SUPER MARIO GALAXY 2

[Jarrod]

101 stars in for me and some stars are still introducing new ideas.

I really do need to give props to Nintendo for expanding the whole 'comet' system. Sometimes the comets are really simple things like daredevil runs (like the original), but sometimes they are pretty much their own unique star.
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[admeister]

I'm 12 stars in, and I don't see what's so great about the game. It's a sequel to the original in pretty much every possible way, but they replaced a lot of the hub with a world map... Yoshi is decent but underused so far.
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"The first person to prove that cow's milk is drinkable was very, very thirsty." - Fact Sphere.

[theory]

Well it's no Full Auto 2, I'll give you that.
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[admeister]

You write one review and it haunts you forever. The life of a writer is harsh.
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"The first person to prove that cow's milk is drinkable was very, very thirsty." - Fact Sphere.

[theory]

I'm playing. Seriously though, I haven't played SMG2 yet but I'm pretty sure you must be on crack. How is it not the best thing ever?
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[Michael Kontoudis]

Review is up; a masterpiece, certainly.

EDIT: Of course I mean that the game is a masterpiece, not the review...

... I mean, that's not for me to say, is it? That's for other people to say... if they want to.

[ManeKast]

So who picked this up? Any forced firware updates? Going to get mine NOW! Kmart price match @ eb.
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PSN/XBL/Steam: ManeKast
Kudos to Fetidchimp for the sig.

[DancesInUnderwear]

I imported this a week ago, and got enough stars required to beat Bowser the other night. Anyhoo, wow. Phenomenal. I think its better than the first one. Every level just feels so fresh and different (even moreso than Galaxy 1, which also did this incredibly well). It reminds me of Yoshi's Island in that regard, which has to be my favourite game ever, so its certainly a good thing.

Controls still work like a charm (point and click Yoshi tongue is soooo good). Graphics still look great. Music is still fantastic. Just like with Galaxy 1, I feel like a little kid again (hell, moreso, with that dousing of nostalgia from that particular galaxy that I'm not going to spoil but made me smile when I first saw it).

The whole thing is brilliant. When this generation ends, I really think Galaxy 1 and 2 are going to sit right at the very top of the best games of this generation. Its fantastic.


(oh and putting in the world map system is the best idea ever, I want to get into the proper action, not run around the same stupid hub all the time looking for where the levels are - even though I still could, and actually Starship Mario isn't a bad mini hub at all.)
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[ManeKast]

Just picked this up from Kmart for $69, with bonus DVD (watching now very hilarious). PLayed 80 or so stars with an import NTSC, now, I have to start again? Damn awesome!
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PSN/XBL/Steam: ManeKast
Kudos to Fetidchimp for the sig.

[Jarrod]

The very last star sucks because its hard and I cant beat it easily.

Worst game ever.
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[Jedi_Amara]

Anyone know if JB has the bonus DVD with it? I preordered but can't go in and get it today because I'm too broke to afford a train ticket, fml.
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Games I'm after | Play-Asia link
MY PSP IS NOT PINK! - now with added blog

[Jarrod]

[Jedi_Amara]

Awesome, cheers
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Games I'm after | Play-Asia link
MY PSP IS NOT PINK! - now with added blog

[Luketheman5]

I'm playing this game, up to the 5th Galaxy. But so far...wow. I had Galaxy 1 and sold it because I got bored, but I gave this one a chance and it's working. I feel...5 again, the music especially in Bowser's levels just remind me of my childhood adventures trying to beat him for the first time after getting 11 stars .
Giving me major Mario 64 Vibes

I've got 50 stars now and I'm incredibly tired. Just one more star i keep telling myself, but here I am at 1: 47 still going.
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Now playing: Binary Domain
Now Replaying: Mass Effect 2

[ManeKast]

Bonus DVD actually has some extremely useful tips, I wouldnt advise viewing until you have done say 100 stars or more.

The advanced section has some stuff I never even thought about!
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PSN/XBL/Steam: ManeKast
Kudos to Fetidchimp for the sig.

[Jarrod]

The Bonus DVD taught me the flying double kick.

I didnt even know that was in the game.
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[ManeKast]

What about the 2 player secrets? Didnt know that either.
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PSN/XBL/Steam: ManeKast
Kudos to Fetidchimp for the sig.

[admeister]

The game just feels like a sequel to the first one in every way, I feel like I'm playing the same game all over again. The game even starts in almost exactly the same way. I don't know, watching Mario (and Yoshi) running and jumping around for hours just doesn't seem to appeal to me. The first one was fun because it was fresh and original, this just feels like a lame expansion pack. Mario Galaxy did not need a sequel imo, it just cheapens the experience for me. I practically find LittleBigPlanet more interesting as far as platformers go.

I guess Galaxy 2 illustrates my general feeling for the Wii during the past year. I almost never use the console, there's pretty much nothing there for the hardcore gamers and when Nintendo do put something out, it's just a shallow sequel to a game I played three years ago. Really, the only Wii game I'm considering buying in the next year or so is the new Zelda game, which actually looks decent so far.

Sorry for coming across as being so negative, but I'm just being honest. I'm really not happy with the way Nintendo have handled the Wii, after the Gamecube, I expected more.
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"The first person to prove that cow's milk is drinkable was very, very thirsty." - Fact Sphere.

[Karai Pantsu]

Sounds to me like you're projecting a generalised dislike fot Nintendo on to SMG2.

I haven't played it yet (STILL. CANNOT. FIND. MY. WIIs. POWER. BRICK. ARRRRGH) but an awful lot of people whos tastes I respect have practically soiled their slacks over it; pairing that with the level of excellence shwon in SMG, I just can't believe for a second that SMG2 is anything short of an utterly fantastic game.
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[ManeKast]

IMHO

SMG2 is a phenomenal game.

Its has originality and shine that outclasses everything and makes you feel young again. Theres plenty (more than say 50) of new ideas in this that are not in the original. Apart from that, NOBODY makes games like this at all.

LittleBigPlanet is flawed, this is flawless. I reckon.

Just my 2 cents.
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PSN/XBL/Steam: ManeKast
Kudos to Fetidchimp for the sig.

[DancesInUnderwear]

[He need to cut the ego.]

[Kyle Clarthy]

Oh my goodness, Andy ... Ad is entitled to his opinion. While it's merely a little red icon on a computer screen, I just feel I have to say that not everyone agrees with Ad, not everyone agrees with you, and not everyone agrees with me. However, it seems a little strange to minus Ad when all he's doing is expressing his opinion about the game. I can see where he's coming from, and I can also see where other people are coming from, too. But they're not negging Ad, they're explaining why they disagree and they're creating a discussion out of it.

In any case ...

I know I said earlier in this thread that I'd probably skip this game, and I think I also used the word "expansion", but I have to take the expansion term back as it's not so much an expansion ... it's just Mario. People should know what to expect from his adventures by now.

I collected 121 stars in the end, and I enjoyed every moment of the game. There were some really fun moments, and a lot of moments that made me feel as if I'd never be able to get the star, but persistence and practice pays off, and you eventually learn how to cope with the obstacles better, and also what to anticipate. It felt so rewarding to collect those stars and while I've stopped playing it now, I think I'm about to have withdrawal symptoms!

The music was epic, pretty good stuff and really gave a sense of scope, but the best music was the nostalgic stuff that occurred in previous Mario games ... I even stopped and listened to the Bowser and Ghost House themes a few time.

I'm glad I talked myself into buying the game, it was an impulse purchase somewhat, but when I saw it there on eBay, I couldn't help myself. Forgive me!

I have a couple of questions, if someone doesn't mind answering them ...

I haven't actually got Wii Motion Plus yet, but I was wondering if it actually helps with controlling Fluzzard or the marble/ball levels? Sometimes they seemed to have a mind of their own or were responsive enough. I'm not sure if Motion Plus would help in this instance.

I collected the first green star, and I'm aware that some of you may look down upon me for not collecting them all! ... but I was wondering whether there was any incentive to collect them all or is it merely for completionists sakes that they're included? I'm aware that there's not going to be a deep and meaningful cutscene, but I was just wanting to know if anyone knew the answer to this.

Thanks in advance.

By the way ...

[He need to cut the ego.]

[ManeKast]

I found it interesting that a lot of younger gamers have been the ones that havent been as blown away by Mario, not sure how old you are here but its my theory that the magic of this game seems to be much more apparent for those gamers who are older.

It might be that we grew up playing Mario. It might be that our tastes have already been through the 'its mature/rinse/repeat' stage and realised games are all about gameplay? Maybe the tastes of older gamers are more refined from experience?

These are just theories. I would love to hear what people on this board think of this. I find it a bit of a juxtaposition that while this game appears to be aimed at a younger audience, its truly appreciated by core gamers and possibly older gamers (theory, not opinion). Show any non gamer the cover, ads, art or game case and ask. I am pretty sure gamers and non gamers would agree?

I would like to hear what people think.

P.S. Maybe we should spoiler proof the posts concerning extra areas, star counts, abilities and secrets.

P.S.S. Maybe we should SPOILER TAG anything about secrets, stars and starcounts, bosses, areas and hidden stuff.
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PSN/XBL/Steam: ManeKast
Kudos to Fetidchimp for the sig.