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Growing up, I missed out on owning a Wii console. Admittedly, I played Wii Sports plus various flagship titles while staying with relatives and companions back in that era, but I never had owning the console myself, causing me to overlook several excellent installments within classic Nintendo game lines.

One of those games was Super Mario Galaxy, including its successor, got modernized recently and ported to Switch consoles. The first one also appeared as part of the 2020 collector's set Super Mario 3D All-Stars. I appreciated the chance to experience what many consider one of the best Mario adventures created. I was quickly sucked in, while affirming that it lives up to about 18 years of anticipation. However, it helped me understand how pleased I feel motion and gyroscope controls have largely remained from previous eras.

Initiating Galactic Exploration

Like any other Mario adventure, Super Mario Galaxy starts when Bowser nabbing the princess along with her castle. His armada of spacecraft resembling pirates take her among the stars, launching Mario through space in the process. The hero discovers star-like cuties known as Lumas as well as Rosalina aboard her comet ship. She charges Mario with tracking down stellar objects to power her spacecraft so they can chase after the villain, opening exploration opportunities to begin adventuring.

Super Mario Galaxy’s platforming is a joy, requiring only experiencing several stages to realize why it maintains excellent reputation. Players will notice similarities among veterans of Mario's 3D adventures, and the controls are approachable and natural following Nintendo's style.

Gravity-Defying Gameplay

As astronomy fan, the setting aligns with my preferences, enabling Super Mario Galaxy to experiment with physics. Spherical platforms enable Mario to circle repeatedly about them similar to Goku chasing after Bubbles on King Kai’s planet. When structures approach, Mario can leap across and get snatched through gravitational force from adjacent structures. Additional areas feature flat circular shapes, and often feature rewards underneath, easily overlooked spots.

Meeting Familiar Faces

What’s fun about experiencing this game following long gap involves recognizing certain personalities. I was unaware Rosalina made her debut through this adventure, nor that she served as the maternal figure to stellar beings. Earlier in my gaming, I only knew her as a standard member Mario Kart World character selection. Same with the Penguins, with whom I appreciated aquatic sections through introductory ocean area.

Movement-Based Hurdles

The only real drag while experiencing Galaxy today involves motion features, utilized during collecting, aiming, and shooting cosmic pieces, bright collectibles found across galaxies. Playing on handheld mode involved moving and adjusting the Switch around to aim, seeming somewhat awkward. Gyroscopic elements are prevalent in some platforming sections, needing users to point the cosmic indicator at surfaces to drag Mario toward them.

Levels that wholly require gyroscopic features work better when played with independent remotes for better precision, like the manta ray surfing level in the beginning. I haven't typically been a fan of motion controls, while they didn't improve particularly smoothly in Super Mario Galaxy. Thankfully, by collecting sufficient stars from other levels, these motion control ones might be entirely bypassed. I attempted the stage where Mario has to navigate a massive orb across a path dotted with holes, then quickly abandoned after one attempt.

Classic Nintendo Magic

Except for the clunky Wii-era input methods, there’s really nothing to criticize in Super Mario Galaxy, and its space-set levels are a delight to discover. Although notable titles including later releases launched later, Super Mario Galaxy continues as top-tier and most inventive Mario adventures existing.