I got through on the first try. It wasn't easy but I got through ok. I mostly ran between the gaps and only jumped when I had no choice. A couple of wall jumps and sticks saved me on the turns.

Hmmmm. OK, thanks for the responses. I guess I need to work on my skills a bit. Once I realized it was better to run around the holes rather than try jump over them (and in the process, risk falling) that helped a lot. I never tried using wall jumps - that probably would have helped in a few spots too.

I'm about 34 stars in and just played big Bowser a few stars ago. Right when he came down and the battle started with the epic music, I jumped up and yelled "Bring it Bowser!!!". It sucked me in and made me feel like I did back in the day playing really good games.

I lost count of how many tries it took me to do that sweet, sweet pain in the ass. :)

I don't play a lot of platformers and that level made me worry that the game is about to get a lot harder and therefore, frustrating for me.

Regarding difficulty, it's really a mixed bag -- which is great because it adds a lot of variety. It's a bit different than Zelda in that with Zelda, once you know how something is done it's pretty easy. With Mario, even after you've figured out the "puzzle" aspects of something there's often a lot of challenge.

I didn't have much trouble with Sweet Sweet Galaxy -- mostly because it's short and I'm a veteran of the "no jetpack" bonus levels in Sunshine (which are brutal).

I am Bouldergeist's bitch for sure. Hardest boss I've been up against and I've beaten Bowser and Bowser Jr. twice each.

Somebody mentioned swimming. If I were to rate this game on a 10 star system I would have to dock it one star for the horrific swimming. I can't count how many times I barely miss something and it takes me several tries to try and turn around and get it. Terrible!

I don't know if I have ever liked swimming, especially in a Mario game. I have dealt with the same thing as you Groucho. You just miss that shell so you have to turn around, and start swimming. But don't hit up to swim forward, because that turns you around, since to go forward you just swim, and don't press a direction. Also while you're trying to jump out of the freezing water, slam your face into the platform real hard and take more damage.

Played a bit and got 3 more stars. I really enjoyed Melty Molten Galaxy which I guess is the last main galaxy to unlock. I really like flying across the lava with lava plumes shooting over you. They manage to pack in a few good cinematic moments in this game.

Need 7 more stars to go for the finish and may take a run at it today. I've at least gotten 1 star from all the main galaxies so I have a pretty good sample of what the game offers.

On the subject of swimming. I agree that swimming has always sucked in 3D Mario games, but the problem is the number of water levels in this game. There are a way too many stars in Galaxy that require swimming. They really overused one of the weakest parts of the game.

im 118 stars in and wish i wasn't... this was the best gaming experience in recent memory (at least 5 years). hopefully mario galaxy 2 is in the works b/c I really love the theme.

i was really happy that some of the later comet challenges really upped the challenge level and kicked my ass a few times... the bouldergeist comet challenge and luigi's purple coins both come to mind... great, great game.

This game is beyond fantastic.

This game makes me feel like a kid again. I haven't had this sense of wonderment playing a video game since the SNES days and I'm not exaggerating that. Every time something new or different is shown in Galaxy (which is often), it brings a smile to my face, it's like seeing something fresh.. which even with games I've LOVED over the last ten years, they've still felt fairly par for the course, so to speak. So I've got to give props to Nintendo, this game is something special.

Hmm...while I think the game is definitely good, I'm not hyping up as much praise as the rest of you. I beat the game last night and was underwhelmed with the final fight...just seemed like more of the same rather than something unique. Also the difficulty is much too easy imo and I hardly play platformers. I beat all the green star galaxy trials on the 1st or 2nd attempt. This is opposed to Super Mario World where there were some Secret World levels that took me many, many attempts to beat, i.e. the level with essentially no floor. I still have about 50 stars or so to get but the way things have been going, I don't anticipate a problem. Bouldergeist with 1 health was definitely one of the harder things I've encountered but even that wasn't too bad after a few deaths. Some of the level designs are quite impressive though

Saw this in the random pic thread in the Otter Farm, thought it was suitable here as well:

http://img3.imagebanana.com/img/oj5ttxao/Mario.jpg

Agreed on the level of easiness in the game. It is a little too easy IMO, and I like games to be a bit on the easier side. With that being said, I still absolutely love the game and can't wait to go home and play more after work :D

Got my 60 and beat the game. Will continue to play it and maybe even get the 120 at some point. Things I had trouble with like Bouldergeist ended up a breeze when I went back to replay the level so the game definitely rewards practice.

I loved Super Mario 64 and don't know how to rate this one in comparison. I want to say Galaxy is better, but I really have the same feeling I had when first beating Mario 64. An experience that I had just played a ground breaking title and probably one of the best gaming experience of my life.

Props to Nintendo, but I worry about the future of games like this. Both Galaxy and Twilight Princes had relatively lukewarm sales compared to the expectation and quality of the games. Will Nintendo continue to make games like this when the Japanese sales are not on par with the cheaper to develop casual titles?

We havent seen the US Sales figures yet have we?

Quick question for those at the end of the game:

I think sales for Mario will be fine. Have they been bombing with this title in Japan? I know that Zelda could have sold better, but that game isn't for everybody. Mario titles, and now the Smash Brothers franchise, should be Nintendo's bread and butter at this point.

Two questions...

#1.) Do you get stars on levels for getting 100 coins?

#2.) Is it 120 stars total?

No, and I have no doubt it will sell well here and Europe.

However, Japan is the territory that matters most to Nintendo, a very budget conscious publisher, and when Mario Galaxy sells less than Mario Party 8 and other cheaper to develop games it worries me to no end.

Why spend so much time and money on expensive titles like Twilight Princess and Mario Galaxy when Japanese gamers want more casual fair that costs less to develop like Wii Fit and Mario Party.

Christ, not this shit again. :brickwl2:

No and yes.

The Amazon.com editors have voted Super Mario Galaxy their #1 'Game of the Year' across all systems! http://www.amazon.com/lm/R202CG6CQ8KJKY/

I also beat both 'Sweet sweet Galaxy' and 'Ray Surfing' in one try. Must be all those years of Mario Party mini games! :D

I just beat the... ...in daredevil mode. It took about 4-5 tries, but what a great feeling pulling it off. :up:

I don't know how Nintendo challenges me without it feeling cheap or pissing me off, but they always seem to pull it off. I've died a few times due to camera issues, but I'm instantly over it because they don't make me go through a bunch of crap that's not fun to get back to that part and extra guys are dirt cheap.

Cool...but where's Metroid Prime 3? ;)

I also thought Phantom Hourglass was a bit high.

Why is everyone assuming this didn't sell well? Did everyone forget the preorder madness this game went through?

Because maybe they wan't do conquer more than just the Japanese market.