While quality graphics are immediately appreciated, quality sound also contributes greatly to immersing the player. The NWR 2007 Award for Best Sound is given to the game with sound that really brings the player into its world.

Wii - Best Sound

Super Mario Galaxy

Galaxy's soundtrack was a complete surprise. A quality soundtrack for a top-tier Mario game is nothing new, but orchestrated songs were totally unexpected! Beautiful melodies—both orchestrated and synthesized—match the game's lonely, yet energetic and triumphant personality. Whether slightly remixed music from Super Mario Bros. 3 or something completely different, Galaxy's music manages to combine the old and the new in a wonderful way. There’s not a tune in Galaxy which won’t get stuck in your head, and among modern games that’s an achievement in itself. Hilarious sound effects and retro tunes flesh out the aural experience, and voice acting is tastefully limited. Bravo, Mario!

Runner-up: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

The haunting musical scores of Corruption may not rise to the level of greatness achieved by the original Metroid Prime, but they come darn close. What really separates Corruption from the pack is its dedication to realistic sound effects. Whether you're hearing the wind in your face while ziplining across islands in Skytown, or hearing your own ship’s boosters kick in when you launch to another planet, Corruption's sound makes it a very magical experience. It’s just another way that Retro paid attention to detail, and we thank them for it.