[zigg]

SMG's music was sometimes overdramatic for the area it was paired with. GG is a great example. Good tune, bad place to put it.

Can't think of a time when this was a problem for SMG2.

[NeonZ]

SMG's music was sometimes overdramatic for the area it was paired with. GG is a great example. Good tune, bad place to put it. Can't think of a time when this was a problem for SMG2.

SMG2's problem was exactly the opposite though, fairly bland tracks even in stages that could have used some more bombastic ones. They seemed to keep the "grander" tracks exclusively for the Bowser stages. I don't think that was a very good choice.

Also, I'd say that generall SMG1 looked better than SMG2. 2 had a bit of tech evolution in a few aspects, but the level design in SMG1 was generally more consistent and elements seemed to be integrated better. There are very few places in SMG2 that don't come off as fairly random obstacle courses from a visual standpoint.

[$200]

I feel galaxy 1 has the better presentation overall (better story, music, art direction) while galaxy 2 has much better gameplay especially with the post 120 stars contents. It's hard to put one over another.

[WillyFive]

Interesting. I don't agree with any of that.

I found SMG2's score to be even more bombastic than SMG1's, and SMG2's tracks were a great improvement over SMG1's equivalent: Melty Monster Galaxy > Melty Molten Galaxy; Honeybloom Galaxy > Honeyhive Galaxy; SMG2's Bowser boss battle music was better than the ones from SMG1; the returning N64 tracks got a full orchestral treatment; and of course, this song.

I've listened to SMG2's CD far more than the one for SMG1, as epic as SMG1's score made the game feel, SMG2's music is more enjoyable, both in the game and the soundtrack itself.

[zigg]

SMG2's problem was exactly the opposite though, fairly bland tracks even in stages that could have used some more bombastic ones. They seemed to keep the "grander" tracks exclusively for the Bowser stages. I don't think that was a very good choice.

I agree they did this, just not with your characterization of what they did—I think it was more appropriate. But I know my opinion isn't too popular, just look around at the Gusty Garden fan club... ;-) Again, I really like the tune, just think its arrangement was way too much for floating around on dandelions.

Also, I'd say that generall SMG1 looked better than SMG2. 2 had a bit of tech evolution in a few aspects, but the level design in SMG1 was generally more consistent and elements seemed to be integrated better. There are very few places in SMG2 that don't come off as fairly random obstacle courses from a visual standpoint.

Mmm, again, I see where you're coming from, but I think it's also important for art to serve the gameplay by giving those obstacle courses visual immediacy, and I also don't believe that the level design should be subservient to art... at least, not much. I'm painfully aware of how this can go the wrong way when my friends and I are trying to figure out what the hell is going on in Rayman Origins. (Fun game, but yeah.)

[ghibli99]

I really do like SMG2's music of course, but at least to me, it felt like the soundtrack (many of the tracks at least), were created by someone trying to do a parody of SMG's sountrack.

Yeah, SMG1's OST was a tough act to follow, and I'm guessing the direction was to capture the feel and familiarity of the first game, while putting fresh, new twists on it for the second. In that sense, I think they succeeded for the most part, but in doing so, they ended up with something a little too derivative of the first one.

There were a number of songs where I thought, "Hmm, that sounds like [fill-in-the-blank] from SMG1." Again, not a bad thing, but it lost some of the impact that it could have had if they'd set themselves apart a little more. I did like the updates to the old songs, but again, those are arrangements we're all familiar with already.

This isn't just memory talking, either... I"m listening to the SMG2 OST right now. :)

[WillyFive]

Again, I really like the tune, just think its arrangement was way too much for floating around on dandelions.

Honestly, I think that's the perfect place to put it. A grandiose orchestral score is perfect for something simple like that, since the simplicity of the world empowers the score; and the score gives the simple world a lot of life without being distracting or 'too much'.

[CassSept]

God damn that last laser robot in the middle part of The Perfect Run

[ghibli99]

God damn that last laser robot in the middle part of The Perfect Run

I remember carrying over clouds to that part of the level so that I could basically cloud-jump my way through it and avoid all the obstacles.

[CassSept]

I remember carrying over clouds to that part of the level so that I could basically cloud-jump my way through it and avoid all the obstacles.

Yeah that's what I've been doing but I keep on dying on like, one of the two tricky parts of that level. I'm not doing that bad because I've gotten to the last platform within 20 deaths (some of which were just cheap ones like stupidly ramming into mines with Yoshi) but got hit by a stray boomerang after disposing of the first Boomerang Bro.
But damn, that last laser robot. I basically just skip over the first two ones, smoothly walk past the third one but the fourth one gets me almost all the time, either due to misstep or falling into one of so many possible hazards. To be fair, that part is the only really tricky part of The Perfect Run besides the final platform, everything else is very easy.

[Hot Coldman]

The Hammer Bros have become the new problem in The Perfect Run for me. Those agile motherfuckers... FUCK.

[Azure Dream]

The Hammer Bros have become the new problem in The Perfect Run for me. Those agile motherfuckers... FUCK.

Not sure if you're aware, but you can spin attack their hammers to destroy them.

The biggest problem is when they jump straight into you when you're not expecting it.

[Hot Coldman]

Not sure if you're aware, but you can spin attack their hammers to destroy them. The biggest problem is when they jump straight into you when you're not expecting it.

I knew that but I was trying to stun them with Star Bits at the same time, bleh

[ghibli99]

The Hammer Bros have become the new problem in The Perfect Run for me. Those agile motherfuckers... FUCK.

Haha... yeah, on one of my runs, I was on the very last platform, and I got struck by a hammer from off-screen. I was *so* close! It took me about 5 more tries after that one to finally get to the end, and both my wife and I cheered when we finally did it. :) One of the best moments of gaming for me from the past few years, for sure.

[entrement]

Finally got all green stars after two years. I stopped playing halfway through the green star quest 2 years ago, but I was bored and got the rest. GrandMaster doesn't seem as hard as SMB3DL's S8-Crown.

[Exterminieren]

Finally got all green stars after two years. I stopped playing halfway through the green star quest 2 years ago, but I was bored and got the rest. GrandMaster doesn't seem as hard as SMB3DL's S8-Crown.

Grandmaster Galaxy feels like a hard-as-nails yet satisfying test of your skills.

S8-Crown feels like an unfair romhack.

[entrement]

Grandmaster Galaxy feels like a hard-as-nails yet satisfying test of your skills. S8-Crown feels like an unfair romhack.

Really? I loved s8-Crown. I do love these ultra hard final stages. Hope they keep it up.

I finally beat perfect run. Woo!

[ghibli99]

Really? I loved s8-Crown. I do love these ultra hard final stages. Hope they keep it up. I finally beat perfect run. Woo!

Congrats on beating The Perfect Run... the feeling after getting to the end is unbeatable. S8-Crown was tough, but never felt unfair, especially after you figure out its most nefarious 'trick'... and I'm not talking about the one at the end.

[Gambit]

Sorry for the bump, but this has more recent posts than the Lttp thread.

Anyway, I started the game today. Finally!

Played the first world and, my God, it is almost too good. The amount of creativity put into this game, together with the tight controls and the colourful graphics almost makes me hyperventilate.

Obviously I haven't seen much yet, but this is the kind of game that forces me to always buy the latest Nintendo console. No complaints about them whoring out Mario if they keep up the quality of this, NSMBW and Mario 3D land.

[ghibli99]

Played the first world and, my God, it is almost too good. The amount of creativity put into this game, together with the tight controls and the colourful graphics almost makes me hyperventilate.

Those feelings won't go away until you get all 242 stars, either. :) It's one of *the* most perfect games this generation.