In what remains to be the only 3D Mario game to get a sequel, Super Mario Galaxy 2 remains one of the best 3D platformers ever made. Taking the same fantastic format of Super Mario Galaxy, and pushing it to the limit, with no level feeling underwhelming or uninspired.
The Galaxy titles are unique from other 3D Mario games for their more linear level design. Unlike Super Mario 64 or Sunshine where you would have wide open landscapes to explore and discover secrets, Galaxy typically has a very clear set path that will allow you to progress. Although this may sound limiting, it gave the developers the ability to perfectly control the flow of the gameplay. Their fantastic execution of this makes you never feel this constraint. You feel just as free as you did in Bob-Bomb Battlefield or Gelato Beach.
Another strength of Galaxy 2 is how Mario's abilities allow for so many fantastic level concepts. Unlike Sunshine, which was unique for the immense amount of abilities that FLUDD gave Mario, Galaxy has a fairly simple kit for the plumber. Mario's only real "special" ability is a spin attack, that allows for a bit of extra high during a jump, and the ability to knock away some enemies. But the real strength of this ability is when it's interactive with the level design. A perfect example of this is Flip-Swap Galaxy. This level is built around blue and red platforms that will alternate their position whenever Mario's spin attack is used. This creates a very fun yet challenging level where players need to both consider what platform they want to go to next, and whether or not they need to use their spin ability to get there. This creates another layer of depth when considering that Mario's spin ability can often save you from falling of the edge of a platform, but since you need to be careful with your spins, you may not have that opportunity to save yourself. This interaction between the spin ability and the level design is all over Galaxy 2, and it's what makes Mario's simplified kit still feel so expressive.
But just when you thought that Galaxy 2 couldn't possibly have any more types of levels, they add an entire new realm of possibilities with one simple inclusion: Yoshi. Although in previous titles, Yoshi was more of a glorified power-up, Galaxy 2 gives the dino several levels built for him and his abilities. Yoshi himself also comes with three power-ups that can create different types of levels. My personal favorite is the Dash Pepper power-up, which causes Yoshi to sprint as high speed until the power-up ends, creating unique levels where the player needs to carefully navigate with Yoshi as to not fall off the side of a platform.
I don't even feel like I need to explain the quality of the music of Galaxy 2, but just in case you weren't aware, it's amazing. The orchestral pieces of Galaxy 2 lend themselves perfectly to the feelings of freedom that the space setting creates. Every track in this game is just bursting with energy, and the game would not be the same without it.
Overall, Galaxy 2 is till one of the greatest examples of how less is more when it comes to 3D platformers, and for it, it remains one of the best 3D platformers ever made.
The Galaxy titles are unique from other 3D Mario games for their more linear level design. Unlike Super Mario 64 or Sunshine where you would have wide open landscapes to explore and discover secrets, Galaxy typically has a very clear set path that will allow you to progress. Although this may sound limiting, it gave the developers the ability to perfectly control the flow of the gameplay. Their fantastic execution of this makes you never feel this constraint. You feel just as free as you did in Bob-Bomb Battlefield or Gelato Beach.
Another strength of Galaxy 2 is how Mario's abilities allow for so many fantastic level concepts. Unlike Sunshine, which was unique for the immense amount of abilities that FLUDD gave Mario, Galaxy has a fairly simple kit for the plumber. Mario's only real "special" ability is a spin attack, that allows for a bit of extra high during a jump, and the ability to knock away some enemies. But the real strength of this ability is when it's interactive with the level design. A perfect example of this is Flip-Swap Galaxy. This level is built around blue and red platforms that will alternate their position whenever Mario's spin attack is used. This creates a very fun yet challenging level where players need to both consider what platform they want to go to next, and whether or not they need to use their spin ability to get there. This creates another layer of depth when considering that Mario's spin ability can often save you from falling of the edge of a platform, but since you need to be careful with your spins, you may not have that opportunity to save yourself. This interaction between the spin ability and the level design is all over Galaxy 2, and it's what makes Mario's simplified kit still feel so expressive.
But just when you thought that Galaxy 2 couldn't possibly have any more types of levels, they add an entire new realm of possibilities with one simple inclusion: Yoshi. Although in previous titles, Yoshi was more of a glorified power-up, Galaxy 2 gives the dino several levels built for him and his abilities. Yoshi himself also comes with three power-ups that can create different types of levels. My personal favorite is the Dash Pepper power-up, which causes Yoshi to sprint as high speed until the power-up ends, creating unique levels where the player needs to carefully navigate with Yoshi as to not fall off the side of a platform.
I don't even feel like I need to explain the quality of the music of Galaxy 2, but just in case you weren't aware, it's amazing. The orchestral pieces of Galaxy 2 lend themselves perfectly to the feelings of freedom that the space setting creates. Every track in this game is just bursting with energy, and the game would not be the same without it.
Overall, Galaxy 2 is till one of the greatest examples of how less is more when it comes to 3D platformers, and for it, it remains one of the best 3D platformers ever made.