Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii) Review

(Originally posted on February, 2015)

                                      

(Nintendo Wii, 2010)

I bought this game immediately upon release, capturing the first 120 stars within a couple months. However my memories of the experience were always rather blurry, as days after the purchase, I was in Japan for the first time. While in Tokyo, I got to see an excited merchant jumping up and down outside a five floor game/hobby store. Yelling into a microphone, he was directing attention to posters and video displays of this very game. I resumed Galaxy 2 after returning home, very impressed with it…but in the middle of that weird, depressed haze sometimes felt after travelling. As the years have gone by, I’ve had an increasing urge to play again, this time giving it the attention it deserves.

Since the original Super Mario Galaxy was such a fresh experience, the sequel not being hugely different isn’t even an issue. Once again, you’re taken on a mind blowing trip of ever changing physics, camera angles and geographical features. Within a single world you’ll go from 2D/2.5D segments, semi-realistic Mario 64 type playgrounds, novel uses of the Wiimote and nonsensical but always fun strings of platforms and planetoids suspended in space. This time, the levels are just a bit larger, distinctive and experimental. Of course, anything Nintendo makes is certainly for the motive of profit, but you could just tell the development team was having a great time getting even further into their groove that they established with the first game.

The new additions:

-        The Goron-like rock suit is a bit frustrating on the occasions where you have to quickly mow down enemies on a planetoid, but quite tense and fun when you’re zipping down pathways, instantly jumping and turning to avoid falls.

-        The drill power-up is satisfying to use. Not only is it a kick to plow through enemies with near invincibility, the terrain based 3D puzzles you’re given to solve are genuinely creative and interesting to figure out.

-        Yoshi returns, once again adding his own touch to the game’s music, though controlling him requires a bit more management than in Super Mario World.

-        The ‘fluzzard’ flying stages made just to showcase the Wii U controller are rather stressful, but infrequent enough and coupled with some hilarious dialogue from his bird buddies.

Now selectable from a more streamlined map system, the level design rarely disappoints. Here are some that made the biggest impact:

-        The 2D levels from Galaxy have been brought back, now closer to full blown stages than brief segments. Having to deal with the ever changing gravity directions still feels tremendous!

-        One of the most memorable stages is Hightail Falls, where Yoshi sprints up completely vertical walls after eating too hot of a pepper. Beautiful to look at and agonizingly thrilling, the accompanying remix of the “athletic” theme from Super Mario World nearly had me jumping off the floor when I first heard it.

-        The penguins are back with their beautiful and eerie ocean planets, which resemble that most memorable scene from the movie ‘Contact’. The 2D portion of the level had me simultaneously frightened and awed by it’s beauty. For no particular reason, at that point more so than any other I was pondering my relation to the universe.

-        Taking place on random art/school supplies floating in space, the Rolling Masterpiece Galaxy will make you feel like you’re 10 years old once again.

-        Fun to see the Whomp Fortress from Mario 64 brought back on the Wii, even if it was rather hastily put together.

(How you might react to playing the beautiful, but low-res Galaxy 2 on too sharp a display.)

I initially put the disc in my Wii U and was horrified by the blur and artifacts shown on the HDTV. Transferring the disc to the original Wii which is hooked up to a CRT, the graphics still look very pleasant as of 2015, boasting a slightly more cheerful and varied color palate over the first game. Like the first Galaxy, the music is either playful or epic, but largely lacks the ability to stick in your head after the console is off. There are some great remixes to past themes, with the horn addition to the ‘bee’ theme immediately standing out.

The only real complaint is that I felt rather annoyed at the request to collect a ton of additional ‘green stars’ in order experience the secret final level. This is one of those games you can easily go back and replay every couple years, so I might as well keep my save and go for it the next time. With this game recently being rereleased on the Wii U in plain form instead of an HD remake, now I’m wondering if Nintendo’s getting ready to try topping this amazing trip through space with a third game.