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Mario Galaxy 1 v Mario Galaxy 2 - Make your Pick!!

Galaxy 2 was probably the better game, but Galaxy 1 felt more magical. Galaxy 1 felt more colorful for some reason, too. Maybe it had more dark backdrops, which makes the colorful bits feel more colorful? (Think Christmas lights at night)
 
Galaxy 1 is better in some regards to me, at least in my opinion, and I honestly prefer how a lot of it's levels are structured over the the levels of SMG2, plus it has a better hub world. Oh and Rosalinas story was a magical point of Mario for me that was not replicated in SMG2 because story is the devil or something.
 
I guess Galaxy 1 wins by default since I haven't played 2. Everytime I think about getting 2, though, I end up launching 1 and getting my fill of Mario goodness.
 
A. The first Galaxy blew my mind when I played through it, and while Galaxy 2 was fantastic it just felt like a more refined game, not an innovative game.
 
B.

Galaxy 2 trimmed a bit better the fat (story and stage selection), has more levels, better bosses, best use of Yoshi in a Mario game and much, much, much better endgame content (extra world and meaningful green stars).
 
A - Galaxy 1 ALL THE WAY

First things first: the main reason I prefer the first one because it felt totally fresh, whereas SMG2 (despite it slightly being better platform-wise) kinda felt like a drag at a certain point. Probably my own fault, because I thought it would be a good idea to replay SMG1 just before the launch of part 2. But still, SMG1 has the much better hub in my opinion, soundtrack was a bit more memorable and everything just clicked together so wonderfully. Instead of just little segments in SMG2, it kinda felt like a cohesive whole in the first one. Also, and I'm aware this might be a little blasphemous to some, I didn't like the levels in SMG2 where Yoshi was essential. I kinda tried avoiding him unless you HAD to use him to complete levels. I don't know, just didn't like it that much.
 
B

It doesn't matter what came first, it's what excelled in the end that matters most, and for me, that is SMG2.

Only going to talk about the hub world to compare between the two games. The Comet Observatory in SMG1 only added more to the playtime. It didn't do anything that you can't do on Starship Mario other than take longer to get to other worlds.
 
A


Galaxy 2 is just a glorified level pack. And it jettisoned the more open stages that were occasionally such a treat in the first game.
 
I preferred 2. More refined and took the ideas further than the first game. I prefer the world map to the observatory since it was way easier to navigate. There is very little of interest in the Observatory imo, just an extended run to get to where I wanted to go. Plus I prefer Galaxy 2's end game.
 
B definitely. I actually played Galaxy 2 first so that might influence my decision as I won't have that whole "freshness" argument, but it's honestly my favourite 3D platformer. Playing 1 after, it feels like they were using the gravity gimmick a lot because at the time, it was new and exciting. But when 2 came along, it was doing so much more than just being a novelty. The addition of the Yosh also helped a lot.
 
A


Galaxy 2 is just a glorified level pack. And it jettisoned the more open stages that were occasionally such a treat in the first game.

Can't help but agree with this. Not to mention Galaxy 2 was the one with the Fluzzard levels, which were absolute trash. Inferior soundtrack as well. And a boring Hub world to boot.

A.
 
A because while i enjoy both the hubworld + connection and a bit of story was more enjoyable to me then 2 which felt more like a level pack with a mario head.
 
A

I'll never understand people who say they preferred 2 because it "trimmed the fat." 3D Mario were better for their "fat," if it could be called that. The story in 1 was unobtrusive and among the best in any Mario title. The hub, while a bit lacking compared to those of Sunshine and 64, was charming and warm. The levels themselves were less "run forward till you reach the goal" and I feel had more emphasis on exploring, which is what I find fun about the 3D titles.

2 was a great, focused platformer, but was easily a weaker package altogether. I do feel that the soundtrack was more refined, but that's probably thanks to borrowing so much from 1.

When I have a desire to go back and experience the magic of the Galaxy titles, I always replay 1.
 
B.

I was more blown away by Galaxy 1 when I first played it, but these days I would rather play Galaxy 2. It's harder, it trimmed the excess fat that was the Observatory, has better post game content, has better power ups, and Yoshi.
 
B

Developers got comfortable with the new gameplay it opened up and just went for it. It's literally the first game with everything turned up to max.
 
I'm ashamed to admit that, even though I LOVED Galaxy, I've yet to play the sequel. It's just sitting there in my closet waiting to be played.

I wasn't a big fan of the Wii and rented too many games, so I just never got around to playing it. I wanted to, but something always came up (a new release, a rental, etc.)

I need to rectify that soon.
 
2 is my gut-reaction "better" game. I agree 1 is a "fresher" experience, but 2 gave you more of the same, while also improving on its levels, powerups, and additions.
 
2 felt like a compilation of mini games for me, some of them being half broken (the yoshi ones). Felt more like some kind of sonic adventure than a mario.

First one was perfection. A
 
Mario Galaxy 1.

Don't get me wrong, 2 has better highs. But 2 feels like a game with "better level design," not a game with more charming, timeless content. 2 also feels incredibly factory-made and level-pack-ish in comparison (Chompworks, boss gauntlet, etc.). It was clearly designed as a follow-on to the original.

Galaxy 1, on the other hand, blew the roof off the genre, and seems like it was designed from the start to be a redeeming light for the 3D Mario series. (It was successful, by the way.)

Galaxy 1 also completely justified its space adventure theme; Galaxy 2 didn't really feel like it tried very hard - Starship Mario was a poor follow-up to the Comet Observatory, and the world map structure, while convenient, felt really washed-up compared to the creative "observatory dome" thing going on in the first game.
 
I'd go with Galaxy 1. I liked the hub world better, and it felt more like it took place in space than the second game.... which was neat.

Basically, it comes down to aesthetics. Both games were stupid good.
 
A for me.

Galaxy 2 is amazing, but really more of the same in a relatively short time.

Here's hoping for Galaxy 3 on Wii U, that will hopefully make us forget about the previous games altogether ;)
 
1 for me probabaly, just because of the impact it had. Though I havent played either really since they launched. I finished 1 as well, for whatever reason 2 never grabbed me like 1. I think I only maybe got half way though the bonus levels or whatever. I enjoyed it though.
 
Galaxy 1 was the superior game. Way better level design and I've started to dislike the SMB3-style map. I didn't actually enjoy Galaxy 2 all that much, tbh, it's quite overrated
 
Galaxy 2.

+ Smaller but better hub world
+ Streamlined world map
+ More refined gameplay and expanded on the ideas of Galaxy 1
+ Better boss battles
+ Cloud Suit power up is awesome
+ Did not include the garbage bomb throwing missions
- Good music but not quite as good as Galaxy 1's
- Repetitive but slightly more challenging Bowser battles
 
I can't participate in the discussion, because I didn't care for either. I'd rather play Super Mario 64 or Super Mario World on the SNES any day of the week. That or Tropical Freeze.
 
A

Smg1 is more consistently excellent. Too many mediocre stars in Smg2's 120, especially towards the end
 
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