| N4G | VGReleases | BADJoystick | GameNews24 | ZTGD | Price Comparison |

100°

Variety misses the point with Super Mario Galaxy review

Nintendic's Steven Smith gives counterpoints to Variety's review of Super Mario Galaxy. Smith explains how Variety has missed the points on the innovation, story, control and particularly visuals of the game.

Smith concludes his arguments by writing that Wii is "where gameplay is king, not muscled visuals." He notes that none of the pretty PS3 exclusives - Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (89%), Folklore (74%), Lair (54%), Warhawk (84%) and Heavenly Sword (79%) – has broken the 90% threshold at Metacritic - the level for which any game to be considered as an "AAA" title.

Smith compares those sub-90% titles to Wii exclusives Super Mario Galaxy (97%), Twilight Princess (95%), Resident Evil IV: Wii Edition (91%), and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (90%) - which have all surpassed the "AAA" marker on Metacritic.

Read Full Story >>

nintendic.com

The Round Peg - contributor
Published: 777 days 10 hours ago | News | PlayStation 3 | Wii | Gaming

Save | Email | Info | Report | Add Alt Source

Comment Settings

Showing: 0 - 0 of 0 Comments

Showing: 0 - 0 of 0 Comments

Add Comment (Gamer Zone)

Gamer Zone Posting Guidelines
The Gamer Zone is for members who want a more friendly and civilized discussion. This section is heavily moderated by the N4G staff, so leave your fanboyism at the door please. Members who are unable to behave in a mature and respectful manner will be temporarily or permanently restricted from posting in the Gamer Zone. Using words such as Xbots and Sony droids, or other words from the console war vocabulary, is strictly prohibited in this Zone.
Read More...

You must log in to post comments.

Username:

Password:

Remember

Comment Settings

Showing: 1 - 36 of 36 Comments

Shut this user up

Let user speak

sa_nick - 777 days 8 hours ago

1 -

yes, the dude turns into a dorky looking bee... very innovative

Agree(0) | Disagree(2) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Douchebaggery - 777 days 5 hours ago

2 - *shattered illusion*

And I thought Nintendo had no fanboys

Agree(0) | Disagree(1) |

3 Maestro | 777 days 5 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Douchebaggery - 777 days 5 hours ago

3.1 - "all the PS3 games are garbage"

Please tell me more, just how bad are those games? (cuz I'm sure you played them all)

Agree(0) | Disagree(1) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Bebop - 777 days 2 hours ago

3.2 -

Just checked out the Gamestrailers video review - my first look at game. I’m sure the gameplay is superb but i feel Variety may be right in saying ‘graphics simply aren’t up to par’

Just watch out for Little Big Planet for the PS3 out next year.

http://www.gametrailers.com...

It does make Mario look extremely outdated as it has the superb sound & graphics icing as well as gameplay.

Agree(1) | Disagree(1) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

gamesblow - 777 days 5 hours ago

4 -

Mario controls like he always has, though. That's not innovation. He controls with a dman analog sitck, jsut like he did 10 years + ago. Sorry... The story??? There isn't one. The graphics, are on par with Sunshine's, not to say those are bad... but they're not breath taking. I don't understand... I suppose. R&CFTOD is an amazing game, great gameplay... incredible graphics. It is a AAA game and I don't care what anyone says. If Mario galaxy is considered AAA then R&CFTOD is 10 folds right up there with it.

Agree(0) | Disagree(6) |

5 Maestro | 777 days 5 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

Shut this user up

Let user speak

gamesblow - 777 days 5 hours ago

5.1 -

Being selective again? It's a 9.25 according to Gameinformer, Ign and a host of others. MArio is a 3, according to Variety. LOL!!

Agree(3) | Disagree(2) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Kholinar - 777 days 4 hours ago

5.2 -

ummm... there's no score on the Variety article.

Every once in a while you're gonna get a hate review. Reviewers do that to gain perceived credibility and try to act like they aren't sheep.

Having said all that, this is not a hate review. Hate reviews don't include such things as: "“Super Mario Galaxy” is proof positive that Nintendo still has some of the best videogame development talent in the industry... The latest platforming adventure starring the portly plumber features the most astoundingly original levels of the year, enhanced by gravity tricks never before seen in videogames..."

Sounds like they're saying it's more than solid as a title and fairly innovative as well. 3 out of 10 games don't get such comments. This review, if given a number would be at least in the 6 range, if not a 7.

Agree(1) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

THE_JUDGE - 777 days 5 hours ago

6 - I haven't played

Mario Galaxy nor do I have any plans to but to me the game looks exactly like Zelda just with Mario as the main character. Nothing that I care about now or in the future.

Agree(0) | Disagree(3) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

ShiftyLookingCow - 777 days 5 hours ago

6.1 -

what? what are you smoking there?

edit: how about if somebody said Killzone 2 is exactly Halo 3 except its not Master Chief? wouldn't that be stupid?

Agree(1) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

ItsDubC - 777 days 5 hours ago

6.2 -

But you somehow care enough to read Mario Galaxy news and post about your disinterest?

Agree(3) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

jackdoe - 777 days 5 hours ago

7 -

Jeez, Nintendo fanboys need to chill out. The variety review was blown out of proportion. It wasn't a negative review. It was an overall positive review. Jeez. And this Nintendic article is written by a fanboy. He ignores all the pretty AAA games on the 360, PC, and PS3 to make his point. Why ignore Bioshock, one of the prettiest games out there? Why ignore CoD 4 another pretty game. Why ignore Crysis, arguably the prettiest game out there. He argues like a fanboy.

Agree(1) | Disagree(2) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Douchebaggery - 777 days 5 hours ago

7.1 -

well it's the same sh!t as when PS3 fanboy got their knickers twisted over gamespot's R&C review

edit- I'm pretty sure I've seen Variety on metacritic.com
edit2- Your right I mixed TV show reviews with video game reviews

Agree(3) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

jackdoe - 777 days 5 hours ago

7.2 -

Both cases are stupid. However, the Variety review was better than that Gamespot review. Variety actually liked the game and praised the gameplay. They just didn't like the control scheme which isn't that big of a deal. Some people don't like a Wii controller. Besides, a Variety review doesn't affect the metacritic rating anyway.

-edit- I believe Variety doesn't give out a number score.

Agree(0) | Disagree(2) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

gamesblow - 777 days 5 hours ago

8 -

In fact, I'm so sure of R&C's success... That I am going to bet and wagger my entire blogsite on it selling 400,000 to 500,000 by years end world wide. It's almost at 200,000 right now according to NPD, and that's just in America. Who wants to take me up on this? I also say, seperaty from the bet, that it'll have sold 1 million quicker than Resistance did. So, by Febuary I say R&C stis at 1 million sold.

I don't care about this sold faster but this does it in a week... I'm talking about hard numbers. My blogsite and being rid of Gamesblow forever to say R&C doesn't beat my expectations.

http://blog.myspace.com/ind...

Agree(0) | Disagree(3) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Adropacrich2 - 777 days 3 hours ago

8.1 -

Learn to spell

Agree(1) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Dlacy13g - 777 days 5 hours ago

9 - Again....this is the problem with reviewing systems.

First reviews are opinions so this guy trying to say someone got it wrong is just BS. Everyone has their opinion...if I dont like your game because I feel it lacks graphically, etc...then FU, I dont like your game. Dont try to tell me I am wrong. To each their own. This just underlines the importance for everyone of us to find a review site we like and stick to that and dont worry about the other 1000 sites that do reviews, etc.

Second point. This game is a 10/10 for a Wii game no doubt. And I tend to assume that when reviewers review a game they tend to review it for "that" console more than they do as a game as a whole. Sure multi plat games are exceptions, and get compared across the board but I think A-typically games are reviewed based on the console and comparative games on it. Yes they factor graphics, fun factor, etc...but its all relatively based on other games that are on the platform and ofcourse the platform itself. You could never really compare say a DS game to a PS3 game and say they were on equal footing, etc. so a DS game getting a 10 is far different than a PS3 game getting a 10.

So Mario is great for the Wii...no doubt. But what if you put Mario up next to say Heavenly Sword or Halo3 and ran through every category on a pure basis. Maybe that was what Variety did? Personally I think Mario is gonna get knocked down quite a few pegs in that kind of comparison. Each of those games would kick Mario to the curb in a number of categories... So Mario scores great as a Wii title but in the general Video Game world I dont think Mario is "all that" if you do the true comparison.

Again, now we are talking preferences and opoinions...so honestly does it really matter what Variety thinks if you are a Wii fan and you are getting this game?

Agree(1) | Disagree(1) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Dlacy13g - 777 days 4 hours ago

9.1 - btw...if you disagree...sack up and post a comment

Please tell me why you disagree...I am open to listening.

Agree(2) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

PSWe60 - 777 days 4 hours ago

10 - Mario 64 is still better than this

I've played Super Mario Galaxy and it's not that great, it got boring after about an hour. I think the one reporter to speak out against the Nintendumb asses was making some really good points. for the record Ratchet and Clank is more fun. shooting fun weapons is more innovative than turning into a bee.

Agree(0) | Disagree(4) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Rooftrellen - 776 days 23 hours ago

10.1 -

"shooting fun weapons is more innovative than turning into a bee."

I can name more games that have you shooting weapons that came out this year than you can name games that have you control a bee (or bee-like creature, such as people dressed as bees, or wasps) in the history of video games.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Gahigiddy - 777 days 4 hours ago

11 - Wow, what a d!ck.

HS, Warhawk especially, R&C5 and Resistance are all better than a Gamecube port, a Gamecube port, and two more rehashes Nintendo cooked up.

But hey, 10 years have passed and Ratchet has introduced gravity and spherical worlds in platforming, Nintendo hopes you won't notice their theft. Please buy game.

It deserves to flop, like it is in Japan, where Dynasty F***ing Warriors outsold it in 1 day sales comparisons, and would outsell its LTD if it got more than one day of sales.

Agree(1) | Disagree(2) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

deeznuts - 777 days 3 hours ago

12 -

Oh no did someone actually bring an internet fanboy argument (AAA or not/metacritic) into real life? Variety don't give a freak about those things. Sometimes it is refreshing to see a non-gaming publication (dare I say casual? maybe not don't know anything about the Variety reviewer) review a gaming product. Isn't this the target of Nintendo?

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

13 bootsielon | 777 days 2 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Brainiac 8 - 777 days 2 hours ago

13.1 - You're only partly right...

It is the cool thing to hate on any system that you don't own. People hate on the Wii for silly reasons and without ever spending any "Real" time with the games. People also hate on the PS3 for silly reasons, while at the same time hating on the 360 for silly reasons.

The purpose behind gaming has been forgotten, and now everything at all just comes down to mindless mudslinging at the other consoles.

They all have some great stuff, and if you don't care for one or the other, why is it so hard to just not read those news stories?

HarryEtTubMan down below is a prime example of the sort of narrow minded fanboy attitude I am talking about.

Agree(3) | Disagree(0) |

14 HarryEtTubMan | 777 days 2 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Rooftrellen - 777 days 1 hour ago

14.1 -

And the 360 is for training cerial killers.

And the PS3 is for rich snobby people.

Yeah, its stupid to say, but no more stupid than what you've said.

Agree(1) | Disagree(1) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Brainiac 8 - 777 days ago

14.2 - You are still looking through blinders though...

Would you look to the past consoles and say that because they were inferior to the current consoles that they could create a deep and immersive experience? Obviously not.

The same goes for the Wii. The game does not have to be a multi-media console to create a full fledged deep experience. The blame is on Third party developers and not Nintendo, since it falls on them to take the time to create these experiences.

The Wii has already shown that these type of experiences can be made. Super Mario Galaxy (Which is much more involved than you give credit to) and Metroid Prime 3 both show how deep and immersive a game can become on the Wii. On top of that Zack & Wiki is much more challenging and immersive than many games out there right now.

You speak what you do not know, and that is out of ignorance. Hopefully you'll grow out of that and learn to broaden your mind a little.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

ItsDubC - 777 days ago

14.3 -

I'm just wondering where the "literal" 1/16th came from...

Agree(1) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Brainiac 8 - 777 days ago

14.4 - I know....

It rhymes with "Banus"

Agree(1) | Disagree(0) |

15 Maestro | 777 days ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

Shut this user up

Let user speak

ShiftyLookingCow - 776 days 23 hours ago

15.1 -

wow http://www.metacritic.com/s...

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

The Round Peg - 776 days 18 hours ago

15.2 - WOW!

Super Mario Galaxy's average meta-score has actually gone up!

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

16 Big Jim | 776 days 22 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

Shut this user up

Let user speak

KeiZka - 776 days 16 hours ago

16.1 -

Their opinion, then. Others have found the controls to be verryy good. Yes. Very much so.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

wiizy - 776 days 1 hour ago

17 - what ...

finish playing galaxy or at least play it before giving a stilly opinion... mario galaxy is alot better then mario 64 because it comebines mario 64 and super mario 3 and add alot more on top....game of the year without a doubt. but of course if you own one of the systems that's in second or third place right now.. you're not going to agree

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Showing: 1 - 36 of 36 Comments

Add Comment (Open Zone)

Open Zone Posting Guidelines
The Open Zone is a lightly moderated comment section which is open to all members. With enthusiastic fans eager to defend their favorite platform this place can get pretty hot.
Read More...

You must log in to post comments.

Username:

Password:

Remember

Join N4G

Login

About N4G

N4G is a social game news site that covers the game industry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
More Info... | Submit News

- Site Menu
  
  Game Index
  Help & Info
  
  RSS Feed
  Feedback
  
  Full Menu...
  Webmaster Tools