I don’t think I could use a hyperbole to describe Super Mario Galaxy 2 that hasn’t already been said. I won’t claim that it’s the Second Coming of Video Game Jesus or anything, but damn, this game is really really fun.

Now I liked the first Super Mario Galaxy just fine. It had its issues, but the game was a lot of fun, looked good, and was definitely the best thing on the Wii that year. However I didn’t get pulled into it and wasn’t motivated to fully beat the game.

Galaxy 2 has that right combination of fixing the problems I had with the first game, and adding new things that make the game better. The story is completely different, making the game more of an alternate title than a sequel (so if you never played the first one, don’t worry). And it’s a much better story, going back to the simpler roots of the series. Bowser steals the Princess, Mario has to save her. It’s basic, but it works, and honestly, I don’t need a ton of exposition in a Mario game. The story that is there is amusing, and the dialogue is humorous. The jokes even get a little self deprecating, which is weird and awesome coming from Nintendo.

Oh and did I mention Bowser is a giant in the game? Nintendo seems to be making their main villain go the Godzilla route, because this is the fourth game in three years where he’s all macro. Just sayin’.

It’s all about the level design in Galaxy 2. These are just straight up fun planets to play on. Everything explodes with style, and the gameplay switches up so often that it never gets stale or repetitive. Sometimes you’ll be running around with a giant drill having to punch through the entire planet. Or you’ll be in a sidescrolling plant level, swinging off giant flowers. Or in a haunted house avoiding ghosts. Or hopping through clouds. I never got to a level and went “Oh this again.” I did however get to plenty of levels and think “This is really cool”, and that’s becoming a rarer occurrence these days.

Yoshi is definitely a welcome addition to the game, and I’m thrilled to see him back. The transition to 3D for the dinosaur is actually pretty smooth. He plays just how you’d expect him to in Super Mario World on the SNES. Plus he’s got three different powerups, all of which are fun. Combine those with the numerous classic and new suits for Mario, and there’s a ton of variety to make the game eclectic and awesome.

Galaxy 2 is also packed with homages to Mario’s entire career. From the music to the themes of the level, it’s a tribute to the spunky plumber. If you’re a fan it’s great, and if you’re not a fan it’s fine because it’s not some inside joke you have to “get”. It’s more of a visual “best of Mario games” collection.

Really my only complaint with the game is that some of the cooler levels that require some serious, unadulterated platforming skills are only unlocked after getting all 120 stars. I would have liked to play those throughout the entire game instead of having them in one huge chunk at the end.

If you own a Wii, there’s really isn’t a reason not to get Mario Galaxy 2. It is, quite possibly, the best Wii game I’ve ever played, and one of the best platformers ever.