Progress update 7 brings me back to the Kitchen Observatory, where I re-entered the Beach Bowl Galaxy for the second star.  This star was incredibly simple.  It consisted only of tracking down a golden shell in the posession of a small penguin and returning it to the head penguin.  It took all of two minutes from start to finish.  The third star had you transport yourself from the water world to the stone spiral levitating over it.  Navigating the spiral involved a lot of patience and timing because of certain elements.  At the end of the spiral lay the star.  There wasn’t a great deal of difficulty in this star, just the need for patience and timing.  As I viewed the available galaxies, I noticed the Fast Foe Comet was in orbit around the Beach Bowl Galaxy.  I had not experienced this comet yet, and was itching to give it a try, so I jumped right back in.  The Fast Foe Comet star took me back to the stone spiral, called the “Cyclone Stone”.  This definitely added the difficulty factor that was missing the first time around.  This one took a couple of tries to get through, but with an updated timing, I was able to obtain yet another star in my quest to defeat Bowser and rescue the princess.  As I checked the galaxy list again, I noticed yet another star available through the Beach Bowl Galaxy, but this time with a “?” on it.  This star level introduced me to the Ice Flower, giving me Ice Mario.  Ice Mario walks on water by turning it to ice, and can wall-jump waterfalls!  The ice flower was necessary to get to the top of the level.  It was incredibly fun, and very satisfying to use.  Following this string of stars, I found myself at 36 stars with over 1100 star bits (some had been sacrificed to enter the previous special galaxy).

Super Mario Galaxy Progress Update 8 coming soon!

-Because I said so

The sixth progress update finds me just outside the Kitchen Observatory, where I have unlocked another special one-star galaxy called the Drip Drop Galaxy.  This galaxy is a water world with a pair of small safe islands for resting, if necessary.  In this world, you are told that holding a red or green shell while underwater dramatically increases your swimming speed.  In fact, it makes you outpace anything else in the world with ease.  I enjoyed this element a great deal, because I have always hated the decreased speed and maneuverability of underwater play in the Mario games.  While that remains the same sans-shell, with a shell you have incredible speed and far greater maneuverability than you could have imagined.  After this victory, which placed me at 30 stars, I re-entered the Kitchen Observatory.  I had already defeated one of the Kitchen Observatory’s one-star galaxies, and with the 30th star in my hands, I was able to unlock the second one-star galaxy, known as the Buoy Base Galaxy.  This galaxy started with an underwater goal before you could attempt the ground goal.  However, while attempting the underwater goal, I uncovered a secret warp pipe that gave me a secret star.  The star was green, which was a first for me.  After obtaining the star, I was treated to what can only be considered a “cut scene” where it was explained that Green Power Stars had a special power, the ability to unlock a gateway to a special set of galaxies known as “Trial Galaxies”.  I need two more green stars to fully materialize the green gateway.  After this explanation, I headed back to the Kitchen Observatory for the real Buoy Base star.  It was a fun ride, and I ended my night at 32 stars with two three-star galaxies to go before facing Bowser again.

Progress Update 7 coming soon!

-Because I said so

We have arrived at the fifth progress update of my run through Super Mario Galaxy!  This one is rather shorter than the previous progress updates as I only went through a few stars due to other plans.  At the end of the fourth progress update, I had yet to fight Bowser in the Fountain Observatory galaxies.  Last night, I made that my first goal.  It was an interesting battle, but didn’t contain much of anything new.  After defeating him, I headed to the third observatory, the Kitchen Observatory.  I had enough stars at this point to unlock the Bowser battle of this observatory, but decided to start with the regular galaxies to build up my star count for future observatories.  My first conquest was the one-star Bubble Breeze Galaxy.  This galaxy presented a new feature to the game: the bubble.  When inside the bubble, the map is viewed two-dimensionally from the top.  You use your controller to blow the bubble in the desired direction, avoiding giant spiked mines and other hazards.  This was a fun way to get through a level.  I have not yet encountered any other comets, but I will eventually, of that I am sure.  Following the Bubble Breeze Galaxy, I took my first shot at the three-star Beach Bowl Galaxy.  This is the first galaxy that contains a water element, and is one of those half-in/half-out levels that I so prefer to the all-in levels.  It was a fairly easy star to get.  At this point, I have 29 stars and over 1600 star bits.

Progress Update 6 coming soon!

-Because I said so

Shortly after we wrapped up episode 15 of the MehCast, I fired up the Wii and got into a new set of Super Mario Galaxy adventures.  I mentioned the Prankster Comets in my third progress update, and I have some more details now due to experiencing two more last night.  I gained another star from the Terrace Observatory via the Good Egg Galaxy using a Speedy Comet, as well as completing the Fountain Observatory’s special galaxy, the Sling Pod Galaxy.  Within the Fountain Observatory itself, aside from completing the Space Junk Galaxy, the Hurry-Scurry Galaxy (a one-star galaxy), and the Battlerock Galaxy, I gained extra stars from the Daredevil Comet and the Cosmic Comet.  I had very few details about these two comets in my third update, having had no experience, but now I can verify some of my assumptions.  With the Daredevil Comet, you go through the boss fight with only 1 piece of health.  Sustain a single hit, and it’s time to retry.  After a couple of tries, I finally got through that one.  The Cosmic Comet was much easier, consisting of a special race (this one was on foot) through the level to a special star.  First one to the star wins.  Very straightforward, very simple (so far).  I have not yet experienced the Fast Foe Comet, but am looking forward to it.  I now have every star from the first two observatories except for the Bowser star from the Fountain Observatory.  I just finished gathering all of the other observatory stars, so Bowser is up next!  I’ll let everyone know how it went in progress update 5.

-Because I said so

In my third progress update, we continue on our path of conquering the Fountain Observatory galaxies, having completely conquered the Terrace Observatory galaxies by the second progress update.  Currently, I stand at 17 stars and over 1,000 star bits.  I have completed the Space Junk galaxy, and when next I play, I will be challenging the Battlerock galaxy.  I beat the special Rolling Green galaxy in my second progress update, but didn’t go into very much detail about it.  It was very interesting, and consisted of Mario keeping balance on top of a large hamster-ball containing a star, which had to be navigated through the course into the hole at the end.  Very fun, but difficult at times.  I currently have enough stars to battle Bowser in the Fountain Observatory, but as the game will become progressively harder, and stars will be more difficult to come by, I prefer to stockpile as many of the easier stars as I can in order to alleviate future frustration and fury.

Last night, I encountered a new feature of the game. I was informed that “Prankster Comets” had arrived.  Each type of prankster comet has a different effect on the galaxy it happens to be orbiting.  These comets can provide special bonus stars that would not otherwise be available.  The four types of prankster comet were explained:

Speedy Comets:  These comets limit the amount of time you spend in the galaxy.  They put you through a star course that you have completed already, but with a time limit.  If you complete the course within the time limit, you get a bonus star.  This is the only one I have experienced so far.

Daredevil Comets:  These comets leave you with low life in a level.  I have not experienced this one further to give more details, but I assume you start with 1-2 bars of life (out of 3), and are most likely unable to replenish beyond that limit.

Cosmic Comets:  These comets make you race a cosmic mirror version of your character.  From what I’ve read, if you hit a galaxy with a cosmic comet in orbit, you merely have to beat your doppelganger in a race to win the star.

Fast Foe Comets:  These comets make your enemies move faster.  I assume this works in the same way as the speedy comet, in that you complete a full star course, but with the added hurdle of faster enemies (instead of a time limit).

So far, I’m very intrigued by this feature.  I can’t wait to try out the other comet courses to gain extra stars, as well as the bonus galaxies I have gained outside of the Observatories (I have uncovered two, and beaten one).

Progress Update 4 will be coming soon!

-Because I said so

Last night, in between watching the Food Network, Scrubs, DVR’d episodes of WCG Ultimate Gamer, and the season premiere of Dinner: Impossible, I found time to squeeze in some more Super Mario Galaxy.  I’ve completed the first set of Galaxies completely (both of the full three-star galaxies, all three special one-star galaxies, and the Bowser, Jr. boss galaxy), and have started in on the second set of Galaxies, completing one of the special one-star galaxies so far.  There have been a few “figure it out” moments for completing certain areas, but overall it’s been a lot of fun.

I do have one returning gripe from Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS.  I give due attention to building my number of lives by way of gathering coins, star bits, and 1-up mushrooms whenever possible, generally getting well into double digits.  However, the next time you start up your saved game, no matter how many lives you have built up, you always return to only 4.  I find this to be ridiculous, because I do put a great deal of effort into gathering the items necessary for building my reserve of extra lives, apparently only to have that effort completely wasted the next time I play.

Humbug, I say.

-Because I said so

Today, for the first time in almost two months, I spent some time with Super Mario Galaxy on our Wii.  I had played through the first star back in February when we first got it, but put it aside for a very long time in favor of Animal Crossing, since it is such a relaxing game.  For some reason, though, Mario caught my eye this morning, and I decided to give it some love.

Having spent more time playing, I have been getting more accustomed to the unique (and, at times, impractical) camera angles of the game.  I’ve been enjoying the gravity features of the game, and I had a great time during my brief stint as Bee Mario!  I’m up to 4 stars and over 600 Star Bits now, with quite a ways to go!  I’m looking forward to playing more and letting you all know how I’m progressing.

-Because I said so