Mario Galaxy aims for Game of the Year crown

Nintendo's anticipated Wii platformer aiming to beat away challenges from the likes of Bioshock, Orange Box and Call of Duty 4.

This time last month MCV was reporting that EA's The Orange Box was looking to be the odds-on favourite to become the most critically hailed title of not only the year, but also of all time.

However, Nintendo's massively anticipated and critically acclaimed Wii platform romp Super Mario Galaxy looks set to surpass even The Orange Box's achievements by capturing the highest average review score of the year.

[Feihc Retsam]

Reading the rave reviews about this game has been the first time that I've actually contemplated purchasing a Wii...
All of the motion gimmicks were not really appealing to me, but its seems to me that EVERYONE who plays SMG is blown away and ranking it near the top of their list of all-time favorite games.

Who has played it already?
Has anyone here played it and NOT liked it?

[BLlNK]

And loving it. One of the best games Ive played all year. And my favorite Mario game to date. I think this game can be the only game you can classify as a system seller.

[ReBurn]

I played in in the kiosk at Gamestop and I have to say that I found it very easy to pick up and play. I'm thinking of trading in Halo 3 and picking it up since Gamestop has an extra 20% trade-in offer right now if you buy SMG with your trade credit.

[Syko]

I agree with Blink....Except Zelda:TP and Wii Sports can be considered system sellers too. I currently have just over 50 stars and am about to activate the center star to go find peach, This game is great and if I hadn't played portal previously it would have been a total mind blower!

Plus I have the component cables for my Wii and this game looks great in 480p

@DubC - Yeah I got em to play Zelda since the Wii didn't look so hot on my HDTV, I was one of the lucky ones that got the first shipment of official Nintendo cables. Back when people were Ebay'ing them for around $100. Huge difference, just sucks that only some games support "true" 16:9 480p...Well worth the upgrade though.

[ItsDubC]

Interesting that you mention the component cables. I actually have a set of components in transit right now to my mailbox. I only have an SDTV but the only available composite inputs for me to connect my Wii into are on the front, which my gf says "looks ghetto" haha. So I ordered the components since there are unused component inputs on the back, leaving the TV looking as pristine as possible when my Wii is connected w/ those. Any improvement in picture quality will be a nice bonus =)

EDIT @ Syko above:

I took a risk by ordering some generic component cables on Amazon for $5. If there turns out to be screen artifacts or some other cable-related quality issues, I'll go for the official Nintendo ones. Ya I wish Nintendo enforced true 16:9 480p on all Wii titles but o well. I'm sure I'll care more when I cave and buy an HDTV haha.

[BLlNK]

Well its amazing. Some parts its difficult though which is great. Best Nintendo platformer? YES

[Syko]

Ya, the bowser in the dark matter plant(In the bedroom galaxy) took me like 5-6 times...I was like how the hell is a little kid supposed to beat this,lol

[BLlNK]

Yea alot of the motion stuff took me a few tries. For instance the Manaray surfing lol.

[power091999]

I love that all gamers can relate to Mario.

It does not matter if you are a fanboy for any console. Most everyone loves the Mario games.

No hate from me, and I will be pulling for Mario to get GOTY.

One of the reasons I will buy a Wii.

[BLlNK]

I love Mario always have.

[PS360WII]

I just got it yesterday and put in 3-4 hours in last night. Awesome game and the use of the full level is crazy. It is easy and hard all at the same time and I'm looking forward to some of the harder and crazier levels. For sure GOTY contender this year has been crazy with the amount of stellar games!

[Maestro]

This is the game of the year, this is the game of the decade.

[DeckUKold]

i wonder what you will do in 08 oh yea brawl 08 GOTY here folks

[Wii60PS3DSPSP]

Game of the Year, haters am cry.

lol

[Kuest]

but I'm already biased based on the 10+ reviews so far. This or ME will be GOTY...

To be honest, I'm banking on mario (just don't tell anybody).

You can't beat history. Not ever.

[Marceles]

This game is amazing. I was raving about Ratchet and Clank when that came out and I praise it for their visuals, but Mario Galaxy's gameplay is more fun to me. Also, I beat Ratchet and Clank in 2 sittings with the game...It'll definitely take awhile for me to beat Mario Galaxy. It's not like Mario 64 where I can do a side flip into a wall kick and the star is there. They really make you work to get each star. I have 14 stars so far and after looking at the map on the game, I have a LONG way to go before I finish.

[sleepbox]

Single player, Galaxy has it in the bag...TF2 for multiplayer goty by far

[skimming]

I bought this one yesterday and played a bit. Maybe I'm still at a lower level so don't appreciate it but to me it just seemed like another Mario game. No way near the same wow factor (actually none) that I experienced when I first fired up SM64.

Sound/music seemed pretty much the same as previous Marios. None of the orchestral/majestic that I'm used to hearing in many 360 games. Controls are right on track but what you can do with it is pretty much the same as what you always did with it.

Frankly I'm not sure what the fuss is all about. Right now, I'd much rather play local multiplayer Halo with my kids or jump around buildings on Crackdown.

[Syko]

I'll give you Crackdown is fun...But it was fun about a year ago. This game is the best thing to happen to the Wii in a while.

[skimming]

I agree that this is the best thing for Wii. Was really getting tired (physically and psychologically) of my kid beating me up in WiiSportBoxing. At least this will keep the kids off my back.

[Jack Bauer]

Super mario galaxy... 97 based on 25 reviews

Bioshock... 96 based off of 75 reviews

if SMG can retain that 97 with another 50, so be it...but the objective ones havent come yet, those usually come at least a week or so after launch.

[Maestro]

Super Mario Galaxy metascore is now at 98 baby!

http://www.metacritic.com/g...

[Rooftrellen]

Game of the year, to game of the decade, to the best game of all time?

I think this is the first time I've seen you say something that doesn't say SMG is game of the year (or decade), but, obviously, with a score average of 98/100, it looks like something even more.