Genuinely some of the most fun I’ve had with a platformer. The game sports various levels which all have their own creative touch or spin to it, and has some of the best visuals on the Wii. The game is challenging but fair and give me a run for my money on a couple levels. I know a lot of people prefer the 3ds version of the game due to the lack of motion controls, but I didn’t really mind them. As a matter of fact, I actually enjoyed the motion controls quite a bit. They weren’t too intrusive and it made me FEEL like Donkey Kong if that makes sense. A great game and one of, if not the best, platformers you can play on the Wii.

Had this game in my backlog for a long long time. This was during an era where I was kind of just buying anything and everything that even appealed to me slightly because I never got the chance to do that when I was younger. Finally getting around to it though, it was a very solid title. A fun platformer with a decent amount of challenge to keep you on your toes, while also having a really great soundtrack. A soundtrack so good in fact, that they had rhythm based levels in each world. The visuals are also very nice and provide a uniqueness that I crave in more games today (outside of indies duh). Animations look great, had funny elements throughout, and the bosses were also solid. I didn’t fall in love with the game, but it is a very solid time with a ton of content to keep you engaged for however long you want to play. I enjoyed my time with it and would recommend to anyone who hasn’t yet played.

This game holds a special place in my heart because it was the first game that I ever bought with my own money. However, I would always try to start it up around Halloween time and just never manage to beat it, which caused an endless loop (still think that it’s stupid they released ON HALLOWEEN DAY). These past couple of days I finally decided to buckle down and beat the game and I’m glad I did. Great level design from start to finish with each hotel floor bringing its own level of uniqueness to the table. While there may be some duds in there, they still managed to crack a smile out of me with its physical humor. Furthermore, this is some of the best the Mario cast has ever looked, with each of them feeling so expressive. The bosses all around were pretty solid, albeit a lot of them could be stacked up to “wait until this thing happens so you can do this.” Even with those minor complaints I enjoyed exploring each floor, and the new mechanics were all nice and welcomed ones. I think Gooigi added nice variety to the gameplay and the final sequence left me satisfied. I know some people don’t like the “brightness” of the game but I think they did a good job of having a decent balance. Overall, I enjoyed my time with this game quite a bit and I’m glad to have it out of my backlog!

Simply beautiful from start to finish. I loved the first game and while it took me a while to finish this one, I am so grateful to have experienced this story. This game is breathtaking to look at, and the cutscenes made me feel the same magic an early Disney movie would give me. The gameplay feels top-notch and only added to the experience that the first game gave me. There was a good amount of challenge that came from the game which left me on my toes while also being fair. I was fully immersed during the final stretch and while I am mixed on my feelings on the ending, I believe that that was intended. It was a bittersweet yet beautiful ending that left me in awe. An amazing game that I would recommend to anyone who loves metroidvanias.

This is how you do a sequel. It keeps all the charm, visuals, and base gameplay from the first game while also improving on each category in many different ways. It allows the travelers to interact with each other more than ever before which was a big complaint for me for the first game. The gameplay has been enhanced as well with new additions added to the battle system that makes the fights that much more entertaining. The characters are all lovable and each has their own compelling story to go through. The final segment of the game is what takes it cake though. Throughout each of their own individual adventures, you slowly start to piece a connection together between them all, and by doing all of the side stories, you unlock the final chapter of the game. This is by far the most thrilling part of the game, and allows for the story to reach the heights that I was looking for the entire time. Seeing it all come together was so gratifying and made everything feel that much more impactful. This is another section in which I believe they improve upon the first game. Overall, while it's not perfect in my eyes, as I wish there were more side stories or cutscenes that could've eluded to the overarching theme throughout the game, it is very close and I enjoyed every second of the adventure.

An incredible narrative from start to finish. Playing through this for the first time makes me realize why it made the impact that it did when it first came out. The gameplay is tightly controlled and feels satisfying to pull off. The deaths never feel incredibly punishing and allows the player to hop back in quickly to start over again. This game makes you feel for Madeline and leaves you wanting to know more about her journey. The only reason it isn’t a 5-star for me is because the genre itself isn’t necessarily one of my favorites but I enjoyed it all the same. Great story with a ton of replay value for those who enjoy these games. Very solid.

The most fun I’ve had playing a multiplayer game in years. I typically find myself enjoying more single player adventures and narratives that allow me to immerse myself within the world they’re trying to portray. However, this game makes me feel so much more invested than I ever expected. It makes you feel so patriotic for the Super Earth campaign, and you can see that from the player base. The amount of hilarity that ensues when playing this game is an absolute pleasure and the gameplay makes it so addicting. It can get really difficult and that only adds to the overall experience. This is the way a live service game should be done and I will continue to help in Super Earth’s fight!