Obviously the game is incredible. Its like Galaxy, what more do you need to know, its more of what you love and even wilder and crazier in terms of ideas. Now what happens in this game is that they have a ton of unique Galaxies, which should be a good think. At max a Galaxy 2 has 3 stars, very different from the 6 in Galaxy 1. So you spend less time in each Galaxy, problem is you feel like you just fly through these areas and don't get to the meat of them. Many of the three star levels have only one true star, which is a stage from beginning to end. The other two is some hidden star which is usually a mini game of some kind that you get transported too and one is the comet which is usually the same level but as a speed run or with purple coins. A lot of these Galaxies are really used for one star, they are so well made, the concept so interesting that you are left wanting to see more of that.
I am near the end and a perfect example came up. I opened up one of the bonus Galaxies which only have two stars. This Galaxy is a ghost house, the level is completely dark.With the beat of the music a flash of light will shine illuminating the level for a split second. It's a great platforming level and the dark mechanic makes it all the more interesting. I would have loved to see that idea be used else where, I don't want one star (and one comet, which probably will be the same level again). I wanted more of that, you can make a bunch of levels that play with that mechanic, but it will only be used once and you are off to the next stage. In my case I went to this water level which was meh. So I went from this awesome concept level to this poor level, all the while thinking that I much rather have more stars in that ghost level and have this dumb water level not exist at all. There are moments like that all over the game. It has so much variety that some concepts blow you away and some end up as misses but you never get a chance to explore them cause the game is always moving you to the next level.
This complaint is mostly a complement, the levels are so good that I want more of them. It is also a bit of a balance issue. I think the route Galaxy 2 was heading to was old school Mario, one level at a time, finish it move to the next but at the same time they kept the stars idea and ended up with this halfway thing.
Oh and after that...
I am being challenged now. I am at 109 stars. it took about 16 hours to get to that point.
Dvader said:Bowser beaten, the story is finished. That final level WOW, and the music!!! *faints*
Oh and after that...I am being challenged now.
I am at 109 stars. it took about 16 hours to get to that point.
The music for the final boss and then the credits music. It's wow.
So it seems that this game is longer than the first?
gamingeek said:The music for the final boss and then the credits music. It's wow.
So it seems that this game is longer than the first?
No, exactly the same as Galaxy 1.
I can't wait for you guys to get it.
Dvader said:I feel so lonely with this game, no one to talk to about it.
Me neither. 
So now its onto the green stars. It's definitely better than playing the entire game again though it does require you to go back to all the levels. There are three or two stars in each level, they are hidden in the level. Well most arent that well hidden, its more about how you are going to get them. You need to do some fancy jumping to get these. I am finding some new secrets in these levels, stuff that reminds me of running on top of a level as in the NES games and such. A lot of these green stars are right at the start of the level, I wish they were spaced out more so that you need to get to the end of a level more often. There have been a few green stars that takes about 40 seconds to get. I hope as I get deeper they hide them in more evil places. I am at 152 stars now.
Yeah, why is only Dvader playing this? Damn you america!
How many are playing in your gamespot thread?
^Only Vader
Yo, Vader
Is Galaxy 2 better than 1? Yes or no and why?
gamingeek said:Yeah, why is only Dvader playing this? Damn you america!
How many are playing in your gamespot thread?
phantom_leo said:I H-A-T-E the Rainbow Spiny Stomp (or whatever it's called) at Yoshi Galaxy!!!
WHAT AM I, CHOPPED LIVER?
Iga_Bobovic said:^Only Vader
Yo, Vader
Is Galaxy 2 better than 1? Yes or no and why?
YES! Especially the part where you get all 120 stars and get the special Yoshi's Island challenges!
I only count you playing a game Leo when you make it at least to halfway. You have this tendency to give us impressions of a couple of hours and then not even playing the games to completion, apart from FF13.
I'm still waiting on more Shattered Memories impressions from you.
phantom_leo said:I will have you know I never leave something unfini
Great, now I have to track down your nephew for the rest of this sentence.
gamingeek said:I only count you playing a game Leo when you make it at least to halfway. You have this tendency to give us impressions of a couple of hours and then not even playing the games to completion, apart from FF13.
I'm still waiting on more Shattered Memories impressions from you.
Yay! I am half-way to half-way.
Thirty Stars in, Thirty Stars 'til GG starts paying attention to me!
DAMN! These Purple Coin/Prankster Comet challenges are hard!
I FINALLY got by the Rainbow Spiny one then got stuck on the Flip Switch, Purple Coin one.
Well I gots my copy today so I'll now join in on the SMG2 shenanigans. It'll take me awhile to catch up though.
Iga_Bobovic said:^Only Vader
Yo, Vader
Is Galaxy 2 better than 1? Yes or no and why?
Complicated answer. Is it better from a technical point of view, absolutely. It has better level design, it never repeats itself, it has more variety, better music, more individual levels, and more content. So yeah its a better game.
Does it leave me with that same level of joy and wonder that the first Galaxy did, not quite. The first Galaxy will always be the reinvention of 3D Mario, this is just a follow up with great ideas but nothing so drastically different that it captures that feeling of something totally new. Plus there are a few things that bug me about the game which I detailed above but that has spoilers so you can read that later. Every thing that is a complaint is really a complement cause its me wanting more, I wouldn't want more if what I played wasn't good. I just wish they went the extra step, it still feels held back a bit.
I know, that is why I knew it was ok to post it. You know nothing about the later galaxies, but I will tell you there are some levels that are like
. Strangely there is also one that was like 
but its surrounded by 
. I will beat the game (in terms of final boss) tonight, full reaction to that later.