Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Switch 2 Review
"It's Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 with more; how can you not sing its praises to the stars above?"
Praises of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 have been sung for years, ever since the late 2000s. Taking Mario to outer space with revolutionary 3D platforming gravity mechanics blew the lid off of what was possible in video games, and their 97 Metacritic scores are so deserving. There's a reason why our video on the first entry's development is as popular as it is. Now on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, a bundle (or the ability to purchase each game separately) in Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 are available, complete with updated graph and modern additions.
The Good
I'm not going to spend much time in this review talking about the games because it's Super Mario Galaxy 1+2; two games that revolutionised the 3D platformer genre and took the red plumber to the stars. I don't even know what more can be said; the games are incredible and if you haven't played them already but you own either a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2, I cannot suggest you play them enough.
And it's not only Super Mario Galaxy 1+2, but it's also in 4K 60fps (or 1080p 60fps on the original Nintendo Switch). Back when these games were released in 2007 and 2010 respectively, they were still beautiful games, but they came at a time when HD visuals were the fancy new thing with the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and many gamers were getting tired of standard definition (SD) resolution visuals. And while the higher resolution reveals some of the imperfections and lower polygon counts, it's easily forgivable when the end result is as stunning as it is.
The unique control scheme of Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 made it a tricky one to port to new consoles, but with the Joy-Cons of the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, they feel right at home. The ever-so-slight downside is that you will need to recentre the cursor more than with the Wii's IR sensor, but it's barely noticeable half the time and feels like second nature. When playing with the Pro Controller or Joy-Cons in the grip, you can use its gyro controls, and this is the same for handheld mode. Lastly, in handheld mode, you can use the touchscreen to control the cursor as well. There is also a co-op assist mode where player 2 can act as a second cursor, either with the same gyro controls or in mouse mode on a Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con. This is a nice addition and is reminiscent of the Cappy Mode in Super Mario Odyssey and Pauline's voice attacks in Donkey Kong Bananza.
While minimal additions, Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 comes with a few added features and story beats. Firstly, there is an assist mode that provides more health and the ability to heal by standing still; a wonderful addition for young children or those less accustomed to video games but who are compelled to play these gems. However, and arguably the best new feature, is the additional chapter in Rosalina's picture book and a new picture book tale in the sequel. I'm not going to spoil anything, but just know that the addition is nice and really wholesome.
TL;DR
- It's Super Mario Galaxy 1+2
- It's Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 in 4K 60fps
- It's Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 with more control options
- It's Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 with more story and accessibility features
The Bad
While having more control method options is nice, not all of them are ideal. Playing in handheld mode feels cumbersome, where you need to move the entire device around to move the cursor – it's why I don't play Splatoon 3 in handheld mode. That and the touchscreen, for me at least, disrupt the flow of the gameplay as you need to take a hand off of a Joy-Con to do so. Using the Pro Controller or Joy-Cons in a grip is an acceptable method, but this also feels less ideal when you're moving the left side as well while using the left joystick to control Mario. However, all of this is simply a consequence of Super Mario Galaxy 1+2's unique control scheme, and with the Joy-Cons detached and held in each hand, the original (and most optimal method) is still readily available.
While the cutscenes are quite few and far between in these games, it's a little jarring when they do occur, and they're not as touched up as the in-engine visuals are. If anything, it shows how touched up the games are from the original, but going from the gameplay to the cutscenes is quite jarring, to say the least.
TL;DR
- Not all of the control methods are optimal
- Cutscenes aren't touched up
Final Score: 10/10
It's Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 with more; how can you not sing its praises to the stars above? Sure, the price tag hurts and not all control methods are optimal, but it's Super Mario Galaxy 1+2! These games are museum-worthy and will likely go down in history as some of the greatest games ever made, so there's no way I could give this collection any less than a perfect 10.
Thank you for checking out our Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 Switch 2 review, thank you to Nintendo AU/NZ for providing the review code and thank you to our Patreon Backers for their ongoing support:
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