew up. Mario is pretty much the same as he always was.

The weird stuff is still there, you just accept it as normal because it's been ingrained into your culture for the past 22 years.

Deadend

11-04-2007, 11:24 PM

Kefkataran

11-04-2007, 11:37 PM

I'm still buying both on release date, but just sayin'!

I think that $170 price tag is going to stop a lot of people from jumping into Rock Band. I think/hope it'll do good, but I don't think it'll be totally insane without the ability to just buy the game and instruments separately till next year...

(And I'm buying both on release date as well.)

OP EDIT: As has been pointed out in this thread, a couple reviews did beat out Eurogamers. Quotes and discussions of those reviews (and more as they come in) can be found on our official Super Mario Galaxy review thread (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38895).

Skyelan

11-05-2007, 12:17 AM

When you grew up. Mario is pretty much the same as he always was.

The weird stuff is still there, you just accept it as normal because it's been ingrained into your culture for the past 22 years.

While I don't agree with his general assestment, I do have an observation that KIND of relates to this. Mario was kind of neutered in weirdness factor when he went 3D. Wasn't a kiss of death, as it was still a great game, just that the kind of weird shit like THE SUN SUDDENLY ATTACKING YOU that Mario 3 was filled with was gone. Understandably, at the time you just couldn't do that well in 3D worlds.

That's why I'm so hyped for Galaxy. It's bringing back all that 'what in the fuck just happened?' factor, a single trailer of one tiny glimpse of the fullness of the game shows that the weird shit is abundant and insane. Apple planets where you chase out worms to form bridges between them for god sakes! I can't wait. :D

Heretic Machine

11-05-2007, 12:19 AM

I think that $170 price tag is going to stop a lot of people from jumping into Rock Band. I think/hope it'll do good, but I don't think it'll be totally insane without the ability to just buy the game and instruments separately till next year...

I dunno man... the reaction to the demo from people has been pretty good, at least around here. People pretty much ignore the GHIII demo and play with the Rock Band drum kit. Even my mother tried playing it, and seemed pretty convinced that it would be worth $170 once I explained that it came with the drums, a guitar, and microphone, and that you can have four people playing at once if you have another guitar.

I'm thinking this might have a Wii-effect on the non-gamers.

Kefkataran

11-05-2007, 12:22 AM

I dunno man... the reaction to the demo from people has been pretty good, at least around here. People pretty much ignore the GHIII demo and play with the Rock Band drum kit. Even my mother tried playing it, and seemed pretty convinced that it would be worth $170 once I explained that it came with the drums, a guitar, and microphone, and that you can have four people playing at once if you have another guitar.

I'm thinking this might have a Wii-effect on the non-gamers.

Eh, we'll see. Like I said, I believe/hope it'll do well, but I think that like the original Guitar Hero it's going to be more of a slow burn success and turn out to do really awesome over time, especially once instruments are available to be purchased separately. And I think GH will maintain a much greater mindshare in the brain of the average mainstream gamer/non-gamer for at least another year or two.

mister_slim

11-05-2007, 02:09 AM

While I don't agree with his general assestment, I do have an observation that KIND of relates to this. Mario was kind of neutered in weirdness factor when he went 3D. Wasn't a kiss of death, as it was still a great game, just that the kind of weird shit like THE SUN SUDDENLY ATTACKING YOU that Mario 3 was filled with was gone. Understandably, at the time you just couldn't do that well in 3D worlds.

I don't know. Have you ever thought about how fucked up the Mario 64 levels were? That was the problem with Sunshine, it was too grounded. Mario 64's level's were just crazy, and abnormally interactive. Most games you use the A button to enter a level. In Mario 64 how you entered a level frequently changed it completely.

Zawath

11-05-2007, 03:02 AM

It sounds good. Too bad it's shorter than the previous Mario games.

Skyelan

11-05-2007, 05:24 AM

I don't know. Have you ever thought about how fucked up the Mario 64 levels were? That was the problem with Sunshine, it was too grounded. Mario 64's level's were just crazy, and abnormally interactive. Most games you use the A button to enter a level. In Mario 64 how you entered a level frequently changed it completely.

True. 64 definitely had its moments, but it still felt a little like a letdown it never had some of the countless 'This is crazy and awesome and I want to play this now damnit' moments that I've seen in my limited view of the trailers, most of which only focus on a single one of the galaxies.

Zawath: I don't wanna read the review out of fear of ruining some fun times, but does it really say that? I find that hard to believe... From what I understand there are 30+ 'levels' aren't there? So... Yeah. Even if it ends up being less inherent 'missions' than Sunshine, which I found to be a perfectly fine length for what it was, they'll also be less repetitious in enviorment, and needing to do the same four types of missions over and over and over...

And if this is combined with the claims that the various stages are really fun to play over again, and that there are lots of variations to challange one self, well... I'm sure I'll have no issues with playtime. :p

Karmakin

11-05-2007, 05:34 AM

It sounds good. Too bad it's shorter than the previous Mario games.

Doesn't sound that short to me. And apparently there are rumors of there being a Second Quest...

drakkarim

11-05-2007, 05:54 AM

played the demo of galaxy this weekend and must say it seemed very fun. i think its now the 3rd or 4th title i'd get for the system, were I ever to find one that is.

can't wait for mass effect to roll around though, half way through that reflections book, nice read, should give some nice filler for when playing the game.

TheFlyingOrc

11-05-2007, 07:03 AM

It sounds good. Too bad it's shorter than the previous Mario games.

Who said that? I know this sucker has 120 stars, and I can't imagine them all taking much, much less time than in Mario 64.

Gott

11-05-2007, 07:58 AM

Anyone have an idea about the replay-ability of this title? I mean, do you play it once then put it aside? So basically...buy or rent?

Zawath

11-05-2007, 08:26 AM

Who said that? I know this sucker has 120 stars, and I can't imagine them all taking much, much less time than in Mario 64.

People who have already finished it have said that it's much shorter. Most of the planets are very small, so it's not going to be a huge game.

reallyjoel

11-06-2007, 03:56 AM

Super Mario Galaxy is completely out there, especially in terms of level design, so I wouldn't say it has lost its quirkyness. I think the dev team ate ALOT of mushrooms during the development of SMG, because I've had plenty of WTF moments and quite a few moments of just smiling stupidly.

About the length, I seriously doubt a second quest, but there's definately 120 stars. I haven't got them all yet, but so far a star isn't harder or easier than they were in SM64 (some are dead easy, some are very hard). I did beat bowser the second night of playing, but for me the storyline has never mattered, it's all about the clever level design, and SMG delivers in spades on that front. Much, much, much better than Sunshine, and IMHO even better than SM64. Two thumbs up. Three if they'd loose the high pitched samples and the slow dialogs.