Hands On With Super Mario Galaxy 2
I arrived home from PAX East after a 6 hour flight with a screaming case of jet lag, but I didn't let that stop me from heading directly out to Nintendo to get some hands on time with Super Mario Galaxy 2. I figured some things are just worth pushing through as it turns out, I was right. The game has all the flash and polish Nintendo is known for with their first party titles and my gut instinct is that Super Mario Galaxy 2 will do very well with fans and newcomers alike.
I was taken on a tour of some of the features of SMG2 that started off on Starship Mario, a giant spaceship shaped like Mario's head. Starship Mario serves as your home base and transportation to the various galaxies and planets that SMG2 has to offer. From here yo can also hop aboard Yoshi and try out your tongue skills that not only grabs things but allows you grapple on to objects and swing.
From here I moved on to the Puzzle Plank Galaxy which included the Puzzling Picture Block, a gravity defying slide puzzle that was solved by utilizing Mario's butt stomping ability. Then it was on to the HoneyBloom Galaxy and the Bumble Beginnings level which featured 2D style platforming gameplay and Bee Mario that we were introduced to in the original Super Mario Galaxy. Next up was the Cosmic Cove Galaxy and Twin Falls Hideaway where I tried my skills at swimming. I had to wrestle a bit with the inverted controls but eventually I got used to it. Currently there are no plans to be able to change the controls for those of us who are easily confused but I hope they reconsider.
For the next leg of the tour, we checked out some as yet unseen areas. First was the Boulder Bowl Galaxy and Rock and Rollodillo. This area introduced a new form for our hero, Rock Mario, which can be attained by finding the Rock Mushroom. This allows Mario to go into Boulder form, rolling wildly around the stage, knocking over enemies while retaining the ability to jump. This suit comes in quite handy when facing this level's boss, Rollodillo, a large, cute spikey dinosaur like enemy who is fond of curling up into a ball and smashing you to smithereens.
After defeating Rollodillo I was treated to a sneak peek at the Haunty Halls Galaxy and the Glimmer Bulb Berry level. This area is traversed with the help of Yoshi and is heavily populated by the ubiquitous Boos and invisible paths that are only visible when ingesting the Glimmer Bulb Berry. However, only a small portion of the path is revealed around you and the light does not last forever so tread carefully. You'll have to make it to the next Glimmer Bulb Berry if you want to avoid falling into the abyss.
Nintendo has done a great job with Super Mario Galaxy 2, taking all the things you loved from the first game and building on them as well as incorporating new and exciting game elements that will be sure to please. The graphic presentation was absolutely beautiful and what you'd want and expect from a next (now) generation Mario title. This is the game that Mario loving Wii owners have been waiting for and Nintendo more than delivers. Look for Super Mario Galaxy 2 when it lands in stores on May 23rd.
Fruit Brute
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 31 March 2010
· Comments (2)
Other stuff like this: hands on, nintendo, super mario galaxy 2, wii
If they have a Classic Controller option I'll be about 50 billion times more likely to buy this.
Poor Luigi...
Also, does anyone else think it's weird that Mario apparently lives/travels on a giant replica of his own head?