Game Rankings currently has Super Mario Galaxy listed as the second best game ever with an average score of 97.5%, beaten only by Ocarina of Time by 0.01% more. I just got the game today (thanks to Virgin Megastores for getting it to me a day before release) and I've put about three hours into it so far. On at least two occasions I have giggled like a schoolgirl with sheer glee at just how fun it is. I'm a huge FPS fan and often get my kicks blowing people away with a shotgun (in the game, Mr. Thompson, back down), but nothing puts a smile on my face like a Mario game. So, second best? I'm not sure about that, but it's pretty damn close.
Cant put the thing down, everything is so good about it, even the ability to have a second player just picking up the stars and helping prevent some of the baddies from moving. Sooo good.
It's also currently at 98 at Metacritic, which is pretty incredible. Tied with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 for PS2 from 2000, and the Dreamcast Soul Calibur from 1999. Only game beating it is Ocarina there too, with a score of 99. No recent game (Last 3-4 years) is even coming close to touching it, and the next highest rated game on any of the next gen systems is Bioshock, which is almost 20 spots away from it.
agreed. i guess you have to take the time of the release into context and zelda really was a 'holy shit' kinda game, while mario is just good clean fun, but far from revolutionary.
I tend not to trust reviews for nintendo games close to release dates. The internet goes crazy if you rate any nintendo game under a 99% the first month it comes out (See: Zelda TP)
i see what your saying, but that question mark confuses me :) i don't see anything that would qualify it as the 'next step' other than a little waggle here and there, the spherical levels were introduced in Ratchet and Clank 2, so i don't see any innovation.
I notice the term revolutionary is being thrown around a lot in this thread. I'm just curious as to what people define as revolutionary, and what games they think fit that label.
I haven't made up my mind about Galaxy yet since I don't think I'm far enough in, but the term itself has always kind of bothered me. I see people throw it around a lot when they really like a game, and oftentimes it just doesn't seem to fit.
One example I can think of is Bioshock. It was an absolutely fantastic game with a good story and a great setting, but people kept calling it revolutionary and I couldn't understand why. It was a stellar FPS in a sea of mediocre FPSs that had a good story and a good setting, but there's nothing about the game that turned my understanding of the FPS genre on its head, or really even introduced a radical new concept that I hadn't seen before.
What does revolutionary mean to you? What are games you consider revolutionary?
The game is incredible, hands down. Honestly it's Mario so I figured it would at least be decent but no, I was very very impressed. I plan on getting the game ASAP!
I'm a life-long gamer at 29 and Galaxy makes me giddy. I didn't know I could still have this much fun with games. It's just consistently fun and inventive. An instant classic on par with (and probably surpassing) any of Nintendo's best.
My family makes fun of me because when I play games, I get all serious and I look almost pissed off. I only laugh and stuff during multiplayer with other people on the same console. But the whole freaking time I play Galaxy, Im smiling. My fucking cheeks hurt because Im smiling. Im having that much fun with UR MR GAY.
Does it deserve the second highest score on Gamerankings? Depends. Im not far enough through it to make a judgment. But I also think scoring games is fucking retarded and pointless.
Anyways, Galaxy is an amazing and fun game. It is, so far, my favorite game this year.
I have to agree with Blindside here. It may not be as revolutionary as Super Mario 64, but some of the mechanics have never been seen before in a platformer (pointer controls, remarkably creative use of gravity), and that is impressive on its own. True, the spherical levels were in Ratchet & Clank, but not to this degree. Heck, the controls alone are a pretty big step forward.
I also may be biased since I am having a hell of a good time playing this game, but ... I think "revolutionary" -- while maybe a little too much -- is almost dead-on. :)
@blindside - been playin it for a few wee.. i mean, i got it on launch and based on early impressions. yes, i've played it. i love it. its very enjoyable on its own but the nostalgia factor really makes it a breath of fresh air after playing a ton of FPS over the past few months, but revolutionary it ain't. i'm about 45 stars in, it borrows very well, but not once have i been blown away by something i've never seen before.
I think the gravity mechanic is pretty revolutionary for a platformer. Jumping from planet to planet and running all around them gives me a thrilling sense of exploration like I haven't felt since the beginning of the 3D era (with SM64 & Ocarina).
Galaxy & Portal really brought some awesome play mechanics this year. But they're so singular it'll probably be hard to build a "revolution" on them without just blatantly ripping them off.
Why does a game being "revolutionary" automatically make it better? Go back and play Super Mario 64 now. It's still very good, but Galaxy takes everything it did and improves it by a huge degree.
As has been said, it's not groundbreaking for 3D platformers the way that SM64 was, or the way SMB was for sidescrollers. But it's about the best that we've ever seen in its genre, like SMB3 was back in the day.
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Galaxy > Ocarina.
Cant put the thing down, everything is so good about it, even the ability to have a second player just picking up the stars and helping prevent some of the baddies from moving. Sooo good.
Not even close. Its a fun game, but its not revolutionary by any means. This is onlt based off of 28 reviews.
It's also currently at 98 at Metacritic, which is pretty incredible. Tied with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 for PS2 from 2000, and the Dreamcast Soul Calibur from 1999. Only game beating it is Ocarina there too, with a score of 99. No recent game (Last 3-4 years) is even coming close to touching it, and the next highest rated game on any of the next gen systems is Bioshock, which is almost 20 spots away from it.
Rbj
How old are you?
Ocarina is a classic like Mario64. No way Galaxy beats those two. Get your head out of your ass.
agreed. i guess you have to take the time of the release into context and zelda really was a 'holy shit' kinda game, while mario is just good clean fun, but far from revolutionary.
I tend not to trust reviews for nintendo games close to release dates. The internet goes crazy if you rate any nintendo game under a 99% the first month it comes out (See: Zelda TP)
Mario Galaxy is the next step of Platformers? So that is pretty revolutionary.
lol @ JACK
@blindside - i'm ron burgundy?
i see what your saying, but that question mark confuses me :) i don't see anything that would qualify it as the 'next step' other than a little waggle here and there, the spherical levels were introduced in Ratchet and Clank 2, so i don't see any innovation.
I notice the term revolutionary is being thrown around a lot in this thread. I'm just curious as to what people define as revolutionary, and what games they think fit that label.
I haven't made up my mind about Galaxy yet since I don't think I'm far enough in, but the term itself has always kind of bothered me. I see people throw it around a lot when they really like a game, and oftentimes it just doesn't seem to fit.
One example I can think of is Bioshock. It was an absolutely fantastic game with a good story and a great setting, but people kept calling it revolutionary and I couldn't understand why. It was a stellar FPS in a sea of mediocre FPSs that had a good story and a good setting, but there's nothing about the game that turned my understanding of the FPS genre on its head, or really even introduced a radical new concept that I hadn't seen before.
What does revolutionary mean to you? What are games you consider revolutionary?
Have you played the game galagbug? I know i haven't but from what I read, people are saying "I would NEVER have thought of doing such and such."
The game is incredible, hands down. Honestly it's Mario so I figured it would at least be decent but no, I was very very impressed. I plan on getting the game ASAP!
I'm a life-long gamer at 29 and Galaxy makes me giddy. I didn't know I could still have this much fun with games. It's just consistently fun and inventive. An instant classic on par with (and probably surpassing) any of Nintendo's best.
Aerox, what you just is so revolutionary! It is markedly new and introduces radical change!
Yeah, it's a buzzword now, sadly.
I love Galaxy, I really do. And I can prove it:
My family makes fun of me because when I play games, I get all serious and I look almost pissed off. I only laugh and stuff during multiplayer with other people on the same console. But the whole freaking time I play Galaxy, Im smiling. My fucking cheeks hurt because Im smiling. Im having that much fun with UR MR GAY.
Does it deserve the second highest score on Gamerankings? Depends. Im not far enough through it to make a judgment. But I also think scoring games is fucking retarded and pointless.
Anyways, Galaxy is an amazing and fun game. It is, so far, my favorite game this year.
I have to agree with Blindside here. It may not be as revolutionary as Super Mario 64, but some of the mechanics have never been seen before in a platformer (pointer controls, remarkably creative use of gravity), and that is impressive on its own. True, the spherical levels were in Ratchet & Clank, but not to this degree. Heck, the controls alone are a pretty big step forward.
I also may be biased since I am having a hell of a good time playing this game, but ... I think "revolutionary" -- while maybe a little too much -- is almost dead-on. :)
@blindside - been playin it for a few wee.. i mean, i got it on launch and based on early impressions. yes, i've played it. i love it. its very enjoyable on its own but the nostalgia factor really makes it a breath of fresh air after playing a ton of FPS over the past few months, but revolutionary it ain't. i'm about 45 stars in, it borrows very well, but not once have i been blown away by something i've never seen before.
I think the gravity mechanic is pretty revolutionary for a platformer. Jumping from planet to planet and running all around them gives me a thrilling sense of exploration like I haven't felt since the beginning of the 3D era (with SM64 & Ocarina).
Galaxy & Portal really brought some awesome play mechanics this year. But they're so singular it'll probably be hard to build a "revolution" on them without just blatantly ripping them off.
aerox tony hawk 2 is for ps1 not ps2
Sorry, meant to type PSX. The 2 slipped in out of habit I guess.
Why does a game being "revolutionary" automatically make it better? Go back and play Super Mario 64 now. It's still very good, but Galaxy takes everything it did and improves it by a huge degree.
Galaxy : SM64 :: SMB3 : SMB.
As has been said, it's not groundbreaking for 3D platformers the way that SM64 was, or the way SMB was for sidescrollers. But it's about the best that we've ever seen in its genre, like SMB3 was back in the day.
Well said, Aaron. I completely agree. :)
I cosign aaron, its a fair assesment.... sans hammer bros suit....
GRAVITY is REVOLUTIONARY.
SMW:SMB3:Galaxy:SM64
Wait
SMW:SMB3:SMB:Galaxy:SM64
Forgot the original gangsta
I never likes Mario 64 or Ocarina. I feel like they are two of the most over rated games in history.
I prefer Galaxy and Twilight Princess over Mario 64 and Ocarina by a huge amount. And it has nothing to do with graphics.