If you’re flying a giant version of your head through the universe, you either have a huge ego or are a certain mustachioed plumber. Super Mario Galaxy 2, the latest adventure of the world’s most famous video game character, takes a great deal of the experience from the first “Galaxy” and builds on it. The result is an enjoyable game that can appeal to both the hardcore and casual gaming crowds.

The story is more or less the same as every other Mario game: Princess Peach invites Mario to the castle, Bowser kidnaps Peach and Mario has to go save her. Like the first “Galaxy”, Mario has to chase Bowser across the universe, but this time on a ship shaped like his own head.

Moving from level to level is done on a map reminiscent of the old 2-D Mario games, such as Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World, across six main “worlds”. The worlds each contain seven galaxies, each one possessing Power Stars, of which a certain number are needed to pass through barriers on the map.

The core game play itself is quite impressive. Controls are done using the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk, using the stick on the Nunchuk to move and the Wiimote for various motion-based controls. The motion controls will take some getting used to for someone unfamiliar to them, but they are remarkably easy to pick up. Shaking the Wiimote makes Mario spin, and pointing the cursor at the screen allows Mario to pick up Star Bits that are out of reach, which are used to feed Hungry Lumas (star people) and unlock more galaxies.

The platforming is mostly a 3-D outing, but there are bits and pieces of the game that play in 2-D, like the NES and SNES Mario games. In either case, every level is different with its own challenges and characteristics. There will generally be at least two Power Stars per galaxy, and the level will change on subsequent playthroughs to get the other Stars. Playing through levels repeatedly can be potentially tedious, but Nintendo does a good job of making the experience fulfilling and keeping players coming back to explore the changing galaxies. As is the case with platforming games, the camera can sometimes prove to be a bigger hindrance than other aspects, but this isn’t as prevalent here as in other games.

Mario is not alone in his quest to save Peach and defeat Bowser, though. Yoshi plays an integral part in “Galaxy 2”. Yoshi’s tongue can grab things and eat enemies. Eating fruits in specific levels make Yoshi extremely fast, cause him to turn into a blimp or allow Mario to see invisible platforms. Luigi can also be played in certain levels instead of Mario. This does little to change the mechanics of the game, but is amusing nonetheless. A second player can control a Luma to help play the game. Toads and Lumas will bring items to help Mario, and there is a nifty feature that allows the game to play through a level for a player if they die repeatedly, but the player only gets a bronze star instead of a gold star.

“Galaxy 2” represents what the Wii is truly capable of. The graphical strength still isn’t on par with the 360 or PS3, and some of the platforming can prove to be tedious, but above all else, the game is fun, and that alone gives it some merit. Nintendo brings its “A” game with its exclusive properties such as Mario, Zelda, Metroid and the like. Its approach to casual gaming with the Wii dominates the consumer market but leaves hardcore gamers wanting more, but “Galaxy 2” shows Nintendo can appeal to both and still put out a good product. – AJ Lansdale is a professional writing junior.