It seems that I deserved a slap in the face, and thank God, Nintendo gave it to me.

Though I pretty much enjoyed Wii Sport Resort (and I still do) and before that Punch Out!!, though still considering them pretty good games, I felt that Nintendo's offering had lost its charm, what made each new game magical back in the middle 90's. Maybe that was the reason I didn't get NSMBWii for chritsmas. I didn't want to be disappointed. I rather remember 2d platforming as back in the SNES times, not as Wario Land: Shake it.

Mario 64 made me gigle. I remember how excited I was my first playthrough, each and every single one of the 120 stars. But then, the first Galaxy, though beautiful, couldn't quite accomplish what the 64. Ok, yeah. Mario 64 was the first time I was playing a wonderful 3D platformer and that should be enough to remember it over many other games, but I am not talking about that. I am talking about genious. I am talking about those moments in which you are not only having fun but you are witnessing or experiencing something special. Mario 64 had lots of those moments, Galaxy not as many as I was expecting.

Anyway, after catching on for a coupple of months with PS3 offering I decided I needed to try NSMBWii and Galaxy 2 out. Even in the worst scenario, they should be great games.

I am really glad I did. I don't know if it is just me, but I feel that along the upscale in difficulty, they have put so much creativity in both games! Specially in Galaxy 2. It just drags me to discover what they came up with next all the time. All of the boss fights are amazing and some of them not only clever but utterly cute (I had to wake up my wife to come to witness a sleepy boss that reminded me of my baby girl, both of them are so cute!). It is SMW: Yoshi's Island level!

And NSMBWii is so much fun! I already beat it but I still have to get some star coins (specially on secret levels). I think Nintendo made their point with that game for all the way: gameplay over anything. It was like them telling us: "you don't need fancy graphics, you don't need dual analogues, you don't even need a plot... It's all about gameplay".

Maybe my mistake was that because I had played these kind of games for thousands of times and lately I was pretty much enjoying new experiences, I thought I couldn't feel any excitement out of platformers anymore. Gladly, I was so wrong.

Anyway. I just wanted to share how HAPPY I am with both games, and not only with them, but also with my renewed faith for Nintendo.

Metroid: OM looks terrific. We'll see what E3 brings us pretty soon.

I've been really happy with Nintendo's games this generation, especially when it comes to the Mario games. My brother and I really enjoyed playing through the New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The gameplay is really fun and addicting, and it reminds me a lot of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World. The Super Mario Galaxy games are quite fun too, and are probably the best 3D Mario games since Super Mario 64. I personally didn't enjoy Super Mario Sunshine for the GameCube too much.

Nintendo of these days is high-quality, but I don't think that them or any other developer I know now can really compete against how they and Rare  were in mid 90s.

@ Dixie: I haven't played Sunshine yet (I skipped the GC-PS2 generation) but I really don't feel like I missed a lot. I may try it sometime, but there are so many games I want to try out and even so many games I own that I haven't finished that I just don't see it happening soon, if ever.

@ freebs2: that duo was outstanding. It's such a pity it didn't last long!

This is why I love Nintendo.
They don't distract you from the gameplay with fancy graphics or a deep storyline, or at least, they don't need to.

A lot of things that were tried in Sunshine or DK Jungle Beat showed up in refined forms in Galaxy. 

Ironically, those who decry the quality of some games I don't think ever give them a chance. I bought the GC last of the three machines from that generation. It is the only one I still play.

Mike from Morgantown

Nintendo has always had it

I hope they never lose it! - - - - and i hope more devs get it too :D

NSMB Wii was the reason i got the Wii.  There's no game that can be more fun and simple than 2D Mario with controls of just a D-pad and only 2 buttons.  Simplistic perfection, Nintendo's got that.

At the same time, they did an outstanding implementation with the motion capabilities of the wiimote! Many levels, 8-5 in particular, do make a very smart and funny use of it.