subject: Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Mario Continues to Conquer the 3D World [print this page] Graphics: 10.0 / 10.0 Graphics: 10.0 / 10.0
The graphics are crisp and bright and, although the Wii is not a high definition system, Super Mario Galaxy 2 will please even the most strict of graphics snobs. The environment has plenty going on and some features (at one point a snake/dragon sort of thing emits smoke and bubbles from its nostrils) are often hilarious and clever. Unlike other games, the graphics never make it difficult to navigate the map - they add to its enjoyment.
Game Play: 10.0 / 10.0
The game play in Super Mario Galaxy 2 is very cool and very accessible. Rather than plunging gamers into the 3D environment right away, Nintendo chooses to begin the game with a very familiar 2D environment and then gradually add more features until a completely 3D environment is achieved. This is brilliant for gamers that may have stopped playing the Mario games after the Super Nintendo.
Story: 7.0 / 10.0
Music: 10.0 / 10.0
You would expect playful and fun music from a Mario Bros. game and that's exactly what you get. Much of the music blends the original and timeless Super Mario Brothers theme with various sound templates for a great deal of variety. What really makes the music memorable is its combination with the overall sound design. Mario still makes the goofy sounds familiar to jumps and stomps on automaton enemy clones. However, there is an updated feeling that you just have to experience to really get.
Replay Value: 10.0 / 10.0
It's a Mario game that will likely be played religiously well into the future. We're not going to spoil the replay surprise after collecting all 120 stars. However, rest assured, there is plenty to do after beating the game. The replay value comes not only in the form of the game being a blast to play over and over again (think back to Super Mario World) but in the form of some additional challenges that add to both the longevity and relative price tag reduction of the video game.
Overall Rating: 10.0 / 10.0
It really takes a talented team of designers to admit that they made some mistakes in one game and strive to fix them in the next entry. It takes a team like that at Nintendo to do it absolutely perfectly. It would have been almost impossible to create a better game of this type. If you own a Wii, you absolutely must own this game. If you don't own a Wii, this game is a good reason to go buy one today.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Mario Continues to Conquer the 3D World
