Super Mario Galaxy 2 Retrospective

Continue Play's Ewan Moore looks back at Nintendo’s masterpiece – a wonderfully subversive game which redefined the platforming genre.

"Let’s cut to the chase: Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a masterpiece, easily one of the greatest platform games of the last twenty years, and right up there as one of the greatest games of all time. It’s also been recently made available on the Wii U eShop. If you haven’t played it, you need to go and do so now. To pass it over is to ignore one of the most important Nintendo releases of the last decade, but to ignore one the most important games ever released, period."

[MSBAUSTX]

Agreed

[ContinuePlay]

It really is a beautiful game. A slight shame that the recent Wii U release is only compatible with wiimote and nunchuk; there's no real reason for the game not to include gamepad support (and it would be fantastic if you could play via the gamepad's screen).

[3-4-5]

uhh your kidding right?

* The ENTIRE galaxy games built completely 100% around the motion controls of the wii mote.

You literally couldn't do the things you want on just a gamepad, the way SMG1/2 currently plays.

I believe you'd have to re-code parts of the game right? I don't know much about that.

[ContinuePlay]

@3-4-5

We beg to disagree. Outside of waggling the wiimote to spin Mario (something which could easily have been mapped to a shoulder button as in previous games) and pointing to pick up stars (which actually doesn't really serve much purpose, and could instead have been mapped to stylus control on Gamepad), there's very little utilization of motion control in SMG and SMG2.

But such things are mere niggles in a game which is otherwise as close to perfect as they come. Simply put, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a triumph. It's easily the best release that the Wii ever saw, and redefines the platforming genre. It could have so easily felt like a mere rehash of the first game; but the sheer creativity, invention and subversiveness in the sequel elevates it so far beyond its predecessor that the first Galaxy game feels almost like a prototype in comparison.

[MSBAUSTX]

I don't know how it works yet since I haven't played it after downloading it but when I pop in a Wii game I can play it on the gamepad screen. I don't see why that wouldn't be possible with this game just because it is a digital download. I play Goldeneye from the Wii on my Wii U gamepad all the time with the classic controller plugged in to the wii mote.

Also I read that any game they release that had classic controller compatibility will allow the gamepad controls to be used in the game. So it isn't as bad as you think. Also I agree with 3-4-5. The Galaxy games were built around the motion controls and that is something developed in the game itself. It would have to be reprogrammed in order to change that and that would have made it a lot more than $19.99 ($9.99 for the first week).

[Mikhal5569]

I couldn't finish reading the entire article. Seemed like there was way too much of a love affair from the author gushing over the title and not enough objective comments out ling the good and the bad.

I had fun with galaxy one, but didn't like the ridiculously easy boss fights and the relatively short length. I avoided Galaxy two because I heard it was basically part one with new levels and you get to ride Yoshi.

(Open question to all) Is part two worth picking up or is it part one over again?

[WeAreLegion]

Well, the boss fights are just as easy in 2. The game, in general, felt a bit easier than the first. However, the new mechanics made for some memorable and fun moments. It's definitely worth the $10 on the eShop. If you didn't like 1, you won't like 2. So, there's my honest opinion.

[IQUITN4G]

I had a tougher time difficulty wise in Galaxy 2 and assumed this was why it didn't sell quite as much. It's not a punishing game I don't think in the same way old Mario games could be of course

I found Galaxy 1 to be insultingly easy frankly but weather it was because I just had more fun doing the tasks involved or because it was slightly harder this time round, Galaxy2 pleased me more I would say than the first game in this regard

It still bothers me more than anything though that much of the interactive skillset and combining of moves from SM64 were removed altogether for both these games leaving them feeling almost two dimensional. It's like Shigeru was trying recreate the essence of 2d into 3d and there he definitely succeeded

I would personally recommend Galaxy 2 for the £9 it's currently at, but suggest you play it for the game it is rather than what you hope it to be

[higgins78]

You heard? Let me set the record straight - from somebody who played both 1 & 2 to completion. Galaxy 2 - while not wowing in the same way of its predecessor (obviously) was at minimum equal to that of the original, at most? way, way better. As for cons...none exist. Boss fights too easy? Rubbish! Yes, none are Dark Souls hard but that would defeat the point. As with the best from Nintendo the learning curve flawless.

[ContinuePlay]

The writer in question (Ewan) actually mentions the difference in challenge between the first and second game, and also goes into some detail about the differences between the two games.

[Jag-T1000]

I bought this game on the wii-u because it was $10. If they keep releasing these games at $10, I will buy them all.

[Bronxs15]

There is actually quite a few uses of the motion controls that is fun. For examples at times you fly a bird like creature and hold the remote horizontally like you would a plane. And when your rock mario you hold it straight up vertically mimicking the old sidewinder remotes used for like controlling jets. As well the pointer is used for more gameplay elements than collectin starbits.

While running around controlling mario you can stun other enemies. Also using yoshi's with the pointer. Just two examples there are other uses too.

I'd be sceptical of someone who said motion controlls weren't utilized well in Galaxy 2. They probably didn't complete the full game.

[jcnba28]

Greatest platformer of all time IMO.

[Metallox]

Both Galaxy and its sequel suffer from an irregular camera, so I'll stick with 3D World as the most solid platformer.