The return of the platformer
Editor in chief Donald Ploth
Nintendo's main protagonist, Mario, is back and better than ever. After the long wait, and the dissapointing Super Mario Sunshine, our favorite plumber journeys into space after Bowser crashes the Star Festival and kidnapps Princess Peach. A few of the best things about this game are the physics and level design. The multiplayer mode leaves something to be desired (but who plays Mario games for the multiplayer). The camera stays on track most of the time and it's very rare to lose sight of the mustachioed plumber. Swimming is still a problem...meaning it's impossible. Also, some mini-boss battle can be repeatitive but challenging. One of my favorite parts of the game is the small galaxies that open up along the way. They're nice little challenges that help you collect stars on your path to the Princess. This game is one of the more stunning games created for Wii. The amount of detail involved in the level design is amazing. This game does a great job of creating a new place for you to explore every time you fly off to that galaxy. Nothing really to say about the character design. They look a lot better than Sunshine, but the power-ups look great from the Bee Mario to the Spring, which can be more annoying then helpful. As far as gameplay is concerned, the game is a Mario platformer and what else can I say? The game runs very smoothly and the physics are incredibly realistic. The game blends 3-D and side scrolling adventure into one amazing experience. Every time you set out for a star it becomes a new and innovative experience. The game is quite long too. You can finish the game at 60 stars but the game continues to 120 which leads to a lengthy and enjoyable game. The sounds in this game is astonishing. The music for each level is great with their own specific characteristics. Most of the compositions are remixes of classic nintendo songs. Charles Martinet does what he always does with the Mario's voice, coining phrases such as "Yahoo!", "Whoopie", and my personal favorite, "Thanka you so much fora playing my game". This game is long and enjoyable. Each level can be played over and over again and still be exciting. The replay value of this game is really high, and it's just as good every time around. This game is one of the best out there and its the definitive title for the Wii. It's not a bad reason to buy a Wii for yourself. My final score on this game 9.7 / 10