I figured I should log this now coming off of the high that was getting the 120th Star and fighting Bowser a second time. In the simplest way possible, I love Super Mario Galaxy. It is a phenomenal game that has stuck with me since I first played it many many years ago. I've 100% the game many times with Mario, and only did it once with Luigi which was on 3D All Stars a few years ago. Here, I once again only did it with Mario but I plan on going back with Luigi again to keep that completed file on the Wii. I just want to spew my thoughts out now since I'm in the right mood to do so. Super Mario Galaxy is filled with many creative and fun levels that forever shaped my expectations for how Mario games should be like when I was a kid. Of course, I get a lot of enjoyment going back to other games like 64 or when I played some for the first time like 3D World, but none of them ignite the feeling of childhood wonder more than Galaxy does. The only other one that has done so for me is my personal favourite: Super Mario Odyssey. This game is one of the most ambitious Mario games, making use of the gravity and spin mechanics, having more of a fleshed out story that strikes emotional beats like the ending and storybook sequences, and being the most atmospheric of the bunch. Certain galaxies have such unique vibes or do amazing spins on what otherwise would be generic level themes. I think the best example would be Space Junk Galaxy, one of my personal favourites, which has such an empty feel to it that's accompanied with the visuals and especially the music, which is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've heard in a video game. Not only are the levels fun and atmospheric, but the boss battles are not only good, but great! Usually bosses aren't something to write home about in Mario games but here, the bosses are creative in character design and the mechanics added to beat them. Once again using Space Junk Galaxy as an example, the third level titled "Tarantox's Tangled Web" requires you to use the sling pods to damage and beat the boss, a gimmick they introduce and use in the level. They do this for so many levels and it keeps each galaxy from becoming stale. I think out of every galaxy listed, the only two I didn't like were Dusty Dune (due to it being a really annoying desert level, especially with the Purple Coin star), and Sea Slide Galaxy (mainly because of the Silver Stars and Purple Coins stars). Even then, those galaxies have at least something redeeming for them. It's such an immersive experience and even though I've played it so many times, it's not a game I can put down. Every single element of this game just works so well and it's not hard to understand why everyone loves this game so much. Overall, Super Mario Galaxy is a phenomenal game and truly is a work of art that I'll always keep coming back to time after time.

Reviewed on May 07, 2024


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