Super Mario Galaxy [Wii]

And if you're so inclined, you can let a buddy handle that job for you. Super Mario Galaxy's co-op mode gives Player 2 a cursor as well, so they can scoop up star bits, freeze enemies or help Mario jump a bit higher while you focus on the task at hand. It's a far cry from true co-op play (long live original Mario Bros.), but should at least satiate your annoying roommate's urge to steal the controller.

The celestial backdrop wasn't lost on the developers, who went above and beyond when it came to level design. Galaxy contains a wealth of mind-bending, brilliant levels spanning just about every type of landscape imaginable. The creativity is off the charts - in addition to classic fire and ice worlds, you'll explore giant toy boxes, hulking dreadnaughts, underwater caves, haunted houses, space junkyards, desert wastelands and other weird, whimsical planets in all shapes and sizes. And you won't always be stuck in the red and blue suit. Mario will turn into a bee, morph into a spring, transform into ice and even shape-shift into a Boo along the way.

Such wonderful variety keeps the game engaging, though it also makes it feel a little disjointed from time to time. One minute you're riding a giant floating flower through an idyllic garden, the next you're dodging electro-magnetic pulses while infiltrating a space battleship. Hope you're feeling bipolar.

But unlike manic depression, the game is paced perfectly. Super Mario Galaxy is filled with all kinds of secrets and unlockables, enticing you with the proverbial carrot while doling out a constant stream of encouraging praise. The game's inherent non-linearity gives the impression that there's always something out there to do, and truth be told, you don't have to bolt through each galaxy just to amass enough stars to reach the princess. The gameplay is so enjoyable, you probably won't want to, anyway.

It's amazing what Nintendo can get out of their supposedly underpowered console, because Super Mario Galaxy looks and sounds great. Bright, cheery and smooth, the graphics shine where they ought to and upscale well; despite lack of true HD support, you can play this on a fancy set and not feel gypped. The audio is equally charming. Rousing scores join fun, remixed classics, though it's a little hard to swallow the oddly sporadic voice-acting. Text is fine, but it would be nice to hear Mario say something other than 'Woo-hoo!' from time to time.

Ultimately, those are very small potatoes in a very big stew. Super Mario Galaxy is a reminder that games don't have to be ultra-violent, make clever social statements or ride the marketing machine to succeed. They simply have to be fun, and you'd be hard pressed to find one as genuinely enjoyable as Mario's latest. If you own a Wii, you should own this, too.

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