Nintendo101

''Super Mario Galaxy'' is universally acclaimed. It has an aggregated score of 97.64% from 78 reviews on {{wp|GameRankings}}. By the time of its closure in 2019, ''Super Mario Galaxy'' was the highest rated game on the site to have at least 20 different reviews.<ref>GameRankings. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20191206040748/http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/915692-super-mario-galaxy/index.html Super Mario Galaxy]" [archived from [http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/915692-super-mario-galaxy/index.html the original]]. ''GameRankings'', 3 Mar. 2009. Accessed 3 Mar. 2019.</ref> Similarly, ''Super Mario Galaxy'' has a 97/100 on {{wp|Metacritic}} from 73 accredited outlets (i.e. its "Metascore") and 91% from 3,434 site users as of January 7, 2024, reaching the threshold for "Universal Acclaim" on both accounts.<ref>Metacritic. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20240110005603/https://www.metacritic.com/game/super-mario-galaxy/ Super Mario Galaxy]" [archived from [https://www.metacritic.com/game/super-mario-galaxy/ the original]]. ''Metacritic'', 2007. Accessed 9 Jan. 2024.</ref> As of January 9, 2024, it has the fourth highest Metascore on the site, following ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]'', ''{{wp|Soulcalibur (video game)|SoulCalibur}}'' (1999), and ''{{wp|Grand Theft Auto IV}}'' (2008).<ref>Metacritic. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20240110010533/https://www.metacritic.com/browse/game/ Best Games of All Time]" [archived from [https://www.metacritic.com/browse/game/ the original]]. ''Metacritic''. Accessed 9 Jan. 2024.</ref>

''{{wp|Famitsu}}'' gave ''Super Mario Galaxy'' a score of 38/40, praising the rich variety of mechanics offered by the game, intuitive controls, and comfortable level of challenge.<ref name=kamikaze>Kamikaze, Nagata, Maria Yoshiike, Penki Yamamoto, and Gazō Aoyama. "[https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/449/reviews/ スーパーマリオギャラクシーのレビュー・評価・感想]" [Japanese source]. ''Weekly Famitsu'', no. 986, Oct. 2007. Accessed 21 Mar. 2021.</ref><ref>Dickens, Anthony. "[https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2007/10/famitsu_gives_super_mario_galaxy_3840 Famitsu Gives ''Super Mario Galaxy'' 38/40]." ''Nintendo Life'', 24 Oct. 2007. Accessed 21 Mar. 2021.</ref> ''{{wp|Official Nintendo Magazine}}'' gave the game 97%. It was called the best game of the decade and praised for having excellent graphics, sound and gameplay as well as a mixture of new and classic features.<ref>Scullion, Chris. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20141007110829/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/ Super Mario Galaxy review]" [archived from [http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/ the original]]. ''Official Nintendo Magazine'', no. 23, Dec. 2007, pp. 72–77. Accessed 21 Mar. 2021.</ref><ref>Higginbotham, James. "[https://purenintendo.com/nintendo-magazine-uk-super-mario-galaxy-review/ Nintendo Magazine UK: Super Mario Galaxy Review]." ''Pure Nintendo'', 2007. Accessed 21 Mar. 2021.</ref>

 

*Reviewers were quick to note that the game looked beautiful despite being on inferior hardware. Praised gameplay, Mario's feel, the variety of things to do. Many anticipated the game would ultimately be seen as a classic, much like other Mario games. Others felt it was the game they have been waiting for since Super Mario 64 (an interesting echo of Miyamoto's interpretation of the game, and some shade to Mario Sunshine. [It had its problems, but it was charming and more often fun than not! There are significantly worse games out there than Super Mario Sunshine.])

 

*Some reviewers believed the game shook the principals of a platform to its core by have spherical worlds with their own gravity. Others described it as an excellent experience, but not revolutionary in the same vein as Super Mario 64. (This would end up being kind of true, wouldn't it? Nearly all 3D games following Mario 64 replicate at least some elements of its core design, even in non-platformers. How many spherical world-type games are out there? It probably isn't from any fault of the game, rather the technical difficulty of both doing it and doing it well, in a way that feels comfortable to play.)

 

*{{wp|Tim Rogers (writer)|Tim Rogers}} is critical of how the game "feels", arguing Mario does not move with inertia and that what he feels are needless level design elements; Rosalina as a character felt unnecessary ([https://www.actionbutton.net/?p=295 ref]) Not everyone loves Star Ball and ray surfing