Super Mario Galaxy 2

The best thing about titles in the Mario series of games is that you dont need to keep track of the “plot”.  Saying that, someone needs to keep a leash on Princess Peach, how many times has she been kidnapped now? and what the hell does Bowser want with her anyway? Or should I just not ask? 

With Super Mario Galaxy 2 the situation is the same, you dont need to have played the first you can just pick this one up and away you go. I need to state that I LOVED the first, it quickly became my favourite Mario title so I was intrigued as to how they can improve on it and make a second.  In fact the strangest thing that this game does for the first one is pick out the flaws that you didn’t even know were there! I didn’t realise that the level select idea in the first was such a chore for me till they simplified the idea for this game!

The idea of this game in comparison to any other Mario title is all about gravity and 360 degree control. To watch someone else play this game can quite quickly put you off and easily dismiss it as being too difficult. Galaxy 2 is by far that, you jump from planet to planet using gravity and stars that fling you through space using spin attacks (rather than the conventional jump on the head Mario usually uses) to kill enemies (although you can still jump on their head if you so wish). Each galaxy is themed in its own way and has its unique “feel” to take on and give you a new challenge each time.

The thing that makes this game feel great is how epic is feels, the music and constant action really makes you feel like you are playing THE Mario game of all Mario games. It feels and plays and looks a lot like the first title but this time round it feels like they have perfected an already perfect title, as impossible as that may seem.

The main features that makes Mario Galaxy 2 better than before is what it brings to the table now. Yoshi is back and works incredibly well with the Galaxy control system, to shoot his tongue its a case of pointing the Wii remote at the screen and taking aim.  There are various things for Yoshi to swallow that gives you a brief ability such as red peppers that will make Yoshi run like a mentalist for a small period of time giving you the ability to run up walls. Mario’s “abilities” have also changed, there is Cloud Mario which gives you the ability to make a cloud platform appear under your feet allowing you access to hard to reach places. There is also Rock Mario that transforms you into a boulder which can spin attack enemies. 

This time round they haven’t dropped in the option of 2 player which I thought would happen if im honest, however there is a sort of “co-op” mode which allows another player to grab another Wii Remote while your playing and take control of a star that helps kill baddies and makes it a little easier for you.

In a nut shell though, as i stated about the first Super Mario Galaxy is one of the few titles that you NEED to have in your collection if you own a Wii and now I can say the same about this. If you have ever enjoyed a game of Mario (and I’d be quite surprised to see how many people haven’t) then this is an essential purchase and possibly one of the greatest reasons to own the Wii in the first place.