Cheats: WII
Super Mario Galaxy 2 hopes to continue its predecessor’s ingenious use of warped gravity and hopping worlds to reach even greater heights. Find out if it succeeds or falls short in the full review!
Super Mario Galaxy 2 has quite a pedigree to live up to. Super Mario 64 back on the Nintendo 64 brought platforming into the third dimension without skipping a beat, the Wii’s Super Mario Galaxy only upped the ante, and Super Mario Sunshine, well…they can’t all be winners, right? Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped Nintendo from churning out another A-grade Mario adventure even among its peers. Anyone who has played Mario Galaxy should know most of what they’re getting into straight away, but even that familiarity can’t distill the creativity displayed in its levels.
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That isn’t to say that there’s nothing new to see in SMG2. Mario’s mascot companion Yoshi makes his trembling return to the series proper, aiding Mario by eating various obstacles in his way and even using his tongue as a lasso to climb to greater heights. The fire flower returns, allowing Mario to blast anything in his path albeit for a short period of time. Not everything is old being made new again however, as you’ll receive power-ups like the cloud flower that allows Mario to produce up to three clouds to reach platforms that would normally be out of reach. While these power-ups are fun to use and add some flavor to Mario’s usual arsenal of moves, the level design is what shines brightest in this and most every Mario game. The power-ups are never placed at random, always intended to help you traverse a part of the level that would be impossible or very difficult without its ability. As impressive as it is, I can’t think of a single instance in my time with the game where a location felt uninspired or lazy. For a second entry in the Galaxy series, it’s truly impressive just how much Nintendo managed to squeeze out of the creative tank.
If there is any one thing that defines a good Mario game as much as its level design, it would be the tight controls. Mario Galaxy delivers on this front for the most part, though there are instances here and there where the control scheme fails to be intuitive due to a shifting perspective or quickly changing gravity. There was one instance where I felt it to be such a detriment that it effected my enjoyment of the game, but it isn’t an issue worth putting too much emphasis on. For the other 99% of the game Mario controls as tightly as you would expect, long-jumping and butt-stomping on command. It’s also worth noting that the ability to shoot stars at your enemies via the Wii remote is also still available, and in addition a friend can still pick up a second controller to help you out. It’s certainly true that this second player will ultimately feel like they’re playing second fiddle, but it is at least a modestly fun inclusion.
While it almost doesn’t’ seem worth touching on, the story in SMG2 is exactly what you would expect from a Mario game. Princess Peach has invited the jovial plumber over to watch the stars and have some cake. Alas, it is not to be as that dastardly Bowser arrives just ahead of Mario and kidnaps the princess. He heads off to the center of the universe, and Mario gives chase. With the help of the star-like Luma creatures who give him a ship shaped like his head, Mario follows Bowser’s trail. He has to find power stars in the various worlds along the way in order to fuel the ship and travel further. It’s all very simple, but really what would a standard Mario game be where the premise more complicated?
Super Mario Galaxy 2 also looks very similar to its predecessor. It’s easy to appreciate the bright, colorful worlds of the game, but naturally it can’t be expected to be compared to HD games. Even still, for anyone tired of all the brown and grey games floating around out there right now it offers a nice breath of fresh air. The camera is also almost always cooperative, rarely putting you in a bad situation. While it is not always available, you can also shift the perspective of the camera by using the directional pad on the Wii remote left and right. Pressing up will send you into a first-person perspective to get a good look at your surroundings.
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The music in SMG2 is in a word, fantastic. It touts a fully orchestral soundtrack with many remixed themes from Mario games of old. For the older gamer that’s played Mario’s earlier adventures (like yours truly) it’s sure to win a smile. In the very first scene of the game you’ll hear a rendition of the Mario 3’s Bowser flying boats theme. It tickles the nostalgia funny bone in just the right way. As far as the in-game sounds, it’s full of gamey chimes, thomps, and dings that fit right in with the bright, colorful aesthetic that defines Mario. Naturally, those that have played the original Mario Galaxy will find much of this familiar, but don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.
As you jump your way through SMG2’s plethora of inspired, sometimes difficult worlds, anyone that’s played a 3D Mario is sure to experience a bit of déjà vu here and there. I’m here to tell you not to let that fear of those similarities keep you from experiencing this latest title. Yes, this is very much a Mario game, and even more, at times it is almost indiscernible from the first Mario Galaxy game. However, what keeps it running so strong is the creative interplay between Mario’s powers and the levels and Nintendo’s still got it. Anyone looking for an exciting platforming adventure to keep them busy need look no further than Super Mario Galaxy 2.
| STORY: | 3 |
| GRAPHICS & DESIGN: | 8.5 |
| SOUND: | 9.5 |
| GAMEPLAY: | 9.5 |
| FUNFACTOR/TILT: | 9.5 |
| OVERALL SCORE: | 9/10 |
–Andrew Glasco
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Hey, this game is lots of fun, the levels are much deeper and the music is great !!!