Super Mario Galaxy 2

GAME OF THE WEEK:3 cert, Nintendo, Wii

Mario's back on the Wii and he's got a lot to live up to. Super Mario Galaxy 2promises "too much fun for one planet", with Mario, Luigi and Yoshi on an intergalactic version. Does it deliver? Thankfully, yes.

Nintendo has taken the original Super Mario Galaxyand made it even better. The basic concept is the same. Mario travels between worlds, solving puzzles and collecting Power Stars as he once more tries to save Princess Peach from the dasterdly Bowser.

Thre are a few changes. SMG 2allows players to use Yoshi as a mode of travel, and you'lll need him to complete certain stages. This time around, you can also choose to play as Luigi in some stages.

Of course, the levels have been overhauled, and you have new challenges along the way. There are some new power-ups as well. One of the most useful is Cloud Mario, which allows players to create cloud platforms to help you scale heights.

The addition of Yoshi to the Mario mix will also create new opportunities for the planet-hopping plumber, with Yoshi’s tongue coming in handy to nab different items or even deal with an enemy or two. There are also specific power-ups that allow Yoshi to scale vertical walls, for example, making hm a very useful member of the team.

As a long-time Mario fan, the transition to a 3D universe has been a mixed one for me over the past few years. However, SMG2is a perfect addition to the Mario world of games. The tutorial levels are perfect for introducing players to Mario's new world, gradually bringing in new elements without being mind-numbingly dull.

A strong single player campaign combined with a tweaked Co-Star mode (introduced last time) makes SMG 2an excellent game, keeping the series fresh and Mario on top of his game.