Review: GamePro Loves Super Mario Galaxy!!! (Page 3 of 6)
Boo Mario: This spooky transformation allows Mario to pass through certain walls!
The other levels, which give the player a needed break from the dizzying space missions, feel very much like something from Mario 64 or Super Mario Sunshine, but Mario's new abilities in Galaxy as well as the excellent level design make it obvious that you're not merely playing another 3-D Mario game with updated graphics.
There are also some other level types aside from these two which are sprinkled into the game, such as one where you surf on top of a stingray around a racetrack made entirely of water. Although the game feels very new, many things from previous Mario remain unchanged such as having to collect stars as you progress in the game.
The Emperor's New Clothes
One of the best things about Super Mario Galaxy is the various power-ups that you can acquire in the game. Of course, classic powers like Fire Mario are available, but Mario can also change into a bunch of all-new forms in Galaxy, all of which are extremely fun to play as.
These include Bee Mario, which enables him to fly around levels in brief spurts, Boo Mario, which makes it so that you can pass through solid objects, and Rainbow Mario, which makes Mario temporarily invincible. There are also a couple of other transformations possible in the game such as Ice Mario and Spring Mario. The included powers are expertly implemented into gameplay and it's obvious that the developers put a lot of thought into their design.
More Is Better?
The one thing that I didn't like about Galaxy is the so-called two-player mode which felt gimmicky and tacked on. The only thing the second player can do is collect Star Bits with their Wii Remote, which is pretty much useless. Of course, the Mario franchise has never really had a true multiplayer component, so this isn't a huge deal but it is a little perplexing that they'd even bother to implement it in the first place.
But this small minor issue aside, it's obvious that Super Mario Galaxy raises the bar in terms of what can be achieved on the Wii. Galaxy is the kind of game that you're going to want to take your time with because there is just so much to do in the game. This is the first game in a long time that I've actually gone back and replayed levels just for fun. It's everything you loved about Mario 64 and nothing you hated about Super Mario Sunshine.--Patrick Shaw
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