Super Mario Galaxy is a classic, and certainly in the conversation when debating the best ever Mario games; it shone on its Wii debut, and more recently looked rather nice as part of the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection. Imagine, though, if it was playable on Nintendo DS.
That's what a group of four talented homebrew enthusiasts are working on, presumably just because they can. It's a project that has been progressing for a number of months, and a fresh video has been posted showing the Hurry Scurry Galaxy in action. The channel in question - simply called Jesse - assures any disbelievers that all footage and audio is captured on an actual DS.
There are still some missing sound effects, but it's hugely impressive - and definitely fun - to see it in action. There's no denying that there's a certain nostalgia for that DS era fuzz and chunky pixels, and though we'll stick to enjoying the game in its latest HD guise it's amazing what enthusiastic fans with coding skills can achieve.
The likelihood is that the project will remain a playable delight for its creators and no-one else, perhaps for fear of Nintendo taking a disliking to it, but as a concept to watch it's still a treat.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 on DS next, please - or on Switch, if Nintendo feels inclined...
[source youtube.com]
Comments 46
FIRST!!! Very impressive. I would have bought this back in the day. Especially if it was on 3DS; that game would look awesome in 3D!!!
@WhiteTrashGuy I agree, a Super Mario Galaxy port on the 3DS in 3D would have been fantastic!
Wow this is impressive its cool they even got this running
Oof, that’s seriously impressive work. Who even knows what kind of wizardry was used to get the physics working that faithfully.
What I never understand with these projects is why not use the more powerful and more widely available 3DS? I'm aware of the famous hoax but still.
@Screen There is a certain charm in limitations. It's not about making the best version of a game, but about making it on a very limited platform. Making smart compromises and optimizations to have something functional on a DS is very impressive indeed.
@KoopaTheGamer
I'm not saying it isn't impressive, it certainly is.
That’s incredible!
@Screen Yes, I know. I just answered to your question about "why not make it on a more powerful system?"
That said, I'm not even 100% sure this thing is real. I believe there was an April fools once with something quite similar back in the day. It would be relatively easy (well, "easy") to fake it with something like Unity and some nice pixelation shaders/post processing effects.
But I guess it would be pointless for someone to release these videos months apart if it was just faked. So I have faith that this thing is real. Not that it really matters, I don't think this project will ever be public. And even if it was just a video and not a game, making it convincing enough is already quite an impressive feat.
Super nice! The gameplay and movement looks so spot on, I honestly think they had to have pulled some code and animation directly from the original Wii game lol
Also, wondering what they'll use the other screen for. Galaxy's level design structure wouldn't really work with a map, like it did in Mario 64 DS.
This looks familiar: https://youtu.be/3wfY-11edbE?t=1096
@KoopaTheGamer I agree with the skepticism, it still looks like it's running a bit TOO well for all the stuff happening, especially with planets and effects moving around in the background. And the textured look too sharp
@KoopaTheGamer
Super Mario Galaxy originated several years ago as an internet hoax. If this is real it's probably inspired by said hoax.
@Screen I have no idea what you're talking about, but ok?
At least they aren't making shovelware but what a pointless task
I remember believing the "Galaxy DS" hoax as a kid and being super disappointed when I discovered it was fake, so this is really cool to see!
If this is indeed being played on actual DS hardware, then this is some really impressive stuff and I have nothing but respect for the devs.
From a programming perspective, it's impressive. But from an "I want to play a fun game" perspective, I'm not sure why you'd want this. 3D on the DS was pretty ugly. Of course the most important perspective is that of Nintendo, who I'm sure is staring down the aim sight of their cease and desist cannon as we speak.
Yooooooooooooooo
For the video embedded in this article at least, you can tell that the footage is captured from MelonDS emulator through the multi-colored "Resumed" text displayed in the top left corner.
Though, that is evidence that this is working DS code.
Lol why waste time doing this when Nintendo will shut it down lol instead of wasting time doing a game for nothing and make your own game.
Yeah I can't see Nintendo not going after this. It's cool that they got it working but Nintendo gotta Nintendo, y'know?
I'd play this but Nintendo is gonna Nintendo
Might check this out, I love demakes!!
@KoopaTheGamer
I mean that I think they are using the DS to make the hoax a reality, even though it’s harder on themselves.
Waiting for Nintendo to take this down
Worst thing someone can do with a game like this is show it off before it is finished, because Nintendo Ninja's attack fast.
I'm not completely surprised considering we have xenoblade on the 3ds.
Dragon Quest 9 is also a bigger game than Galaxy and its on the ds.
I remember seeing that hoax as a kid and thinking that SMG DS would be coming out any day. While that was obviously a fake, I've no doubt such a thing could actually be possible if somebody put in the effort to make it real.
Why wouldn’t they do it on the 3ds where they can do more
are you kidding me? this looks amazing!
Little kid me would have LOVED to have a portable Mario Galaxy on DS
Pablo Belmonte, your time has come.
Somebody should hire them. This is pretty cool.
People just LOVE getting sued by nintendo and then playing the victim... Enjoy court boys.
Graphically that outshines Super Mario 64 DS by quite a bit! The Mario model is much more detailed/high poly, as is the environment, the textures look quite high res for DS and it is running at a high framerate despite all that is going on. Would love to know how they got it running so well!
Like I said with any fan project that attempts this, you got the skills now make a game that could defined you.
@Grackler And they wouldn't had been able to do all that if they were on a deadline would they?
Wonder how long it'll take for a cease and desist.
The DS still holds the spot as my favorite game system. Great to see people push it to its limits.
Mario 64 was impressive enough on its own on DS. Remember super Mario 3d land on 3ds? It looked very very similar to the Mario galaxy games in gameplay, graphics and stages. I thought for sure we would see both galaxy games on 3da but it never happened. I guess cause they wanted for switch but still. This easily could've been on 3ds but it's a miracle to see that happen on regular DS hardware. What's next? Metroid prime 1 on DS?
@Jhomesjones : Metroid Prime Hunters was one of, if not the most technically (and graphically) impressive game on the system (I still can't get over how beautiful the morph ball looks), so... perhaps?
Dementium also looked fantastic (in silky smooth 60fps no less), but the environments were very samey, and the monsters weren't anywhere near as sophisticated (in appearance or intelligence) as those in Metroid Prime Hunters. Nevertheless, it's still an impressive showcase of just what the humble DS could do.
And Resident Evil: Revelations is probably the most technically impressive 3DS game to date, and it didn't need to forfeit stereoscopic 3D to do it either.
@Silly_G I'd take a prime 1 In format and graphics of prime hunters any day. All that stuff still true today
What this says to me is that developers could have pushed the DS — and presumably the 3DS — a lot harder than they did (assuming this isn't a hoax).
Aaah, panic button at it again, good stuff!
Impressive, but I really don't get why people make these sort of Mods. Nintendo is well known for shutting down fan projects like this. It's just another "ripped IP" in their eyes that will eventually result in this project getting shut down within the next 2-3 years.
Stop. Using. Nintendo. IP. It never ends well.
Thanks Tom, for putting this on Nintendo’s radar. Can’t wait to read the article where these in creative, thriving hacks get a C&D slammed down their throats.
Seriously, why not focus on folk making their own games instead of stealing the work and fort of those that came before?
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