Before the Big Screen: Revisiting Super Mario Galaxy & Super Mario Galaxy 2
Written by Nathan Langridge
Published by Mike Loder
Before Rosalina makes her big screen premiere, before she side stepped into 2D, and before she drifted around the treacherous corners of Rainbow Road, the stoic space Princess made her intergalactic debut almost 20 years ago on the Nintendo Wii in 2007’s iconic title: Super Mario Galaxy.
Now, with the release of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 systems, players old and new have the opportunity to rediscover the magic of these two beloved Nintendo classics. The updated release of Super Mario Galaxy 2 also marks the first time that this title has been completely portable, meaning both games can now be taken on a universe wide adventure of their own.
One Smart Convience for Man, One Giant Leap for Portable Play
The original titles were well known for their intuitive use of the Nintendo Wii’s motion controls at the time but how does that translate to a portable environment?
Thanks to the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 touchpad, handheld mode players can either tap the screen to collect starbits and interact with objects and enemies, or take advantage of the console’s built in gyroscope. The gyroscope has been my preferred choice, even though I may look like I am slow dancing with the console at times.
A Tale of Two Introductions
With the Super Mario Galaxy Movie fast approaching, story and narrative are cornerstones of any strong film so what elements might transfer from these two titles into the upcoming movie?
Let’s compare the pair, specifically how both games present their story.
The mainline Super Mario video game franchise is not known for having a complex narrative, but certain cinematic elements are present, like a strong sense of location, implied narrative, and a clear goal for the player to achieve.
The first entry in the Super Mario Galaxy series puts a larger emphasis on establishing the world, with an extended, narrative focused introduction sequence.
The player explores Peach’s Castle during the colourful Star Festival before it is interrupted by Bowser’s fury, kidnapping Peach and stranding Mario deep into space. Mario awakens on a quiet, isolated planet with gentle, ponderous music and the sounds of friendly star shaped creatures called Lumas.
The player is then quickly introduced to the core mechanics of the game, jumping, spinning, zero gravity, and of course Rosalina and the Comet Observatory.
Rosalina is a character defined by mystery and allusiveness, elegantly floating, glistening blue, and vanishing from one space to the next. The sidebang cannot be understated either. It holds so much knowledge.
She invites a sense of curiosity from the player that fuels our desire to help her plight and progress through the Comet Observatory’s various sections.
Launching Into the Action
On the other hand, Super Mario Galaxy 2 wastes no time getting into the action.
The introduction is short and fast paced, with a majority of the opening framed within the traditional side scroller format, encouraging the player to flip through the pages and get the adventure started right away. In less than five minutes, Mario is already planet hopping, with only brief stops to feed some hungry Lumas along the way.
Even though Super Mario Galaxy 2 speeds through its introduction, this does not mean the sense of location is lost. The player now gets their own Mario-shaped spaceship/planet hybrid to navigate the brand new galaxies.
The lovable Yoshi also joins Mario as a core new character, not so dissimilar to his big screen debut in the upcoming Super Mario movie sequel. Second Mario Galaxy game Yoshi is here, second Mario movie Yoshi is here. Happy coincidences.
The Simple Magic of Both Galactic Adventures
Super Mario Galaxy 2 takes every aspect of the first game, the pacing, boss fights, level design, and pushes them further.
Similar to all 3D Mario titles, it is the simple delights that keep pulling me back into both of these games. The movement is snappy, the controls are easy to understand, and the orchestral soundtrack transcends these titles well beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Special shoutout to the genius camera work too. Despite the large and complicated 3D environments, the player never has to manually adjust the camera thanks to carefully planned framing.
It is a huge win for early gamers just getting started, and for those who never quite mastered the jump from 2D to 3D. It is cinematic, but also practical, guiding the player seamlessly through the adventure.
What This Means for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Whether The Super Mario Galaxy Movie chooses the more methodical tone of the original 2007 game, launches straight into the action like the 2010 sequel, or creates a galaxy of its own, two facts are clear: The film has Rosalina and Yoshi. So audiences can expect to have a great time either way when the movie releases in cinemas on April 1.
Keep the Adventure Going
If you are looking to keep the intergalactic theme going, Rosalina also joins Mario and the gang right from the start as a playable character in Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabell Park, available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are also available now on both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 consoles.
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