Topic: Super Mario Galaxy 2

[Ian Sane]

Wow there is an enemy in Right Side up galaxy that looks like it was taken straight outa Mega Man.

Ha! My brother thought the same thing.   I first encountered that enemy and he says "what is this?  Mega Man?"

[Caliban]

nom nom nom what a tasty soundtrack...

[DAaaMan64]

Hey I noticed there's a move missing... The jump then dive forward move is gone. :/  Not a big deal, but I did like it.

I'm at 31 stars. The Bowser level's are awesome!  Also, my favorite stuff has been the drilling. Glad to see the slide is back as well. Also, whats with Luigi coming in and out? You can still play through the whole game again with him right?

[Caterkiller]

Yes DAaaman, to your luigi question.

[Mop it up]

Hey I noticed there's a move missing... The jump then dive forward move is gone. :/  Not a big deal, but I did like it.

The original Super Mario Galaxy lacked that move as well. I miss it too, it was fun to slide around in Super Mario 64, and in Super Mario Sunshine you could use the dive repeatedly to slide across flat ground.

[broodwars]

Well, based on the recommendations of both Lindy and James (who both were not looking forward to this game with the fanboy fanaticism I feel tends to make reviewers treat Nintendo games with kid gloves), I caved in and picked up Galaxy 2 today.  I've completed World 1 so far with every star I can find (including the return of the...ugh...crate-breaking mini-game), and so far it looks to me like Nintendo addressed most of my concerns with the original Galaxy to make this quite possibly my favorite of the 3D Marios: each galaxy only has a couple of stars rather than half a dozen; the "open world" galaxies that were so terrible in Galaxy 1 seem to be (for the moment) gone; the galaxies seem to be a lot more creative; bosses are a lot more fun and interesting; and access times in and out of galaxies are a lot quicker.  Progression all around (my biggest sticking point with the first galaxy, which I felt got bogged down by repetition and a certain amount of conservatism) is vastly improved, and the game is dramatically better for it.  Also, I've run into 3 Power-ups so far: the Cloud Suit; the Drill; and (of course) Yoshi, and I really like all of them.  Yoshi actually works really well with the Wii Pointer controls, and Nintendo did a really good job making him feel really powerful.

My only real complaint so far besides the insipid main story (I'm sorry, but I'm not going to let that go.  It's been over 20 years and we're still doing this same shtick) is something I had major issues in the first game: the use of waggle for the spin attack.  Yes, it kind of works, but besides the pointlessness of it I sometimes find myself doing the spin when I don't really intend to just doing a slight involuntary arm movement.  It's not a major issue, but on occasion it has caused me to die (the galaxy with the flipping platforms triggered by your spin attacks comes to mind).

[Ian Sane]

My only real complaint so far besides the insipid main story (I'm sorry, but I'm not going to let that go.  It's been over 20 years and we're still doing this same shtick) is something I had major issues in the first game: the use of waggle for the spin attack.  Yes, it kind of works, but besides the pointlessness of it I sometimes find myself doing the spin when I don't really intend to just doing a slight involuntary arm movement.  It's not a major issue, but on occasion it has caused me to die (the galaxy with the flipping platforms triggered by your spin attacks comes to mind).

Well you can probably cut and paste this complaint for any Wii game Nintendo makes that doesn't support the classic controller.  I occasionally run into problems but I was shocked watching my brother play as he just can't sit still and Mario is spinning all over the place when he plays.  The numerous NSMB deaths make much more sense now.
 
I long for the days when Nintendo abandons waggle.  There are numerous situations in this game where the remote is required.  They don't have to shoehorn waggle in for the spin move to "prove" the concept.

[Guitar Smasher]

I found the spin move to work perfectly in this game.  It is very intuitive to me.  The spin-controlled flipping tile galaxy is probably my favourite, because it requires you to really use your brain instead of instincts (which would get you killed quickly).

If I have one complaint, when playing with a 2nd player, the extra pointer icon gets really distracting especially when it's close to Mario.  Still, the 2nd player actually really helped with some of the tougher levels.

[broodwars]

Another minor complaint I'd add is that Nintendo brought back Petey ****ing Piranha again as the first boss with pretty much the exact same strategy as the last time I fought him in Galaxy 1.  This is, what...3 times now that they've started a 3D Mario game fighting that guy and he's never been a great boss?
 
And seriously...Bowser Jr. again?  Can't Nintendo just have the Koopa Kids and leave it at that?  No one likes Bowser Jr. that I've seen.

[DAaaMan64]

The spin is great, I use it all the time for that little extra jump.

[TJ Spyke]

I like Petey Piranha, so I don't mind if they brought him back.

Bowser Jr. is another story. He is a terrible character and is annoying. People may hate on Waluigi (although I don't know why), but he serves a purpose. He is a rival for Luigi and partner for Wario. Bowser Jr. has no use, Bowser already had eight kids that did the same thing.

[Ian Sane]

The spin is great, I use it all the time for that little extra jump.

Oh the spin is fine.  I just don't like the mechanics of how to perform it.  Map it to a button and we're set.
 
Bowser Jr. is such a lame character that I'm convince that he's the result of Nintendo being so indifferent to story that they made a goof regarding their own continuity.  Bowser Jr. looks almost identical to young Bowser from Yoshi's Island.  My theory is that when making Super Mario Sunshine Nintendo wanted to initially present an alternate villain so they used "Bowser's son" from Yoshi's Island, completely forgetting that that game was a prequel so it was actually Bowser himself.  Bowser Jr. isn't introduced in Super Mario Sunshine as he's some new character.  We're supposed to be all familiar with him, suggesting that Nintendo thinks we saw him already in an earlier game when we actually saw young Bowser.
 
Or Nintendo is just so lazy that they lifted the young character design for one character and passed him of as a new character.  Dumb or lazy?  Pick which one you feel is more flattering for Nintendo.

[Mop it up]

I wouldn't mind the shake to spin if the Nunchuk didn't also activate the spin. I need to have one hand able to grab a drink or scratch an itch and things like that.

I've realized I swear pretty much the entire time playing.  Every time I die I'm all "AH FUCKING DAMMIT TO HELL!"  My brother could hear me from upstairs and was wondering if I was actually enjoying myself.  Thankfully I was.  I'm far enough that I'm going to die at least once on every new stage so the swearing will continue.

You remind me of my older brother, he used to be the exact same way (and might still be). It's a bit strange, but I guess the satisfaction of conquering those tough parts overrides the frustration of getting through. He broke one of our NES controllers by throwing it really hard against the wall (it was a third-party brand which is why it broke so easily). Hopefully you're not that extreme.

[ThomasO]

I wouldn't mind the shake to spin if the Nunchuk didn't also activate the spin.

I found the Nunchuk spin to be useful when you're busy using the pointer.

[Mop it up]

It can be. There should be an option to choose which one to use for spinning, that would solve everything.

Speaking of the pointer, there have been a few times where I executed the spin when rapidly moving the pointer to collect star bits. Fortunately it didn't result in mistakes... but it could.

[KDR_11k]

My copy of SMG2 just shipped. Europe had to wait long enough.

[Caterkiller]

So is everyone truly in agreement that this game is down right good? Or years later are we going to complain about being too similar to past Mario titles?

When we see the next Mario title in 4-6 years most likely I would love a new way to fly. Both Sunshine and this game didn't have unlike every Mario since 3.  Galaxy's black suit was cool, but not nearly as fun and satisfying as the wing cap, cape or anything else really. One day I hope to see Yoshi with wings again, if I get that just one more time(out side of brawl) then I could die happy.

[Mop it up]

So is everyone truly in agreement that this game is down right good? Or years later are we going to complain about being too similar to past Mario titles?

I already have that complaint now. That is the only complaint I have though, and it isn't any big deal, especially with a game of this type. But it does stick a bit too close to the conventions of the first Galaxy game, and recycles a little bit of it, and I feel it was held back somewhat by that. It's still a great game, though.

[Peachylala]

But it does stick a bit too close to the conventions of the first  Galaxy game, and recycles a little bit of it, and I feel it was held  back somewhat by that. It's still a great game, though.

This game is far more awesome and we have the super guide to thank for that.

[Ian Sane]

So is everyone truly in agreement that this game is down right good? Or years later are we going to complain about being too similar to past Mario titles?

I imagine both games will end up lumped together as the "Galaxies" and will both be considered essential titles for the Wii, hell probably THE essential titles for the Wii.  But if they released a third Galaxy title or the next-gen Mario game is, like Galaxy 2, a further refinement of this game, then there will be some backlash.
 
A subtle refinement like Galaxy 2 is rare for Nintendo.  It's not their typical way to doing sequels.  Usually they do something pretty different.  I like that about them but there's a certain charm in a refined cookie-cutter sequel.  I think it's okay as a once-in-a-while situation.  It's notable that in this case the first game was so good that it left people wanting more.  That sort of game is RARE.  Sequels get played out because publishers assume we want more for every half-decent game that makes a profit.  If Nintendo released Mario Kart Wii 2 I'm sure it would be greeted with massive indifference.  They have to be picky.  If Nintendo suddenly goes cookie cutter sequel crazy then Super Mario Galaxy 2 may be remembered as the beginning of a bad trend.

[Mop it up]

If Nintendo released Mario Kart Wii 2 I'm sure it would be greeted with massive indifference.

It depends. If it had 32 new tracks (meaning no retro ones), better balance, and improved graphics, it would easily be the best Mario Kart game ever.

[broodwars]

If Nintendo released Mario Kart Wii 2 I'm sure it would be greeted with massive indifference.

It depends. If it had 32 new tracks (meaning no retro ones), better balance, and improved graphics, it would easily be the best Mario Kart game ever.

That sounds about right.  All new tracks w/ clever layouts and shortcuts + visuals up to snuff with Mario Galaxy - Blue Shell - AI rubber-banding = best Mario Kart EVAR!   

Pity Nintendo has no interest in doing any of these things.

[TJ Spyke]

The blue shell is a great item, so that would have to stay in. As for retro tracks, those are very popular with most fans (and I also generally like them. I just don't like when they bring back tracks I didn't like to begin with, like Choco Mountain).

[Mop it up]

Mario Kart Wii doesn't have rubber-banding. I thought the 16 new tracks in the game had interesting and clever layouts. Shortcuts would further imbalance the game.

Given the nature of the game, the blue shell is a necessary evil, in theory. With all of the power items flying around in the middle of the pack, it is entirely possible for someone to zoom out ahead and become uncatchable, while everyone else pummels one another. The blue shell is intended to prevent that from happening. The problem is, the shell can appear at any time, even if the player in first has already crossed the line (in which case it will target the highest ranked player not yet finished). It should only appear if the player in first has at least a small lead.

[King of Twitch]

How about only items and shortcuts that require skill to use?