Super Mario Galaxy 2
Platforms: Wii
Players: 1-2
Original Release Date(s): May 23 2010(US), Jun 11 2010(EU), Jun 30 2010(AU), May 27 2010(JP)
I was going to directly compare the two Super Mario Galaxy games out right in this review, but then I thought despite the fact that they are sequels and use the same game engine the whole structure of both games is vastly different, really giving you a ton of variety between the two games, Instead I am mainly reviewing this game as a stand alone although there will be some comparisons to the original, but it does take a very different approach to what the first game did.
Now I have that out the way this game has the distinction of being the first new sequel to a Mario game on the same console since the days of the SNES, the last two generation only seen one game released per system, and the Gameboy Advance had none at all only remakes, and the Wii is the first console since the NES to have three brand new Mario games released on it since the NES, so for any one saying Mario games are milked, fans of the series have normally had to wait many years between games until this generation that is.
Presentation
Right from the very get go the game has the same high quality presentation as Super Mario Galaxy, the story is presented in a story book fashion, but other than how the story is presented and the menu system for selecting the stars on each level. After that though it is very different indeed as there is no real hub world to speak of that has been a trademark of all of the 3D Mario games, you can count Starship Mario I guess but that is very small, instead the game goes for a much more traditional approach and goes with a world map divided into worlds, while it does cut down on the in between level exploring it does offer a much quicker way of accessing levels.
The cut down on the lack of exploring also translates to the level design as many are much more straight forward compared to any of the 3D Mario titles in the past, but often feel longer in length and have multiple restart points through out, overall the game is a blend of Super Mario Galaxy and New Super Mario Bros. Wii and that really isn't a bad thing and is certainly very unique because of it.
Graphics
The original Galaxy did set a new standard for how a Wii game could look and not only does Galaxy 2 continue using the same great engine but it also manages to improve on it in pretty much every way by refining everything that is on offer, it still offers the same great artistic style as the last game and just adds more of everything really, and each level looks very much different to the last while still retaining that classic Mario look.
Once again the game also manage to capture that nostalgic look while updating and bringing it to full 3D as not only doe older characters and enemies appear such as Yoshi, Lakitu and Spinies but older levels from previous games also make a return which certainly gives fans of the series something else to get nostalgic over.
Sound
The one area of the game that really needed no improving and once again Nintendo delivers with on of the best soundtracks of any of it's games, going with a full orchestral sound track much like they do with all of there biggest games these days, it really does continue the standard for any games on the Wii and what you can do with just two speakers, no tunes are ever dull sounding and again it has mixes of classic Mario tunes as well as new ones too.
Gameplay
While the look and sound of the game hasn't really changed a whole lot since the first game other than the refinements that have happened, the gameplay is different it takes everything that made the original so good and manages to refine them further, thanks in no small part to the more linear level design, which is definitely not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination because it helps give the game it's own identity and separates it from the original.
Much like the previous game there is a lot of variety in all the levels that are on offer but while the original was fairly easy to beat the main part of the game Galaxy 2 has the difficulty bumped up from the start with much more challenging level design, but much like the first game the difficulty never feels cheap as the level design is such that the more you practice the better you will get at avoiding certain pitfalls.
There are fewer instances of back tracking on each of the galaxies on offer due to the linear nature of the game and the game does adopt a different approach to unlocking how certain stars on each level are unlocked by having a Comet medal that has to be collected on each level
to be able to access them, much in the same vein as the three cold coins per level of the New Super Mario Bros. games.
Nintendo have managed to out do themselves this time managing to make arguably the best balanced platform game to day that is both accessible from a beginning stand point yet challenging for those wanting one.
Lasting Appeal
Since Super Mario Galaxy 2 aims for both accessibility and a challenge it manages to deliver that so just beating the game can take some time ever for veteran Mario players, and that be player of both the 2D and 3D games as Galaxy 2 offers a challenge from both types of level design, so it delivers much more in that aspect than the original which bar a few of the later stars and comet levels the game was fairly easy overall.
Much like previous Mario games once you do have the game beaten and have access to all of those levels you will want to go back and try and beat them all over again and now there is more incentive as the game records you time on each star giving you a new challenge to aim for and this game is certainly not lacking any form of challenge.
Overall
Nintendo has possibly crafted the finest platform game ever right here it checks all of the boxes by looking and sounding great, improving on what has came before and also offering a challenging to those both new to the series and veterans of the series.
Throughout the whole review I have been attempting to think of something negative about the game but I really can't, the only thing is maybe a lack of a hub world that has been a trademark of the 3D games but even that is subjective and down to each persons particular taste in styles, it doesn't make the game any less or more enjoyable.
This game sets a new standard for Mario games from this point forward and for platform games in general, and even Wii games as it offers so much and just shows a game doesn't have to be 100% original to be better than everything that came before it just that it has to learn from the past and refine everything that it offers.
Scores
Players: 1-2
Original Release Date(s): May 23 2010(US), Jun 11 2010(EU), Jun 30 2010(AU), May 27 2010(JP)
I was going to directly compare the two Super Mario Galaxy games out right in this review, but then I thought despite the fact that they are sequels and use the same game engine the whole structure of both games is vastly different, really giving you a ton of variety between the two games, Instead I am mainly reviewing this game as a stand alone although there will be some comparisons to the original, but it does take a very different approach to what the first game did.
Now I have that out the way this game has the distinction of being the first new sequel to a Mario game on the same console since the days of the SNES, the last two generation only seen one game released per system, and the Gameboy Advance had none at all only remakes, and the Wii is the first console since the NES to have three brand new Mario games released on it since the NES, so for any one saying Mario games are milked, fans of the series have normally had to wait many years between games until this generation that is.
Presentation
Right from the very get go the game has the same high quality presentation as Super Mario Galaxy, the story is presented in a story book fashion, but other than how the story is presented and the menu system for selecting the stars on each level. After that though it is very different indeed as there is no real hub world to speak of that has been a trademark of all of the 3D Mario games, you can count Starship Mario I guess but that is very small, instead the game goes for a much more traditional approach and goes with a world map divided into worlds, while it does cut down on the in between level exploring it does offer a much quicker way of accessing levels.
The cut down on the lack of exploring also translates to the level design as many are much more straight forward compared to any of the 3D Mario titles in the past, but often feel longer in length and have multiple restart points through out, overall the game is a blend of Super Mario Galaxy and New Super Mario Bros. Wii and that really isn't a bad thing and is certainly very unique because of it.
Graphics
The original Galaxy did set a new standard for how a Wii game could look and not only does Galaxy 2 continue using the same great engine but it also manages to improve on it in pretty much every way by refining everything that is on offer, it still offers the same great artistic style as the last game and just adds more of everything really, and each level looks very much different to the last while still retaining that classic Mario look.
Once again the game also manage to capture that nostalgic look while updating and bringing it to full 3D as not only doe older characters and enemies appear such as Yoshi, Lakitu and Spinies but older levels from previous games also make a return which certainly gives fans of the series something else to get nostalgic over.
Sound
The one area of the game that really needed no improving and once again Nintendo delivers with on of the best soundtracks of any of it's games, going with a full orchestral sound track much like they do with all of there biggest games these days, it really does continue the standard for any games on the Wii and what you can do with just two speakers, no tunes are ever dull sounding and again it has mixes of classic Mario tunes as well as new ones too.
Gameplay
While the look and sound of the game hasn't really changed a whole lot since the first game other than the refinements that have happened, the gameplay is different it takes everything that made the original so good and manages to refine them further, thanks in no small part to the more linear level design, which is definitely not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination because it helps give the game it's own identity and separates it from the original.
Much like the previous game there is a lot of variety in all the levels that are on offer but while the original was fairly easy to beat the main part of the game Galaxy 2 has the difficulty bumped up from the start with much more challenging level design, but much like the first game the difficulty never feels cheap as the level design is such that the more you practice the better you will get at avoiding certain pitfalls.
There are fewer instances of back tracking on each of the galaxies on offer due to the linear nature of the game and the game does adopt a different approach to unlocking how certain stars on each level are unlocked by having a Comet medal that has to be collected on each level
to be able to access them, much in the same vein as the three cold coins per level of the New Super Mario Bros. games.
Nintendo have managed to out do themselves this time managing to make arguably the best balanced platform game to day that is both accessible from a beginning stand point yet challenging for those wanting one.
Lasting Appeal
Since Super Mario Galaxy 2 aims for both accessibility and a challenge it manages to deliver that so just beating the game can take some time ever for veteran Mario players, and that be player of both the 2D and 3D games as Galaxy 2 offers a challenge from both types of level design, so it delivers much more in that aspect than the original which bar a few of the later stars and comet levels the game was fairly easy overall.
Much like previous Mario games once you do have the game beaten and have access to all of those levels you will want to go back and try and beat them all over again and now there is more incentive as the game records you time on each star giving you a new challenge to aim for and this game is certainly not lacking any form of challenge.
Overall
Nintendo has possibly crafted the finest platform game ever right here it checks all of the boxes by looking and sounding great, improving on what has came before and also offering a challenging to those both new to the series and veterans of the series.
Throughout the whole review I have been attempting to think of something negative about the game but I really can't, the only thing is maybe a lack of a hub world that has been a trademark of the 3D games but even that is subjective and down to each persons particular taste in styles, it doesn't make the game any less or more enjoyable.
This game sets a new standard for Mario games from this point forward and for platform games in general, and even Wii games as it offers so much and just shows a game doesn't have to be 100% original to be better than everything that came before it just that it has to learn from the past and refine everything that it offers.
Scores
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