Super Mario Galaxy 2 Review: The perfect mix of new and old
A few weeks ago I reviewed Super Mario Galaxy 1 and left overall unimpressed. So I didn't really expect much going into Super Mario Galaxy 2, but the second trip through the galaxy managed to surprise me with endless creativity and perfect polish.
Building on a Solid Foundation
Many consider Super Mario Galaxy 1 as one of the best games ever made. For me, playing it for the first time in 2025, however the game couldn't hide its flaws. Compared to modern titles Galaxy 1 felt often uninspired and even clunky. I often struggled with the camera controls and the motion inputs felt like a relic from a long forgotten time that I wished would never return.
However Galaxy 1 did have moments when everything clicked. When the camera worked, the motion controls were dialled down and the creativity got dialled up. In those moments I really enjoyed the game. Mario Galaxy 2 took those moments and built a whole game around them.
Every single world in Galaxy 2 feels more polished and creative than the best levels of Galaxy 1. The worlds themselves are a wonderful mix of old and new. Some callbacks to Mario 64 or Sunshine made me smile and the new worlds felt fresh and exciting.
Galaxy 2 shines where modern Mario stumbles
I love modern Nintendo platformers like Mario Odyssey or the brilliant Donkey Kong Bananza. They offer beautiful worlds, tight controls and tons of creativity. They are simply a joy to play but what both games lack is difficulty. Aside from a few optional challenges, those games are extremely easy.
Mario Galaxy 2 on the other hand strikes the right balance between difficulty, creativity and fun. In my time playing the game never felt frustrating or hard but it always offered an exciting level of challenge. There were many moments where Galaxy 2 demands some precision platforming, which always felt really rewarding to pull off.
One of the many highlights are also the mini game challenges the game offers you. Sometimes it wants you to play a round of bowling, another time you are challenged to a race. The scores needed to be successful are always on a level that you won't achieve in your first try but are still doable within a few attempts. In my eyes the perfect balance.
Not everything is perfect
The only weakness Super Mario Galaxy 2 has is its presentation and story. While Galaxy 1 tried at least to tell a cute story Galaxy 2 goes fully back to the basics. The story is pretty much nonexistent.
Also the presentation takes a step back. While the graphics and music are still stunning the cutscenes feel uninspired and somewhat plain boring. Now don't get me wrong I don't think a game like Mario Galaxy needs a good story.
However, Donkey Kong Bananza showed that having charming characters together with a cute little story can make the whole game feel like an even more unforgettable experience. I would honestly say those points are the ones where Galaxy 2 shows its age the most.
A perfect sequel
In the end, Super Mario Galaxy 2 does what a good sequel should do. It builds on what worked in the first game and gets rid of the parts that didn't. I honestly can't think of any other sequel that does this so well as Galaxy 2 does. I simply can't state this enough that there hasn't been a single world in Galaxy 2 that I didn't enjoy.
To me all of this makes Mario Galaxy 2 the best 3D Platformer I ever played. It's creative, challenging and simply a joy to play. If you're looking for a game that will make you smile and entertain you constantly, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is one of the best picks out there. I really hope Nintendo will move a bit more again in the direction of Galaxy 2 for the next 3D Mario. As much as I enjoyed Odyssey and Bananza, Galaxy 2 showed me what those modern games are missing. Rewarding gameplay with the right amount of challenge.
Rating: Strongly Recommended