Super Mario Galaxy

SUPER MARIO GALAXY

Wii

Classification: G

Rating: 5/5

If YOU are stumped or, looking for something cool for the young kids and family, YOU might want to try this for Christmas. Granted, YOU obviously need a Wii first. They may be a little hard to find. However, if YOU get your hands on one, then this is the game to get!

In the past decade, developers have struggled to reach Mario 64's lofty heights, let alone push the platform genre forward. But finally, Nintendo has delivered a sequel as entertaining and inventive as its 1996 magnum opus. This glorious galaxy of wonders is one of the finest platform games ever made.

Super Mario games have always provided wonderful, imaginative worlds to traverse but now you have entire galaxies to explore in a delightful romp the whole family can enjoy.

An interstellar observatory acts as your hub as Mario is flung to distant planets in search of precious power stars and a showdown with the villainous Bowser, who is back to his snarling best after the indignity of bit parts in countless sports and kart racing games.

Galaxy is not only the most visually dazzling Wii game to date but it is also light years ahead in its clever and novel use of the remote. Controls are accessible, allowing players easily to perform spinning attacks, swing from plant stems, slide, stomp, skate, collect star shards and health-boosting coins, fly between planets, or whiz around as a bee or ghost.

The mustachioed marvel can also surf on manta rays, roll on giant orbs, hurl fireballs, walk on water, float inside bubbles and battle foes like giant robots. The variety is fantastic and the blend of environmental puzzles, platform-leaping challenges, exploration and combat works beautifully. The difficulty curve is also smartly judged.

Inevitably, Galaxy can feel more fragmented or disjointed than previous Mario adventures but the lure of visiting each new planet to discover its surprises is irresistibly strong.

The space theme has let Nintendo experiment with gravity, with dizzying and spectacular results. You will discover see-through planets traversable on multiple planes and wonderful old-school stages enlivened with changeable gravity, enabling Mario to literally walk on walls or ceilings.

ENDGAME A hugely inventive and varied galaxy of wonders bursting with clever ideas and fun challenges. Out of this world.

Game On,

Bobby Sharpe www.myspace.com/akuasharpe Dragon, Book of Shang