Super Mario Galaxy -- Controls That Are Just...Super.

I'm just over one-third of the way through Super Mario Galaxy with forty-one collected stars. Mario has always been rather agile since Super Mario 64 and he remains ever more so with Super Mario Galaxy. All of his Super Mario 64 moves return in Super Mario Galaxy. You get his jump, triple jump, backwards somersault, side somersault, long jump, wall jump, and ground pound. They're essentially done the exact same way as in Super Mario 64 which is most likely the reason that Super Mario Galaxy is so pick up and play friendly right off the bat. You've been there and are comfortable with the controls instantly. The very first thing I did initially in the first level was run straight through all the moves listed above and they were executed flawlessly the first time and all within seconds of starting the game. Everything just felt so right. Not everything is as it was in Super Mario 64. There are some new additions to Super Mario Galaxy that of course change things around. The introduction of the spin attack as Mario's primary attack over the ground pound makes things new and interesting. The ground pound definitely has its uses like getting coins out of an enemy to refill some health but it's now the second string attack. The spin attack with enemies will result in causing them to give up Star Bits. The purpose of the Star Bits is as currency to be used at purchase points to further open up new areas in the game beyond those accessed by the stars earned from levels. The spin attack is done by waggling either the Wii Remote or the Nunchuck. Just a little shake. There is a lot of subtle context sensitive waggle in Super Mario Galaxy. Nothing too precise with the waggle, and that's why it works flawlessly. The controls are masterful for the most part. Every now and again because of the spherical nature of some of the platforms you can switch your direction unintentionally. It's relatively rare and truly a minor flaw. Super Mario Galaxy is another Wii game you can put in the controls great category alongside Zelda: Twilight Princess. The controls are tight and responsive and Nintendo of old feeling.