Super Mario Galaxy
Encyclopedia
is a 3D platform game
developed by Nintendo EAD Tokyo
and published by Nintendo
for the Wii
. It was released in most regions in November 2007, and is the third 3D original platformer in the Mario series
, after Super Mario 64
and Super Mario Sunshine
. The game follows the protagonist, Mario
, on a quest to rescue Princess Peach
from the game's primary antagonist, Bowser. Levels are galaxies
filled with minor planet
s and worlds, while gameplay is updated with gravity effects and new power-ups.
Super Mario Galaxy was first shown at E3 2006 and enjoyed a high level of pre-release awareness. The game has been hailed by several gaming
websites as one of the best video games of all time and has won a BAFTA
. GameRankings lists the game as the best reviewed Wii game and the second best reviewed game of all time. The game is the ninth best selling Wii game worldwide with sales of over 8.84 million. The sequel, Super Mario Galaxy 2
, was announced at E3 2009, and was first released in May 2010. In 2011, Super Mario Galaxy was added to the Nintendo Selects collection of games.
travels from galaxy to galaxy in order to collect Power Stars, which are earned by completing galaxies or defeating enemies. Each galaxy contains a number of planet
s and other space matter for the player to explore. The game uses a new physics system that allows for a unique feature: each celestial object has its own gravitational force
, allowing the player to completely circumnavigate rounded or irregular planetoids, walking sideways or upside down. The player can usually jump from one independent object and fall towards another one nearby. Though the main gameplay and physics are in 3D
, there are several areas in the game in which the player's movements are restricted to a 2-dimensional plane
, an element reminiscent of 2D
Mario games.
The game's main hub is the Comet Observatory
, a spaceship which contains six themed dome
s that provide access to the forty-two galaxies available in the game. When the player first begins the game, access is available to only a few galaxies. However, as more Power Stars are collected, more galaxies become available to the player. Some galaxies are accessed through special means; for example, the star-shaped creatures called "Hungry Lumas" will transform into new galaxies once they are fed enough Star Bits (small, collectible objects that serve as weapons and currency in the game). The Hungry Lumas may also appear within the galaxy, and when they are fed enough Star Bits, they will transform into other planetary bodies which will contain some form of puzzle or challenge that rewards Mario with a Power Star when completed. When 120 Power Stars are collected, the player gains the ability to play through the game again as Mario's brother Luigi
. Gameplay is slightly different while playing as Luigi, as some obstacles can be harder or easier to overcome due to Luigi's higher running speed and lower traction. Once 120 Power Stars are collected with both characters, the player is rewarded one additional challenge for Mario and Luigi to complete, as well as two commemorative pictures that can be sent to the Wii Message Board upon each brother completing the challenge.
There are five "Prankster Comets" that appear periodically ("Speedy", "Daredevil", "Cosmic", "Fast Foe" and "Purple"). When one of them comes into orbit with a galaxy, a special challenge is initiated that leads to an extra Power Star. The Speedy Comet challenges the player to replay an episode within a varying time limit. The Daredevil Comet has the player replay a section of a level with Mario's maximum health reduced to one unit, meaning that the player must complete the objective without being damaged once. The Cosmic Comet pits the player in a race against a doppelgänger
of Mario (or Luigi) to a Power Star. The Fast Foe Comet makes a galaxy's enemies twice as fast and thus harder to avoid. The Purple Comet, accessible only after completing the main story, allots 100 purple coins (or 150, though only 100 have to be collected) across an area of each of the 15 six-star galaxies for the player to collect, sometimes within a time limit.
and Nunchuk. While most of Mario's abilities are taken directly from Super Mario 64, such as the long jump, wall jump
s, and a variety of somersault
s, Mario is given new moves that take advantage of the Wii Remote's pointer and motion sensing. The most basic feature is the Star Pointer, which appears on-screen (as long as the remote is pointed at the screen) for the entire game and both marks the position of, and is controlled by, the Wii Remote. First and foremost, the Star Pointer is used to pick up special konpeito-shaped objects called "Star Bits", which are then shot to stun enemies, manipulate obstacles, or feed Hungry Lumas. Secondly, the pointer can latch onto small blue objects called "Pull Stars" that gradually pull Mario through space. Thirdly, if the player becomes encased in a floating bubble
, the Star Pointer is used to blow air at it in order to influence the direction and speed it moves. At one point, the pointer can be used to clear snow. Luigi controls identically to Mario, but he has both better jumping abilities and less traction, making some areas either less or more challenging when playing through the game the second time.
The player gains a new ability early in the game, known as the "Spin" technique, which has previously appeared in varying forms since Super Mario Bros. 3
. In Super Mario Galaxy, the Spin is primarily used for melee attacks, as it can stun enemies and shatter objects, and is used to trigger special propellers called "Sling Stars" or "Launch Stars" that launch Mario across large distances through space. The Spin is also used for climbing vines, ice-skating, unscrewing bolts, and for activating several power-ups. Other Wii Remote functions are available for smaller quests, such as surfing aboard a manta ray
or balancing atop a large ball and rolling it through an obstacle course.
, Super Mario Galaxy featured the most power-up
s and transformations of any 3D Mario game. Nine power-ups supply Mario with a special costume that grants him new abilities. For example, special Mushrooms bestow the player with a Bee, Boo, or Spring
Suit. The Bee Suit allows Mario to temporarily hover through the air, climb special walls, and walk on clouds and flowers; the Boo Suit allows him to float through the air, as well as become transparent and move through obstacles; and the Spring Suit allows him to jump to high areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. The Fire Flower, which allows Mario to throw fireballs, makes its 3D debut, and the all-new Ice Flower lets Mario create hexagonal tiles of ice to cover any liquid surface he walks on and allows him to skate across water and lava. Both flowers grant Mario their respective powers for 20 seconds. The Rainbow Star grants Mario invincibility for 30 seconds, allowing him to destroy any enemies that he touches, jump higher and run faster. The Red Star, which is an optional power-up only accessible after completing a certain mission, allows him to fly for 1 minute.
Mario's health consists of a three-piece power meter, which is depleted by contact with enemies and hazards. When swimming underwater, Mario has an air supply meter, which quickly depletes his main power meter if it runs out. Mario's health can be restored by collecting coins and his air supply by touching bubbles or coins. When the power meter becomes empty, the player loses a life and must go back to a predetermined checkpoint. The power meter can be temporarily expanded to six units through the use of a Life Mushroom, with the maximum health returning to three units if the overall health falls to three units from enemy or hazard contact or if Mario suffers instant death. Instant death can occur by being swallowed by quicksand
or dark matter
; falling into bottomless pits, which either consist of black hole
s or leaving a planet's gravitational pull and falling into space; getting crushed between objects; losing a race against a non-player character
; or other special challenges. The player can obtain extra lives by collecting 1-Up Mushrooms, 50 Coins without losing a life, or 50 Star Bits. Blue Hungry Lumas (known as "Luma Shops") can also exchange 30 Star Bits for a 1-Up Mushroom or Life Mushroom in certain galaxies,usually before battling a boss, such as in Bowser Jr.'s Airship Armada.
two-player
option called "Co-Star Mode", in which one player controls Mario and a Star Pointer while the other uses only the Wii Remote to control a second Star Pointer on-screen to gather Star Bits and shoot them at enemies. Additionally, the second player can make Mario jump, or the height of Mario's jump can be increased if the first and second player press the A button at the same moment. The second player can also prevent some enemies from moving by aiming the pointer star at them and holding the A button.
is invited to the centennial Star Festival by Princess Peach
to celebrate the comet
that passes overhead, Bowser invades the Mushroom Kingdom with a surprise attack in a fleet of airships. Summoning a giant flying saucer
, Peach's entire castle is removed from its foundations and is lifted into outer space
. After an unsuccessful rescue attempt, Mario is catapulted across the cosmos
and awakens on a small planet. On the planet, he meets an enchantress named Rosalina and her companion stars, the Lumas. Rosalina is a watcher of the stars, who uses the Comet Observatory to travel across the universe. However, the Power Stars that act as the Observatory's power source have all been stolen by Bowser, rendering it immobile. Bestowed with the power to travel through space through one of the Lumas, Mario sets off on a journey across the universe to reclaim the Power Stars and restore power to Rosalina's observatory.
Upon collecting enough Power Stars, the Comet Observatory regains the power to transform into a comet and flies to the center of the universe, where Peach is being held captive. Confronting Bowser, Mario learns that Bowser's plan is to rule the entire universe
with Peach at his side, using a newly constructed sun
of his own via the power of the Grand Stars. Mario manages to defeat Bowser and free Peach; however, in doing so, Bowser's sun collapses into itself, becoming a supermassive black hole
that begins consuming everything nearby. All of Rosalina's Lumas jump into the black hole to destroy it, but sacrifice themselves in the process. The black hole collapses into a singularity
and explodes in a supernova
. Rosalina appears to Mario as a giantess, stating that dying stars are later reborn as new stars. Mario awakens in the restored Mushroom Kingdom alongside Peach and Bowser, celebrating the new galaxy that has emerged in the skies.
, a tech demo
shown at Nintendo Space World
in 2000 to exemplify the processing power of the Nintendo GameCube
. The demo's director (and director of Super Mario Galaxy), Yoshiaki Koizumi
, desired that one of the demo's distinguishing features, spherical
-based platforms, would be used in a future game, but was held back in belief that such a feat would be "impossible for technical reasons". Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto
suggested to work on the next large-scale Mario game after Nintendo EAD Tokyo finished development on Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
in late 2004, pushing for the spherical platform concept to be realized. A prototype
of the game's physics system took three months to build, where it was decided that the game's use of spherical platforms would best be suited to planetoids in an outer space
environment, with the concept of gravity as a major feature. During development, the designers would often exchange ideas with Miyamoto from his office in Kyoto, where he would make suggestions to the game design. Miyamoto ended up being more involved in the development of Galaxy than he did with Super Mario 64
. The game's script was written by Takayuki Ikkaku, though Koizumi was heavily involved in the creation of the story.
The idea for Mario to have a "spin" attack came during the early stages of development, when it was decided that jumping on enemies on a spherical map would be difficult for some players. Initially the "spin" was activated via rotation of the Nunchuk's control stick, but after motion sensing was confirmed to be implemented in the Wii Remote
, the "spin" was changed to be activated through shaking the controller. Koizumi suggested that Mario's life meter
should have a maximum capacity of three instead of eight (which Mario had in the previous two games), but at the same time more 1-Up
Mushrooms would be placed in the game and checkpoints would be added, in order to balance the game's difficulty. Satoru Iwata
noted "the fact that the intensity factor changes according to whether the life meter is set to 3 or 8 is representative of the things that players do not notice that actually change the gameplay dramatically."
It was first hinted by Takashi Tezuka
, Nintendo's analysis and development's general manager, that multiplayer was going to be co-op
in an interview with gaming site IGN
. Two-player functionality was later confirmed, along with reports of the team experimenting with new ways to use the Wii Remote so that one player can control Mario while the other aids him, backed up by suggestions by Miyamoto that the second player could have the ability to affect Mario's progress. It was later revealed at Nintendo's E3 2007 that the co-op mode was permanently implemented into the game and could be accessed at any time.
that the game was expected to be released sometime up to Christmas 2007. Near the end of Miyamoto's keynote presentation at the 2007 Game Developers Conference
in March, he further confirmed: "You'll be able to play Super Mario Galaxy this year".
At Nintendo's E3 2007 conference, it was confirmed that Super Mario Galaxy would be released in North America on November 12, 2007 and four days later in Europe. In North America, certain retailers had given out a free limited edition coin for preordering the game. Some retailers had delayed it until November 13, 2007, such as GameStop
in North America, and some retailers had delayed the release until November 14, 2007. Equally, certain UK retailers shipped the game a day earlier than the European release date, for example Virgin megastores and Game.
and even had 28 tracks completed for the game. The reason for this was that Latin percussion instruments had been used in previous Mario games, such as steelpan
s, bongo drum
s, and conga
s. For Super Mario Galaxys theme, Yokota used Latin instruments and a synthesizer
to create science fiction sounds. The composition was approved by Yoshiaki Koizumi
, the game's designer, but when he presented it to Koji Kondo
, he told him that his composition was no good. According to Yokota, he always had an image that Mario was for children, causing him to create cute music that would appeal to children. Three months later, Yokota presented three different styles of music to Shigeru Miyamoto. One piece had an orchestral sound, one was a mix of orchestral music and pop music, and the last was pop music. Miyamoto chose the orchestral piece, which was written by Kondo. From then on, the game's soundtrack was composed for a 50-player symphony orchestra. Kondo composed four pieces for the game ("Egg Planet", which plays in the Good Egg Galaxy, and the three "Rosalina in the Observatory" pieces, which play in the Comet Observatory at different points within the game), while Yokota composed the rest. The composers asked the orchestra to play at different tempo
s in order to perfectly synchronize with the rest of Mario's movement. They also stated that even the sound effects fit into the musical score if the player listens carefully.
The official soundtrack was released on January 24, 2008. It was initially an exclusive to Club Nintendo
subscribers in Japan, although as of November 2008 both versions of the soundtrack are available from Club Nintendo of Europe. The soundtrack was released in two versions: the Original Soundtrack, which only contains 28 tracks from the game, and the Platinum Edition, which contains an additional 53 tracks on a second disc for a grand total of 81 tracks. The soundtrack has won numerous critic awards, such as "Best Design in Audio" from the U.K.'s Edge Magazine.
Wii game and the seventh best-selling Nintendo-published game for the Wii; the four best-selling Wii games, Wii Sports
, Wii Play
, Wii Fit
, and Mario Kart Wii
, were bundled with the console or an accessory. As of July 9, 2008, the game has sold 912,746 copies in Japan, according to Famitsu
. According to the NPD Group
, since the launch of the Wii, Super Mario Galaxy has become the third best-selling video game in Canada as of April 1, 2008.
Super Mario Galaxy is the second highest-rated game of all time on the review aggregator website TopTenReviews
, as well as the second highest of all time on review aggregator website GameRankings. Nintendo Power
voted in its August 2008 issue that Super Mario Galaxy was the best game for the Wii; it was also the only Mario game to get a top spot on the list, as well as the only game to be unanimously voted for the top position. NTSC-uk said that Super Mario Galaxy "will influence gaming perceptions, sure to replenish any lost passion". GamePro
stated that the title "raises the bar in terms of what can be achieved on the Wii." IGN
called Super Mario Galaxy "Wii's best game, and an absolute must-own experience", and "one of the greatest platformers ever played." GameSpot
praised its gameplay and level design stating: "if ever there were a must-own Wii game, Super Mario Galaxy is it." Game Revolution
noted the variety of gameplay, reliable camera angles and easy to use controls. As of May 2010, the game has sold over 8 million copies worldwide, ranking #8 on the best-selling Wii games list.
Reviewers have expressed minor complaints with certain aspects of the game. GameSpot editor Alex Navarro found one of the powerups, the spring suit, difficult to control at times. Matt Casamassina
of IGN noted that the auto-camera "works well most of the time", but occasionally "stumbles".
Towards the end of 2007, Super Mario Galaxy was named Game of the Year
by IGN, GameSpot, Nintendo Power, GameTrailers
, Edge
and Yahoo! Games
. On February 7, 2008, the game received the "Adventure Game of the Year" award from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
at the Interactive Achievement Awards. The game placed third in Official Nintendo Magazines "100 greatest Nintendo games of all time". On March 10, 2009, the game won the "Game of the Year" award at the 5th British Academy Video Games Awards
. Guinness World Records
ranked Super Mario Galaxy 29th in their list of top 50 console games of all time based on initial impact and lasting legacy. On November 26, 2009, Super Mario Galaxy was named the number one Wii game by IGN. Super Mario Galaxy was also named the Nintendo game of the decade (2000–2009) by both Nintendo Power and Official Nintendo Magazine.
, Miyamoto stated his interest in making a sequel to Super Mario Galaxy. Producer Yoshiaki Koizumi said in an interview with gaming site GameSpot
that there is a "really high chance" several power-ups and suits that did not make it into Super Mario Galaxy would be used in the sequel.
The sequel – Super Mario Galaxy 2 – was announced at E3 2009 during the Nintendo conference. It was released on May 23, 2010 in North America, May 27, 2010 in Japan and June 11, 2010 in Europe. The sequel has met with extremely positive reception, and many reviewers have claimed that it is even better than its predecessor.
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
developed by Nintendo EAD Tokyo
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development
, commonly abbreviated as EAD, is the largest division inside Nintendo. It was preceded by the , a team of designers with an art background responsible for many different tasks, which Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka originally belonged to...
and published by Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
. It was released in most regions in November 2007, and is the third 3D original platformer in the Mario series
Mario (series)
The video game series, alternatively called the series or simply the series, is a series of highly popular and critically acclaimed video games by Nintendo, featuring Nintendo's mascot Mario and, in many games, his brother Luigi. Gameplay in the series often centers around jumping on and...
, after Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64
is a platform game, published by Nintendo and developed by its EAD division, for the Nintendo 64. Along with Pilotwings 64, it was one of the launch titles for the console. It was released in Japan on June 23, 1996, and later in North America, Europe, and Australia. Super Mario 64 has sold over...
and Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario Sunshine
is a platforming video game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube. It was released in Japan in July 2002, in North America in August 2002, and in Europe and Australia in October 2002...
. The game follows the protagonist, Mario
Mario
is a fictional character in his video game series, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the main protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation...
, on a quest to rescue Princess Peach
Princess Peach
is a character in Nintendo's Mario series of video games. She is the Princess of the fictitious Mushroom Kingdom, and often plays the damsel in distress role within the adventure series. In 2007, Princess Peach landed on Forbes magazine's Wealthiest Fictional People list, with a fortune upwards of...
from the game's primary antagonist, Bowser. Levels are galaxies
Galaxy
A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system that consists of stars and stellar remnants, an interstellar medium of gas and dust, and an important but poorly understood component tentatively dubbed dark matter. The word galaxy is derived from the Greek galaxias , literally "milky", a...
filled with minor planet
Minor planet
An asteroid group or minor-planet group is a population of minor planets that have a share broadly similar orbits. Members are generally unrelated to each other, unlike in an asteroid family, which often results from the break-up of a single asteroid...
s and worlds, while gameplay is updated with gravity effects and new power-ups.
Super Mario Galaxy was first shown at E3 2006 and enjoyed a high level of pre-release awareness. The game has been hailed by several gaming
Gamer
Historically, the term "gamer" usually referred to someone who played role-playing games and wargames. Since they became very popular, the term has included players of video games...
websites as one of the best video games of all time and has won a BAFTA
British Academy of Film and Television Arts
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is a charity in the United Kingdom that hosts annual awards shows for excellence in film, television, television craft, video games and forms of animation.-Introduction:...
. GameRankings lists the game as the best reviewed Wii game and the second best reviewed game of all time. The game is the ninth best selling Wii game worldwide with sales of over 8.84 million. The sequel, Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario Galaxy 2
is a platforming video game developed by Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It was first announced at E3 2009 and is the sequel to Super Mario Galaxy. It was released in North America on May 23, 2010, in Japan on May 27, 2010, in Europe on June 11, 2010, and in Australia on July 1,...
, was announced at E3 2009, and was first released in May 2010. In 2011, Super Mario Galaxy was added to the Nintendo Selects collection of games.
Premise and setting
Super Mario Galaxy is set in outer space, where MarioMario
is a fictional character in his video game series, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the main protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation...
travels from galaxy to galaxy in order to collect Power Stars, which are earned by completing galaxies or defeating enemies. Each galaxy contains a number of planet
Planet
A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
s and other space matter for the player to explore. The game uses a new physics system that allows for a unique feature: each celestial object has its own gravitational force
Gravitation
Gravitation, or gravity, is a natural phenomenon by which physical bodies attract with a force proportional to their mass. Gravitation is most familiar as the agent that gives weight to objects with mass and causes them to fall to the ground when dropped...
, allowing the player to completely circumnavigate rounded or irregular planetoids, walking sideways or upside down. The player can usually jump from one independent object and fall towards another one nearby. Though the main gameplay and physics are in 3D
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
, there are several areas in the game in which the player's movements are restricted to a 2-dimensional plane
Side-scrolling video game
A side-scrolling game or side-scroller is a video game in which the gameplay action is viewed from a side-view camera angle, and the onscreen characters generally move from the left side of the screen to the right. These games make use of scrolling computer display technology...
, an element reminiscent of 2D
2D computer graphics
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
Mario games.
The game's main hub is the Comet Observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
, a spaceship which contains six themed dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
s that provide access to the forty-two galaxies available in the game. When the player first begins the game, access is available to only a few galaxies. However, as more Power Stars are collected, more galaxies become available to the player. Some galaxies are accessed through special means; for example, the star-shaped creatures called "Hungry Lumas" will transform into new galaxies once they are fed enough Star Bits (small, collectible objects that serve as weapons and currency in the game). The Hungry Lumas may also appear within the galaxy, and when they are fed enough Star Bits, they will transform into other planetary bodies which will contain some form of puzzle or challenge that rewards Mario with a Power Star when completed. When 120 Power Stars are collected, the player gains the ability to play through the game again as Mario's brother Luigi
Luigi
is a fictional character, featured in video games and related media released by Nintendo. Created by prominent game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Luigi is portrayed as the slightly younger fraternal twin brother of Nintendo's mascot Mario, and appears in many games throughout the Mario series,...
. Gameplay is slightly different while playing as Luigi, as some obstacles can be harder or easier to overcome due to Luigi's higher running speed and lower traction. Once 120 Power Stars are collected with both characters, the player is rewarded one additional challenge for Mario and Luigi to complete, as well as two commemorative pictures that can be sent to the Wii Message Board upon each brother completing the challenge.
There are five "Prankster Comets" that appear periodically ("Speedy", "Daredevil", "Cosmic", "Fast Foe" and "Purple"). When one of them comes into orbit with a galaxy, a special challenge is initiated that leads to an extra Power Star. The Speedy Comet challenges the player to replay an episode within a varying time limit. The Daredevil Comet has the player replay a section of a level with Mario's maximum health reduced to one unit, meaning that the player must complete the objective without being damaged once. The Cosmic Comet pits the player in a race against a doppelgänger
Doppelgänger
In fiction and folklore, a doppelgänger is a paranormal double of a living person, typically representing evil or misfortune...
of Mario (or Luigi) to a Power Star. The Fast Foe Comet makes a galaxy's enemies twice as fast and thus harder to avoid. The Purple Comet, accessible only after completing the main story, allots 100 purple coins (or 150, though only 100 have to be collected) across an area of each of the 15 six-star galaxies for the player to collect, sometimes within a time limit.
Controls
The player's character is controlled via the Wii RemoteWii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
and Nunchuk. While most of Mario's abilities are taken directly from Super Mario 64, such as the long jump, wall jump
Wall jump
This article is about the video game move. For its real-world counterpart, see wall flip.A wall jump is a technique players can execute in several video games.-Technique:...
s, and a variety of somersault
Somersault
A somersault is an acrobatic exercise in which a person does a full 360° flip, moving the feet over the head. A somersault can be performed either forwards, backwards, or sideways and can be executed in the air or on the ground...
s, Mario is given new moves that take advantage of the Wii Remote's pointer and motion sensing. The most basic feature is the Star Pointer, which appears on-screen (as long as the remote is pointed at the screen) for the entire game and both marks the position of, and is controlled by, the Wii Remote. First and foremost, the Star Pointer is used to pick up special konpeito-shaped objects called "Star Bits", which are then shot to stun enemies, manipulate obstacles, or feed Hungry Lumas. Secondly, the pointer can latch onto small blue objects called "Pull Stars" that gradually pull Mario through space. Thirdly, if the player becomes encased in a floating bubble
Soap bubble
A soap bubble is a thin film of soapy water enclosing air, that forms a hollow sphere with an iridescent surface. Soap bubbles usually last for only a few seconds before bursting, either on their own or on contact with another object. They are often used for children's enjoyment, but they are also...
, the Star Pointer is used to blow air at it in order to influence the direction and speed it moves. At one point, the pointer can be used to clear snow. Luigi controls identically to Mario, but he has both better jumping abilities and less traction, making some areas either less or more challenging when playing through the game the second time.
The player gains a new ability early in the game, known as the "Spin" technique, which has previously appeared in varying forms since Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Bros. 3
, also referred to as Super Mario 3 and SMB3, is a platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System , and is the third game in the Super Mario series. The game was released in Japan in 1988, in the United States in 1990, and in Europe in 1991...
. In Super Mario Galaxy, the Spin is primarily used for melee attacks, as it can stun enemies and shatter objects, and is used to trigger special propellers called "Sling Stars" or "Launch Stars" that launch Mario across large distances through space. The Spin is also used for climbing vines, ice-skating, unscrewing bolts, and for activating several power-ups. Other Wii Remote functions are available for smaller quests, such as surfing aboard a manta ray
Manta ray
The manta ray is the largest species of the rays. The largest known specimen was more than across, with a weight of about . It ranges throughout waters of the world, typically around coral reefs...
or balancing atop a large ball and rolling it through an obstacle course.
Power-ups and lives
Up until the release of Super Mario Galaxy 2Super Mario Galaxy 2
is a platforming video game developed by Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It was first announced at E3 2009 and is the sequel to Super Mario Galaxy. It was released in North America on May 23, 2010, in Japan on May 27, 2010, in Europe on June 11, 2010, and in Australia on July 1,...
, Super Mario Galaxy featured the most power-up
Power-up
In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player...
s and transformations of any 3D Mario game. Nine power-ups supply Mario with a special costume that grants him new abilities. For example, special Mushrooms bestow the player with a Bee, Boo, or Spring
Spring (device)
A spring is an elastic object used to store mechanical energy. Springs are usually made out of spring steel. Small springs can be wound from pre-hardened stock, while larger ones are made from annealed steel and hardened after fabrication...
Suit. The Bee Suit allows Mario to temporarily hover through the air, climb special walls, and walk on clouds and flowers; the Boo Suit allows him to float through the air, as well as become transparent and move through obstacles; and the Spring Suit allows him to jump to high areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. The Fire Flower, which allows Mario to throw fireballs, makes its 3D debut, and the all-new Ice Flower lets Mario create hexagonal tiles of ice to cover any liquid surface he walks on and allows him to skate across water and lava. Both flowers grant Mario their respective powers for 20 seconds. The Rainbow Star grants Mario invincibility for 30 seconds, allowing him to destroy any enemies that he touches, jump higher and run faster. The Red Star, which is an optional power-up only accessible after completing a certain mission, allows him to fly for 1 minute.
Mario's health consists of a three-piece power meter, which is depleted by contact with enemies and hazards. When swimming underwater, Mario has an air supply meter, which quickly depletes his main power meter if it runs out. Mario's health can be restored by collecting coins and his air supply by touching bubbles or coins. When the power meter becomes empty, the player loses a life and must go back to a predetermined checkpoint. The power meter can be temporarily expanded to six units through the use of a Life Mushroom, with the maximum health returning to three units if the overall health falls to three units from enemy or hazard contact or if Mario suffers instant death. Instant death can occur by being swallowed by quicksand
Quicksand
Quicksand is a colloid hydrogel consisting of fine granular matter , clay, and water.Water circulation underground can focus in an area with the optimal mixture of fine sands and other materials such as clay. The water moves up and then down slowly in a convection-like manner throughout a column...
or dark matter
Dark matter
In astronomy and cosmology, dark matter is matter that neither emits nor scatters light or other electromagnetic radiation, and so cannot be directly detected via optical or radio astronomy...
; falling into bottomless pits, which either consist of black hole
Black hole
A black hole is a region of spacetime from which nothing, not even light, can escape. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass will deform spacetime to form a black hole. Around a black hole there is a mathematically defined surface called an event horizon that...
s or leaving a planet's gravitational pull and falling into space; getting crushed between objects; losing a race against a non-player character
Non-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
; or other special challenges. The player can obtain extra lives by collecting 1-Up Mushrooms, 50 Coins without losing a life, or 50 Star Bits. Blue Hungry Lumas (known as "Luma Shops") can also exchange 30 Star Bits for a 1-Up Mushroom or Life Mushroom in certain galaxies,usually before battling a boss, such as in Bowser Jr.'s Airship Armada.
Multiplayer
Super Mario Galaxy has a co-operativeCooperative gameplay
Cooperative gameplay is a feature in video games that allows players to work together as teammates. It is distinct from other multiplayer modes, such as competitive multiplayer modes like player versus player or deathmatch...
two-player
Two-player
A two-player video game is a video game played by just two players. This is distinct from a multiplayer video game which is played by more than two players, and from a single-player video game, in which the player has no human opponents....
option called "Co-Star Mode", in which one player controls Mario and a Star Pointer while the other uses only the Wii Remote to control a second Star Pointer on-screen to gather Star Bits and shoot them at enemies. Additionally, the second player can make Mario jump, or the height of Mario's jump can be increased if the first and second player press the A button at the same moment. The second player can also prevent some enemies from moving by aiming the pointer star at them and holding the A button.
Synopsis
Shortly after MarioMario
is a fictional character in his video game series, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the main protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation...
is invited to the centennial Star Festival by Princess Peach
Princess Peach
is a character in Nintendo's Mario series of video games. She is the Princess of the fictitious Mushroom Kingdom, and often plays the damsel in distress role within the adventure series. In 2007, Princess Peach landed on Forbes magazine's Wealthiest Fictional People list, with a fortune upwards of...
to celebrate the comet
Comet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
that passes overhead, Bowser invades the Mushroom Kingdom with a surprise attack in a fleet of airships. Summoning a giant flying saucer
Flying saucer
A flying saucer is a type of unidentified flying object sometimes believed to be of alien origin with a disc or saucer-shaped body, usually described as silver or metallic, occasionally reported as covered with running lights or surrounded with a glowing light, hovering or moving rapidly either...
, Peach's entire castle is removed from its foundations and is lifted into outer space
Outer space
Outer space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
. After an unsuccessful rescue attempt, Mario is catapulted across the cosmos
Cosmos
In the general sense, a cosmos is an orderly or harmonious system. It originates from the Greek term κόσμος , meaning "order" or "ornament" and is antithetical to the concept of chaos. Today, the word is generally used as a synonym of the word Universe . The word cosmos originates from the same root...
and awakens on a small planet. On the planet, he meets an enchantress named Rosalina and her companion stars, the Lumas. Rosalina is a watcher of the stars, who uses the Comet Observatory to travel across the universe. However, the Power Stars that act as the Observatory's power source have all been stolen by Bowser, rendering it immobile. Bestowed with the power to travel through space through one of the Lumas, Mario sets off on a journey across the universe to reclaim the Power Stars and restore power to Rosalina's observatory.
Upon collecting enough Power Stars, the Comet Observatory regains the power to transform into a comet and flies to the center of the universe, where Peach is being held captive. Confronting Bowser, Mario learns that Bowser's plan is to rule the entire universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
with Peach at his side, using a newly constructed sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
of his own via the power of the Grand Stars. Mario manages to defeat Bowser and free Peach; however, in doing so, Bowser's sun collapses into itself, becoming a supermassive black hole
Supermassive black hole
A supermassive black hole is the largest type of black hole in a galaxy, in the order of hundreds of thousands to billions of solar masses. Most, and possibly all galaxies, including the Milky Way, are believed to contain supermassive black holes at their centers.Supermassive black holes have...
that begins consuming everything nearby. All of Rosalina's Lumas jump into the black hole to destroy it, but sacrifice themselves in the process. The black hole collapses into a singularity
Gravitational singularity
A gravitational singularity or spacetime singularity is a location where the quantities that are used to measure the gravitational field become infinite in a way that does not depend on the coordinate system...
and explodes in a supernova
Supernova
A supernova is a stellar explosion that is more energetic than a nova. It is pronounced with the plural supernovae or supernovas. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months...
. Rosalina appears to Mario as a giantess, stating that dying stars are later reborn as new stars. Mario awakens in the restored Mushroom Kingdom alongside Peach and Bowser, celebrating the new galaxy that has emerged in the skies.
Development
The concept for Super Mario Galaxys gameplay originated from ideas taken from Super Mario 128Super Mario 128
Super Mario 128 is a cancelled video game name of a series of development projects that were originally to be used only to create a sequel to Super Mario 64...
, a tech demo
Tech demo
A tech demo is a prototype, rough example or an otherwise incomplete version of a product, put together with the primary purpose of showcasing the idea, performance, method or the features of the product...
shown at Nintendo Space World
Nintendo Space World
Nintendo World, formerly called Nintendo Space World, Nintendo 64 Space World, Super Famicom Space World, Famicom Space World, and , is a video game trade show hosted by Nintendo, typically to unveil new consoles or handhelds...
in 2000 to exemplify the processing power of the Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
. The demo's director (and director of Super Mario Galaxy), Yoshiaki Koizumi
Yoshiaki Koizumi
is a Japanese video game designer, director and producer. A graduate from the Visual Concept Planning Department of Osaka University of Arts, he has been working at Nintendo Co., Ltd. since 1991. He is known for his work on the Mario and The Legend of Zelda game series.-Works:-References:...
, desired that one of the demo's distinguishing features, spherical
Sphere
A sphere is a perfectly round geometrical object in three-dimensional space, such as the shape of a round ball. Like a circle in two dimensions, a perfect sphere is completely symmetrical around its center, with all points on the surface lying the same distance r from the center point...
-based platforms, would be used in a future game, but was held back in belief that such a feat would be "impossible for technical reasons". Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto
Shigeru Miyamoto
is a Japanese video game designer and producer. Miyamoto was born and raised in Kyoto Prefecture; the natural surroundings of Kyoto inspired much of Miyamoto's later work....
suggested to work on the next large-scale Mario game after Nintendo EAD Tokyo finished development on Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
is a Nintendo GameCube video game featuring the ape Donkey Kong and played with the DK Bongos. It was released in Japan on December 16, 2002, in Europe on February 4, 2003, in North America on March 14, 2005, and in Australia on March 17, 2003. In 2008 and 2009, the game was re-released in the New...
in late 2004, pushing for the spherical platform concept to be realized. A prototype
Software prototyping
*Software prototyping, refers to the activity of creating prototypes of software applications, i.e., incomplete versions of the software program being developed...
of the game's physics system took three months to build, where it was decided that the game's use of spherical platforms would best be suited to planetoids in an outer space
Outer space
Outer space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
environment, with the concept of gravity as a major feature. During development, the designers would often exchange ideas with Miyamoto from his office in Kyoto, where he would make suggestions to the game design. Miyamoto ended up being more involved in the development of Galaxy than he did with Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64
is a platform game, published by Nintendo and developed by its EAD division, for the Nintendo 64. Along with Pilotwings 64, it was one of the launch titles for the console. It was released in Japan on June 23, 1996, and later in North America, Europe, and Australia. Super Mario 64 has sold over...
. The game's script was written by Takayuki Ikkaku, though Koizumi was heavily involved in the creation of the story.
The idea for Mario to have a "spin" attack came during the early stages of development, when it was decided that jumping on enemies on a spherical map would be difficult for some players. Initially the "spin" was activated via rotation of the Nunchuk's control stick, but after motion sensing was confirmed to be implemented in the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
, the "spin" was changed to be activated through shaking the controller. Koizumi suggested that Mario's life meter
Health (gaming)
Health is a game mechanic used in role-playing, computer and video games to give value to characters, enemies, NPCs, and related objects. This value can either be numerical, semi-numerical as in hit/health points, or arbitrary as in a life bar....
should have a maximum capacity of three instead of eight (which Mario had in the previous two games), but at the same time more 1-Up
1-up
1-up , pronounced "one up", is a term in console video gaming that commonly refers to an item that gives the player an extra life, to complete the game. In certain games, it is possible to receive multiple extra lives at once...
Mushrooms would be placed in the game and checkpoints would be added, in order to balance the game's difficulty. Satoru Iwata
Satoru Iwata
is the fourth president of Nintendo, succeeding the long-standing previous president of the company, Hiroshi Yamauchi in 2002. He was responsible in great part for defining Nintendo's strategy both before and during the release of its Nintendo GameCube video game console in 2001, a vision which...
noted "the fact that the intensity factor changes according to whether the life meter is set to 3 or 8 is representative of the things that players do not notice that actually change the gameplay dramatically."
It was first hinted by Takashi Tezuka
Takashi Tezuka
, sometimes credited under his nickname Ten Ten, is a video game designer working for Nintendo. A graduate of the Design Department of Osaka University of Arts, he joined the company in April 1984 and was involved with some of the most critically acclaimed Nintendo series, including Mario and The...
, Nintendo's analysis and development's general manager, that multiplayer was going to be co-op
Cooperative gameplay
Cooperative gameplay is a feature in video games that allows players to work together as teammates. It is distinct from other multiplayer modes, such as competitive multiplayer modes like player versus player or deathmatch...
in an interview with gaming site IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
. Two-player functionality was later confirmed, along with reports of the team experimenting with new ways to use the Wii Remote so that one player can control Mario while the other aids him, backed up by suggestions by Miyamoto that the second player could have the ability to affect Mario's progress. It was later revealed at Nintendo's E3 2007 that the co-op mode was permanently implemented into the game and could be accessed at any time.
Release
In an after-hours press event at E3 2006 in May, Miyamoto stated: "I don't want to promise anything yet. But if it's not a launch title it will definitely be there within the first six months". Nintendo of America's President Reggie Fils-Aime later stated in a November 27, 2006 interview with cable TV network MTVMTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
that the game was expected to be released sometime up to Christmas 2007. Near the end of Miyamoto's keynote presentation at the 2007 Game Developers Conference
Game Developers Conference
The Game Developers Conference is the largest annual gathering of professional video game developers, focusing on learning, inspiration, and networking...
in March, he further confirmed: "You'll be able to play Super Mario Galaxy this year".
At Nintendo's E3 2007 conference, it was confirmed that Super Mario Galaxy would be released in North America on November 12, 2007 and four days later in Europe. In North America, certain retailers had given out a free limited edition coin for preordering the game. Some retailers had delayed it until November 13, 2007, such as GameStop
GameStop
GameStop Corporation is an American video game and entertainment software retailer. The company, whose headquarters is in Grapevine, Texas, United States, operates 6,500 retail stores throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New...
in North America, and some retailers had delayed the release until November 14, 2007. Equally, certain UK retailers shipped the game a day earlier than the European release date, for example Virgin megastores and Game.
Music
During development, Mahito Yokota, who was in charge of the composition of music, originally wanted Super Mario Galaxy to have a Latin style of musicLatin American music
Latin American music, found within Central and South America, is a series of musical styles and genres that mixes influences from Spanish, African and indigenous sources, that has recently become very famous in the US.-Argentina:...
and even had 28 tracks completed for the game. The reason for this was that Latin percussion instruments had been used in previous Mario games, such as steelpan
Steelpan
Steelpans is a musical instrument originating from The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago...
s, bongo drum
Bongo drum
Bongo or bongos are a Cuban percussion instrument consisting of a pair of single-headed, open-ended drums attached to each other. The drums are of different size: the larger drum is called in Spanish the hembra and the smaller the macho...
s, and conga
Conga
The conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
s. For Super Mario Galaxys theme, Yokota used Latin instruments and a synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
to create science fiction sounds. The composition was approved by Yoshiaki Koizumi
Yoshiaki Koizumi
is a Japanese video game designer, director and producer. A graduate from the Visual Concept Planning Department of Osaka University of Arts, he has been working at Nintendo Co., Ltd. since 1991. He is known for his work on the Mario and The Legend of Zelda game series.-Works:-References:...
, the game's designer, but when he presented it to Koji Kondo
Koji Kondo
is a Japanese video game composer and sound director who has been employed at Nintendo since 1984. He is best known for scoring numerous titles in the Mario and The Legend of Zelda series.-Early life:...
, he told him that his composition was no good. According to Yokota, he always had an image that Mario was for children, causing him to create cute music that would appeal to children. Three months later, Yokota presented three different styles of music to Shigeru Miyamoto. One piece had an orchestral sound, one was a mix of orchestral music and pop music, and the last was pop music. Miyamoto chose the orchestral piece, which was written by Kondo. From then on, the game's soundtrack was composed for a 50-player symphony orchestra. Kondo composed four pieces for the game ("Egg Planet", which plays in the Good Egg Galaxy, and the three "Rosalina in the Observatory" pieces, which play in the Comet Observatory at different points within the game), while Yokota composed the rest. The composers asked the orchestra to play at different tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
s in order to perfectly synchronize with the rest of Mario's movement. They also stated that even the sound effects fit into the musical score if the player listens carefully.
The official soundtrack was released on January 24, 2008. It was initially an exclusive to Club Nintendo
Club Nintendo
Club Nintendo is the name of several publications and a more well-known customer loyalty program provided by Nintendo. The loyalty program is free to join and is committed to providing rewards in exchange for consumer feedback and loyalty to purchasing official Nintendo products...
subscribers in Japan, although as of November 2008 both versions of the soundtrack are available from Club Nintendo of Europe. The soundtrack was released in two versions: the Original Soundtrack, which only contains 28 tracks from the game, and the Platinum Edition, which contains an additional 53 tracks on a second disc for a grand total of 81 tracks. The soundtrack has won numerous critic awards, such as "Best Design in Audio" from the U.K.'s Edge Magazine.
| Disc one | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="width:100%; margin-right:-1em;"> | |||
| # | Japanese title | English title | Length |
| 1. | Overture | Overture | 1:23 |
| 2. | 星くず祭 | The Star Festival | 1:29 |
| 3. | 襲来！クッパ船団 | Attack of the Airships | 1:19 |
| 4. | カタストロフィー | Catastrophe | 0:54 |
| 5. | うばわれたピーチ城 | Peach's Castle Stolen | 0:32 |
| 6. | Into the Galaxy | Enter the Galaxy | 1:25 |
| 7. | エッグプラネット | Egg Planet | 2:41 |
| 8. | 天文台のロゼッタ1 | Rosalina in the Observatory 1 | 2:27 |
| 9. | ミツバチの王国 | The Honeyhive | 2:37 |
| 10. | スターダストロード | Space Junk Road | 3:21 |
| 11. | バトルロック | Battlerock Galaxy | 3:20 |
| 12. | グラスビーチ | Beach Bowl Galaxy | 2:21 |
| 13. | 天文台のロゼッタ2 | Rosalina in the Observatory 2 | 2:24 |
| 14. | クッパJr.登場 | Enter Bowser Jr.! | 2:54 |
| 15. | テレサワルツ | Waltz of the Boos | 2:42 |
| 16. | フローターランド | Buoy Base Galaxy | 3:11 |
| 17. | ウィンドガーデン | Gusty Garden Galaxy | 3:44 |
| 18. | 天文台のロゼッタ3 | Rosalina in the Observatory 3 | 2:44 |
| 19. | 宿敵クッパ大王 | King Bowser | 3:14 |
| 20. | ヘルプロミネンス | Melty Molten Galaxy | 4:08 |
| 21. | ギャラクシープラント | The Galaxy Reactor | 2:27 |
| 22. | 大王星の決戦 | Final Battle with Bowser | 2:25 |
| 23. | 夜明け～新しい朝～ | Daybreak - A New Dawn | 0:56 |
| 24. | 誕生 | Birth | 1:56 |
| 25. | Super Mario Galaxy | Super Mario Galaxy | 4:03 |
| 26. | パープルコメット | Purple Comet | 3:02 |
| 27. | 青空アスレチック | Blue Sky Athletic | 1:10 |
| 28. | スーパーマリオ2007 | Super Mario 2007 | 2:19 |
| Disc two | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="width:100%; margin-right:-1em;"> | |||
| # | Japanese title | English title | Length |
| 1. | ファイルセレクト | File Select | 0:53 |
| 2. | チコ | Luma | 0:56 |
| 3. | へブンズドア | Gateway Galaxy | 2:02 |
| 4. | とらわれしグランドスター | Stolen Grand Star | 0:35 |
| 5. | ほうき星の天文台へ1 | To the Observatory Grounds 1 | 0:45 |
| 6. | 天文ドーム | Observation Dome | 1:58 |
| 7. | コースセレクト | Course Select | 0:41 |
| 8. | ディノパックン | Dino Piranha | 1:13 |
| 9. | スターゲットチャンス | A Chance to Grab a Star! | 0:55 |
| 10. | 緊迫 | A Tense Moment | 0:41 |
| 11. | クワカブト一家の逆襲 | Big Bad Bugaboom | 1:58 |
| 12. | オタキング | King Kaliente | 1:11 |
| 13. | キノピオ探検隊 | The Toad Brigade | 0:41 |
| 14. | シッププラント | Airship Armada | 2:21 |
| 15. | オーシャンレース | Aquatic Race | 1:22 |
| 16. | 宇宙幻想 | Space Fantasy | 2:00 |
| 17. | メガレッグ | Megaleg | 1:31 |
| 18. | ほうき星の天文台へ2 | To the Observatory Grounds 2 | 0:30 |
| 19. | 宇宙アスレチック | Space Athletic | 1:16 |
| 20. | レッドコメット | Speedy Comet | 1:52 |
| 21. | グラスビーチ～海中～ | Beach Bowl Galaxy - Undersea | 1:31 |
| 22. | 間奏曲 | Interlude | 0:38 |
| 23. | クッパ砦出現 | Bowser's Stronghold Appears | 0:52 |
| 24. | クッパ砦の死闘 | The Fiery Stronghold | 2:11 |
| 25. | 大階段 | The Big Staircase | 0:36 |
| 26. | クッパ大王登場 | Bowser Appears | 0:32 |
| 27. | タマコロ1 | Star Ball | 1:04 |
| 28. | 書斎 | The Library | 0:58 |
| 29. | フローターランド～海中～ | Buoy Base Galaxy - Undersea | 1:55 |
| 30. | レインボーマリオ | Rainbow Mario | 0:31 |
| 31. | うさぎを追いかけろ！ | Chase the Bunnies! | 1:07 |
| 32. | HELP！ | Help! | 0:28 |
| 33. | モグキング | Major Burrows | 0:55 |
| 34. | 土管内部 | Pipe Interior | 0:44 |
| 35. | シャドウコメット | Cosmic Comet | 0:58 |
| 36. | ティアドロップ | Drip Drop Galaxy | 1:19 |
| 37. | キングボーネ | Kingfin | 1:48 |
| 38. | テレサレース | Boo Race | 1:28 |
| 39. | アイスマウンテン | Ice Mountain | 1:31 |
| 40. | アイスマリオ | Ice Mario | 0:30 |
| 41. | 溶岩道 | Lava Path | 1:31 |
| 42. | ファイアマリオ | Fire Mario | 0:29 |
| 43. | サンドアイランド | Dusty Dune Galaxy | 3:04 |
| 44. | 鋼鉄魔王メカクッパ | Heavy Metal Mecha-Bowser | 1:23 |
| 45. | あわわわわ | A-wa-wa-wa! | 0:37 |
| 46. | ダンジョンケイブ | Deep Dark Galaxy | 1:43 |
| 47. | ボスカメック | Kamella | 1:25 |
| 48. | タマコロ2 | Star Ball 2 | 0:42 |
| 49. | 悲しみの少女 | Sad Girl | 0:48 |
| 50. | フライングマリオ | Flying Mario | 1:11 |
| 51. | 星の赤ちゃん | Star Child | 0:51 |
| 52. | ねがいごと | A Wish | 0:42 |
| 53. | かぞく | Family | 1:23 |
Reception
Super Mario Galaxy has received universal commercial and critical success. By May 2010, Nintendo had sold 8.84 million copies of Super Mario Galaxy worldwide. It is the third best-selling non-bundledProduct bundling
Product bundling is a marketing strategy that involves offering several products for sale as one combined product. This strategy is very common in the software business , in the cable television industry Product bundling is a marketing strategy that involves offering several products for sale as...
Wii game and the seventh best-selling Nintendo-published game for the Wii; the four best-selling Wii games, Wii Sports
Wii Sports
is a sports game developed and published by Nintendo as a launch title for the Wii video game console , and part of the Touch! Generations. The game was first released in North America along with the Wii on November 19, 2006, and was released in Japan, Australia, and Europe the following month...
, Wii Play
Wii Play
Wii Play, released as in Japan, is a party video game for the Wii console. It is a counterpart to the games Wii Sports, Wii Music and Wii Fit. It features minigames that use characters from the Mii Channel. Several of the games featured are from E3 2006 demos such as the Duck Hunt-styled shooting...
, Wii Fit
Wii Fit
is a video game developed by Nintendo for the company's home video game console, Wii, designed by Hiroshi Matsunaga. It is an exercise game consisting of activities using the Wii Balance Board peripheral...
, and Mario Kart Wii
Mario Kart Wii
is a racing video game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. It is the sixth installment in the Mario Kart series and the second Mario Kart title to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The game was released worldwide...
, were bundled with the console or an accessory. As of July 9, 2008, the game has sold 912,746 copies in Japan, according to Famitsu
Famitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
. According to the NPD Group
NPD Group
The NPD Group, Inc. is a leading North American market research company. The NPD Group consistently ranks among the top 25 market research companies in the independent Honomichl Top 50 report, which the media and the research industry acknowledge as a credible source of information on the market...
, since the launch of the Wii, Super Mario Galaxy has become the third best-selling video game in Canada as of April 1, 2008.
Super Mario Galaxy is the second highest-rated game of all time on the review aggregator website TopTenReviews
TopTenReviews
TopTenReviews is a website which aggregates reviews for software, hardware, web services, music, movies and video games from other sites and publications. Founded by Jerry Ropelato in 2003, TTR is, as of May 2008, one of the most popular sites of its kind by size and traffic, with the largest...
, as well as the second highest of all time on review aggregator website GameRankings. Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
voted in its August 2008 issue that Super Mario Galaxy was the best game for the Wii; it was also the only Mario game to get a top spot on the list, as well as the only game to be unanimously voted for the top position. NTSC-uk said that Super Mario Galaxy "will influence gaming perceptions, sure to replenish any lost passion". GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
stated that the title "raises the bar in terms of what can be achieved on the Wii." IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
called Super Mario Galaxy "Wii's best game, and an absolute must-own experience", and "one of the greatest platformers ever played." GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
praised its gameplay and level design stating: "if ever there were a must-own Wii game, Super Mario Galaxy is it." Game Revolution
Game Revolution
Game Revolution or GR is a gaming website created in 1996. Based in Berkeley, California, the site includes reviews, previews, a gaming download area, cheats, and a merchandise store, as well as webcomics, screenshots, and videos...
noted the variety of gameplay, reliable camera angles and easy to use controls. As of May 2010, the game has sold over 8 million copies worldwide, ranking #8 on the best-selling Wii games list.
Reviewers have expressed minor complaints with certain aspects of the game. GameSpot editor Alex Navarro found one of the powerups, the spring suit, difficult to control at times. Matt Casamassina
Matt Casamassina
Matt Casamassina is a video game journalist who worked for IGN until April 23, 2010. In his time at the site, he was the author of many reviews and previews of Nintendo games. He resides in Los Angeles, California, is married and has two daughters, Zoe and Fiona Jade, and a son named Rocco Archer...
of IGN noted that the auto-camera "works well most of the time", but occasionally "stumbles".
Towards the end of 2007, Super Mario Galaxy was named Game of the Year
Game of the Year
Game of the Year is a title awarded by various magazines, websites, and shows to a deserving game. Many are only for PC or console video games...
by IGN, GameSpot, Nintendo Power, GameTrailers
GameTrailers
GameTrailers is a media website that specializes in video game related content. It provides free access to original programming , game trailers and recorded game play. Along with standard definition , many of the video clips are offered in a higher resolution .Users can upload videos, create...
, Edge
Edge (magazine)
Edge is a multi-format computer and video game magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. It is known for its industry contacts, editorial stance, distinctive anonymous third-person writing style, yearly awards and longevity....
and Yahoo! Games
Yahoo! Games
Yahoo! Games is the section of the Yahoo! website in which Yahoo! users can play games either with other users or by themselves. The games on the website are typically Java applets or quick Flash games, but there are others which require a download. Many of the games that require a download...
. On February 7, 2008, the game received the "Adventure Game of the Year" award from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences , founded in 1996, is a non-profit organization that promotes computer and video game entertainment with the annual D.I.C.E. Summit event, where its Interactive Achievement Awards ceremony has been held annually since 1998...
at the Interactive Achievement Awards. The game placed third in Official Nintendo Magazines "100 greatest Nintendo games of all time". On March 10, 2009, the game won the "Game of the Year" award at the 5th British Academy Video Games Awards
5th British Academy Video Games Awards
The 5th British Academy Video Game Awards awarded by British Academy of Film and Television Arts , was an award ceremony honouring achievement in the field of video games in 2008. Candidate games must have been released in the United Kingdom between 2007 and 2008...
. Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
ranked Super Mario Galaxy 29th in their list of top 50 console games of all time based on initial impact and lasting legacy. On November 26, 2009, Super Mario Galaxy was named the number one Wii game by IGN. Super Mario Galaxy was also named the Nintendo game of the decade (2000–2009) by both Nintendo Power and Official Nintendo Magazine.
Sequel
In the 1,000th issue of the Japanese gaming magazine FamitsuFamitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
, Miyamoto stated his interest in making a sequel to Super Mario Galaxy. Producer Yoshiaki Koizumi said in an interview with gaming site GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
that there is a "really high chance" several power-ups and suits that did not make it into Super Mario Galaxy would be used in the sequel.
The sequel – Super Mario Galaxy 2 – was announced at E3 2009 during the Nintendo conference. It was released on May 23, 2010 in North America, May 27, 2010 in Japan and June 11, 2010 in Europe. The sequel has met with extremely positive reception, and many reviewers have claimed that it is even better than its predecessor.
External links
- Official website
- Official Japanese website
- Official European website
- Super Mario Galaxy at Nintendo.com
- Super Mario Galaxy at Wii.com