With Super Mario Galaxy 2, the video gaming world’s most renowned mascot returns for yet another interstellar adventure. To release a second 3D mario adventure on the same console is an unusual move for Nintendo, but is this sequel merely a lethargic remake or does it push platform gaming into new and exciting frontiers? Read our full Super Mario Galaxy 2 review to find out.
Read our Super Mario Galaxy 2 review
Super Mario Galaxy 2 review: What’s new and different?
Super Mario Galaxy 2 review: Exploring the galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy 2 review: Mario’s new powers
The original Super Mario Galaxy was a tremendous achievement and easily ranks as one of the finest video games in existence. However, many gamers felt a little unsure about what to expect when Nintendo announced that it would be producing a direct sequel to the Wii based planet-hopping classic; the company usually prides itself on reinventing its mascot in each instalment (and on new hardware), not slothfully revisiting old ground.
However, it turns out that such misgivings were totally unfounded. Once again Nintendo has expertly crafted a truly mesmerising piece of software that manages to entertain and delight in ways few other titles can: Super Mario Galaxy 2 may recycle many elements from its illustrious predecessor but there’s little reason to grumble when the end result is this deliciously captivating.
Those of you that have grown tired of the typical “Bowser steals Princess” plot which underpins almost every single Mario outing will be pleased to learn that Super Mario Galaxy 2 places far less emphasis on story than its precursor did. The sporadic bouts of dialogue remain snappy and well-written but there’s a lot less to read this time around, which naturally means more of your time is swallowed up by actually playing the game itself.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 truly is a masterclass in video game design. Never before has the player been afforded such complete control over their on-screen avatar: Mario runs, jumps and spins with silk-like precision and the resultant feeling of resonance one experiences with the portly plumber is staggering. It takes mere moments to become attuned to the complexities of the control mechanism and once you do you’ll find yourself attempting all kinds of acrobatics, purely because you have so much confidence in your own ability.
As was the case in the previous game, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is based around small pockets of planets referred to as galaxies. Each object within these galaxies has its own gravitation pull which sucks Mario in; as a result it’s perfectly possible to run around a globe without falling off.
With these ground rules established Nintendo then proceeds to shake things up in the most entertaining fashion imaginable with new features. Super Mario Galaxy 2 contains gravity switches which flip Mario upside down and allow him to walk on the ceiling. The mascot with the most famous moustache in video gaming also has to contend with water-based worlds, upside-down planetoids and hollow space-ships filled with hazards. All of these elements are directly affected by gravity and getting your head around their peculiarities is both a challenge and a joy.
The first title was hardly a slouch when it came to visual impact but Super Mario Galaxy 2 is absolutely jaw-dropping. It really is no exaggeration to say that this title ranks alongside the best the Xbox 360 and PS3 have to offer when it comes to pure aesthetic appeal: it’s only the unfortunate lack of a HD output on the Wii which prevents it from really showing up its more technically-advanced rivals.
When you add in a staggering number of different levels, over 200 different stars to collect, additional powers (such as the drill and Cloud Suit) and the reappearance of series favourite Yoshi, it quickly becomes apparent that Super Mario Galaxy 2 is anything but a lazy rehash of an existing template. This game exists because Nintendo had too many amazing ideas to cram into the confines of the original, pure and simple.
After witnessing the dazzling brilliance of Mario’s latest space romp it feels almost shameful that people questioned Nintendo’s insistence on returning to an established blueprint for Super Mario Galaxy 2. This sequel is pure ecstasy in digital form and effortlessly succeeds in making almost every other release of 2010 look positively ordinary.
Read our Super Mario Galaxy 2 review
Super Mario Galaxy 2 review: What’s new and different?
Super Mario Galaxy 2 review: Exploring the galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy 2 review: Mario’s new powers
