I have not played through an entire 3D Mario game. I did play Super Mario Sunshine upon release, but I got sick and tired of falling from high heights with no quick way back up.
I have played:
All NES Super Mario
All SNES Super Mario
Psychonauts - a 3D platformer
Rayman Origins and Legends - my favorite platformers of all time
I have a Wii U and was thinking of picking up Galaxy. I know it is a Wii game, but I hope it looks OK on the big HD tv, even without it being an HD game.
Is it fun? Is the sequel? I see the games both got hugely positive reviews upon release, but I’m not sure. What are your thoughts?
I would definitely recommend Galaxy. One of the standout games on the Wii, IMO. It’s just the essence of tight platforming, in 3D. I think it’s fair to say that it’s a classic 3D Mario, and you should play it, even if you don’t finish it, simply because of what it brings to the 3D platformer genre. It’s like the Beatles of 3D platforming.
The sequel, Galaxy 2, is more of the same. I would recommend playing 1 first, and then if you haven’t had enough, then play 2, but 2 is very much re-treading familiar ground, whereas 1 broke entirely new ground.
Both are great games. I wouldn’t let disappointment with Sunshine stop you from playing them. Sunshine is the least popular of the 3D Marios, and also the structure of Galaxy is more like the 2D games, which you might like more.
I’m not good enough to play modern games requiring speed/timing/etc. Too old, I guess.
I thought the “between” levels (home base/starship/whatever you call it) part of the game was better in Galaxy I than in II. My son liked both for different aspects.
Since you have a Wii U, you can also get Super Mario 3D World. I think Galaxy 1 and 2 are better, but 3D World is a lot more linear like the old NES/SNES games.
Actually, if you want “more of the same,” when Super Mario Galaxy says that it’s over, you can keep playing…and once you get all of the stars, you can play the entire game over again - but as Luigi instead of Mario (and some of the worlds require a different way to solve as Luigi than as Mario).
While SM64 deserves all its praise, there were still issues with the camera control and moving in 3D space. I still have bad memories of Rainbow Ride and Tick Tock Clock thinking I made the jump only to realize too late my angle or launch point was slightly off as the camera started to rotate. Sunshine was fun to begin with but it is the only Mario game I never finished as I grew bored halfway through.
Galaxy perfected the gameplay and camera and infused FUN into every corner. From the animations of the characters to the music to the joy of running “under” a planet (and so much more), Galaxy is one of my favorite games of all time. I actually prefer Galaxy 2 by the slimmest of margins and strongly encourage picking that up as well.
Rayman Origins/Legends are tons of fun and better than modern Mario 2D games but I really enjoy the 3D Mario games more. They feel complete in a way 2D games don’t. I don’t know how to describe it. I would also consider looking for Super Mario Maker. Some of the fan created levels are a blast to play and you will be shocked by the creativity and scope of the levles.
Mrs. Mahaloth and I have played through Rayman Origins/Legends(on PC actually) several times. One of our great achievments is 100%ing Legends(Origins was easier).
Looking forward to Galaxy. I remembered you thought it was great. I’ve not beaten a 3D Mario game. I am planning to assist my kids, who I am throwing into the mix on their own.
Huh. I’ve never played a Mario game like this and I haven’t even seen one. The levels(little that I’ve played) are little planets that you connect via plants or stars.
Loved the Galaxy games. I could never figure out how Nintendo found such creative level designers that were able to visualize the gimmicky (not in a bad way) interconnects between the planets in the different levels. The vision some of those must have required in order to bring them to life was astounding.
We’re doing OK, but man, this game is not what I expected.
We played one level, which ended in a plant guy Boss. Beat it, got the star.
I couldn’t pick a new level because it said I didn’t have enough stars. Uh, we went back to that original level and I stumbled upon a new path that had us shoot stars at a little guy and he transformed. Once transformed, we took a new path and found another star.
The initial learning curve can be steep - but it’s very quick, and you’ll be off and running. Mario Galaxy is my favorite game of the last 15 years - I think you’re going to have a great time.