Super Mario Galaxy 2 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Super Mario Galaxy 2
Developer(s)	Nintendo EAD Tokyo
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Director(s)	Koichi Hayashida
Producer(s)	Yoshiaki Koizumi Takashi Tezuka
Designer(s)	Kenta Motokura
Programmer(s)	Takeshi Hayakawa
Artist(s)	Daisuke Watanabe
Composer(s)	Mahito Yokota Ryo Nagamatsu Koji Kondo
Series	Super Mario
Platform(s)	Wii Nintendo Switch
Release date(s)	Wii May 23, 2010 JP Nintendo Switch WW October 2, 2025
Genre(s)	Platform, action-adventure
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is an exciting platform game released by Nintendo for the Wii console in 2010. It was first shown at E3 2009. This game is the sequel to the popular Super Mario Galaxy from 2007.

In this adventure, Mario journeys into outer space. He must chase the evil Koopa King, Bowser, who has kidnapped Princess Peach. Bowser is trying to take over the universe using powerful Power Stars and Grand Stars. Mario's mission is to explore many different galaxies to collect these stars. Only then can he reach the center of the universe and rescue Princess Peach.

The game was initially planned as a smaller update to the first Super Mario Galaxy. It was even called Super Mario Galaxy More at one point. But the creators had so many new ideas that they decided to make a brand-new, full sequel. This took about two and a half years to develop. New features included changing environments, cool new power-ups, and the return of Yoshi.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 was a huge hit with players and critics. Many felt it was as good as, or even better than, the first game. People loved its creativity, level design, fun gameplay, music, and improved technology. Some critics thought the story was simple or the game was a bit hard. Still, it is often called one of the greatest video games ever made. It sold over seven million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling games on the Wii.

An improved collection, which included both Super Mario Galaxy games, was released for the Nintendo Switch on October 2, 2025. You could also buy both games separately on the Nintendo eShop. This enhanced version features clearer graphics (1080p resolution), a better user interface, and extra content. A free update for the Nintendo Switch 2 lets you play these games in super sharp 4K resolution. A movie based on elements from both games, titled The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, is coming out in April 2026. It is a sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) and celebrates the Mario series' 40th anniversary.

Exploring Galaxies: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Gameplay

Super Mario Galaxy 2 plays very much like the first game. You'll jump and run across amazing 3D planets. These planets are grouped into exciting levels called galaxies. Each planet and galaxy has its own unique look, size, and even weather.

You control Mario, who has cool moves like a "Spin" attack, long jumps, and wall jumps. Later in the game, you can even play as his brother, Luigi, if you choose. Your main goal is to travel through different galaxies and collect Power Stars. You earn these stars by finishing levels and completing challenges. Power Stars help you unlock new areas and continue your adventure.

The game keeps many fun features from the first Super Mario Galaxy. There's a blue Star Pointer that lets you grab Star Bits and shoot them at enemies. Some levels make you move only in a flat, 2D way. You'll also find tricky balance ball levels and arrows that can flip gravity around.

Adventure Worlds: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Levels

You access the game's galaxies through a map system. This is like maps in other Mario games, such as Super Mario World. You travel on a special mobile planet called Starship Mario. This ship acts as your main hub world. You can visit it anytime, and it grows as you unlock new abilities or levels.

The game has 49 galaxies spread across seven different areas, called "worlds." Each world gets a bit harder than the last. The first six worlds end with a big boss battle. You'll fight either Bowser or Bowser Jr.. Winning these battles lets you move on to the next world.

After you collect all 120 Power Stars, a new challenge unlocks: 120 Green Star missions! These Green Stars are hidden or placed in very tricky spots. You'll need to explore carefully and be super precise. If you make a mistake, you might have to restart. In total, Super Mario Galaxy 2 has 242 unique Power Stars to find.

Most levels in Super Mario Galaxy 2 have a special task based on their theme. Many levels feature dynamic environments that change as you play. For example, some areas might change with the music. Gravity might suddenly shift, or platforms could appear and disappear. Other levels have switches that can temporarily slow down time.

Prankster Comets also return from the first game. They add tougher challenges to levels. Now, you need to find a Comet Medal in a galaxy for its Prankster Comet to appear. These comets offer many different challenges. You might have to defeat all enemies, collect 100 Purple Coins, or finish a level quickly. Some challenges involve avoiding Cosmic Clones, which are copies of Mario that mimic your moves. These changing environments and Prankster Comets make levels feel like fun puzzles.

Mario's Amazing Power-Ups in Galaxy 2

Cloud Mario is one of the new power-ups in the game. Mario is using the power-up, creating temporary platforms in midair to get to out-of-reach places.

Most of Mario's transformations from the first Super Mario Galaxy are back. Ice Mario and Flying Mario are the only ones not included. But three brand-new power-ups and items are introduced in this game!

• The Spin Drill lets Mario dig through planets and pop out on the other side.
• Rock Mario turns Mario into a rolling boulder. He can smash through enemies and obstacles.
• Cloud Mario allows Mario to create up to three temporary platforms in the air. This helps him reach high places.

Mario can also ride his dinosaur friend, Yoshi, in certain levels. When riding Yoshi, your blue Star Pointer changes to a red dot. This lets you use Yoshi's long tongue to grab objects. Yoshi can swing across gaps, pull levers, and swallow enemies. He can even spit enemies back out as projectiles! Yoshi also lets you do a flutter jump to stay in the air longer.

There are three special fruits Yoshi can eat for temporary powers:

• The Dash Pepper makes Yoshi run super fast, even up walls and on water.
• The Blimp Fruit lets Yoshi float in the air for a short time.
• The Bulb Berry reveals secret pathways that were hidden before.

If Mario gets hit while riding Yoshi, he'll fall off. Yoshi will run away until Mario gets back on him. If Mario doesn't get back on, Yoshi will go back into his egg in a special nest.

Helpful Guides and Multiplayer Fun

If you get stuck on a level, the Cosmic Guide can help. It appears if you fail a level many times. The Cosmic Guide lets the computer play for you to finish the level. The only catch is you get a Bronze Star, which doesn't count towards your total Power Star count. To get a golden Power Star, you need to complete the level yourself.

You'll also find "Hint TVs" in the game. These monitors show you how to do a specific move or how to best use a power-up.

Multiplayer gameplay is also improved in Super Mario Galaxy 2. In the first game, a second player could use a Wii Remote to point at the screen. They could help Mario by grabbing enemies or collecting Star Bits. In Super Mario Galaxy 2, the second player controls an orange Luma. This Luma can do everything the Star Pointer could. Plus, it can physically attack enemies and collect items, power-ups, and 1-ups. This makes the second player's help even more useful!

The Story of Super Mario Galaxy 2: Saving Princess Peach

The story of Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a bit like the first game's. Princess Peach invites Mario to a Star Festival. This special event happens every hundred years when Star Bits fall from the sky over the Mushroom Kingdom. On his way to Peach's castle, Mario finds a lost Baby Luma. The Baby Luma quickly becomes his friend and gives him the power to spin.

Soon after, Mario's enemy, Bowser, attacks the castle. Bowser has grown to a huge size by using the power of the Grand Stars. He kidnaps Peach and escapes into outer space. Bowser plans to build his own empire at the center of the universe. Mario finds two Lumas who offer to help. One of them turns into a Launch Star, sending Mario into space.

After exploring the first galaxy and getting his first Power Star, Mario lands on a small planet-spaceship. There, he meets Lubba, a big purple Luma who leads a group of Lumas. Lubba explains that Power Stars are needed to power the spaceship. Bowser had attacked their crew earlier, throwing some Lumas overboard. Lubba realizes Bowser kidnapped Peach and offers to help Mario track him down. Lubba lets Mario use the spaceship if he brings back more Power Stars. Mario agrees, and the Lumas rebuild the ship to look like Mario's head. This ship is called Starship Mario.

Starship Mario begins its journey to the center of the universe to save Peach. As Mario travels through the cosmos and explores more galaxies, he collects more Power Stars. He also meets new friends, including Yoshi, the Toad Brigade from the first game, and his brother Luigi. They all join Mario on the Starship.

During their journey, Mario and his friends encounter Bowser's son, Bowser Jr.. Bowser Jr. is helping his father and tries to stop Mario twice, but Mario defeats him both times. Mario also fights Bowser twice in his own galaxies, winning each time. However, Bowser always manages to escape. All this time, Mario collects Grand Stars. These are super-powered Power Stars that open portals to other parts of the universe.

Finally, after traveling through many galaxies and collecting Power and Grand Stars, Mario and his allies reach Bowser's giant starship generator. This machine is draining energy from what looks like a comet. Mario sneaks into the starship and battles Bowser for a third time. Mario defeats Bowser again, causing him to shrink back to normal size and seem to fall away. Just as the last Grand Star appears, Bowser reappears, having survived! He eats the Grand Star, growing huge and powerful once more. A final battle begins. Mario finally defeats Bowser by ground-pounding meteorites onto him. Bowser shrinks again and falls into the abyss.

Mario grabs the last Grand Star and saves Peach. They return to Starship Mario. Then, Rosalina and her Comet Observatory from the first game appear. Rosalina thanks Mario for taking care of Baby Luma. Baby Luma then returns to the Comet Observatory, taking Mario's hat as a keepsake. Mario and his friends go back to the Mushroom Kingdom to celebrate their victory. Bowser is revealed to have survived once more, but he is very upset about being shrunk to a tiny size. The game ends with Starship Mario flying above Peach's castle, as the Comet Observatory streaks across the sky.

How Super Mario Galaxy 2 Was Made

Koichi Hayashida served as the game's director.

After Nintendo finished Super Mario Galaxy, Shigeru Miyamoto asked the team to make a follow-up. The first idea was to just make small changes to the original game's planets. They even called it "Super Mario Galaxy More" or "Super Mario Galaxy 1.5" in the beginning. They thought it would only take about a year to make.

The team started by adding ideas that didn't make it into the first game. This included things like Yoshi and a planet shaped like Mario's head. These ideas were left out before to make the game fair and fun, or because of time limits. As they kept adding more and more new ideas, they decided to make a full new game instead of just an update. This is why development took two and a half years.

Koichi Hayashida was the director, and Takeshi Hayakawa was the lead programmer. Hayakawa created a special tool that helped everyone on the team, even artists and sound designers, create levels easily. Many of these levels made it into the final game.

To make Super Mario Galaxy 2 different, the team first wanted the whole game to be about "switching." This meant environments would change dramatically. But this was too hard to do for the whole game, so they used it only in some levels. Another early idea was to include other Nintendo characters, like Donkey Kong or Pikmin. Miyamoto decided against it. He felt Pikmin characters wouldn't fit in the Mario world, and there was no good reason for other characters to appear.

The game's tutorials were put into an optional "Tip Network." This was helpful for players who already knew how to play the first game. Miyamoto compared Super Mario Galaxy 2 to The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. Both games used the same game engines as their predecessors but built many new things on top of them.

The game was first shown at E3 2009 on June 2. Miyamoto said the game was almost finished. However, its release was held until mid-2010 because New Super Mario Bros. Wii came out in late 2009. Miyamoto also mentioned that 95–99% of the game's features were new. Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé said the sequel would be more challenging. Miyamoto also said the game would focus less on a big story. He hinted that the "Super Guide" feature, from New Super Mario Bros. Wii, might be in the game. This was later confirmed by Nintendo's Bill Trinen. The feature, called Cosmic Guide, has the Cosmic Spirit (Rosalina) take control of Mario.

The game was first playable at the Nintendo Media Summit 2010 on February 24, 2010. A second trailer was released then, and its North American release date of May 23, 2010, was announced. The Japanese, European, and Australian versions of the game came with an instructional DVD. This DVD explained basic controls and showed advanced gameplay. The voice actors from Super Mario Galaxy returned for the sequel. This included Scott Burns (Bowser) and Dex Manley (Lubba and Lakitu).

In January 2015, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced that Super Mario Galaxy 2 would be re-released for download on the Wii U's Nintendo eShop. It became available on January 14, 2015.

The Music of Super Mario Galaxy 2: An Orchestra Adventure

Just like the first Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Galaxy 2 features music played by a real symphony orchestra. This orchestra was known as the Mario Galaxy Orchestra in the game's credits. At first, when they thought of making "Super Mario Galaxy 1.5," there were no plans for new music.

However, as the game grew, the sound team, led by Mahito Yokota, realized they needed fresh tunes. These new songs had to fit the new gameplay ideas. They were a bit worried about using an orchestra again because it was tricky to record. But producer Shigeru Miyamoto immediately gave his approval. Yokota said Miyamoto felt players would expect an orchestral soundtrack. Miyamoto also suggested that players would want to hear new versions of old Mario songs. So, the soundtrack has a mix of brand-new pieces and arrangements from the original Galaxy. It also includes music from classic Mario games like Super Mario World and Super Mario 64. Ryo Nagamatsu, who worked on Mario Kart Wii and Wii Sports Resort, also created nine songs for the game.

Koji Kondo brought together sixty musicians for the orchestra. This was ten more than for the first game's music. An extra ten musicians played big band style music with trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and drums. This made a grand total of seventy players! Taizo Takemoto conducted the orchestra. Kondo supervised the music and also contributed five songs to the soundtrack. A 2-disc soundtrack with seventy songs from the game was available to Japanese members of Club Nintendo.

See also

In Spanish: Super Mario Galaxy 2 para niños