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[Head of Vengarl]

My gf surprised me with this game as an early anniversary gift, and I've been hooked since the moment I started playing.

SMG was hailed as being one of the best platform games ever, and I absolutely agreed once I got to play it. That's what makes this game so amazing — it's actually better than the first! It has the perfect balance of being similar to its predecessor, but just different enough so that it never feels rehashed or stale. The level design and platforming are just sublime. And it's more challenging than the first game.

There are some levels that are so impressively diabolical I was convinced a James Bond villain designed them. The most noteworthy one (so far) was the purple coin prankster comet for the Flip-Swap Galaxy. My god. First, it was on a timer to induce anxiety right off the bat. Then there were the chomps and moving electric fences which both had knockback effects when they damaged you, which usually resulted in Mario plunging to his death. But the most evil part was the main level design itself — the floor tiles that flip when you spin. If you played the first SMG then you probably have my same instinctive reaction to spin at the end of your jumps in order to assure you land properly. Doing so makes the game a lot easier because Mario's spin is basically a mini extra jump. But for this level, the designer said: "Fuck you Luap, I'm going to make this level kill you every time you spin at the end of a jump." And I fell for it. Again, and again, and again. Instinct is a very hard thing to shut off, even if you make a conscious effort to. Add in the stress of a timer and the other obstacles, and it was a goddamn bloodbath. It was maddening. It was ingenious. I didn't see the star until was already a man, by then it was nothing but blinding...

I've had it for a week and I'm already past 70 stars. Two big thumbs up for SMG2.

 

[MYE]

You have seen greatness. Its all downhill from here!

 

[10k]

Congratulations. You will never enjoy another 3D platformer again unless it's a Mario game as all other developers are scared to touch the genre now

 

[Conor_Fool]

I was LTTP about 2 months ago. Absolutely unreal game. Though I didn't feel too inclined to get the

Spoiler

extra 120 or so stars

(end game spoiler). But man that last galaxy was some of the greatest platforming I've ever played, and every other galaxy for that matter

 

[Brandon F]

It is indeed great. Been playing it off and on since launch to 100% completion. So close now, but the final few challenges are brutal and taking months off between is not helping.

Hard to say if I prefer it to Mario Galaxy 1 though, both have pros and cons, but together they are fantastic.

 

[noomi]

Picked up my Wii U a few weeks ago, and I ordered Galaxy 1 & 2 because I have never played them. I'm excited

 

[Snkfanatic]

Can't wait to start this. I picked it up a week ago, waiting to finish Galaxy before I dive in.

 

[anexanhume]

I have played (and loved) the first, but have yet to play this one. I can't seeing as how I don't have a Wii and am waiting for a good reason to get a Wii U. SMG on Wii U would be a good reason.

 

[Symphonia]

I honestly thought Nintendo couldn't top the first Galaxy game but they blew it straight out of the water with Galaxy 2. Unfortunately, the Mario games took somewhat of a nosedive after G2, up until Super Mario 3D World. Galaxy 2 remains one of my favourite games on Wii and I can't wait for Galaxy 3 on Wii U.

 

[Omzz]

game of forever. wish i could experience it for the first time all over again

 

[TheDarkKnight774]

I must be one of the few that liked SMG2 but enjoyed SMG way more. I dont enjoy yoshi and the hub was more fun then the Mario ship and the feel of it being first works better on me

 

[ohlawd]

I cried at the end of Galaxy 2. The game was too good. Fuck you, Nintendo.

 

[Freezie KO]

I love the Yoshi tongue/pointer mechanics. I want a whole Yoshi game with those.

 

[Smashman45]

Certainly one of my favorite 3D Mario games. Had a blast throughout. Seeing all the surreal worlds the game had to offer and hearing the new music was a big part of why it was so great for me. And it was fun as well, of course.

Glad you're enjoying it OP. =)

 

[daripad]

Best of the two Glaxies. It has a very awesome second round, so enjoy it, it is going to be worth it in the end.

 

[The Boat]

I love the Yoshi tongue/pointer mechanics. I want a whole Yoshi game with those.

It would be interesting to see a 3D Yoshi with those mechanics.

 

[ShadowElliot]

Don't remind me about the Flipswitch Galaxy haha.

I hope you enjoyed the Spicy Pepper Yoshi missions, both regular and Prankster Comet.

 

[kittens]

One of the all time greats.

 

[flkraven]

Best game of the generation.

 

[Smashman45]

I love the Yoshi tongue/pointer mechanics. I want a whole Yoshi game with those.

I would love this. The Yoshi segments were very fun.

 

[Linkstrikesback]

Shame we'll never get a 3D mario this good again unless Nintendo somehow hits it out of the park with a home console and starts printing money by the bucketload again.

3D world is good, but it's so obvious they didn't spend the same time or money as they did on Galaxy 2 to really make it game of the generation quality.

 

[Head of Vengarl]

You have seen greatness. Its all downhill from here!

Congratulations. You will never enjoy another 3D platformer again unless it's a Mario game as all other developers are scared to touch the genre now

Haha. I don't know if I've ever played a non-Mario platformer that I enjoyed. I didn't even like Psychonauts.

 

[andymcc]

3D world is good, but it's so obvious they didn't spend the same time or money as they did on Galaxy 2 to really make it game of the generation quality.

lol ok

 

[theechrisfox]

It is a brilliant game. There is a ton of content. More than any other mainline Mario title, except maybe 3D World. If I could complain about one thing though it would be that you are not allowed to ride Yoshi from Starship Mario into any level, like in Super Mario World. Perfect game though, really.

 

[daripad]

The only reason this game is better over the first one is Yoshi. Yoshi always means fun.

 

[Gouty]

3D world is good, but it's so obvious they didn't spend the same time or money as they did on Galaxy 2 to really make it game of the generation quality.

Ehhhhh. I'm with you that Galaxy 2 is better than 3D World but from a production standpoint they're both completely absurd. Mad polish.

 

[brotherbean]

I've been sitting on this game forever after playing and not really enjoying the first one.

It's a little like staring at a Monet and feeling nothing. I can recognize the greatness, but it just doesn't sing to me. I find this very disappointing and really hope I feel differently when I finally get around to trying it out sometime.

 

[Brazil]

It's kinda hard to go wrong with the GOAT.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 could have my babies if he wanted to.

 

[Solid Samus]

Shame we'll never get a 3D mario this good again unless Nintendo somehow hits it out of the park with a home console and starts printing money by the bucketload again.

That doesn't make sense.

 

[myca77]

I never got to play Galaxy 2, I loved the first one, and having just worn myself out on SM3DW I should pick this up (just the final, final, last two levels left, but I really can't be bothered anymore). TBH I was a little let down with 3D World, not as good as Galaxy, and IMHO not as enjoyable as Sunshine, so hearing that Galaxy 2 is better than the first just makes me want to play it more.

I'm gonna have to grab it off on Amazon right now I think.

 

[Sadist]

Good man. Good man.

 

[Dr.Hadji]

Its funny how moving the switch trigger for a flips switch from a spin to a jump changes the dynamics completely. Putting it on the spin was a great test to show how much you might have depended on Mario's air spin to help platfoming. While putting it on the jump (as in 3D Land/Word) gives you a very binary (on/off) design rhythm in moving through the levels. Galaxies is more calming while the 3Ds is more chaotic (especially in multiplayer).

 

[slick7rick]

I think Yoshi kills the game for me. Galaxy 1 was pure bliss, but for some reason I never got hooked on 2.

 

[Linkstrikesback]

That doesn't make sense.

When a game is going to sell 10million copies you can spend more making it than when it sells a couple million at most (And that's assuming a ridiculously good wii u attach rate).

 

[hardcastlemccormick]

Galaxy 2 is still one of the most fucking incredible pieces of media I've ever experienced.

 

[Neff]

Loved the first one, bought this day one and just didn't feel any kind of pull at all. Beat a boss I'd already fought in Galaxy 1, messed around with a rather dull and gimmicky Yoshi, and left it. Still to this day I've only played a few levels of it.

 

[RomanceDawn]

I this is still my favorite Mario game by far. It is just too outrageous and fun.

First 80 or so stars I would go "Yahoo!" every time I beat a stage. My enthusiasm was through the roof! By the time I was finished, especially with that last green star… I was cursing the day Miyamoto was born… In a good way.

 

[hardcastlemccormick]

When a game is going to sell 10million copies you can spend more making it than when it sells a couple million at most (And that's assuming a ridiculously good wii u attach rate).

What evidence do you have that the budget for 3D World was less than Galaxy 2?

What evidence do you have that, assuming the above is true, the lowered budget of 3D World affected the quality in any way?

 

[Linkstrikesback]

What evidence do you have that the budget for 3D World was less than Galaxy 2?

What evidence do you have that, assuming the above is true, the lowered budget of 3D World affected the quality in any way?

I can't prove the first one, but they have a lot to explain about the blatantly plainer assets if they really spent more.

The second one is easy. I played both games. IF they had more time and money, they could have made it look amazing. Dolphin mario galaxy 1/2 pisses all over 3d worlds graphics.

 

[Uncle Rupee]

What evidence do you have that the budget for 3D World was less than Galaxy 2?

What evidence do you have that, assuming the above is true, the lowered budget of 3D World affected the quality in any way?

More to the point, Nintendo is dumbing down the 3D Mario games because the Japanese audience has consistently complained that they are too difficult.

 

[hayguyz]

You are Mr. Gay?

Yeah I am, are you?

 

[Davey Cakes]

It's probably the best 3D Mario game, even if the competition is stiff. It really cut the fat.

The one thing it's missing, honestly, is a storybook element similar to SMG that connects you better to the game's universe. Other than that it did away with the unnecessary hub and was just pure variety from stage to stage.

3D World is a worthy successor in many ways. It takes a different approach though so even a direct comparison isn't necessarily fair and doesn't do either game justice.

 

[hardcastlemccormick]

I can't prove the first one, but they have a lot to explain about the blatantly plainer assets if they really spent more.

The second one is easy. I played both games.

If you can't prove that the budget was lowered, then claiming that the budget was the cause for a lesser quality is utter nonsense.

You can like 3D World less if you like, no problems there, but your assertions for why are wildly presumptive.

More to the point, Nintendo is dumbing down the 3D Mario games because the Japanese audience has consistently complained that they are too difficult.

What evidence do you have to make this claim?

 

[Freezie KO]

More to the point, Nintendo is dumbing down the 3D Mario games because the Japanese audience has consistently complained that they are too difficult.

Shine get.

 

[Solid Samus]

When a game is going to sell 10million copies you can spend more making it than when it sells a couple million at most (And that's assuming a ridiculously good wii u attach rate).

3D Mario games don't even sell half as well as their 2D counterparts and EAD still put out two last generation with no fucks. Nintendo has the money to make an epic Mario literally whenever they feel like it and 3D World's approach probably doesn't simply boil down to "oh well we can't afford to make galaxy three sixty four two whatever for this thing"

 

[Timeaisis]

It's hard to enjoy platformers after SMG2. Unless they are Mario.

 

[Dr.Hadji]

I can't prove the first one, but they have a lot to explain about the blatantly plainer assets if they really spent more.

The second one is easy. I played both games. IF they had more time and money, they could have made it look amazing. Dolphin mario galaxy 1/2 pisses all over 3d worlds graphics.

Was going to respond seriously but then......... dat edit. Goodness gracious.
So anyway Galaxy 2 is 2 guud.

 

[andymcc]

More to the point, Nintendo is dumbing down the 3D Mario games because the Japanese audience has consistently complained that they are too difficult.

SM3DW was much more difficult in it's special stages than almost any point in SMG or SMG2. SMG is probably the single easiest Mario title.

 

[hardcastlemccormick]

IF they had more time and money, they could have made it look amazing. Dolphin mario galaxy 1/2 pisses all over 3d worlds graphics.

The only thing Galaxy in Dolphin has going for it purely technically against 3D World is a better resolution.

What specifically about the 3D World's technical aspects were inferior to Galaxy 1 or 2? Or are your issues entirely art style based?

 

[Orniletter]

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the pinnacle of the 3D platformer genre.

...followed directly by 3D World.

Both are fantastic games.

World 4-6 was a nice surprise !

Spoiler

64: Throwback galaxy