Review: Super Mario Galaxy 2

Hard to believe it’s been almost three years since Mario last took to the stars. Super Mario Galaxy was a huge success for Nintendo, so it really didn’t come as a surprise to hear at last year’s E3 that a sequel was in the works. Now, one year later, we finally get our hands on the latest Mario game. Does it live up to our expectations? For the most part, yes.

The Story

Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach! Like you didn’t see that one coming. The King Koopa has taken the Princess deep into space, and it’s your job to once again rescue her from his clutches.

Okay, so the story line isn’t exactly original, but what is new this time around is your sidekick. You won’t be heading out on this adventure alone. Your faithful companion (no, not Luigi) Yoshi will be joining you along the way as you planet hop from galaxy to galaxy to  hunt down Bowser and reclaim your Princess.

The Gameplay

For those of you who have played the original Super Mario Galaxy, you’ll be feeling right at home. The gameplay is virtually identical. You hop from planet to planet collecting power stars. The more Power Stars you collect, the more planets you unlock to explore, and the closer you get to rescuing the Princess.

Gravity plays a major role in gameplay. Some of the smaller planets you explore have a gravitational force which keeps you grounded as you run around in circles. If you jump high enough the gravitational pull of another planet will pull you in, helping you progress through individual levels. Gravity plays less of a role on the larger planets where your platforming skills become more of a priority to reach the goal.

While the game plays primarily in a 3D environment, there are times when the camera will swivel and gameplay turns to a 2D side scroller. The 2D scenes have a nice feeling of depth, so they almost feel 3D. The camera angle switch is a neat little trick that keeps the game interesting because it happens when you least expect it.

Despite a whole slew of new power-ups, (more on that in a bit) Mario can once again interact with animals. In Super Mario Galaxy you got to ride a Manta Ray, this time you’ll befriend a bird who can glide through levels.

Two player mode also returns. A friend can join in as Luigi and point the Wiimote at the screen to collect star bits that can be used to purchase items or open new planets to explore.

The PowerUps

There’s a reason Mario is  referred to as Super Mario. It’s all about the power-ups, and there are plenty of them. A few familiar power-ups make a return such as Bee Suit Mario which enables you to fly for short periods of time, and Boo Mario which turns him into a Boo Ghost. New ones have also been added to the mix. We now have a Rock Mushroom which turns our hero into a spinning boulder that can flatten enemies or break obstacles. The Cloud Flower will give Mario the ability to create temporary cloud platforms which will help you get access to higher ground.

Even Yoshi has a few power-ups of his own. When Yoshi eats a blimp berry he is able to catch some air. And then there’s the hot pepper which gives our little dino buddy a powerful burst of speed which can be used to run up steep hills or walls.

The Graphics

Super Mario Galaxy 2 looks sharp. The colours are bright, the enemies well animated. It’s like a pop-up story book came alive in your living room. Does it look much better than the original game? No, I wouldn’t say it does, but that’s not a bad thing because the original game looked solid.

Music plays a big role in Super Mario titles. While most of the game’s music is brand new, there are still a few throw backs to past games in the series. Remember the music that plays on the donut lift stages in Super Mario World? It’s back, along with a few other memorable tunes. Players will also recognize some of the classic sound effects we’ve grown to love, including the little “Yoshi” squeal your dinosaur buddy lets out when you jump on him. The feeling of nostalgia hits you like a ton of bricks.

The Downsides

The game is rock solid, there’s no denying that. If I had to get picky (and I will) it would be that this title may seem a bit too familiar. The game was originally supposed to be an expansion to Super Mario Galaxy, but Nintendo was able to scrounge together enough new content to warrant a sequel. At times this shows. Some will say this is not a bad thing as the original game was so good, but some will feel disappointed and question if this is simply a rehash.

The Bottom Line

Nintendo knows how to make a good platformer, especially when it involves their prized mascot Mario. There’s no denying Super Mario Galaxy 2 is top notch, from the graphics down to the gameplay. Sure, some will criticize the game feels too much like its predecessor, but the bottom line is it’s fun and that’s what gaming is all about. Another win for the Nintendo camp.

The Good

Fun gameplay
Beautiful, colourful graphics
Cool new power-ups

The Bad

Have we played this game before?