Hands-on with Super Mario Galaxy
The hotly-anticipated Super Mario Galaxy was playable at an executive Nintendo reception earlier tonight. We had to wait patiently as the IGN Nintendo team couldn't get their hands off of it ... and for good reason. The game is incredibly charming and creative, and filled with life that make it a clear killer app for the console.
Firstly, the game looks absolutely stunning. Not only does it run in 480p and in widescreen, the game features some beautiful colors, fantastic texture work, and some stellar special effects. The Mario character model is easily the best we've seen in any Nintendo game so far: it's not hard to think that the in-game cut-scenes are pre-rendered at times. Galaxy, at the very least, shows that the Wii is a capable piece of hardware, so long as developers take time and care with it.
We love running around the miniature planets. In one sequence, we had to chase adorable bunnies, in a homage to the original Super Mario 64. Later on, there was a psychedelic platforming sequence, where platforms would rapidly fly in under Mario. Very futuristic, and unlike anything seen in the Mario series so far. There are tons of clever moments that make Mario feel fun, and more importantly, fresh. One level featured Mario turning into a bumblebee. Floating upwards in the sky easily made us feel giddy ... could it be the best Mario power-up since the Tanooki Suit?
Super Mario Galaxy succeeds because it brings innovative gaming ideas that are fun, even without the Wii Remote. In fact, the Wii waggle could easily be removed from the game with none the wiser. We also got to try the "multiplayer" mode, in which the second controller can act as another pointer to help Mario: it can stun enemies, and Mario as well. A player that refuses to play well with others will want to point at Mario, stopping him in his tracks.
Galaxy is everything we've wanted, and more. It's cute, it's colorful, it's beautiful, and most important ... it's fun. It pushes the technical limits of the Wii, and provides gameplay that will attract both casual and hardcore gamers alike. Super Mario Galaxy will arrive exclusively on Nintendo Wii this November.
