Super Mario Galaxy – 9.7/10!

Did I not tell you all that Super Mario is the best game series ever? It still manages to top an average of 9.0 for every game they have ever released in the series, infact the latest to come out has just received a spanking brand new 9.7 out of 10!

Mario may be short, but he’s not short on starring roles in cherished Nintendo videogames. The iconic mascot’s long resume features some of the greatest platformers to ever grace any home console or handheld, including hits like Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine – the latter of which was met by mixed critical reaction. The funny thing is, for its few flaws – a sometimes-troublesome camera and unpredictable framerate, not to mention some of the worst secondary character designs we’ve seen – Sunshine was still a remarkable game.

Galaxy would seem to be the odd duck of Nintendo’s 3D Mario trilogy. Both Sunshine and Mario 64 before it took place on land and water and not within the depths of space. But when you really compare and contrast the three games, you quickly discover that Galaxy and not Sunshine has more in common with the Nintendo 64 classic. It’s not just some gimmicky marketing term designed to boost sales – Galaxy really does feel like the “spiritual sequel’ to Mario 64.

As Mario dodges oncoming fireballs, the landscape deforms before him, particles explode in every direction, a nearby lake reflects and refracts light, smoke billows from ruined houses, and lighting effects illuminate the foreground. All of these visual effects are complemented by some truly outstanding art and choreography.

“You will say wow.”

Looks like we all have to buy a Wii for this one folks, but then again, I am hooked on Halo3 over live so I probably would not have any time for it. What do you rank it? I give it a 9.7/10 as IGN did.