Overview:
Mario has done it again, returning with a great sequel that builds more on the success of the original Super Mario Galaxy. Just like in the original, Mario is tasked with navigating worlds, defying gravity and overcoming mind-boggling obstacles. Super Mario Galaxy 2 offers up more some challenging puzzles, but even the most novice Nintendo player can beat this game with the added ‘play for me’ option, where the computer controls Mario and completes the puzzle for you, making a game challenging enough for a hardcore gamer be approachable for non-gamers.

Setting:
By now, you know the story. Princess Peach gets kidnapped and Mario is the only one who can rescue her from Bowser! Why? “Don’t ask questions,” says Nintendo. “Princesses have to be saved!” Okay then. I’m somewhat tired of repeating myself with the princess-saving, and I was hoping, since this was a sequel, that there might be something new here. But that’s okay, the fun factor of the story is still there. Simply put, there are a bunch of stars, and you collect them, until you have enough to save Peach.

Gameplay:
As I previously stated above, Nintendo added the ‘play for me’ option which lets the computer get you past frustrating challenges. Outside of that, the biggest addition is Yoshi, who, just like in Super Mario Sunshine, changes color depending on the fruit he eats. Some of the berries in the game give Yoshi special powers, like the blimp berry, which gives Yoshi the power to float (I’ll let you figure out what a dash pepper does).

In the previous installment, we were introduced to Bee Mario and Boo Mario. These two suits make a comeback, in addition to two new ones: Rock Mario, which basically turns Mario into a rock, camouflaging him, and allowing for a high powered gravity attack (think Kirby from Super Smash Bros), and Cloud Mario, which turns Mario into surprise, a cloud, allowing Mario to create and walk on clouds.

Like all Mario games, several of the levels are frustratingly difficult, but such is the charm of the Mario series. My favorite change is the enhancement of the 2D levels. Several levels now move from 3D to 2D and back, sometimes messing with the gravity as well, and it works perfectly. The addition of an all-2D world was welcome too.

Controls and Graphics:
Controls are identical to Super Mario Galaxy, and maneuvering Yoshi with the wiimote is just as simple as it has been in the past. On top of that, the graphics are gorgeous. And when I say gorgeous, I mean it: SMG2 is a complete improvement. They fully maximize the power of the Nintendo Wii to make this game look stellar, as though Mario were really flying through space.

Sound:
Charles Martinet, the longest running Mario voice actor, provides the voice of both Mario and Luigi, and the orchestral sounds of Mahito Yokota and Koji Kondo return. Yokota’s works are not well known, outside of Super Mario Galaxy, but if you’ve played a Nintendo game in the last twenty years, you’ve heard Koji Kondo’s work. He’s composed every major Nintendo theme, ranging from Mario and Zelda to Smash Bros. and Star Fox.

Final thought:
Super Mario Galaxy 2 is well worth the price tag. The game features challenging puzzles and the same fun gameplay you’ve come to expect, plus, you get Yoshi, come on. As is becoming a trend with Nintendo as of late (See: Red Steel 2), SMG2 improves completely on the original, and surpasses it easily, without once becoming repetitive. Expect many hours of entertaining gameplay. A must buy.

Grade: A-

What makes MAG so special? It looks like just another FPS to me.

It’s Battlefield 2 with 256 players. Other than that, MAG adds nothing new to the genre.

256 players on a console? Damn. How’s the lag?

Thus far, I’ve put in over 10 hours of gameplay, leveled my soldier to level 16, played every mode at least 20 times each, and played in some of the most action-packed scenarios the game has to offer. During all that time, I’ve only encountered one game-impairing lag spike. It only lasted 5 seconds, but during that time I was shooting a prone enemy without him taking a scratch. When the lag spike ended, I was dead without knowing how I died.

What kind of gameplay modes are there?

There’s five if you exclude the embarrassingly basic Training Mode. Suppression is 64-player team deathmatch. Sabotage is 64-player king-of-the-hill-style hold the objectives. Acquisition is 128-player “Grand Theft Auto.” It requires you to steal a vehicle from behind enemy lines. And last but not least, is Domination. It’s the highlight of the game. 256-players defending and fighting for control of 8 HQ information terminals.

How many maps?

There’s only one map per gameplay mode. Hopefully there will be free DLC down the road.

How’s the singleplayer?

Heh, there is none. This game is 100% online multiplayer only.

Is there any story? Or is it just point and shoot?

The story is the hilariously generic “We’re in the future and we want oil, mother fuckers.” Other than the welcome text and audio before each match, that’s all the story you get.

Since this game is multiplayer only, do you get a free headset like with Warhawk?

No headset. Just the game.

Is there any customization?

Character customization is very minimal. It’s just pick a faction, head, and voice. But the game does have a pretty deep talent tree. Every time you gain a level, you are awarded a skill point that can be used to get perks such as faster reload speed or the ability to revive downed teammates. Below is the full list of skills as they appear and must be unlocked.

Assault: Assault Rifle Reload Speed Decrease (1p), Foregrip (2p), Reflex Sight (2p), SFCR-LW Assault Rifle (3p), Improved Stability (1p), Bipod (2p), Steady Aim Increase (2p), 4X Optical Sight (2p), SFCR-HW Battle Rifle (5p), Suppressor (2p), Grenade Launcher Reload Speed Decrease (1p).

Personal Defense: Side-Arm Reload Speed Decrease (1p), Side-Arm Swap Speed Decrease (1p), Hollis MP Uzi (3p), Side-Arm Refire Team Decrease (2p), Side-Arm Suppressor (2p), Improved Knife Swipe Speed (2p), Expanded Knife Reach (2p).

Athleticism: Impact Damage Resistance (1p), Improved Shot Detection (1p), Improved Sprint Recovery (1p), More Control While Parachuting (2p), Improved Stealth (2p), Increased Endurance (2p), Chemical Damage Resistance (4p), Increased Health (5p).

Close Quarters: Reload Speed Decrease (2p), KP5 SMG (3p), Improved Stability (2p), Relex Sight (2p), 12 Gauge Pump Shotgun (5p), SMG Suppressor (2p)

Electronics: Acoustic Locator (2p), Explosives Detector (2p), Sensor Jammer (3p), Motion Sensor (5p).

Marksman: 4X Optical Sight (2p), Sniper Rifle Reload Speed Decrease (1p), Foregrip (2p), L96AW Sniper Rifle (3p), Bipod (2p), High Power Scope (2p), Steady Aim Increase (2p), Rollins LRSS Sniper Rifle (5p), Suppressor (2p), Variable Power Scope (2p).

Heavy: Machine Gun Reload Speed Decrease (1p), Bipod (2p), Reflex Sight (2p), Rocket Launcher Reload Speed Decrease (1p), MK 153 Mod 2 SMAWG Rocket Launcher (5p), Foregrip (2p), Improved Stability (3p), MK 43 Mod 1 Machine Gun (5p).

Explosives: Anti-Personnel Mine (2p), Advanced Grenade Throwing Distance (1p), Anti-Tank Mine (2p), Explosive Arm/Disarm Time Decrease (1p), M2 Poison Gas Grenade (3p).

Support: Ability To Heal Teammates (2p), Repair Time Decrease (1p), Ability To Revive Downed Teammates (2p), Improved Healing (3p), Improved Resuscitation (5p).

How many servers are there?

You don’t get the option of selecting the servers you play on. As soon as you click on the gameplay mode you wish to play, you are placed in a queue. It’s unclear how many servers MAG has. Every time I’ve queued, I was at the spawn area in less than 20 seconds.

I read on this website that there’s server maintenance from time to time and during that time you can’t play the game. Is this true?

That’s true. Much like other server-intensive games (World of Warcraft), there’s scheduled and unscheduled downtime. The scheduled downtime is Monday through Friday at 2-4am PST (5-7am EST, 4-6am CST, and 3-5 MST). And the unscheduled downtime is… well… unscheduled and can hit at anytime the servers need it.

Is this game worth $60?

Unless you’re really inching for a massive Battlefield 2-ish experience, no, it’s not. While I loved my time with MAG, I can’t suggest it to the average gamer. You’re paying $60 for just another FPS with no singleplayer and only 5 maps to play on. If you add in the server downtime when you can’t even play your game at all, it makes it really hard to defend MAG’s $60 price tag. Unless you’re a crazy Sony fanboy that has to buy every exclusive, do yourself a favor and wait until a price-drop.