Synopsis

Mario heads for the stars once more in this fully-fledged sequel to Nintendo’s outstanding Super Mario platformer.

Though many of the key elements that made Super Mario 64 an instant classic remained intact, Super Mario Galaxy was a huge departure for the platforming series, taking Mario away from his Mushroom Kingdom roots and into the far reaches of space. With such a rich new environment now ready to explore, Super Mario Galaxy 2 provides a rare Mario sequel that expands on the gravity-defying gameplay of the original.

The biggest addition to this Galaxy sequel is the introduction of Mario’s dinosaur sidekick, Yoshi. Once freed from the eggs scattered across select levels, players can use Yoshi to snatch items, swing across gaping chasms and swallow enemies whole. New Mario power ups include the Spin Drill, which allows players to tunnel through each miniature planet level and work their way through to its other side. Each new planet Mario darts between contains its own original enemies, environments and gravity-driven platforming.

With Mario sequels few and far between, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a rare treat for platforming fans, expanding on the original’s ideas with the care and attention Nintendo is known for.