Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Nintendo Wii - NL

Mario returns to the stars, as the eternal villain Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach once again, this time while she was baking a cake. It is once again up to Mario to defeat Bowser and Bowser Jr., alongside numerous new villains and obstacles, to rescue Princess Peach. The basic goal of each level is to collect the golden star, either by reaching an end goal, collecting a series of smaller star pieces or defeating an end boss. The environment is a mix of standard Mario levels with the familiar villainous characters and miniature planets with their own gravity in orbit. In some levels, the perspective shifts from 3D to 2D to mimic the character's platforming origins, whilst others range from molten lava deserts to ice caves to oceans. Unlike Super Mario Galaxy, Galaxy 2 features a more standardised level system, a series of galaxies divided into smaller planetary levels that can only be reached by completing one planet to open the path to the next. To reach an end boss or unlock a bonus planet, you must have discovered enough golden stars to unlock it. The hub world of the original was replaced by a spaceship shaped like Mario's head, which allows you to travel between galaxies and discover hidden 1-Ups. Galaxy 2 offers further gameplay improvements, with two new suits for Mario and the return of his faithful companion Yoshi. Mario's first new suit is the Cloud Suit, which allows him to create three safe but temporary cloud platforms. The second new suit is the Rock Suit, which allows Mario to curl up into a rock ball, which he needs to overcome certain challenges or defeat certain enemies. Yoshi provides additional speed, can eat most enemies in sight and reach higher areas that Mario alone cannot reach. The green dino can also eat certain fruits to improve his abilities, but only for a short time, such as a speed boost, the ability to float higher in the air or see invisible platforms, which is especially useful in a ghost house. As in the original Super Mario Galaxy, a second player can play along by pointing the Wii remote at the screen to collect coins or throw stars. This time, however, he can also collect items that are out of reach for Mario or Yoshi and push back enemies that are ahead of the hero. For those who are still too young or new to the series, there is a second DVD that explains the controls in detail. And if you get stuck, you can also activate the Super Guide, which gives control of Mario to the AI to solve a tricky level for you. However, as a reward, you don't get a proper star, just a bronze star. Additionally, in certain levels there are various "hint televisions" that explain the gameplay or introduce a new element.