Super Mario Galaxy 2

[linko9]

We definitely need a topic for this one. The reviews are in, and the verdict is that it's one of the best games ever; not surprising considering the first game. It's much more challenging than the original (thank God), and eliminates other issues such as camera difficulties and the useless hub world. Can't wait to pick this up in a few days.

http://wii.ign.com/articles/109/1091239p1.html

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/revie ... rio/100404

[Skykid]

The first one is already one of the best games ever. This is going to be incredible, I have no doubt - unfortunately I haven't quite got all the stars yet in the first one, so I'll be holding off on buying the sequel just yet.

[1up]

I have it preordered and is looking forward to it. Ive blocked out all info about this game to not get spoiled. I did see that yoshi was in though.

no hub world? you mean that area, where you had to walk to the different rooms to get to the levels? I could live without that as it pissed me right off real fast.

[Elixir]

The reviews are in, and the verdict is that it's one of the best games ever; not surprising considering the first game

The "verdict" is that if you don't give a mainstream Mario game a perfect score, you'll end up murdered by hundreds of thousands of Nintendo fanboys.

The first game was fun, although I never bought it and played through the entire game at a kiosk (seriously, they let me do this). If the second one is just as fun, I'll be sure to get it.

[dial911]

I will buy it.

[BulletMagnet]

I enjoyed the first game, though a handful of control niggles kept me from giving it full marks - this one should definitely be worth playing one way or the other, though.

[Ganelon]

This game is basically $30 after the $20 coupon off next game offered by Amazon and GameStop. I'm thinking this is a test by Nintendo to see how viable lower prices are for Wii games (and to boost their sales figures) so even though the first game still wasn't as fun as anything SM64 or before, I've pre-ordered it. Plus, the logo is too clever; I was concerned when the mockups showed no stars but they're back...

[neorichieb1971]

OMG, 2 games on the wii worth getting

[louisg]

.. so even though the first game still wasn't as fun as anything SM64 or before, I've pre-ordered it. Plus, the logo is too clever; I was concerned when the mockups showed no stars but they're back...

Really? I thought SMG1 was the first time they'd nailed Mario in 3d. I didn't play SM64 at the time, but coming back to it later I really can't put up with the tedium of the collection levels, and some of the worlds kind of look like the polygon factory exploded (the lava one). Even though it was an amazing breakthrough at the time, it definitely seems like more of an experiment, and maybe more of Mario Adventure than a proper extension of SMB/SMW/etc into 3d. I also disliked the mission-based approach and such reuse of the same landscapes. I even felt like Sunshine was an improvement (though obviously not as good for the time) and I enjoyed that one a bit. SMG1 on the other hand felt really coherent, well planned, and just had more action and a faster pace similar to SMW.

At any rate, I am incredibly stoked for SMG2. If it's like the first one but with even more action, I'm sure it'll be my favorite mario game in 15 years.

BTW does anyone know what the minimum # of levels to beat to finish SMW is? I'm trying to figure out how many hidden levels I've missed (probably a lot). I know there are 96 total.

[BulletMagnet]

BTW does anyone know what the minimum # of levels to beat to finish SMW is? I'm trying to figure out how many hidden levels I've missed (probably a lot). I know there are 96 total.

The absolute minimum involves hitting the star road as early as possible and taking it all the way around straight to the "Front Door" of Bowser's castle - some of the Star Road levels can be tough to find the hidden exit for without having hit the switch palaces, though.

By the way, there aren't 96 levels, but rather 96 end-of-level goal posts - some levels have several (and some don't actually open up any new paths), and you have to hit them all to earn the starred "96" by your file.

[Drum]

.. so even though the first game still wasn't as fun as anything SM64 or before, I've pre-ordered it. Plus, the logo is too clever; I was concerned when the mockups showed no stars but they're back...

Really? I thought SMG1 was the first time they'd nailed Mario in 3d.

Galaxy was much, much better than Mario 64 and is better than every 2D Mario other than Yoshi's Island. Only real problems with it were the late-game level cloning, lousy underwater controls and that sometimes it got a little too cute. Anyway, 2 looks rad.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I'd definitely buy this if I wasn't swamped with games to play. Not only have I not finished NSMBW, Punch Out, and Sin and Punishment 2, but I'm still mastering a bunch of PS2 games. Hopefully, they'll entertain my until this game drops in price 'cause I'm cheapo and all.

[DJ Incompetent]

It's much more challenging than the original

Somebody living on the difficult games better elaborate on this please. I got burned on NSMBwii bullshit "no really it's hard: just kidding" marketing campaign.

I'm still rather pissed off by that.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

They probably playing multiplayer with a bunch of kids. I know how it is; I've done it.

Edit: what did you expect? Ghost and Ghouls difficulty ?

[Elixir]

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/level ... rio/100399

Looks good, but they're really just selling the same thing with better graphics here, with the same moves and everything. I'm still interested, and thankful that the entire game isn't a complete clone of Mario 64, but yeah, this'll sell due to nostalgia. 3D hasn't really changed since 64 first came out.

[EOJ]

I'm probably in the minority, but my favorite 3D Mario is Super Mario Sunshine. SM64 was fun too. SMG1 was OK, but I stopped halfway through out of boredom. I've preordered SMG2, basically due to the $20 cashback. If I don't like it, I can sell it and not lose much (if anything), so it's a no brainer.

[linko9]

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/level ... rio/100399

Looks good, but they're really just selling the same thing with better graphics here, with the same moves and everything. I'm still interested, and thankful that the entire game isn't a complete clone of Mario 64, but yeah, this'll sell due to nostalgia. 3D hasn't really changed since 64 first came out.

You do realize that this is one level out of the ~50 in the game, right? As for the same moves comment, you say you've played the original SMG so you should know that's wrong. I think this is a really cool level that is clearly feeding completely on nostalgia, but what's wrong with 1 50th of a game doing that?

[Skykid]

but yeah, this'll sell due to nostalgia.

No, it'll sell because it's an incredible videogame.

[Elixir]

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/level ... rio/100399

Looks good, but they're really just selling the same thing with better graphics here, with the same moves and everything. I'm still interested, and thankful that the entire game isn't a complete clone of Mario 64, but yeah, this'll sell due to nostalgia. 3D hasn't really changed since 64 first came out.

You do realize that this is one level out of the ~50 in the game, right? As for the same moves comment, you say you've played the original SMG so you should know that's wrong. I think this is a really cool level that is clearly feeding completely on nostalgia, but what's wrong with 1 50th of a game doing that?

I do, and I'm saying that this very level will draw sales. The first game was fun, you're right, but like someone else said, this feels like an expansion to the original Galaxy, and not really a sequel.

but yeah, this'll sell due to nostalgia.

No, it'll sell because it's an incredible videogame.

Saying something like that about a game you haven't even played is just silly, it reminds me of the people here who put Ketsui in their top 10 while never having touched it before.

[louisg]

I do, and I'm saying that this very level will draw sales. The first game was fun, you're right, but like someone else said, this feels like an expansion to the original Galaxy, and not really a sequel.

Seems like as much of a sequel as SMW was to SMB3. . or DOJ to DDP .. definitely more of a sequel than Strikers 1945 II or III! It probably says something that we're so used to mario games being so different from each other...

[linko9]

I do, and I'm saying that this very level will draw sales. The first game was fun, you're right, but like someone else said, this feels like an expansion to the original Galaxy, and not really a sequel.

I didn't expect to hear that comment again. I recall people saying that when the original trailers were released, but no one who has reviewed the game has claimed this. It's a completely new game, just with the same (updated) engine and artistic direction. Same can be said of Gears of War 2, God of War 2, Halo 2, Monkey Island 2, Majora's Mask, and a whole lot of other sequels. And I don't recall anyone accusing them of being expansions. Also expansions generally aren't longer than the original game.

[Skykid]

Saying something like that about a game you haven't even played is just silly, it reminds me of the people here who put Ketsui in their top 10 while never having touched it before.

What makes you think it's not sitting in my Wii right now?

[Jockel]

Saying something like that about a game you haven't even played is just silly, it reminds me of the people here who put Ketsui in their top 10 while never having touched it before.

What makes you think it's not sitting in my Wii right now?

ARRRRRR!

[Cthulhu]

Played for a little while now and definitely enjoying the game. It does feel a little bit like "more levels" for Galaxy 1, but that doesn't really bother me as I adored Galaxy. I'm digging the higher difficulty on the opening levels, but I'm not convinced it's as hard as some reports say. I'll see when I get farther I guess.

100% worth a purchase if you even remotely like platformers.

[linko9]

I haven't had as much time as I'd like to play this, but about 5 hours in I've got ~40 stars, and I'm really loving it. The level design is simply excellent, and the presentation is amazing. The game manages to feel more "cinematic" than almost all other games, while containing essentially no cutscenes at all. Unfortunately, I've only run into one star that was somewhat difficult, so I hope that changes. Trying to beat the staff ghosts is quite fun though. So far it seems like every new galaxy introduces a completely new gameplay element, which is quite cool.

[Jockel]

So far it seems like every new galaxy introduces a completely new gameplay element, which is quite cool.

So much for "just more of Super Mario Galaxy 1".
Haters gonna hate, but the game is fucking awesome and better than the first one -
it's full of creativity and variety.

[Skykid]

When Nintendo get it right, their genius is unmatched.

[Drum]

So far it seems like every new galaxy introduces a completely new gameplay element, which is quite cool.

So much for "just more of Super Mario Galaxy 1".

I don't know, Super Mario Galaxy 1 was introducing new gameplay elements all the time. kekeke.
I am completely mangling the quote, but at the end of Eurogamer's review they said something like 'more of the same in this case means more of not the same'. I like my half-remembered version anyway.

[DOM]

Most beautiful game i played in a long time...

When Nintendo get it right, their genius is unmatched.

so true!

[BrianC]

It's much more challenging than the original

Somebody living on the difficult games better elaborate on this please. I got burned on NSMBwii bullshit "no really it's hard: just kidding" marketing campaign.

I'm still rather pissed off by that.

I don't see the beef with difficulty for NSMB Wii. The only hard SMB was SMB2J/Lost Levels. NSMB Wii isn't the hardest game in the series, but it is more difficult than NSMB DS and Super Mario World.