Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 – Review

It’s-a me, NINTENDO!

Much has been said about the big N over the years, but no one can deny that it is one of the main players in the video game market. Whether you're a gamer or not, you've certainly heard of or seen a character created by Nintendo at least once.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the launch of Super Mario Bros., and the moment was celebrated with a special presentation. During this, the franchise's father, Shigeru Miyamoto, announced the official title of The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 (The Super Mario Galaxy Movie), along with four new games that will keep us busy in the near future:

• Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2;
• Mario Tennis Fever;
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park;
• Yoshi and the Mysterious Book.

Chronologically speaking, the first title on the release list is the collection Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2, which came out on 2 October 2025 and has kept us busy ever since. The collection is a remaster of two of the most beloved games from the Nintendo Wii, now with visual enhancements, new content, and 4K textures running at 60 fps in docked mode. If you're curious what we think of the two adventures, let's start with the story!

Thank you, Mario, but our princess is in another GALAXY!

Fans of the series will be happy to know that the developer has barely touched the narrative. Both games include a small new chapter, intended to clarify certain aspects of the story, but let's get back to it. In Super Mario Galaxy, the famous plumber is invited by Princess Peach to the Mushroom Kingdom for the Star Festival. Although the event begins without problems, chaos erupts when Bowser attacks with his flying ships and a UFO! He kidnaps the entire castle and takes it somewhere in the frozen depths of the cosmos, and our moustachioed hero tries in vain to save Peach and her advisors.

His futile attempt leaves him shipwrecked on a distant planet, which appears to have been destroyed after a cosmic event. There, Mario meets Luma, an adorable star-shaped creature who guides him on his great galactic adventure! The first stop is at a space station from which Bowser stole the Power Stars, a place that becomes our base of operations, from where we embark on all sorts of adventures with our five-pointed friend.

If you think you have to play through the first game to enjoy the second, you're dead wrong. Super Mario Galaxy 2 is linked to the first title in many ways, except when it comes to the story. In fact, it's a reinterpretation of the previous game's story: the Mushroom Kingdom is attacked by a GIANT SUPER BOWSER, who once again kidnaps the princess and her servants.

This time, however, Mario lands on a planet that turns out to be an alien ship, where he meets a crew of Lumas, anthropomorphic stars who help him traverse the farthest corners of the cosmos. And if you were curious where Rosalina is, she does appear in Galaxy 2, but her role is subtle, and the encounter with her only happens after you collect all 120 stars. Spoiler? Definitely, but you had 15 years to play it!

Mamma mia!

What can we expect from these two legendary titles? Some of the best platformers ever created! I'm not exaggerating at all when I say that both are outstanding in terms of gameplay and level design. I'm telling you honestly, I haven't encountered anything that lives up to their standard of quality in 27 years of gaming. The idea of "leaving" the terrestrial limits of the Mushroom Kingdom (and familiar areas for fans) was brilliant, giving the art department total freedom to create unseen things.

Each planet has its own identity and unique challenges: whether we're talking about the Honeyhive Galaxy, where Mario first dons the bee suit and learns to fly, or the superb scene where the protagonist skates over lava lakes more elegantly than Ilia Malinin, the world champion in figure skating.

The creative freedom enjoyed by the developers is rare in today's industry, which is why I don't think we'll ever see a Super Mario Galaxy 3. The two games represent the culmination of a constant effort that began with Super Mario 64, following the same principles established by the famous plumber's first 3D adventure. All the lessons learned from 64 and Sunshine are refined and applied here with a design intelligence that constantly rewards the player's curiosity.

After the launch of Galaxy 2, the next major title in the franchise was Super Mario Odyssey, which once again changed the paradigm. Although the moustachioed one's latest adventure is visually and technically impressive, it fails to achieve the magic of the two masterpieces from 2007 and 2010.

Even so, the two titles are not without problems, and these are often inherited from the original platforms on which they were released: Wii and Wii U. I don't want it to be understood that Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are simple ports, because that's not the case. Many of their mechanics were closely linked to the "motion-sensor" system in the nunchuks, and adapting them for modern audiences and new systems (Switch and Switch 2) was no easy task. The development teams worked their socks off, and the result is clear: all the movements we once had to perform physically have been transformed into simple button presses, subtle screen touches, or gentle controller rotations adapted by the gyro system. There's no longer any need to "shake" the Joy-Con to launch Mario among the stars: now the same action can be achieved by pressing the Y button. However, for nostalgics, Nintendo has also kept the original interaction, as a tribute to the "good old days".

The biggest difference between the original and remastered versions is visual. Textures have been improved, and the games look incredible in 4K when run in docked mode and in 1080p on handheld. Out of pure curiosity, I also tested them on my old Switch OLED to see the differences and, honestly, I was impressed. On the small screen, the colours seem more vibrant, the contrast stronger, and the overall experience even surpasses the Switch 2 version in portable mode, which is to be expected, given the superior display quality. In addition to the graphical upgrades, the remaster also brings some new mechanics designed to make the experience more accessible.

For those who don't have the dexterity required for a 3D platformer, an assist mode has been added that doubles Mario's life, regenerates it if he stands still for a few seconds and, most importantly, automatically catches him when he falls into one of the black holes that dot the planets, bringing him safely back to solid ground. Also, both titles now offer a local Co-op mode, where the first player controls Mario, and the second handles the cursor. Although the second player's contribution is more supportive, they can collect star fragments and attack enemies, making the adventure easier and more fun for the main player.

Wahoo!

Don't be scared thinking these remasters are soulless. Besides the modernisations mentioned above, we also get new content, in the form of additional chapters in the "Storybook", which are epilogues to the main stories of the two games. Although pleasant, these segments don't add anything essential to the classic experience and are more of a complement for fans who want an elegant conclusion to the adventure. What surprised me, however, in a less pleasant way, was the camera. Only partially adapted for modern sensibilities, it betrays the age of the systems for which it was originally designed.

There are numerous abrupt changes in perspective, and if you don't release the joystick at the exact moment of transition, Mario risks moving chaotically in completely unexpected directions. In addition, the camera and cursor must be reset frequently by pressing the R button, an action which, although minor at first, becomes tiresome in the long run.

Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are part of the package announced during the Nintendo Direct presentation, but can also be purchased separately. So, you're probably wondering which one is more worth it, especially given the rather hefty price tag of the collection? Well... it depends on taste. I think the first game is more creative and open to experimentation, although it suffers slightly in certain technical aspects, such as the famous camera problem mentioned earlier. That doesn't mean the second title isn't excellent, just that it has a more linear approach. The major difference comes from how we interact with the world: Galaxy 2 introduces an overworld map, from which we choose levels exactly like in Super Mario RPG or Super Mario Bros. 3; a clear homage to the series' classics. In conclusion, the choice depends on what kind of experience you're looking for. The first Galaxy is a freer and technically bolder adventure, while the second offers a classic, refined, and perfectly structured experience for those looking for a traditional game.

Although it doesn't bring major changes, this collection represents a successful remaster of two of the most beloved and innovative titles in the franchise's history. I heartily recommend Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 to all fans of the world's most famous plumber, even despite the minor technical issues. The two games remain, even today, some of the most creative and charming experiences in the industry. However, the rather high price might deter some players, which is why those who enjoyed them back in the day will probably prefer to (re)buy them when they're on sale.

Thanks to CD Media S.E. for the review code.

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Played on: Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: 2 October 2025
Developer: Nintendo Software Technology Corporation, Nintendo EPD Tokyo
Publisher: Nintendo