Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 Reviews
Nintendo was never going to remake Super Mario Galaxy 1+2, nor do I think it ever should unless it wants to risk diluting two undeniable classics. Despite that, this sadly doesn’t feel like the remastered effort you’d expect for such a steep asking price, with myriad flaws from a bygone era holding it back from true greatness. This is now the definitive means to experience two of the best platformers ever made, it’s just unfortunate that the package is prohibitively expensive and borderline insulting to those who want to enjoy it most.
Overall, since Super Mario 3D All-Stars is hard to come by, and we haven’t seen a re-release of Super Mario Galaxy 2 since 2010, this package is definitely worth getting. I still prefer the first game over its sequel, but both games are brilliantly made with a genuine craftsmanship that is very rare these days.
Our mustached Italian plumber is back in one of the best remasters we've seen from the franchise.
Galaxy 2 on Switch includes the same additions as the first game. It introduces Assist Mode to give newcomers a leg up, and if you're playing co-op, Player Two can use the mouse controls on Switch 2. It also suffers from the same quirks: the gyro controls, although perfectly serviceable, never feel quite as good as the original Wii controls, though some of the camera issues in the original perhaps aren’t quite as prevalent here.
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 stands as a bundle that brings back two unquestionable masterpieces. Two of the best games Nintendo has ever pulled out of its hat throughout its entire history, and they’re still just as relevant more than 15 years later. With a remaster that gets the job done—though it could be better—the Big N restores experiences that challenge any cynical belief one might have about remasters. Because, for a change, we’re talking about games that truly deserved a second life.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Super Mario Galaxy and Galaxy 2 are proper remasters of two all-time platforming greats. With tasteful graphical improvements, more integrated gameplay tweaks with better controls for handheld, they're a solid, sensible way to celebrate a 40th birthday.
Whether you mastered gravity years ago or are venturing to Mario's outer space for the first time, you're in for a treat.
While the truly new the additions may only be slight (the sheer mention of ‘amiibo’ in these games left me shook) but why disrupt an already perfect experience? Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 look and play sharper than ever, serving as the definitive versions of some of Mario’s most inspiring outings.
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Super Mario Galaxy and Galaxy 2 are coming to Switch (and Switch 2) without major extra content compared to the originals, but with graphical improvements above expectations.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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Review in French | Read full review
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 are still out of this world. This pair of classic adventures remind us why we love Mario's 3D outings in the first place. For existing fans, the temptation to replay in this enhanced form is strong. For new players, this is a must-own title.
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a straightforward compilation that brings two of the most celebrated platformers to modern hardware. Together, they form one of the strongest adventures in the Mario canon. But with some barebones upgrades and inconsistent visual improvements, these are hardly the definitive versions of either Galaxy or Galaxy 2. Regardless, despite the visual presentation, it's hard to deny the strength of the core at this compilation. Both games boast inventive and engaging level design that, with (mostly) improved controls, are easy to enjoy today.
You should be relieved that Nintendo has brought Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 to the Switch 2 without too many frills. It plays just like it did on the Wii and Wii U, albeit prettier and slightly more defined than I remember. It behooves any Switch 2 owner to acquire these masterpieces, especially those who weren't around to play them in their original states.
Even with minimal additions, this collection's brilliance lies in reminding us why these adventures defined 3D platforming.
Let’s just hope that when Super Mario 3D All-Stars Deluxe arrives for the 50th anniversary on Switch 3, it combines all of these games and more with the proper remastering they may not actually need, but definitely deserve.
In the end, these releases are not just remasters but definitive editions that highlight how timeless Mario's cosmic adventures truly are. They remind us that great game design transcends hardware generations and they prove that even nearly two decades later, few platformers can match the creativity, polish and sheer joy of Super Mario Galaxy. For longtime fans, this is the ultimate way to revisit two masterpieces and for newcomers, it is the perfect entry point into one of the most imaginative chapters in Mario's history.
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a collection that many will dislike by default due to a series of choices made by Nintendo, which have nothing to do with the quality of the games themselves or the restoration work carried out. Despite a visual department that in some circumstances begins to show signs of aging, this is a pair of unmissable productions for anyone who has never had the chance to experience them in their best possible form.
Review in Italian | Read full review
While it's great to have new ports of some of Nintendo's very best 3D platformers, a high cost of entry and scarce embellishments takes a bit of the shine off of these stars.
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