Super Mario Galaxy

Just a note: You'll notice all the reviews I give are, for the most part, very positive. It may be luck, but every game I've played I've enjoyed in one way or another. There's already enough reviews that bash games, now here's one that praises them. I try to see the good in everything I look at. With that said...

Prelude
It's no secret - I'm a Nintendo and Mario fan. I've been one ever since my dad help me beat Super Mario Bros. back in 1988 when I was but 5 years old. As a Mario fan, it's truly astounding how the series has evolved, but how it's stayed true to its roots. There's the heroes Mario and his brother Luigi, Princess Peach as (most of the time) the damsel in distress, and Bowser (usually) the main villain. Despite having this setup for *almost* every game, the series has still shown there's plenty of places the famous star, known worldwide as Mr. Nintendo, can go and things he can do. Mario has been there and done that - sports such as tennis, basketball; party games; good 'ol platforming; and now, galaxies.

So It Begins...
In this latest installment in the series, Bowser yet again kidnaps Princess Peach as Mario is on his way to see her after receiving a letter from her. At this time, there's an event known as the Star Festival being celebrated in the Mushroom Kingdom (the main world where most of Mario's adventures are set). This event is celebrated every 100 years when a comet passes by close enough to drop Star Bits (you'll learn more about these in the game - it's amazing what they are); naturally, all the citizens are excited and anxious to collect as many of these as they can.

Princess Peach invites Mario to her castle as she has a gift for him, so naturally, Mario is on his way to see her when Bowser attacks yet again with the intention of kidnapping Peach. Of course, Mario won't let that happen so easily so he races past all the cannon fire of Bowser's airships and manages to just reach the castle when Bowser reveals his trump card - a giant UFO-like ship that cuts the ground around Peach's castle. He then hoists the castle into the air and into space and one of his minions knocks Mario, who's hanging on as much as he can, off into the cosmos. He later awakens on an unknown place in space.

It turns out that what Peach wanted to show Mario (never did know her present, I haven't finished the game just yet) was called a Luma. Luma's are essentially baby stars who can later become galaxies (Super Mario Galaxy's concept of levels) / planets (the parts of a level that Mario goes back and forth to) / comets (like planets but they work a *bit* differently) / and of course stars. After a game of hide and seek with the ever playful Luma's, Mario meets Rosalina, who is, apparently the "mother" of these Lumas. She tells Mario that Bowser stole all the Grand Stars that power the Observatory he's currently at.

And so begins Mario's search of where Peach is, retrieval of the Grand Stars and stars that Bowser stole, and what Bowser is up to this time. What a job!

Let The Game Begin! - or - Game Play And Controls
The Nintendo Wii uses a Wiimote (think of a remote control - now take off all the buttons and put - from top to bottom - a Directional Pad > +, [A] button, - (Home) +, [1], [2] < buttons vertically, from top to bottom. Yes, my descriptions are...flawless...

Anyways...*ahem*...this is how you'll control Mario. Naturally, since this game takes place in space, and there are planets and comets, you'll be able to walk over and under certain planets (cool huh?). It can be a bit disorienting at first. You'll also get a spin attack, which when you use it (by twirling the Wiimote!), you'll make enemies dizzy and then you'll be able to give them the boot! Isn't that just coolness? You can jump on them or give them the boot.

Also, you'll be able to collect the aforementioned Star Bits by *just* aiming at them on the screen and they'll come to you!

Overall, the controls are very smooth, though it *can* be a bit hard to aim Mario's jumps and spins sometimes. But then again, I'm not very good at most of these games so...

*This could be a spoiler, so please view at your own risk.* But if you'd like to see the controls in play, here's the very first star you can get.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OViCCavPOkc&feature=related

^ That isn't me, I...didn't do so well my first time. *ahem*

- Sub-Section - Will I Yell At My Controller?
...Yes, you probably will. There's a galaxy or two that'll...test your patience I'm afraid. I'm afraid that's all I can say, but overall, the pros outweigh the cons by tons.

The Muzak! - or - How Cool Is The Music?
When you embark on your mission for the first star - you'll fly off (via a Launch Star - it's how Mario gets around, by the way) in silence and arrive at your first galaxy, and then be hit with this:
Mario music has NEVER sounded so awesome before. The video above shows the first galaxy you can enter, nice music yes? This game is entirely consisting of orchestrated music, a first ever for the Mario series.

Replayable?
*chuckles* Get 120 stars (the maximum for this game), and you'll see.
All I can say is - heck yes!
Also, you can fight Bowser again and again - it truly is an epic battle no matter how many times you do it.

Worth It?
This deserves all caps - YES!
I would by a Nintendo Wii, if I didn't own it already, just for this game.
But again, it's up to you, I'm just crazy like that...

Thank you for reading, and I hope to improve my reviews from this point on. Please let me know if anything can be added. Take care.