Super Mario Galaxy 2

Nintendo

Wii

7.5 out of 10

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is, like almost every other Mario game, very similar to its predecessor. If you liked the first one, there’s almost no way you’re not going to enjoy this one, and if you’re in the minority of people who didn’t like the first one so much, this one might have some magic for you.

Hit the jump for full review and images.

Graphically, SMG2 looks beautiful…for a Wii game. The visuals are technologically unimpressive, but they suit a Mario game well, and there’s eye candy to spare. The developers’ attention to detail is remarkable; water and cloud effects are superbly well-done. However, you’ll be surprised by a number of framerate stutters that tended to happen when many new objects were being brought onto the screen.

While SMG2 remains a linear play through, they made a major upgrade to the game by dropping the boring hub from the first game. SMG2 fixed this with a world map more attuned to the NES Mario’s, Super Mario World, and both New Super Mario Bros. games. There is still a hub –a space ship in the shape of Mario’s head, yeah, I know– but it’s super-compact and lets you get started right away, instead of aimlessly wandering an unnecessary observatory. However, they truly could have advanced the gaming experience if they eliminated the whole capture multiple stars per world element that has been around since Super Mario 64. While its cool that there are multiple ways to end a board, its gets too repetitive playing through the same boards 2, 3, or 4 times. Yoshi’s return to a Mario game is cool mark out moment for long-time Mario fans, but you can’t help but feel he was a second tack on to the game. He’s in a total of 9 levels (out of 49) and they’re mostly designed around him, but he felt a little lacking in potential, as some levels simply use him to get up to a higher platform.

The level designs are fantastic; a fair number of levels have small mechanics all their own. When it hits you that you’ve been swimming in zero-gravity without even realizing it, the seamless flow of every level becomes clear. The designers did a great job integrating the new power-ups, which might otherwise have felt tacked-on. If you’re looking for engaging narrative to go with the epic presentation, it’s not there. In fact, SMG2 goes out of its way to tarnish the first games story. Instead of acknowledging the events of SMG, it chooses to reset it. One might say that Mario games don’t need to bevy voice acting with tons of story, and I will agree. But a game on this scale should be layered with epic cinematic cut scenes. But more importantly, remain consistent and build upon the story of a previous entry.

All things considered, SMG2 is still an incredibly solid game and is definitely worth a play through. If you’re looking for something new and magical, something to hint at the possibilities of the future of gaming, you’re in the wrong place. In the end, SMG2 feels more like an expansion pack than a brand new game. But its Nintendo and Mario, which means with perfected gameplay, incredible aesthetics, and masterful level design, this a crackerjack title that won’t disappoint. – A. Kennedy

Tags: super mario, video games, Wii

This entry was posted on Monday, June 21st, 2010 at 2:45 pm by anthonylkennedy and is filed under Games, Wii. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.