Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario Galaxy 2 grew out of a surplus of ideas that didn't fit into the first game, and it ended up as a full-fledged title that many consider even better than the original. The core principle remains: small planetoids with their own gravity, jumping between them, and collecting stars. Gone, however, is the sprawling observatory that served as a hub, replaced by a simple world map in the style of older entries. Thanks to that, the player gets straight to the substance and doesn't linger running through empty corridors between levels.

The main novelty is Yoshi. He catches enemies and distant points with his tongue, puffs up and rises after eating a certain plant, and at other times charges forward fast enough to run along even steep walls. Alongside him, further transformations arrive, such as a drill tool that pulls Mario through a planetoid to its far side, or a cloud that lets him create a few temporary platforms in mid-air. The levels are even denser and more inventive than before, each built around one strong idea that it then abandons right after. Toward the end, the game opens a genuinely demanding extension that tests even experienced players and ranks among the hardest Mario has ever offered. Collectors also have a reason to walk through levels again for hidden stars and comets that change the rules of galaxies already explored.

Technically it was once again a showcase of the console's peak, with a clean color palette, smooth animation, and clear design that always makes obvious where you can jump. The music again builds on orchestral recordings, and several tracks, especially during flight and space passages, rank among the best in the entire series. Critics received the game excellently and often cited it as an example of what a sequel should look like when it deepens rather than repeats. Today Galaxy 2 still feels remarkably fresh, and it's one of the strongest reasons to get a Wii or one of its successors at all. Anyone who has played only the first game is missing out on half of the best of it.