Description

Launch into a new universe of gravity warping worlds in the sequel to one of the greatest games of all time! Yoshi joins Mario as they traverse a wild variety of galaxies exploding with imagination, helping out our hero as he gulps enemies, runs at super speed, or inflates like a blimp to reach high cliff tops. Whether Mario’s leaping into orbit around tiny micro-planets, tumbling through rooms with constantly flip-flopping gravity, or drilling through craggy worlds to emerge on the other side, he’ll need new abilities and serious jumping skills to survive the all-new challenges ahead!

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is an action platformer for Wii that continues the space-based fun begun by the 2007 runaway hit Super Mario Galaxy. Featuring out-of-this-world platforming across a wide array of unique planets and space environments, players can go it alone as Mario or team up with his old buddy Yoshi as they platform and puzzle-solve to their hearts content. Additional key features include new and returning power-ups, special power-up abilities when teamed with Yoshi and the new drill mechanic that allows Mario burrow into and through planets. Team up with Yoshi for space-based platforming fun in Super Mario Galaxy 2. View larger. New Out-of-this-world Adventure Like its predecessor, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is an action platformer set in space. Platforming takes place between worlds, known as galaxies. Mario can move between smaller examples of these by jumping. He can also embark on longer jaunts via a small steerable planet in the shape of Mario's head, but as a new twist he can also move into and through planets as well using the new drill mechanism. This allows for both a new direction in action as well as an opening to problem-solving and coin collection. Players can expect the return of a variety of powerups from the original game including Bee and Boo Mushrooms, but also many that are new varieties including the Rock Mushroom that temporarily turns Mario into a rock that can smash through barriers. Another key change to gameplay is the ability for Mario to join with his pal Yoshi. Once Mario hatches Yoshi from his egg he can ride him through a variety of scenarios. Yoshi's particular reaction to specific powerups makes for fun with gravity. For example, when Yoshi eats a "Dash Pepper" he is able to move at hyper speed allowing the pair to literally run up the side of walls. Also, after eating a Blimp Fruit power-up Yoshi can swells up and floats like a blimp, taking Mario with him to areas of the game otherwise unreachable. Key Game Features Mario collects stars as he travels from galaxy to galaxy. Every level is new, but the game retains the charm, sense of wonder and beauty in line with Mario's history. Mario works his way through the various levels, sometimes upside-down, sometimes floating from place to place. On some stages, Mario can find an egg, smash it open and hop onto the back of Yoshi. Yoshi can use his tongue to grab items and shoot them back at enemies, or to snag attach points and swing across chasms. Yoshi has an interesting diet. When he eats a Dash Pepper, he gets so hot and frenzied he can run up steep inclines and vertical walls. When he eats a Blimp Fruit, he inflates like a balloon and floats to new heights. New powerups include a drill that Mario uses to tunnel through the planet's surface all the way to the other side of a planet. Skilled players will want to collect new Comet Metals, which will unlock harder levels with even more challenges. Additional Screenshots: Even better platforming fun. View larger. Over-the-top challenges. View larger. Special Yoshi abilities. View larger. Explore Starship Mario. View larger.

Customer Reviews

 Mario is still the King of Games! - Aug 31, 2010

I never in a million years thought this game would be as good as it is! I loved Galaxy 1 and o me Galaxy 1 is still a better game than Galaxy 2, but this game is still amazing and one of the best games I have ever played. Galaxy 2 does everything for the most part perfect. The return of Yoshi is by far my favorite thing about this game, and Nintendo treated Yoshi very good in this game. Each Galaxy is different and fun in it's own way. Bowser looks amazing in this game, but I think the Bowser battles in Galaxy 1 are better than the battle in this game. The music is great in this game but once again I think galaxy 1 had better music. Galaxy 2 is a great game though and is probably my 2nd or 3rd favorite game of all time. I have played video games for over 20 years and this is near the very top of my list. Mario Galaxy 2 puts the crown back on Mario's head as the ultimate king of games, and shows everyone that the hero in a game does not need a gun to be the best around. Mario Galaxy 2 is an amazing game that has 242 stars to collect in all and will challenge you more than any other 3D Mario game. If you own a Wii and are a Mario fan you owe it to yourself to buy this game. Have a great day everyone.

 SMG 2 - Aug 30, 2010

The first SMG (Super Mario Galaxy) deserves to be ranked as ONE OF the top games for any platform, IMHO. SMG 2 had a hard task in front of it. Besting one of the top games of all time?

Overall, I think they did it. They kept the same play and creativity, and added some new features to an already rich game. My favorite addon is the 2nd player features. It really allows your buddy to help you out.

If I had to find a downside (and I'm really looking hard here)
- it's that it seemed easier to me (although many people mentioned it was harder)
- It seems shorter than SMG, although it's still perfectly long enough.

This game should get 100/100 + some points for extra credit, but the best I can give it here is a 5 star rating.

 fun and different - multiplayer is OK but not the best - Aug 24, 2010

This game is a lot of fun and has some different controls than I am used to in traditional mario games - I never played the first one so it might be similar.
The only thing I dont like is that player two gets a bit of a raw deal. I was thinking multiplayer would be more equal (like the super mario brothers for wii).
Nate

 Little Bobby Loves Mario Galaxy 2 - Aug 24, 2010

I bought the Super Mario Galaxy 2 game for my four year old grandson's birthday because he liked another Mario Wii game so much. Although the game is very eye appealing, Little Bobby found Galaxy 2 a bit more challenging at the beginning, which made me nervous. However, as he gets more familiar with it, he loves the game and goes into great detail about the challenges he is having on the various planets. He does not appear to be frustrated with defeats...and he relishes his conquests. His five year old cousin Chase even enjoys being an advisor to LB as he plays the game. I am extremely satisfied with this game. Each planet is different enough in look and feel to provide interest for any age level. It can be tough to beat if you're not a gamer geek, but the beauty of the game and it's addictive nature keeps you playing while you get the experience to come up to speed. Although two people can play the game, it really seems designed for one, in my opinion. This is a two handed game, requiring that you connect the numchuck (sic?). LB had no problem mastering the two handed requirement, although he seems to be a natural with the WII (he holds his own in bowling and tennis). I highly recommend this game...whether you have kids or not.

 Takes me back! - Aug 22, 2010

I bought this game for my son after playing super mario galaxy, we had to have the second edition! It reminds me so much of my first Nintendo-back in the late 80's! The music is almost the same and the ghost world too!.. but it's so much more challenging! We have a family challenge going on right now. This is a great game that you won't lose interest in!

 Truly an elite, awesome, family friendly, game. - Aug 14, 2010

I have been a die hard Super Mario fan my whole life. From the Super Nintendo classic, Super Mario World, the first 3D Mario game, Super Mario 64, to the newest addition, Super Mario Galaxy 2. I bought the original Super Mario Galaxy opening day, I loved it, it was my dreams come true. Great graphics, amazing game play, wonderful soundtrack, it was an amazing game.

When I heard about the upcoming title, Super Mario Galaxy 2 at E3 2009, I leaped for joy, a sequel to one of my favorite games of all time was on it's way.

As I did the original Super Mario Galaxy, I bought this one opening day also. This game is an amazing game, everything the original had, was all re-done in the sequel, in an even more fun, brilliant way. This game has the same great Mario fun as all the others have, so you won't be displeased.

Pros:
Everything about this game is fun.
Family Friendly, this game is appropriate for all gamers.
Amazing soundtrack.
Never gets old, has extremely high replay value.
Has little retro moments, that remind you what it was like when you first played Super Mario.
Amazing visuals.
Great graphics.
Good multiplayer.

Cons:
None!

There is truly too many good things about this game to mention. But take my word when I say that Super Mario Galaxy 2 is one of the best games ever. You won't be sorry.

Thanks for reading and I hope this helps.

 An even grander Galaxy. - Aug 13, 2010

Super Mario Galaxy was an astounding achievement in video game design back in 2007, and to this day it remains an excellent and thoroughly enjoyable 3-D platformer. In fact, Galaxy was so good that when I heard that a direct sequel would be coming a mere 2 ½ years later, I had my doubts as to how the game would be a worthy successor without simply rehashing everything that made the first game so great. But while Galaxy 2 is great for almost all the same reasons as the first game was, it still stands out from its predecessor in many ways and stakes its claim as one of the greatest video games ever made.

Galaxy 2's plot is no more or less recycled and predictable as the story from the first game. It's not as though anyone can watch the opening cutscene and think, "Why is that giant turtle thing trying to kidnap the princess?!?" There are no surprises here, except perhaps the fact that this time around, Bowser is absolutely huge. But the beauty of it all is that it shows that Nintendo knows that they don't need an amazing story to make an amazing game. While it might have been nice to see something different, it's hard to ignore the fact that even if Galaxy 2 had a marvelous plot, the rest of the game's strengths would still overwhelmingly overshadow it.

Even in the midst of watching the same exact story kick off again, though, Galaxy 2 immediately states its intentions by starting off with a sidescrolling stage. Yes, Galaxy 2 is indeed a 3-D Mario game, but perhaps its greatest strength is in how it blends together the linearity and very format of many 2-D Mario titles with the open worlds of 3-D Mario games. Most of the galaxies are in full 3-D, but there is a surprising number of sidescrolling stages as well. These 2-D sections aren't just great because they resemble 2-D Mario, but what makes them stand out is how well all of Galaxy's elements translate to a 2-D format. It all works so well that it makes the 2-D areas simply fantastic.

Both the 2-D and 3-D levels alike feature phenomenal level design. The Galaxy team has produced over 50 galaxies for this game, almost all of which manage to bring something new to the table as far as design goes. There are a few new power-ups, including Rock Mario, which allows Mario to roll around at high speeds, and Cloud Mario, which gives Mario the ability to generate cloud platforms underneath himself in the air. These, coupled with most of the power-ups from the first game, offer plenty of creative design features that manage to twist the proven Galaxy formula of planet hopping and gravity-based puzzles in fresh, exciting ways.

But perhaps the most significant addition to Galaxy 2 is Yoshi. In past Mario games, Yoshi's playable appearances have always been in 2-D games, and his playtime is usually disappointingly brief. Galaxy 2, though, puts the creative opportunities that Yoshi presents to use in more ways than ever before. Yoshi can swing on floating flowers and eat enemies, and that's all good fun, but the best thing about Yoshi is that he can also get power-ups from special fruits. A red pepper will make him run at exhilarating speed, a shiny yellow fruit will make him glow and reveal invisible floors and platforms, and a yellow berry will make him float like a balloon. None of this may sound all that original but these power-ups aren't great merely because of the concept they present, but how they are put to use and how the level design forces players to get creative with how to utilize these abilities, and that is what makes Galaxy 2's level design shine.

As I mentioned earlier, Galaxy 2 hosts over 50 galaxies, which is loads more than its predecessor. There is a bit of a trade-off though, in that the galaxies have a maximum of three stars each. Most galaxies offer one main mission and two prankster comet challenges, which are unlocked by finding the comet medal in the galaxy. Those who favor the sprawling open worlds of previous 3-D Mario titles might not view this trade-off as a good thing as it makes the levels more linear, but in my opinion it is a positive change as it opened up a lot more opportunities for the game developers to make more levels and let their ingenuity shine. And this change also reflects the idea that Galaxy 2 is more in the format of a 2-D Mario game than the traditional style of the 3-D titles, and the linearity of the levels reflects the style of the 2-D games. It all works together to make a 3-D Mario title as much like a 2-D Mario game without making it entirely in 2-D; I think it's an clever and profitable touch to an excellent game.

Galaxy 2 has made significant improvements in longevity as well. In the first game, collecting all 120 stars allowed completionists to play through the game a second time as Luigi. Galaxy 2 throws this out the window, though, by making Luigi playable at random points in the game and permanently unlocked after Bowser is defeated for the last time. And once the 120th power star is collected, 120 green stars appear dispersed throughout the game's galaxies, doubling the number of stars in each galaxy and thereby doubling the number of stars in the game. These are not mission-based, though; finding the green stars is basically a massive scavenger hunt, as they are hidden within each level. The green star quest substantially extends the game's length and forces players to utilize every last inch of Mario or Luigi's jumping heights, and the best part is that players are often required to get creative with the level design and figure out how to outsmart it. It's quite challenging at times, but still very entertaining.

From a technical standpoint Galaxy 2 is still the Wii's finest. The animation is sharp and vibrant, transforming the TV screen into a constant visual treat. The frame rate is smooth as can be, and everything is simply a pleasure to look at. The graphics are essentially the same as in the first game, but there really wasn't much, if anything, that needed improvement to begin with. The game also shines with its sound, with great sound effects that are true to the theme and franchise, and even better yet, the soundtrack is simply phenomenal. It does an even better job than the first Galaxy score in bringing classic Mario tunes to life in new ways while also adding in plenty of new themes. It all sounds simply fantastic, mixing the old with the new just as the rest of the game so masterfully does.

So what's wrong with Galaxy 2? Is there a single flaw? I could definitely say that it's slightly disappointing that all three Bowser battles are essentially the same thing. I could also say that the final galaxy, the Grandmaster Galaxy, was too hard to be much fun and didn't feature any new creative twists. And yes, the story is the same old Bowser kidnaps Peach narrative we've watched over and over again. But to count those things against the game as major flaws would be extremely nitpicky. Yes, these ever so slight shortcomings are there, but they are so insignificant compared to the rest of the game's quality that it's hard to even consider them as detracting from the overall experience.

So no, Galaxy 2 isn't perfect. But since when has any game achieved perfection? God alone is perfect; nothing humans make can ever be truly perfect. But it's for games like Super Mario Galaxy 2 that "perfect" scores exist: games that are so excellent and so well crafted that they deserve top honors among their peers. And so that is why this game receives a 10 out of 10 from me. Not because it's perfect, but because it's as good as games get. So is Galaxy 2 perfect? No. Is it one of the greatest games ever to hit consoles? Why yes, I'm glad you asked. Now I highly recommend that you go pick up a copy and enjoy it for the excellent piece of entertainment it is.

Positive:
+ Fantastic blend of the best of 2-D and 3-D Mario
+ Phenomenal level design still twists the Galaxy formula
+ Yoshi adds a surprising amount of fun to the game
+ 242 stars makes a massive and expansive game
+ Graphics are every bit as good as before
+ Even better soundtrack

Negative:
- Those few slight shortcomings I mentioned

10/10

 What can I say that hasn't been said? - Aug 13, 2010

Nothing. You can already tell this is a great game. I tend to be a person that waits until games are under $20 before buying. But I'd gladly pay $100 for this experience. Get it.

 2nd best wii game so far - Aug 12, 2010

If you get a wii get this game immediately. I put it on my wishlist, but I kinda underestimated it. But I am so thankful I got this. If you are having a hard time choosing between Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, you won't regret choosing Super Mario Galaxy 2. Super Mario Galaxy 2 is okay, but this is much better. You can actually play as Luigi, and Mario can ride on Yoshi's back, and Yoshi has special moves.

 Really good game - Aug 12, 2010

I was obbsesed with the first and when my friend told me there was a secound one coming out, wow I got exited. The thing was about the game is the time I had to wait for it. It was first scheduled for jannuary 1 2010. then it moved to May 23 210! >:( then when I recived the game I LOVED it. The new power ups are the coolest. The rock suite the cloud suite and yoshi. Yoshi also has his share of items too. The blimp fruite the dash pepper and the light fruit! DO NOT LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT HATE IT!!! they hate because there not good at it. You have to be good to like it. SPOILERS ALERT unlike the first game there are 224 stars!!! This game is awesome! I really recomend it to all mario fans!

 Mostly fun, some parts perhaps excessively frustrating - Aug 12, 2010

I happily played through the whole of the first Mario Galaxy, so I was very excited when there was a sequel. I'm not one to whine about "level expansion pack" Mario sequels. It's a solid Mario game, I'll take it.

I'm not sure if I'll ever 100% this one. Some of the levels are VERY difficult if you do not deal well with super-fast stuff, one level had so many different things zooming around at high speeds it made me feel unwell trying to keep track of it all (I did beat it, though).

Overall it's a very fun game. If you liked the first one and wish it had more levels and more things in it (there are things besides Yoshi in this game that weren't in the first, mostly level-theme "gimmicks"), you should give the sequel a try.

 Home Run Number 2 - Aug 10, 2010

I still can't believe how great the two Galaxy games are. In fact they are so good, pretty much every other wii game I've tried bores me to tears. I haven't gamed in 10+ years, but my wife bought a wii for the wii fit dealio, so I decided to pick up some games for myself.

This Galaxy game improves on the first one in several ways. The automatic camera control is better, as is the perspective. I must admit that I liked the story (such that it was) better in the first one. Sure, having a spaceship in the shape of Mario's head is pretty funny, but I like the quasi-space opera story of the first one. This one is a bit more cartoony and goofy, but that doesn't take away from the actual game play at all.

Like in the first one, the skill level needed to defeat Bowser and 'complete' the game isn't too high. But to get all of the additional stars (about 170 or so), you will have to be pretty good. The final star is very difficult. I also found Silver Stars in Double Time a nice challenging level.

All in all, this is an amazing entertainment value: 100 hours for fifty bucks.

 Very enjoyable game - Aug 10, 2010

This game was very fun -- the galaxies have been significantly expanded in this game. You are essentially buying multiple games that combine to create one experience, all of which is enjoyable. The game is big, too, so you'll be playing for quite a number of hours.

My only warnings are two things: 1.That this game becomes significantly difficult, and really isn't for casual gamers or young children who may get easily frustrated and give up and 2.The second player does not do much (basically a little sister player). I'll rate the game higher once multiplayer is expanded (such as having an actual second player, possibly in a challenge mode).

Overall, though, the game is definitely worth purchasing.

 The Girlfriend Review - Aug 09, 2010

Sometimes, being a good girlfriend means sitting on the couch and watching him play a game or playing a game together. I'm a moderate gamer; the new controls are generally more complicated than I'm willing to commit to. He is a hard core gamer. Some games are easier to watch than others, and some are easier to play. This review is not for the hard core gamer. This review is for the girlfriend (or boyfriend, who am I to judge?) that sits on the couch and watches.

Sometimes I feel as though there is a massive evil conspiracy meant to relegate me to the watching only role. There are a few games that allow me to take the assistant player role, which is right where I want to be.

I loved the first Super Mario Galaxy, and it felt like I had to wait forever before this incarnation of the game came out. This game is well worth the wait, as it does not disappoint.

The story is the same, but that's what we were all expecting. I love the additional involvement given to the second player. Not only can you hold things and grab star bits, but you can also grab coins (including the dreaded purple ones), mushrooms, enemies and air bubbles. This makes for a much more active 2nd player role, which was great for me, the second player.

Maybe it was because of the new abilities of player two, but the game seemed easier this time around. (We still have not beaten the dreaded Luigi disappearing square purple comet board in the first game.) The board is back in the new version, but giving player two the ability to pick up the coins floating in mid air that you may have missed make the board infinitely easier.

*****SPOILER ALERT*****
*****SPOILER ALERT*****
*****SPOILER ALERT*****

I'm glad the Luigi disappearing board was easier this time around. Once you get ALL of the 120 stars, you get new GREEN comets. You kind of know they are coming when you get close to the end, but they are still a bit of a surprise. Each board has "hidden" green stars now, one for each star that you previously beat on the game. So, when you think you are done, you find out that you are actually only half way though. With a huge stack of un-played games, we (mostly he) have given up the green star comet quest quite early on. But, for those of you who have the fortitude to keep on playing, best of luck. Nintendo has made sure that you will get your moneys worth and then some out of this adventure!

 Another winner - Aug 07, 2010

This latest installment of the Super Mario series, and the second for the Wii, is another winner. If you like Super Mario Galaxy you'll be sure to like this even more.

 Definitely a Sequel - Aug 06, 2010

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is pretty fun, but that is only because it's basically a lesser, inferior repackaged version of the first one. The developers really didn't do much creatively to create anything new at all, in fact, I believe they got incredibly lazy on this one. They even had one level that they already called a "Throwback" level! (Are you kidding me??!) They literally just took a level off the 1st Mario Galaxy and slapped it into this game midway through.

Visually, the game is great, but again, nothing new that one hasn't seen from the first one.

Control-wise, this is one of the two weakest points in the game. Because the developers tried so hard making the actual gameplay 3rd dimensional, the perspectives on this game are terrible, causing many unnecessary deaths by falling, etc. AND on top of that, the camera angles at times don't change well enough to accommodate the play.

As for the second weakest point in this game? Yoshi. Yes, that supposedly cute green dinosaur guy. He was the bane of this game. Yoshi is completely annoying when trying to control him in certain set tasks, and the things the creators tried making you do with him were just plain ridiculous (ie. eating hot peppers, etc) It's one thing to try and make a game difficult, but another to make it difficult by having a dinosaur that is a pain to control. It sucked the fun right out of the game.

Also, in some of the tasks Mario is asked to complete, it is near impossible for a 1 person player to achieve without the aid of the 2nd player. It'd be incredibly frustrating for someone that intended to buy and play the game on their own, when some stages and tasks need both players on hand.

So in conclusion, if this is your first experience playing either Super Mario Galaxies, I'm sure you'll enjoy it, but I expected much, much more from a game featuring Nintendo's mascot and flagship character.

I would much rather recommend interested purchasers to buy the first Super Mario Galaxy over this one, as it was definitely more creative, imaginative and fun. Plus you don't want to wish horrible death upon a certain stupid green dinosaur as much in the first one.

 Super mario galaxy 2 - Aug 06, 2010

When I got it, it looked like a lot of fun. I had been waiting for it to come out for MONTHS! When I got it, I beat the first world in about 45 min. The rest went by pretty fast, too. It was sort of a wast of 50 bucks.

 Platforming on ecstasy - Aug 05, 2010

[Note: I just got this game today haven't finished it yet - I have about 25 stars - but since I didn't see any other reviews on Lunch I thought I'd post one asap.]

The designers of Super Mario Galaxy 2 must have voted against Obama in 2008 because it's "more of the same" rather than "change." Nonetheless, for gamers, that's a good thing. While the game seems like it's essentially an expansion pack of the first, what an expansion. The levels are all new and have great settings. You also get to play as Yoshi and Luigi on some levels.

Gameplay
Same, but better game controls. There are some cool new challenges, including a test of how many enemies you can jump on consecutively. There's also the boulder and drill, which are fun to use. Some levels are almost entirely in 2-D, really giving a classic Mario feel to them.

The enemies are a LOT better in this game. Super Mario Galaxy 2 resurrects some Mario franchise favorites, including the Hammer Bros. (!) and Lakitu. The bosses are also a lot better - no more silly moles. They look pretty serious this time around.

Graphics
Of course an improvement from the first game (not that there was much to complain about the first time around). Graphically, the game looks almost like a CG animated movie.

Challenge
The game starts out easy - easier than the first in my opinion - but ramps up the challenge level later on. The first few levels are fairly easy, whereas some of the third or fourth stars in a galaxy are really tough. My sense so far is that it has enough to satisfy everyone.

Music
The music in this game was fully orchestrated, and you can tell the difference. Even the overture, though largely the same as the first game, sounds much more crisp. You can find it online for sale as a CD, or possibly download it as a mp3 files.

Miscellaneous
There are a couple of other things I should note:

This game does not have a central "observatory" as in the first game. Rather, you fly Starship Mario on a map. This saves you a LOT of time, so you don't have to keep searching for the room just to begin a level.

Also, each level has Bowser flags that you can switch to Mario flags, thus marking your continue spots (in the first game, there was no indication of where you would continue if you died).

As in the first game, I was disappointed Super Mario Galaxy 2 did not have any additional rewards for collecting power stars. I've always thought it would be awesome if with every 30 or so power stars you unlocked a new character (imagine getting Link or Samus for unlocking all of the stars!). As it stands, players don't have much incentive to try to get all 120 stars after beating Bowser.

Overall
Overall, if you liked the first game, you'll love the sequel. If you didn't like Super Mario Galaxy, or got too frustrated, don't be surprised if you hate this one! I'm loving it so far. It seems like everything that was wrong or annoying with the first one is now fixed. Enjoy!

Shopping
Word to the wise: if you want to save some money, this game is available for around $35-40 on eBay or Amazon. I got my copy for $32.

 Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Aug 04, 2010

Super Mario Galaxy by Nintendo is a great game, with many worlds, which involve challenges to progress and achieve the objectives. Highly recommended.

 Best Game Ever - Aug 04, 2010

I saw this game last summer on amazon and I was thrilled. I could not wait for the day it came out. I am a huge Mario fan. On May 23 the day it came out I got it (I was really lucky the game store was just about to close). Let me just say this, this is one of the best games i ever played. The graphics are Amazing. The Adventure is awesome. And the Galaxys are out of this world (the throwback galaxy of world 6 has a little suprise for super mario 64 fans. I don't want to spoil. Here are my ratings:
Graphics: 10
Gameplay: 10
Fun: 10
This is a must have or great gift for any mario fan.

 Fun, but a wholehearted sequel in every sense - Aug 03, 2010

Anyone who played the first Mario Galaxy knows it was a truly astounding game; it was impressive in just about every aspect it could be-the visuals and soundtrack were gorgeous, the gameplay was phenomenally innovative and exciting, and even the story (which Mario games are very seldom known for) was tighter than usual in that it at least introduced some very appealing new characters to the franchise such as the adorable Lumas and bewitching Rosalina. Its success was so great that Nintendo apparently saw fit to release a sequel, and that is exactly what Mario Galaxy 2 is-it is a sequel follow-up in every sense of the word, mimicking many of the aesthetics, gameplay, and basic mechanics to a tee. Not since the original Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2 has a Mario sequel so closely mimicked its predecessor. Then again, there has in fact been no direct sequel to a Mario game since Super Mario Bros. 2 (although its Japanese and American versions were vastly different).

Sequels, whether they are video game, movie, book, or just about anything else, are frequently plagued by the swift possibility of an encroaching sameness early on into their run time, so obviously there has to be something new, something to add to what there was before. Mario Galaxy 2 doesn't seem to dwell on altering or diverting from the formula of its predecessor; it would in fact be very easy for players to assume they're merely playing an extension or downloadable content of the first Mario Galaxy.

There isn't much of a storyline to speak of; one very un-sequel-like aspect of Mario Galaxy 2 is that it essentially plays out as if the events of the first game never happened (possible spoiler alert: minus, arguably, some of what occurs in the ending sequence); Peach is kidnapped by Bowser yet again, a Luma joins Mario and once again gives him the ability to spin attack, and there's some sort of involvement of a tubby Luma named Lubba, none of which is clearly explained. The last time a Mario game had a truly engaging storyline was 1996's Super Mario RPG, but the one provided here feels even more slopped together than usual, which adds to the troubling possibility of many gamers writing this one off as a total rehash.

The premise is admittedly very similar to the first Mario Galaxy: Mario must complete missions in different galaxies to collect Power Stars and ultimately defeat Bowser and rescue Peach. The Lumas, Launch Stars, gravity-defying planetoids, and Star Bits all return, and everything works almost exactly the same, but there are some new features that do a decent job of spicing things up.

Naturally the most relevant one is the addition of Yoshi, who always brings a nice dazzle to any Mario game he manages to appear in. Although sorely underappreciated and making a pitifully low number of appearances in the much-hyped Mario Bros. Wii, Yoshi actually plays a major role in Mario Galaxy 2, and players will have the pleasure of making use of his handy abilities quite frequently. As usual, he can make quick work of most enemies with his sticky tongue and flutter jump long distances, but one of the most unique additions to Mario Galaxy 2 are the Yoshi-exclusive power-ups. There are several different types of berries, all of which give Yoshi different abilities, such as floating in midair, lighting up seemingly invisible platforms, and running at high speed up walls or across bodies of water.

The new power-ups are in fact some of the biggest triumphs of this sequel; the new Cloud Flower allows Mario to bring forth clouds which he can walk on and use to reach new heights; the ability to create your own platforms is obviously not only useful, but extremely fun. The Rock Mushroom, meanwhile, allows Mario to transform into a boulder and roll across or over platforms, enemies and obstacles like a bowling ball. One stage in particular requires you to trek across a series of loops and platforms as Rock Mario, which is very exciting gameplay indeed.

Unlike its predecessor, MG2 has a retro stage selection setup in which you move progressively across a 2D map to reach upcoming levels (or galaxies, in this case). Although this gives things less of a modern, RPG-like feel, it makes it significantly easier to keep track of your progress and where you should head next. One other aspect of MG2 that makes it strikingly similar to the last Mario sequel is how it is essentially a more difficult version of its predecessor-right from the beginning, players may become quickly aware that things are not as simplistic or easygoing when the game starts out, and a handful of the later missions younger players could potentially really struggle with. Most of the truly challenging missions are not required to beat the game, but completists will more often than not be given a run for their money.

Unfortunately, however, certain things that seem to be attempts to make the game `harder' are essentially just more tedious, higher-stress versions of the same missions, such as having to reach a hilltop whilst collecting 100 coins in under 2 minutes instead of just having to reach the hilltop. This has been a progressively common trend in recent 3D Mario games; I can't speak for all gamers, but I don't personally find having to destroy hundreds of enemies or collect hundreds of coins in miniscule periods of time in stages I've already seen over and over particularly `fun.' It's truly disappointing that instead of a larger quantity of all-new missions and worlds to explore, the content is cheaply expanded with dull rehashes.

The game maintains several of the same aesthetic charms of its predecessor, but oddly things feel generally less visually impressive than before, and it becomes somewhat obvious that certain sprites and skeletal blueprints of stages or characters were hurriedly reused. The camera also feels less cooperative than MG1's, and players will in fact frequently be at the mercy of whatever single angle the game requires at particular moments. This can be particularly frustrating during inopportune moments when the camera needs to be shifted frequently and quickly during difficult missions, and can ultimately be responsible for jumps or movements that lead directly to an enemy's path or worse, a fall into space.

While this may sound like a lot of griping, MG2 is in fact, for the most part, a very enjoyable game and just about anyone who desperately craved more after repeatedly beating MG1 will burn a lot of hours on this one. Where MG2 really shines is in its more innovative additions to the gameplay and strategy; there are now certain galaxies (or portions of certain galaxies) in which the dimensions shift to 2D, diverting to a side-scrolling platformer instead of a 3D adventure. The only other time gamers were treated to both a 2D and 3D experience in a single Mario game was Super Paper Mario, but it's put to even better use here, allowing MG2 players the best of both worlds in the Mario universe.

Like the first Galaxy, there's also a 2-Player option, but this time around it's a far more engaging experience. In MG2, the second player isn't just in charge of the pointer but can in fact control a Luma that follows Mario around. Player 2 can retrieve faraway coins, Star Bits and some other items, stop enemies dead in their tracks, and even initiate his or her own spin attack to defeat them. This is likely the most interactive 2-Player experience offered in any 3D Mario game.

Essentially, the key thing that makes this sequel worthwhile is what it adds to the Mario Galaxy experience; it takes everything that made the first one great and builds upon it, takes it to the next level. The game starts out moderately slow, but as things progress the gameplay gets much more exciting, and the missions more complex and intense. The ending of MG2 is also in many ways more fulfilling and engaging than its predecessor, and although MG2's story is initially presented vaguely and somewhat sloppily, things are wrapped up nicely by the game's end. The `game after the game' content is also a big plus; there is in fact an entirely new world filled with new galaxies (several of which are quite fun) to explore after the final battle with Bowser. As a standalone game, MG2 is lacking and feels retread-y, but as an expansion of MG1 it serves its purpose very well and will please just about any big Mario fan. Had the brightest assets of MG2 been included in the first (or available as DLC), the collective result would have been nothing short of masterful.

 Very fun but... - Aug 02, 2010

Its pretty much all the best parts of Mario from all previous games. All of the levels are fun and challenging but beatable at the same time. It has pleanty of new powerups and skills. It even has a spin move that makes the gameplay resemble crash bandacoot and diving for bubbles in the underwater levels remids me of Sonic the Hedgehogg. I have never played the first Super Mario Galaxy but it does have the same old tired storyline... Koopa steals the princess and goes far away and Mario has to go through a series of levels to get her back, execpt this time King Koopa is a giant and its in space for some reason... I think I have heard that before mabe about a dozen times or more. I have lost count. I give it four out of five stars for great gameplay and almost the same storyline as every other Mario game.

 Perfect for those who loved the original, but brings nothing new to the table - Aug 01, 2010

This game will be a masterpiece to those who craved more after finding all stars from Mario Galaxy 1; however, if you found yourself bored at any point with Galaxy 1 there's really no reason to play this game as it's nothing more than a SMG1 map pack. The silver lining is if you haven't played either, pick this one up as the levels are better and the controls are vastly improved (can't state that enough). Still, I cannot ignore the fact that this outing was a really lazy effort on Nintendo's part and charging new game prices for such blatantly recycled content is criminal. More originality, more creativity, less linear levels, more adventure or at least some new art assets for mainstays would've been appreciated.

 The princess needs better security - Jul 29, 2010

I'll try to keep this short and sweet because let's be honest, if you're even thinking of buying this game and are reading reviews for it, you probably already know something about Mario games and Nintendo - blah blah blah. Plus, it's all been said before.

That's what makes this a 5 star game in my book. I'm not a game geek though I do like some of them and the ones I'm guaranteed to love? Mario. You always know, in general, what kind of game you will get. The graphics keep improving. For uncoordinated fools like me who do want some fun game play that isn't TOO easy but also isn't TOO tough? This is perfect. I really AM uncoordinated in just about every way - hand issues, vision issues, etc. and yes that translates to issues when playing games, it's probably why I'm not much of a game geek. There were a few levels that I had real troubles with, which I found odd for a Mario game - usually in the past games after several tries phew whatever wasn't working out would fall into place for me, even it was clearly just in the nick of time and probably a one time fluke I'd likely never repeat again anytime soon even if I tried. I finally decided "it's just me" so I asked my boyfriend "hey try this level" and he decided "it's not just you". Then I looked at some tip sites which basically said I was doing things right and their advice was just it's tough, good luck. So this is a bit tougher than some prior games. That's okay though, it made it even funner in the end as it made the gameplay last a bit longer than the prior games.

Besides the typical Mario themes you'd expect there is also real nostalgia here - you'll return to a few levels from Mario games of the past.

 Favorite of all my Son's Wii Games - Jul 29, 2010

My son has had this game for about 3 months now and loves it better than any of his other games. He liked Mario GAlaxy and this one is even better than the first. Quite simply, you will not be disappointed with this game. It has so many levels and challenges that it will entertain for days and days.