![]() But it's not the most charming or soulful. Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the Wii is the most amazing 3D platformer that's ever been made. ![]() This sugary-rich treat completely expands on the previous Galaxy and yet despite all my previous hyperbole I felt the sugar-crash hit me every single time I was thrown back into the hub-world. Mario Galaxy 2 is candy-floss entertainment that you wilfully consume until you throw-up in your parents car on the way back from the fun-fair. That same wonder and creativity reside in each of Galaxy 2's worlds and turns you into a fanatical fun-seeker, enjoying every crevice of these environments until you grasp that shiny, wonderful star for the exultant finale. When you take a toddler to a soft play environment you can see the possibilities of fun unfolding in their eyes. It may sound sappy but with Mario 64, Galaxy and Galaxy 2, I feel the games open up in far more than just three dimensions. This carefree environment makes Galaxy 2's individual worlds a joy to experience - far more so than the previous 2D games which feel more like a test of your enthusiast gaming skill than turning back the clock and remembering what it was like to play as a child. That same wonder and creativity reside in each of Galaxy 2's worlds What could be stressful or confrontational about turning them into star bits and coins? These Goomba's, Koopa's and Mandabugs might be the enemy but they want to be stomped on. It's entering this world of bright colours and cartoonish characters that makes Galaxy 2 a powerful and positive joyride of fun. There's a soulful playfulness to the opening few worlds that reminds me how videogames can be simple, colourful experiences that put fun above every other consideration. Perhaps this is the secret to why Mario games are so compulsive and unique. The welcome return of Yoshi, adding a level of cuteness that even a grown man can't resist and the breathtaking array of ideas left me with a mix of positive emotions in a short space of time. New mechanics and power-ups come at you thick and fast, never overstaying their welcome and giving you a bite-sized taste of the creativity at the heart of Nintendo's Tree House. It was a real fight to ignore this distinct sea-change but the improvements made to the actual platforming levels helped to compensate for Galaxy 2's atmospheric shortcomings. It took that warm fuzzy feeling I had when playing the first Mario Galaxy away and replaced it with a poor substitute that merely went through the motions to connect each galaxy. This isn't enough to stop me playing, but I just wanted to move onto the next galaxy without even seeing the Mario spaceship. It took that warm fuzzy feeling I had when playing the first Mario Galaxy away, replacing it with a poor substitute The replacement for Rosalina is an annoying and bloated purple Luma whose dialogue is best experienced by bashing the A button as quick as possible. Small elements, like the way the world map now resembles a traditional 2D Mario game, takes away the wonder of each galaxy having that planetarium vibe. ![]() But it's this wrapper that went around the first Galaxy that made it such an utterly charming experience - and now it's been discarded for a more rudimentary filler it feels a little soul-less. Far from it - the moment that story or character development gets added into these platforming games will be the moment the world implodes. This isn't to say Mario games need any kind of narrative to be awesome experiences. Instead, Super Mario Galaxy 2 eschews any kind of narrative as I could almost hear the audible sigh of developer frustration as they are restrained to keep just the bare minimum of a story. The storybook beginning, the Star Festival and Rosalina's observatory were all elements that created a charming base for the game to spring its amazing ideas into space. True, it may have iterated on the previous Super Mario Galaxy game, added new and exciting power-ups, merged 2D and 3D worlds together seamlessly, but Super Mario Galaxy 2 lacks the adorable quality of the first. ![]() That may sound overly harsh on a game that's already been praised higher than its predecessor. Instead, Super Mario Galaxy 2 feels more like an awesome level expansion pack and less like a legitimate sequel. But in the alchemy that created such enjoyable gameplay the charm of the original Galaxy has been somewhat lost. Super Mario Galaxy 2 Wii constantly surprises and delights with so many videogame treats. ![]()
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