Super Mario Galaxy – Nintendo Wii

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-Introduction-

Super Mario Galaxy is a very exciting and adventurous title that has an amazing story and stunning graphics for a Nintendo Wii game. Like many other Mario titles, Princess Peach is kidnapped by Bowser, and Mario has to set off on an adventure to save her. But this time around, Bowser hasn’t kidnapped her and ran off through the Mushroom Kingdom. Instead, he’s taken her castle up to space and is creating his own galactic empire where he and Peach will reside. As Mario falls from the castle (while it’s being risen into the sky), he is caught by what’s called a Luma, and then he’s brought to space to meet a lady by the name of Rosalina, who claims she can help Mario find his “special one” if he can collect the Power Stars to make her Comet Observatory journey to the center of the universe (where Bowser is holding Princess Peach hostage and his empire is being created). The Comet Observatory is the main area that you’ll return to after receiving a Power Star, and is also where you will depart to different locations to search for Power Stars. Mario’s next large adventure begins here.

-Game Play-

The game play of Super Mario Galaxy is a very smooth experience overall. Each level and galaxy that Mario has to set off on has its own uniqueness to it, and that’s what makes a Mario game successful. All of Mario’s jumps, punches, and tricks make a great return in this title and they definitely come in great handy. I feel that there’s a very slight lag between the remotes and Mario, though. However, once you’ve played the game long enough to adjust to it, it no longer becomes a distraction / issue. Super Mario Galaxy’s enemies aren’t truly hard, but trying to jump on a specific enemy can be difficult for people who haven’t had much play-time with 3D Mario titles. The only real hard parts of the game is dealing with some of the boss battles for Grand Stars, which are similar to Power Stars, just larger and brighter. I’d definitely have to say that the graphics are extremely smooth and beautiful. The Nintendo Wii isn’t known for high-quality graphics, but the cel-shaded graphics of Super Mario Galaxy brings out the vast galaxy full of shining stars and detailed planets. Each planet you have to visit has a different puzzle to it. Many of the galaxies you must visit contains multiple amounts of Power Stars, each requiring a new puzzle-solving skill to obtain it. The beautiful music that plays in the background fits with every situation and location, and I feel that the music and graphics are what truly bring this game to life. Another important quality of the game is the allowance of you to walk and play around with each of the levels to adjust to the controls and schemes without having to worry about any time limit. The only time you’ll ever have to worry about a time limit is when you take on a special challenge called a Speed Run. With Speed Runs, you have to race to the finish of the level before the timer runs out.

-Conclusion-

With all of that said, I’d have to say that Super Mario Galaxy is definitely worth experimenting with. Whether you like the controls or not, I guarantee that you’ll be impressed with the visuals and the music. I’m sure that you will have an appeal to the puzzle-solving skills that you will have to use to uncover hidden secrets throughout Super Mario Galaxy. The visuals definitely welcome you to the game successfully and are very attracting. The music fits the theme for each location, so you can relax completely while playing through each level. Despite the minor lag with the Wii Remote & Nunchuk, this game deserves a high 9.5/10. Normally, I’d give the game a full 10/10, but the lag between the controls and somewhat difficult situations in parts of the game that continuously prompts you keep trying puts me down a little, but this game is in perfect alignment for its predecessors to come.

Animal Crossing – Nintendo GameCube

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-Introduction-

Animal Crossing is a simulation game, is personally one of my top favorite franchises by Nintendo. I’ve always been a huge fan of Animal Crossing because there’s no “boss” you fight and  there’s no “level up”. Animal Crossing is a game where you move into a town, you buy a house, and you live your life. You go around your forest-like town helping your talking & walking animal neighbors and pretty-up your town. To be honest, there’s literally something new for you to do everyday.

-Game Play-

The experience many fun times when playing Animal Crossing on the GameCube. The game goes by your system’s clock, so therefore when it’s night in real life, it’s night in the virtual world as well. Shops and buildings close as specific times, as well. In the world of Animal Crossing, collecting stuff plays a major role. You may pay a visit to the pond, river, or beach to go fishing, with many fish appearing at only certain times and days like the real world. You may also go bug catching, with the same principals applied with fishing. I can definitely say that once you capture a fish or bug, you’ll feel very proud of yourself. You can then either release the creature, place it on your home, sell it to Tom Nook (shop owner), or donate it to your local museum. In the museum, you can donate fish, bugs, paintings, and fossils. While traveling around down, you may find special star patterns on the ground where you can dig up fossils, ship them off through mail, and receive the next day (in real life) and then donate the discovered dinosaur part to the museum. Like I’ve already mentioned, collecting things in this game gives a strong sense of accomplishment. Like real life, the game celebrates holidays such as Egg Day (Easter), Halloween, Harvest Festival (Thanksgiving), and Present Day (Christmas)! Each holiday has its own special event/ game to play, so it’s quite addictive and entertaining. In Animal Crossing, the currency is Bells, and with bells you can purchase many types of furniture and furnish your house with it. You can even upgrade your house buy paying large amounts of Bells to Tom Nook; expanding your house to a two-story home with a basement. It’s quite spacious and fits all types of furniture. The only thing with Animal Crossing is that it’s extremely addicting to a dangerous level if you like to relax and hang out with a virtual life. Just like real life, you must also pick weeds out of the ground. Planting numerous amounts of flowers, planting many types of fruit trees, designing your house in any way you wish, and filling up your museum with many interesting collections to show off to your friends can be very time-consuming, but always worth it. Concerning the music of the game, an hourly theme is played where when a new hour passes, a new theme plays as well. The music choice for the game fits very well with the game and is as relaxing as the gameplay. Develop all types of friendships with your animal neighbors as they move out and new come in. Hence the name “Animal Crossing“. Send virtual mail & presents to your animal neighbors, and they’ll mail you something back with kind words and sometimes even presents.

-Conclusion-

Out of all the reviews I write, I will have to say that Animal Crossing will certainly be one of the top-ranked ones. Animal Crossing has a very dangerous addictive level for some people (including me) and I personally enjoy the game. The game never ends, and there’s something new for you to purchase or complete each day, so there’s endless amounts of gameplay elements. I would certainly recommend this game to anybody, hardcore or casual gamer, but I’d say that this game is fit for a casual gamer. Overall, I’d HAVE to give this game a 10/10 without a doubt.

Paper Mario – Nintendo 64

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-Introduction-

Paper Mario is a very adventurous game with very classic elements. The plot of the game is just as most other Mario platformers; Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach yet again. But this time around, Bowser hasn’t performed a simple kidnapping: he has placed his castle under Peach’s, rose it up to the stars, and decided to steal the Star Rod. The Star Rod is what grants everybody’s wishes, and was protected in the Star Haven by seven Star Spirits. Kammy Koopa, Bowser’s partner in crime, used her magic to seal all of the Star Spirits into cards and spread them across the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario must save all seven of the Star Spirits in order to claim back the Star Rod and save Princess Peach.

-Game Play-

With the entire environment and people in a 2D paper-style design, every move you make seems as if you’re a piece of paper standing on a thin edge. You can’t find many advantages to using this paper style, but the design and special effects make the game look rather neat. Mario does not travel alone in this title, and in fact, he will obtain eight party members that will help him in unique ways. Some of the partner’s beneficial tactics are used for optional obstacles, but mainly for game-progressing steps. The overall concept of having other people traveling with you is very interesting and can come in very great handy. This game also uses an important element called badges. You can travel throughout the Mushroom Kingdom and find & acquire many badges, and with each badge it has its own effect. For example, one badge may increase your jump power, some may make you more resistant to damage from other enemies, and so forth. But equipping badges aren’t so simple; you must upgrade your BP (Badge Points). Every time you defeat an enemy, you will receive what’s called “Star Points”, and once you total 100 Star Points, you may choose to upgrade your HP (Happy Points – your life), your FP (Flower Points – special points that will allow you to use higher-effective power moves), and BP (Badge Points – allows you to equip as many badges as allowed. Each badge will require different amounts of BP to keep equipped). I must say myself, badges will play a very major role in this game and is VERY helpful. It’s almost required to use badges at times. The music in the game fits very well with each location and situation you’re in, and has a very calm feeling to it. I must say that the game is highly addictive and it’s very hard to put it down.

-Fighting Style-

The fighting style of the game is quite different than other ordinary video games in general. The game issues a stage-like flooring where Mario and his party members will take turns fighting their enemies. Only one of Mario’s party members can be used at once, so keep in mind which party member you have out before a battle. Mario’s basic moves are jumping and using his hammer. As you obtain the Star Spirits throughout the game, you will be able to use special powers that each Star Spirit holds — and those powers are special and highly effective. Like FP, Star Spirits uses their own meter that is drained as Mario uses a Star Spirit’s power, but slowly regains as each fighting turn passes. If you are one of those people that are always struggling to find a way to attack an enemy by moving around on other video games, this game is very organized with its fighting style and is also very fun. I’m very big on moving around and using different peripherals to attack, but this game fits with the stage fight so smoothly.

-Conclusion-

Overall, I’d have to say that this Mario platformer definitely sticks out from others such as Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy, but it certainly doesn’t take from its entertainment and value. I can’t describe how the game truly feels personally, but the feeling that I’m trying to stress is that it’s a very addictive game if you’re a lover of Mario. This 2D adventure of Mario’s definitely rises the bar for predecessors to come. I’d have to give this game a 10/10 rating all of the way.