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« NetFlix To Make A Set-Top Box | Main | Storm Have Been Sold, Are Staying In Seattle » January 6, 2008In Which I Confess My Sad Addiction To "Super Mario Galaxy"We got a Wii. I won't bore you with the story of how we got it (it was one of those right-place, right-time kind of things where the Best Buy had a stack of, like, 12 of them, and, as I was standing there, staring at the Tower Of Wiis like it was some kind of mirage or something, the salesguy slides up behind me and whispers, "We just put those out 15 minutes ago"), but suffice to say we have one, with an extra controller/nunchuck and a copy of Super Mario Galaxy. I bought Mario because I remember how much I loved - totally, totally loved - playing Super Mario 64 on my Nintendo 64 about a decade ago, and the title seemed to be the perfect Wii title - playful, colorful, cute, etc. We set up the Wii, played a few rounds of bowling and tennis on Wii Sports, and then I slid in Galaxy to see what it was all about. And I am now totally, completely, utterly and sadly addicted to the silly thing. Look, it's a Mario game. There's no blood, guts, machine guns, Covenant, you name it. You're controlling a plumber as he races around collecting coins and "star bits" while trying to save the princess from the clutches of the evil Bowser. It takes place in Technicolor up-is-down-and-down-is-up landscapes that Escher only hinted at, and, once in a while, you turn in to a bee. 'Cause you need to. Or you ride a sting ray as you surf waterways. (I've always thought that anyone involved with designing a Mario game would pretty much be prevented from running for public office, if you know what I mean.) The thing that makes Galaxy so compelling is how well it makes use of the Wii's unique controllers. You shake your controller to spin around and beat enemies; you "surf" on those rays by moving the controller in three dimensions; you wave your controller at the screen to pick up "star bits." It's easily the most interactive, immersive Mario game I've ever played, and I love it. It's been a long time since I've lost time while playing video games, but, well, I blinked yesterday morning and I'd been playing for three hours. Sad, I tell you. If you have a Wii, buy this game. And clear your calendar. Posted by Gavin Shearer at January 6, 2008 11:50 AM. Posted to Entertainment. Trackback PingsTrackBack URL for this entry: CommentsMario Party 8 and Super Mario Galaxy have to be played to be understood, but I agree they must have some quantum effect on time and space. Alas, Mario Kart Wii may push me over the edge to get one of these crack in a box systems for the new house... Posted by: Chris Condit Post a commentThanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out) (If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)« NetFlix To Make A Set-Top Box | Main | Storm Have Been Sold, Are Staying In Seattle » |
