When approaching a sequel like Super Mario Galaxy 2, it’s a natural instinct to enquire just how different it is to its immediate predecessor. If you’re wondering whether or not the plumber’s new outing brings anything fresh to the table, take a look at our guide to what’s new and different in Nintendo’s latest Wii epic, here in this part of our Super Mario Galaxy 2 review.
Read our Super Mario Galaxy 2 review
Super Mario Galaxy 2 review
Super Mario Galaxy 2 review: Exploring the galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy 2 review: Mario’s new powers
At first glance Super Mario Galaxy 2 bears an uncannily resemblance to its prequel: once again the gameplay takes place in different “galaxies” where the player must negotiate their way from one end of the level to another. Mario’s abilities – such as the ground stomp, triple-jump and spin attack – all make a return, as does the star pointer mechanic where you can collect and fire Star Bits using the Wii Remote’s point facility.
However, to dismiss this game as a mere retread of the original is doing Super Mario Galaxy 2 a criminal disservice: there’s plenty on offer in Nintendo’s most recent blockbuster to keep veteran players contented.
Anybody old enough to have enjoyed the SNES entry Super Mario World will no doubt have fond memories of the first time they leapt onto Yoshi’s back (lewd thoughts notwithstanding, of course). The green dino’s triumphant return in Super Mario Galaxy 2 is well worth making a song and dance about: just as was the case in the aforementioned 16-bit release, his presence has an incredible impact on the gameplay.
When perched upon Yoshi’s back Mario can dispatch enemies with a flick of the dinosaur’s incredibly flexible tongue. This appendage can also be used to grapple onto certain objects in order to swing up to higher points in each level. That’s not all though: Yoshi is also capable of hovering briefly in mid-air, which proves incredibly useful when it comes to touching-down safely on some of Super Mario Galaxy 2’s many hard-to-reach platforms.
Yoshi is also able to gobble down various power-ups in Super Mario Galaxy 2 which further increase his usefulness: the Dash Pepper grants a speed boost which allows the player to overcome steep hills and the Bulb Berry illuminates dark areas. Finally there’s the Blimp Berry, which calls to mind a similar power-up previously seen in Super Mario World.
One of the less-obvious additions to Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the appearance of Mario’s lanky brother Luigi. It’s possible to unlock this famous sibling on certain levels and completing a world whilst controlling him earns you the opportunity to race against the developer’s ghost-like Luigi to see if you can finish the stage in a quicker time. These “ghost runs” also offer up secret areas which you may not previously have discovered.
It’s not just the content of Super Mario Galaxy 2 which is refreshingly different: the way in which the game is structured has also undergone radical changes. The hub world concept of the first title has been jettisoned in favour of an old-school map layout, where you move the Mario-shaped spaceship from location to location.
Finally there’s what is possibly the most controversial aspect of the entire game, the much-hyped Super Guide mode, first seen in New Super Mario Bros for Wii last year. Nintendo has assured us that this new feature – which attempts to make games enjoyable for everyone, even those with minimal gaming skills – will make its way into the majority of its titles. In Super Mario Galaxy 2, Super Guide becomes Cosmic Guide, where the player relinquishes control of Mario for short sections, thereby overcoming tricky points. The downside is that any stars gained using this method are displayed in a dour shade of bronze, reminding you of your failure to truly rise to the challenge.
Read our Super Mario Galaxy 2 review
Super Mario Galaxy 2 review
Super Mario Galaxy 2 review: Exploring the galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy 2 review: Mario’s new powers
