Preview of Super Mario Galaxy 2's Coolest New Features

Easily this spring's most anticipated video game, Super Mario Galaxy 2, is coming to the Nintendo Wii on May 23^rd. If you have followed the buzz surrounding this game at all, you are aware that Yoshi returns to the series along with Baby Bowser and a few new Mario suits. There are some other new elements introduced in this game, and here I present the most notable:

Light-up Yoshi. In a galaxy known as Haunty Halls, Yoshi will be able to eat a special fruit that will cause his him to light up the darkness. This illumination will allow you to see nearby platforms to help you navigate through the levels (link).

Rock Mario. A special suit that Mario dons which transforms him into a boulder. This might sound a little boring, but Mario will be able to pinball through areas and knock over enemies like a bowling ball (link).

Drill Mario. If you played the first Super Mario Galaxy, you will remember that many of the "planets" that Mario visits are not very large. Many can be circumnavigated in only a few seconds. With the drill suit, Mario will actually be able to drill from one side of the planet to the other instead of running around it. It will also allow Mario to burrow into secret underground areas (link).

Comet Metals. The original Galaxy could be played through and defeated while only collecting a little over half the game's stars. True Mario fanatics will want to collect the comet metals, which unlock the harder sections of the game, to complete every level and get every star. According to Nintendo's Miyamoto: "We have to admit that this difficulty level of Galaxy 2 is rather high because it has been made specifically for the people who have finished Galaxy 1." (link ). Mario fans(like me) who loved the more challenging levels of the original Galaxy are eagerly awaiting these new comet metal-unlocked levels.

Two-player support. In Galaxy 1, you could help player 1 collect star bits. This is fun for all of about 30 seconds. Nintendo has stated that Galaxy 2 will have two-player support but has so far been mum on what it will consist of. I am fairly sure that Nintendo will allow something a little more exciting than waving the Wiimote around to collect star bits. Ideally, Luigi will have the ability to assist Mario(at least on some levels), or perhaps Yoshi will be controllable by player 2. Either way, I'm looking for an improvement to the two-player features of the game.

Expect Nintendo to continue its slow release of game information as the release date draws near. Based on the ubiquitous trailers plastering every reputable video game site on the internet, I am also expecting this iteration of Italy's most famous plumber to be spectacular in every sense of the word. It is going to be a definite pre-order and day one purchase for me.