2. Super Mario Galaxy / Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
Mario’s console debut was Super Mario Bros for the NES. After a fiasco involving the sequel, the series found its stride with Super Mario Bros 3 and Super Mario World, both of which are excellent releases.
Nintendo wanted to try something new with the release of the N64. Thus came Super Mario 64, one of the first 3D games. The formula set here, that of an open world with many objectives, is still found in many modern games. Though it is a landmark title, it has one crippling flaw: the filler. For example, many of the stages incorporate a tall structure in their designs. I can guarantee that at least two stars in these stages will require Mario to climb to the top and complete slightly different tasks. There is a lot of redundancy in the objectives, which hampers the strong level design.
Super Mario Sunshine is a controversial entry in the franchise. The camera is unfathomably awful at times, and there is even more filler than in SM64. In that game, any 70 of the 120 stars, with one exception, can be used to reach the final level. Here, 50 (technically 49) are needed. However, not any 50; a SPECIFIC 50 shines are needed to access Corona Mountain. Factor in the addition of FLUDD (which I actually liked), and it is easy to see why this game is disdained.
However, SMS succeeds in its superb level design. It is at its best in the “Secret” levels, where FLUDD is taken from Mario and he must advance using his other moves, only with no safety net in case a mistake is made. These levels suggested that there would be great things in the future of the franchise.
And boy, what a glorious future it was.
That brings me to the duo of Super Mario Galaxy games. I honestly cannot decide on which of these games I like better, so they share an entry. If I had to pick, I would likely lean towards the original, though the second is really close behind it.
The SMG titles are more reminiscent of the 2D Mario games than its 3D predecessors. The open environments are mostly dropped, though with a few notable exceptions, in favor of a more linear path for each level. There are no longer numerous ways to obtain certain stars like in SM64. In return, the level designs are focused and much stronger.
The main gimmick in these two games is the gravity mechanic. Each planet has its own gravity, and many sections require Mario to move between environments of contrasting gravitational properties. The second game focuses less on the gravity elements that were so prevalent in the first, and instead delivers levels more like the "Secret" stages in SMS.
Unlike the 2D Mario games, power-ups in the SMG titles serve more as puzzle elements rather than lasting upgrades. Each affects the way Mario can navigate his environment. The Ice Flower turns any water Mario comes into contact with into ice, allowing him to reach new areas. The Bee suit has a variety of fantastic attributes, such as the ability to cling to certain surfaces. Each greatly enhances the sections they are used in. Really, I cannot understate how amazing the level design in these games is.
I don't know where else to put this, but I wanted to mention that the games' soundtracks are phenomenal. I had both on my iPod at some point.
Now that I have given a general overview of these two titles, I want to discuss their differences. The biggest difference is in structure. SMG has a hub world similar to that of SM64 and SMS, though without all of the secrets. SMG2 is much more streamlined, and uses a world map instead. SMG features 15 main galaxies and a plethora of mini galaxies. The main galaxies have six stars: three main missions, two comets (which usually involve a level or section of a level with special parameters, such as limited health or sped up mechanisms), and a secret star. The mini galaxies are fast, one-off levels. In SMG2, galaxies have either two or three stars, with a maximum of 2 main missions. Consequently, the galaxies do not feel as fleshed out as in the first game. This leads me into the biggest difference in design philosophy between the two.
SMG tends to take its ideas, and use them to their fullest potential. This is usually a good thing, even though some ideas overstay their welcome. The second game is more about quantity; it introduces an idea or mechanic, and then switches to something completely different, even if the previous idea had significant unexplored potential. While the game is never boring as a result of its variety, I wish that it had explored some ideas further.
Next up is the post game. After beating Bowser in SMG, purple coin missions become available in all 15 main galaxies. These levels tend to be either timed, linear expeditions or open-world exploration stages. Some of my favorite levels in the game are purple coin missions. With these levels, the total number of stars goes up to 120. Beating Bowser again after collecting all of them unlocks Super Luigi Galaxy, which is the exact same game with changes in dialogue, a few levels, and the controls. Once the game is completed as Luigi, a short epilogue level is unlocked.
SMG2 does much better in the post-game department. Beating Bowser the first time unlocks World S, which is mostly comprised of levels and segments reprised from SMG and SMS. After collecting all 120 stars, green stars are unlocked in every galaxy. These are often out of the way, and tend to require perfect execution of tricky jumps to obtain. I much prefer this to simply replaying the game. After completing this quest, the final level is unlocked. Grandmaster Galaxy, and specifically "The Perfect Run", are fucking brutal.
Now that I have briefly touched on the differences, which do I prefer? SMG2's average level is of a consistently higher quality than SMG's typical level (especially in terms of comet levels, which are much more varied and provide more meaningful differences from the base level in the sequel), but the very best levels in SMG (in other words, anything from Freeze Flame, Toy Time, and Melty Molten, along with a select few other stars) easily beat anything from the sequel. Despite the few criticisms I have thrown at the games, I consider both to be excellent titles, and the highest point in Mario's history.
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So, any guesses as to the identity of my #1? I will give two hints: it is the oldest game on my list, and no one else (that I can recall) has placed it on their lists.