Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a platforming video game developed by Nintendo for the Wii.

It was first announced at E3 2009, and is the sequel to Super Mario Galaxy.

The game’s levels are galaxies filled with minor planets and worlds. While its gameplay is based on that of its predecessor, the game was updated with gravity effects and new power-ups.

It is the fourth original 3D platformer in the Mario series, after Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy.

Plot

Mario is invited to the Star Festival by Princess Peach, a time when Star Bits rain down from the skies over the Mushroom Kingdom.

On the way there Mario finds a Luma, who immediately befriends him and grants him the ability to Spin. Shortly thereafter, Mario’s archnemesis Bowser, who has grown to an immense size, invades and attacks the Mushroom Kingdom.

Kidnapping the princess, Bowser escapes into outer space to create his empire at the center of the universe again.

Mario is given control of Starship Mario, a mobile planetoid in the shape of Mario’s head, made by a crafty Luma mechanic called Lubba and piloted by other Lumas; his mission is to fly across the universe in pursuit of Bowser and the Princess and help Lubba find the lost Lumas that were part of Bowser’s plot.

Gameplay

Gameplay will be similar to that of the first Super Mario Galaxy, with a focus on platforming based on and around 3D planets (referred to collectively as galaxies) with varying sizes and landscapes.

The planets will also be smaller, allowing the player to jump from planet to planet more often.

Mario will be able to ride the dinosaur Yoshi, who can use his tongue to swing across gaps, as well as eat fruits that give him various powers, such as speed boosts, the ability to inflate like a balloon, or the power to reveal secret paths.

While the player retains the ability to collect Star Bits with the blue Star Pointer from the first game, the Star Pointer is replaced by a red dot when riding Yoshi, which allows the player to aim and control his tongue.

This can be used for swinging off objects, pulling levers or, as in previous games, swallowing enemies and spitting them out.

Video Review

Game Specs

Developer(s) Nintendo EAD Tokyo

Publisher(s) Nintendo

Designer(s) Yoshiaki Koizumi (producer) / Shigeru Miyamoto

Series Mario

Platform(s) Wii

Release date(s) JP May 27, 2010 / NA May 23, 2010 / EU June 11, 2010 / AUS July 1, 2010

Genre(s) Platformer

Mode(s) Single-player, two player co-op

Rating(s) CERO: A / ESRB: E / PEGI: 3+

Media Wii Optical Disc

Input methods Wii Remote and Nunchuk