Super Mario Galaxy 2 makes its debut on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, heralding the return of, arguably, one of the best 3D Mario games of all time.
Super Mario Galaxy 2, first released in 2010, built on everything that made the original game so beloved and amplified it, introducing new power-ups, Yoshi, and a smoother flow between story beats and levels. The original Super Mario Galaxy is not known for its story, but unlike other Mario titles, it featured a significant amount of exposition between levels. In contrast, Super Mario Galaxy 2 focuses on giving players a multitude of creative and fun levels to explore and conquer.
Instead of frequent interruptions from Rosalina and her family of Luma, which, again, was a welcome change of pace for a Mario game, Super Mario Galaxy 2 cuts out the middleman with only brief exposition sequences. Furthermore, instead of having to move between the ever-expanding hub area to access levels, which sometimes kicked the player back to the starting area for more exposition, Super Mario Galaxy 2 instead relies on the tried and tested board game style map, which gives players the agency to jump between levels, without having to deal with the hub area of the game.
“Super Mario Galaxy 2, which first saw release in 2010, took everything that made the original game so beloved and amped things up to 11.”
The introduction of Yoshi into the structure of a Galaxy game is excellent, reminiscent of the jump between Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World. New power-ups, both for Mario and Yoshi, also add fun and a truly innovative feeling to levels that feel distinct from the original Galaxy game. Two stand-out powers exclusive to Super Mario Galaxy 2 include Rock Mario, which transforms the Italian plumber into a Goron-style bowling ball and a hot pepper that turns Yoshi into a speeding mount, which makes for some exhilarating and fast levels that change up the pace of the game.
More enemies on screen, unique bosses that take advantage of Yoshi and Mario’s new abilities, on top of a ton of secret stars to collect, NPC challenge areas, and new exclusive content, such as the Storybook chapters, make Super Mario Galaxy 2 one of the most fun-packed adventures in series history.
“Super Mario Galaxy 2 is an essential gaming experience for any Nintendo fan.”
With its debut on Nintendo’s latest hybrid console, Super Mario Galaxy 2 brings with it some quality of life changes, including a brand new assist mode, which grants players three additional life bars, on top of regenerative health, while eliminating most death planes present in the game. UI elements, such as the HUD, have also been redone to take advantage of modern HD displays, making everything in the game pop, be it docked or on the go.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 on the Nintendo Switch 2 is a blast to play, with the game looking sharp in both 1080p handheld and 4k while docked. Better gyro controls, afforded by the Nintendo Switch 2’s Joy-Con 2 and Pro Controller 2, make playing the game as responsive as it was on the Nintendo Wii. In fact, the option to use the gyro of the Pro Controller 2 is a much more comfortable way to play the game during longer sessions, making it the best way to experience Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Playing the game in handheld mode is excellent, with the high-refresh-rate panel of the Switch 2 making the locked 60 fps experience feel as good as playing on a CRT. Colour banding, which occurs frequently in both Mario Galaxy titles, also seems less apparent in handheld mode, making it my preferred way to play.
If you have never experienced either of the Super Mario Galaxy titles, the release of Super Mario Galaxy 2—more specifically, the Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 bundle—is a must-play for Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 owners. For those who have already played the original Galaxy game, perhaps on the now-discontinued Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is an essential experience for any Nintendo fan.
When it comes down to it, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a stellar platformer and one of the best Mario games to appear on the Nintendo Switch ecosystem, making it an unmissable title for fans of the franchise.
