Super Mario Galaxy for the Nintendo Wii - What to Expect when You Buy It!

It's the game everyone's been raving about apart from the new Super Smash Bros. Brawl. This latest installment of Super Mario feels more like the N64 version. Instead of running around with a talking squirt gun on your back, Super Mario Galaxy has you jumping, leaping, and shooting through the stars in an effort to save the Grand Stars.

Storyline
Typical startup like in N64, Princess wants Mario to go see her because she's backed him a cake. Just kidding, she has something to give him. At the same time there is a festival going on that only occurs once every hundred years. As Mario arrives, Bowser targets Peach. The rest of that? Well she gets kidnapped. Story goes on as you need to find all of the grand stars to make your way around space to rescue your blond princess.

Audio
Ah, the sound. Sweet merciful sounds of 80's with a slight hint of 2007. The audio and sounds in this game really are well done. Most of the music is brand new to the game, which makes sense, since you are blasted around space. In many aspects though, the music loops and gets annoying at times. This downside is dismissed when you run into an old favorite tune with a nice twist. (Underworld theme!)

Gameplay
Right back to Super Mario 64 here again. Main objective? Hunt down Grand Stars to advance in the game. Doing so unlocks more galaxies (worlds) to play in. Controls are superb in this new game. With the use of the nunchuck and the wiimote players are able to run around upside down on a planet and still able to keep themselves oriented as to which way to move the joystick.. Pointing the wiimote at the screen allows you to shoot starbits at those nasty goombas or give it a quick shake and you do a spin attack. I do miss being able to punch and kick though.

The game is a totally new experience even for the most veteran Super Mario gamer. The entire game revolves around gravity (pun?). As soon as you are able to control Mario you are on a spherical planet and are able to run around the entire planet. Moving from one planet to another require slingstars that launch you through space like a rocket.

Also new in the Super Mario genre, 2-player co-op mode. They call this co-op, though its more along the lines of playing as Tails in Sonic 2. Player 1 has full control of Mario, with all the normal functions. Player 2 has the ability to collect starbits and shoot them. Though player 2 may seem like a handicapped player not being able to do much, the second in command is able to create a "super jump" if both players hit the A buttona t the same time while pointing at Mario.

Conclusion
As always, the Super Mario games deliver. This is a brand new and exciting game to bring home and just play for hours and hours. Super Mario Galaxy should appeal to a wide variety of audiences including the oldschool gamers who miss the old run-and-jump platformer!