Super Mario Galaxy – Review

Super Mario Galaxy was originally released for the Wii but we have the port version for the Switch that was grouped into a collection with Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine called Super Mario 3D All-Stars. Anyway here is my review for the game!

Why Super Mario Galaxy?

Super Mario Galaxy is one of Nintendo’s most beloved 3D platformers — a game that redefined what “out of this world” fun could mean. Originally released on the Wii, it combined gravity-bending gameplay, beautiful music, and pure imagination to create one of Mario’s most magical adventures ever.

The story begins during the Star Festival, when Bowser once again kidnaps Princess Peach — this time by literally lifting her castle into space. Mario soon finds himself traveling among the stars, aided by Rosalina and the Lumas aboard the Comet Observatory. It’s a simple plot, but it’s told with a surprisingly emotional tone, giving the game a sense of wonder and heart that few platformers achieve.

The gameplay is where Super Mario Galaxy truly shines. Each level (or “galaxy”) is its own little world, filled with creative gravity puzzles and platforming challenges. Mario can run upside down, launch from planet to planet, and use a variety of power-ups like the Bee Suit, Boo Suit, and Fire Flower.
The motion controls are smooth and intuitive — shaking the Wii Remote to spin feels natural, and pointer-based star collecting adds a fun interactive touch. Every galaxy feels unique, and the pacing keeps players constantly surprised.

For a Wii game, Super Mario Galaxy still looks stunning. The art direction uses glowing stars, swirling galaxies, and soft lighting to create a breathtaking sense of scale.
The orchestral soundtrack is one of Nintendo’s best, with sweeping melodies that make even simple jumps feel epic. The music, sound effects, and visuals all come together to make you feel like you’re really on a cosmic adventure.

Collecting all 120 Power Stars is a challenge that rewards both skill and curiosity. After completing the main story, players can even unlock a special character for replaying levels, giving fans more reason to dive back in.

How We Test Games

For testing games we use a Nintendo Switch firmware version 2H. Hardware includes Joy-con and Pro controller on a large screen TV. Tests are done with up to 5 players. We take turns playing and evaluating games.

Whenever possible we play multiple players. We also use a Nintendo 2DS, DS XL, and for PC games we use a Ryzen 7 1700x CPU, AMD RX580, running on Win 10. This game is up to 2-players on one Nintendo Switch.

Pros

Beautiful, creative level design.

Excellent use of gravity and motion controls.

Gorgeous visuals and orchestral soundtrack.

High replay value.

Cons

Camera can be tricky on small planets.

Motion controls may take getting used to.

Some levels are shorter than others.

Summary

Super Mario Galaxy is a masterpiece of creativity and design. It takes familiar Mario mechanics and reinvents them with gravity-defying innovation and a cinematic sense of wonder. Even years later, it remains one of the most joyful and imaginative games in Nintendo’s history.

Overall, Super Mario Galaxy is a stellar journey through space that perfectly blends challenge, creativity, and charm — an absolute must-play for any Mario fan.