FOR a character to survive 25 years in the gaming industry it needs to be something special, but is a short, fat, Italian plumber who eats mushrooms really that special?
The immediate answer is yes, the Super Mario games have been a standard bearer for the industry since its inception, and amazingly are some of the only titles that appeal to people of all ages.
The latest Wii offering is the follow up to the smash-hit Super Mario Galaxy and as always it just doesn’t disappoint.
The reason it’s so good, as with all Mario games, is the sheer genius of the level design. The variety and ingenuity involved in the structure of the levels is a joy to behold, and that’s before you even look at the visuals (which as always are stunning).
There are levels based on old classics like Frogger and Donkey Kong, proving that classic games are classic for a reason.
That’s not to say that you’re getting a bunch of recycled games from the past when you buy Super Mario Galaxy, more that the designers have used enjoyable and entertaining platforming to make another top notch game.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 has also fully incorporated Yoshi as part of the title, something that works superbly and quite frankly is about time.
There’s a whole raft of new power ups which change the way you play the game and the levels around you accordingly. Be it the ability to generate clouds, turn into a powerful rolling boulder or even a spicy chilli that speeds you up and gives you the ability to run up vertical surfaces.
The story is not necessarily important, it’s the same old ‘Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach’ stuff, but the important thing is that they provide the mechanism for short, sharp, and incredibly well crafted platforming fun.
What Super Mario Galaxy 2 also proves is that you don’t need photo-realistic graphics or rail guns to make an entertaining game.
There’s also plenty to keep you going, with a massive amount of levels to complete (around 120 I think) and then a whole raft more once the game’s finished.
It’s platforming simplicity at its best and something which no other developer even gets close to. In an era when games are becoming more and more adult in their content, Mario is a refreshing reminder of what games are actually about – having fun.
RATING: 5/5