Developer(s): Nintendo EAD Tokyo Publisher(s): Nintendo
Director(s): Kōichi Hayashida Producer(s): Yoshiaki Koizumi Takashi Tezuka Shigeru Miyamoto
Composer(s): Mahito Yokota Ryo Nagamatsu Koji Kondo
Series: Mario
Engine: Modified Super Mario Galaxy engine
Platform(s): Wii
Release date(s): JP May 27, 2010 NA May 23, 2010 EU June 11, 2010 AUS July 1, 2010 Genre(s): Platformer
Mode(s): Single-player, two player co-op Rating(s): CERO: A ESRB: E OFLC: G PEGI: 3+
Media: Wii Optical Disc
Input methods: Wii Remote and Nunchuk
Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a platforming video game developed by Nintendo for the Wii. It was first announced at E3 2009 and is the sequel to Super Mario Galaxy. It was released in North America on May 23, 2010, in Japan on May 27, 2010 and in Europe on June 11, 2010; it will be released in Australia on July 1, 2010. The game's levels are galaxies filled with minor planets and worlds. While its gameplay is based on that of its predecessor, the game was updated with gravity effects and new power-ups. It is the fourth original 3D platformer in the Mario series, after Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy. With an average critic score of 97.32% at GameRankings and 98/100 at Metacritic, it is among the most critically acclaimed video games of all time.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Super Mario Galaxy 2 is similar to that of the first Super Mario Galaxy, with a focus on platforming based on and around 3D planets (referred to collectively as galaxies) with varying sizes and landscapes. The planets are smaller, allowing the player to jump from planet to planet more often. Mario is able to ride the dinosaur Yoshi, who can use his tongue to swing across gaps, as well as eat fruits that give him various powers, such as speed boosts, the ability to inflate like a balloon, or the power to reveal secret paths. While the player retains the ability to collect Star Bits with the blue Star Pointer from the first game, the Star Pointer is replaced by a red dot when riding Yoshi, which allows the player to aim and control his tongue. This can be used for swinging off objects, pulling levers or, as in previous games, swallowing enemies and spitting them out.
Some of the mechanics introduced in Super Mario Galaxy return, such as blue Pull Stars, sections restricting movement to a 2D plane, balance ball levels, and gravity-reversing background arrows. Power-ups such as the Boo, Bee and Spring Mushrooms also return, along with the Launch Stars and Sling Stars for interplanetary navigation. Also, new items and gameplay mechanics have been showcased since the game's unveiling at E3 2009. These include a drill that allows the player to drill through planets; the Rock Mushroom, which allows the player to smash through barriers; and the Cloud Flower, which allows the player to create new platforms in midair. The game also allows a second player to control an Orange Luma (Co-Star Luma) to assist Mario. As well as collecting Star Bits for the player, the Assist Luma can attack enemies and collect items such as coins and bubbles, holding on to them until Mario needs them.
Galaxy 2 includes a map system similar to those in Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. Wii. This is navigated via a mobile planet called Starship Mario (so named because it's shaped like Mario's head) that serves as a hub world, which can be visited anytime and is expanded upon when new abilities are unlocked. Completing levels unlocks new stages, but certain areas cannot be accessed until the player has collected a certain number of Power Stars. The game is separated into 6 worlds, with a seventh Secret World, each world harder than the previous one. Each world (except the secret world) is ended by a battle with Bowser or Bowser Jr. Players can also collect Comet Medals hidden in the stages to unlock harder levels with tougher challenges. Similar to New Super Mario Bros. Wii's 'Super Guide' feature, Galaxy 2 has a 'Cosmic Guide' feature that lets the computer play through a section of a level if players are having difficulty. However, if players use this, they will only receive a Bronze Star upon completion, requiring them to complete it themselves in order to earn a Power Star. There are also monitors that show hints to the player. As in Super Mario Galaxy, Mario's brother Luigi is also a playable character, unlocked whenever Mario can locate him at the start of a level. Clearing levels with Luigi unlocks a Ghost Luigi representing a developer speed run that players can race against for completion time. The game also features 242 stars, 120 normal stars and 120 green stars, the latter being unlocked after all of the former are collected; this then leaves 1 final stage with 2 stars, one immediately available and one unlockable.
The gameplay of Super Mario Galaxy 2 is similar to that of the first Super Mario Galaxy, with a focus on platforming based on and around 3D planets (referred to collectively as galaxies) with varying sizes and landscapes. The planets are smaller, allowing the player to jump from planet to planet more often. Mario is able to ride the dinosaur Yoshi, who can use his tongue to swing across gaps, as well as eat fruits that give him various powers, such as speed boosts, the ability to inflate like a balloon, or the power to reveal secret paths. While the player retains the ability to collect Star Bits with the blue Star Pointer from the first game, the Star Pointer is replaced by a red dot when riding Yoshi, which allows the player to aim and control his tongue. This can be used for swinging off objects, pulling levers or, as in previous games, swallowing enemies and spitting them out.
Some of the mechanics introduced in Super Mario Galaxy return, such as blue Pull Stars, sections restricting movement to a 2D plane, balance ball levels, and gravity-reversing background arrows. Power-ups such as the Boo, Bee and Spring Mushrooms also return, along with the Launch Stars and Sling Stars for interplanetary navigation. Also, new items and gameplay mechanics have been showcased since the game's unveiling at E3 2009. These include a drill that allows the player to drill through planets; the Rock Mushroom, which allows the player to smash through barriers; and the Cloud Flower, which allows the player to create new platforms in midair. The game also allows a second player to control an Orange Luma (Co-Star Luma) to assist Mario. As well as collecting Star Bits for the player, the Assist Luma can attack enemies and collect items such as coins and bubbles, holding on to them until Mario needs them.
Galaxy 2 includes a map system similar to those in Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. Wii. This is navigated via a mobile planet called Starship Mario (so named because it's shaped like Mario's head) that serves as a hub world, which can be visited anytime and is expanded upon when new abilities are unlocked. Completing levels unlocks new stages, but certain areas cannot be accessed until the player has collected a certain number of Power Stars. The game is separated into 6 worlds, with a seventh Secret World, each world harder than the previous one. Each world (except the secret world) is ended by a battle with Bowser or Bowser Jr. Players can also collect Comet Medals hidden in the stages to unlock harder levels with tougher challenges. Similar to New Super Mario Bros. Wii's 'Super Guide' feature, Galaxy 2 has a 'Cosmic Guide' feature that lets the computer play through a section of a level if players are having difficulty. However, if players use this, they will only receive a Bronze Star upon completion, requiring them to complete it themselves in order to earn a Power Star. There are also monitors that show hints to the player. As in Super Mario Galaxy, Mario's brother Luigi is also a playable character, unlocked whenever Mario can locate him at the start of a level. Clearing levels with Luigi unlocks a Ghost Luigi representing a developer speed run that players can race against for completion time. The game also features 242 stars, 120 normal stars and 120 green stars, the latter being unlocked after all of the former are collected; this then leaves 1 final stage with 2 stars, one immediately available and one unlockable.
The wealth of different objectives in Galaxy 2 is mind boggling. Just about every star introduces at least one new mechanic, generating a truly stunning degree of variety. Whether you're grabbing onto the talons of a powerful bird, competing in score-based challenges for a monkey that's wearing sunglasses, or slamming into enemies while ice skating, you're constantly presented with a new activity. Even though many of these situations only appear once or twice during the course of the game, they're all fully fleshed out and incredibly fun. It's really interesting how varied objectives can be even within the same level. The first time you enter a level, you may have to zip down a sand slide at breakneck speed, dodging cactuses and nabbing coins all the while. But when you enter the level again to try for a different star, you may have to navigate an underground obstacle course from a side-scrolling perspective. Because your goals are constantly changing and always at a high level, Galaxy 2 never gets stale or predictable.
Princess Peach invites Mario to the Star Festival, a time when Star Bits rain down from the skies over the Mushroom Kingdom. On his way, Mario finds a Luma, who immediately befriends him and grants him the ability to spin. Shortly thereafter, Mario's archnemesis Bowser, who has grown to an immense size, invades and attacks the Mushroom Kingdom. Kidnapping the princess, Bowser escapes into outer space to create his empire at the center of the universe again. After launching into outer space, Mario is given control of Starship Mario, a mobile planetoid in the shape of his head, made by a crafty Luma mechanic called Lubba, powered by Power Stars, and piloted by other Lumas; his mission is to fly across the universe in pursuit of Bowser and the Princess and to help Lubba find the lost Lumas that were part of Bowser's plot. Along the way Mario meets new Lumas and joins up with his companion Yoshi. Upon collecting enough Power Stars, Starship Mario reaches Bowser's main fortification, draining energy from what appears to be a comet. Mario infiltrates the castle and defeats Bowser, but is forced to retreat when Bowser reappears; Mario then ultimately defeats Bowser by hitting him with asteroids. Mario and Peach then get the Grand Star, before the Comet Observatory from the first Super Mario Galaxy shows up, and Rosalina is heard thanking Mario for watching over the Luma that he had found. The Luma returns to the Comet Observatory, taking Mario's cap with him, before the Comet Observatory transforms into a comet and leaves. Eventually, Mario and his companions return to the Mushroom Kingdom, where a large cake stands in front of Peach's Castle and Starship Mario sits in the sky above.
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