The Mario franchise has always been one of the flagships of the Nintendo line, with considerable care going into each entry in the series. It's often also used as a way to show off the capabilities of each new console, and Super Mario Galaxy does just that with the Wii. Featuring a new physics system which allows planets and other objects in the game to have their own gravitational fields, the platforming gameplay in this incarnation of the little Italian plumber's adventures is unique and refreshing. The game also makes regular use of the Wii's unique control system, a welcome break from the usual level challenges.
Galaxy utilizes a number of the concepts from previous Mario games, in particular power-ups and costumes. In addition to old favorites, Mario can don a Bee suit that allows him to hover, a Boo suit that allows him to turn invisible and phase through objects, and can even morph into a giant spring to vastly increase his jumping abilities. Careful management of these powerups is key to advancing through the game.
Gameplay is familiar enough to anyone who's played the Mario franchise before; Bowser has kidnapped Peach, and Mario must rescue her. To do so, he needs to collect Power Stars to open up new galaxies and progress through the game; collecting all the stars unlocks hidden content. The controls are different enough to take a little getting used to at first, but most players will have the hang of the new system quickly and can immerse themselves in the latest generation of platforming excellence.
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