Game Details

• Title: Super Mario Galaxy 2
• Format: Wii
• Players: 1 - 2
• Genre: 3rd Person Platformer
• Price: £39.99 RRP
• Reviewer: Alex Wilmot

After almost two and a half years, Super Mario returns in what can only be the most anticipated Wii game of 2010 up to press.

Galaxy 2's predecessor presented a slight change of format and location for the stocky italian plumber and this years follow up to the 2007 hit continues along similar tracks. Princess Peach is once again kidnapped by the nefarious Bowser and only the moustachioed maestro can thwart his evil scheme to control the universe using the power of stars.

Those new to this new style are eased into the concepts of Super Mario Galaxy through a series of small levels and tutorial videos in game. The different jumps, actions and movements which Mario can perform are clearly relayed throughout the opening scenes of the adventure, meaning returning players won't be too bored relearning them.

To my surprise I also found a dvd for those not quite brave enough to jump straight into the action and wing it. Unfortunatley it cant be played in the Wii and relies on conventional means such as a DVD/Blu Ray Player or a Laptop with a DVD Drive and adequate software. Pretty much just a walkthough of the control scheme; the DVD does a good job of hyping you up for the introduction and the first level. A Nice touch from Nintendo although could have been better presented as an option on the main menu of the game.

Although mainly following the same control scheme introduced many years ago in Super Mario 64, Galaxy adds several new controls suited to the Wiimote and Nunchuck. The spin attack is activated by simply shaking the wii remote and many power ups attained by the player are activated in the same way. The triple jump and long jump are back, as is the backflip, somersault and stomp attack which means most returning players will feel right at home.

Rather than a hub world, Galaxy presents levels in the classic world map view, giving the player an easy way to move from galaxy to galaxy while showing whether collectables have been found and if any objectives remain (something missing from other mario games). It seems we are fated to never again be graced with a hub level which ties together all the surrounding components in a credible and worthy setting.

After the basics have been explained SMG2 starts to introduce a host of new concepts at a fairly rapid pace. Gravity is altered and flipped, new power ups are gained and an old friend returns to assist in the quest. Yoshi's first foray into 3D platforming makes for an excellent addition to the series and has the same profound effect as his first appearance in Super Mario World did following three NES titles which each took a different approach to keeping things unique.

Yoshi brings with him most of his talents from past games; including the use of his enormous appettite, tongue and flutter jump. Those worried that aiming the tongue at foes while moving need not be concerned as the wiimote pointer gains an additional function once the little dinosaur is found. By aiming at ememies, the cursor locks onto them allowing Yoshi & Mario to be running and jumping as required when the tongue is deployed using the wiimote trigger (B). Those with a little more sleight of hand can quickly swipe the pointer over several enemies to have yoshi gobble them all up in quick succession.

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3