Super Mario Galaxy’s soundtrack is stunning. Many went crazy over the clip Nintendo put out of them playing a theme from it (me being one of them) and I honestly don’t think the soundtrack gets enough props. It’s without a doubt one of the most grandiose soundtracks Nintendo has ever done and it sticks out because the music went above and beyond what you expected for a Super Mario game.

There are many highlights from the soundtrack, but I decided to go with “Battle rock galaxy”. It sounds like something straight out of a Star Wars movie. It really is just big and grand. The music alone is amazing, but it really is something else when you have the game play and stunning visuals to go along with it. The music also has intricate changes in melody as you play the game: with sections changing as you move from area to area and as you launch from star pads. Unfortunately this isn’t all showcased on the version on the original soundtrack CD – but you can still hear how quality the music is. I tagged the piece “Space peace” at the beginning of “Battle rock galaxy” because it is a completely stripped down version of the same song and it seemed fitting to tie them together. Plus it acts as a nice prelude to the main piece.

Listen: Space peace / Battle rock galaxy

Composed by Mahito Yokota & Koji Kondo
Super Mario Galaxy OST
© 2007 Nintendo

For the mp3 players: Space peace / Battlerock galaxy

This game isn’t brand brand new, but I’ve decided to review it. Not everybody buys video games on the day of their release and plus – if I wanna review a game I’m gonna do so dammit! So if you have yet to experience Super Mario Galaxy and are wondering whether or not it’s worth your time and money, read on. Dark Diamond’s got ya covered.

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It’s just not fair is it. As if Japan doesn’t get enough of the cool stuff as it is, we’re teased and given constant reminders of the cool shit that is exclusive to the land of the rising sun that we will never, ever, ever get. Unless we either: move to live in Japan or have a Japanese pen pal who is fascinated by our Western being and is willing to Fed Ex all the good stuff with no strings attached.

Club Nintendo in Japan is the absolute shit. Every now and then it has some kick arse merchandise up for grabs and this month see’s some good ‘uns. To commemorate the release of Super Mario Galaxy, Club Nintendo points can be redeemed for a SNES replica classic controller, a copy of the Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack and a Mario calendar! I want that replica controller and 2 CD Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack so BAD!!

North America doesn’t have a Club Nintendo, but Europe does. I can’t even gloat about that, because Club Nintendo Europe is doo doo and it’s not even available to all of the countries within Europe! I’ve never bothered to join it because I don’t see the point unless the goods are as decent as what Club Nintendo Japan offer. I’ve still got the little scratch cards and slips in the cases of my first party games for the GameCube, DS and Wii. So I may sign up and redeem some star points in the vain hope one day I’ll be eligible for a SNES replica classic controller and the Super Mario galaxy soundtrack. Though deep down I know that shit will never be made available for European Club Nintendo members. *sigh* 

I feel so dirty. I went and attended a midnight launch for a game. Despite being able to buy it the next day much cheaper at my local supermarket, not being able to play it when I got home anyway and promising myself that I’d never, ever attend a midnight launch again after f’ing and blinding how shitty the official UK Wii launch was. But lo and behold. I found myself at another midnight launch. For another Nintendo product and also on the same street the Wii launch took place. *sighs* I tell ya. The things I do for Nintendo.

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GAME (the largest retailer of video games in the UK for those who don’t know) are holding launch events from 6pm to 9pm where they will be officially selling Super Mario Galaxy a day early and also dishing out some Nintendo and Super Mario themed goodies, one of which includes an umbrella! This event will be held at the following stores…

• London: Oxford Street
• Manchester: Trafford
• Birmingham: Bullring
• Glasgow: Sauchehall street
• Gateshead: Metro centre
• Cardiff: Queen street
• Belfast: Donegail arcade
• Dublin: Dawson street

There will also be some cosplay going down at the events, with a free copy of Super Mario Galaxy going to the best cosplayer.

I may actually attend the Oxford street event, seeing as I have this Thursday off of work, have a couple of friends who work within that area whom I could meet up with and I actually need to start some Christmas shopping. I swore after attending the official UK Wii launch (which also took place at Oxford street) that I’d never attend a launch gig again. But seeing as this one is at a socialable hour and I can make a complete day of it – I’ll take the bait. Plus, I want a damn umbrella. I lost my last one at Uni. So I’m hoping to snag a cool new one for free. When you live in the UK you should never turn up a chance at a free umbrella. It rains 11 months of the year over here.

[Cubed3]

Nintendo really are going all out for Super Mario Galaxy. As if the next gen graphics, kick arse platforming action, new play mechanics, tight controls and all round awesomeness wasn’t enough – the game will also feature an orchestrated soundtrack! Not every piece in the game will be orchestrated, but a bunch of songs will be. This marks the first time a Mario adventure will feature as such. The last Nintendo game to be graced with a fully orchestrated soundtrack was StarFox: Assault. The music in StarFox: Assault was awesome. It’s just a shame it was wasted on such a rubbish game.

Check out this video of a recording session of an orchestra playing a piece from Super Mario Galaxy. It sounds fantastic. Without a doubt the most grand and epic sounding piece to ever feature in a Mario game. Koji Kondo (Composer of the soundtrack) and Shigeru Miyamoto (Producer of the game ) don’t look too impressed though. They just sit there like patients waiting to be seen in a hospital.

Dark Diamond readers may or may not know this, but resident editor and contributor tskiller is an accomplished bassoon player. He is actually part of the woodwind section in the video above, but you can’t see him. They flew him in to Tokyo especially. He’s THAT good.

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Okay, so I’m lying. But tskiller is a bassoon player and he could’ve been a part of the Super Mario Galaxy orchestra if he wanted to. He just chose not to.

It’s great to hear an original piece of Super Mario music that sounds so grand and doesn’t work in that SAME old theme we’ve had drummed into our brains over the past two decades. Though a Super Mario game wouldn’t be complete without said theme and I can confirm it does feature in Super Mario galaxy in remixed form. I’m just glad Koji Kondo did away with that French caf? bullshit that played throughout Super rubbish Sunshine. The music in that game was bad enough to make me wish I was deaf.

The official Japanese TV spot for Super Mario Galaxy has been released and it looks all kinds of awesome. Japanese TV spots for video games look and work better than the shitty TV spots the Western world gets. They really do sell the game to you and the Japanese announcer sounds as though he whole heartedly believes in the game and that you should go out and buy three copies of it. Check it out. This game looks like heaven. If heaven were overweight, wore a cap, dungarees and had a moustache.

I’ve just ordered 2 of Super Mario Galaxy copies on amazon. I’ll also be buying my Grandfather a copy of this game. He doesn’t own a Wii. Shoot, he isn’t even alive! But I’m buying him a copy anyway because Super Mario Galaxy looks THAT good. After watching the video I refuse to believe the Wii is a GameCube 1.5. That shit looked like it was running on an Xbox 360!

If Nintendo are on a mission to make out like the dismal Super Mario Sunshine never happened, then they’re doing a grand old job. I may actually trade that piece of shit in to buy this game.

Mario is on his way back (not that he ever left) and by the looks of things he is making out like the stumble that was the shit-tastic Super Mario Sunshine never happened. Several official new videos of Mario and his new power-ups have been released and they all look awesome. At the risk of grinding your computer to a halt at trying to load a bunch of flash videos containing all manner of Super Mario related awesomeness, you can check the plump, red capped one showing off four of his six brand spankin’ new power ups after the jump – along with confirmation that Boo’s are gay.

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