Super Mario Galaxy

[MarkRyan]

I don't understand the hate some of you are giving to the purple coin levels. They were infinitely better than any collectathon crap I've ever played, and most of them were simply laid out in the world so you grab them as you go by. It wasnt like there was a whole lot of searching going on. The only one that gave me any trouble was the Luigi's purple coins, and even that one only took me 4 or 5 tries, and its actually one of my favorite levels in the game. Platformers need more challenging situations like that.

The only one I didn't like is the Ghostly Galaxy, and it's not really because it's hard. The other challenges I appreciated--some were frustrating, but that's not always a bad thing. Luigi's Purple Coins, Dreadnaught, and Space Junk were all tough but enjoyable. I'm not complaining about them at all

[Thief Silver]

For the record, the Daredevil comet and the cosmic comet are both completely awesome. Playing through a level knowing one hit and you die is so much more exciting and is probably my favorite part of this game.

[Compass]

Finished this tonight with 62 stars. I don't think I'll be going back for 120 anytime soon. Let's just get this out of the way:

I did not like this game.

Now, this is bizarre because I liked almost everything about this game, and yet... had almost zero fun playing it. I tried convincing myself I was having fun many times. I believe I even posted the words "Great stuff" in this very thread in a bout of severe denial (and directly after viewing another portion of the Story Book, which was the best part of the game). Excellently crafted:

• Graphics
• Music
• Level-design
• Cuteness
• Overall polish

That's pretty much everything, so I should like the game, right? Then why didn't I? I'm not entirely sure. It could be I'm not feeling platformers that require any skill anymore. I was intensely frustrated through the majority of levels. And keep in mind I didn't even do most of the Comet stars, and only one of the Purple Coin levels.

So, yes, some of my distaste could surely be attributed to my sucking -- from dying a lot, and feeling annoyed. But sometimes this makes for an overall fun experience, when you finally surmount a tough challenge and feel satisfied. Take Mario VS Donkey Kong - GBA. I don't think I ever cursed so much than when trying to 100% this game, and yet, I loved/hated every minute of it, and when I perfect-cleared a level, felt tremendously satisfied and fulfilled. With SMG, I never felt satisfied when grasping the star at the end of a level -- only relieved that it was over.

Also, some things just plain sucked in this game:

Camera - I don't know why they even included free-look because it seemed nearly every time I really needed it, and actually attempted to manually move the camera -- either with the C Button or the +Control Pad -- I'd get the error sound. Yeah, that's not irritating. Thanks, Nintendo!

DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH

What is that, you ask? That's the sound when you have one slice of health left. And it DOES NOT FUCKING SHUT UP UNTIL YOU GRAB A COIN. But sometimes you're in the middle of something, and there are no coins nearby. Sometimes it's a couple minutes before you can get to a place with a coin, all the while:

DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH - DUH NUH

It was horrible. Just a horrible decision to include this stupid, ear-splitting warning sound because I dared to get hit twice.

There are other things. Getting to the different domes in the hub was a straight-up pain in the ass. Reaching the Garden from the map for instance. Christ, what a dull trek. Even just the Kitchen. The shortest route there sees you running along a narrow platform with a goddamn warp right in the middle of the path that takes you up to the Engine room area. Why would they put that there? They absolutely should have either a) let you warp to the domes from the Map, or b) included something worthwhile to do on the way to the domes (star bits to collect would have been fine).

Good to know 2008 can begin with Compass's legendarily-refined taste intact, huh?

[MechDeus]

I like how all of us that don't like the game really aren't sure why.

[Frogacuda]

I bet overhype has something to do with it. It has been the bane of many Nintendo games. It's part of why I hated Mario 64 for years (the other part being that it was shitty when judged as an attempt to bring the existing games into 3D).

[Granderoho]

I liked the game, but it is no where near the best game of all the year, let alone best game of alltime like lots of gaming publications are setting it up to be. It is definetly the best Wii game out, but thats not saying much. What made Mario's of old great was that I myself was a kid when it came out on the NES, and its a kids game. My tastes have evolved since the days of Mario and I like more mature games. I have to say that Galaxy is a good game and was a really change of pace from what I had been playing all year.

[epmode]

Good to know 2008 can begin with Compass's legendarily-refined taste intact, huh?

Likes: Super Paper Mario
Does not like: Super Mario Galaxy

*dead*

[Compass]

Correction: Loves Super Paper Mario.

[Thief Silver]

Compass, the irony of this situation Compass, is that I agree with you 100%.

[Cowutopia]

What the fuck is wrong with all of you?

My tastes have evolved since the days of Mario and I like more mature games. I have to say that Galaxy is a good game and was a really change of pace from what I had been playing all year.

Does this mean you only like bloody adventure games/fps'es now? Because having your taste "evolve" does not equate to "I don't like platforming gameplay anymore." I'd call that having your taste de-evolve.