Later this month, Nintendo will release Super Mario Galaxy 2, the first direct sequel to their flagship hero’s series of platform adventures since… well… 1986′s Japan-exclusive Super Mario Bros 2 (eventually released in the US as Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels). All other Super Mario games have been a whole new thing from their predecessors, introducing entirely new gameplay mechanics and concepts, even switching out the hero to Yoshi for Super Mario World 2. Apparently there was just way too much potential in the gravity-defying, planet-hopping adventures of Mario’s 2008 Wii-debut, though, so here we are with a whole new series of planets, challenges, and adorable power-up costumes to amass a whole ‘nother game of it. Yeah, and there’s also Yoshi.
You can’t expect, though, that everyone picking up this sequel will have conquered the first Super Mario Galaxy. After all, last year’s New Super Mario Bros Wii was a tremendous all-ages hit, and that was a strictly two-dimensional affair. How can people who’ve only allowed Mario to run left and right hope to control the stout hero as he is propelled through three dimensions in the perilous vacuum of space? Never fear, Nintendo’s all over this concern by including an instructional DVD with Galaxy 2. How does this work? Well, let’s take a look at the Japanese version:
Now I don’t speak Japanese, but I think I can translate the video as follows:
- Push the stick forward. Oh look! Mario moves forward!
- Stop pushing the stick forward. Hey, wow! Mario stopped moving forward!
- Move the stick backward. Goodness gracious! Mario moves backward!
- Now we know that the stick moves Mario! Oh my word, see that angry thing coming to attack you? That’s bad! Press the A button to jump on it’s fat stupid ugly little head. The evil mushroom represents America.
- Now that you see how easy this game is, let’s show you the ridiculous acrobatic feats you’re expected to make the portly Italian plumber do without pulling a hamstring. Have fun!
I’m glad we cleared that up?
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Dude, the last 20 seconds of that video actually show off some insanely technical platforming skillz. Which is exciting as all hell, because it looks like they might just deliver on the promise that Galaxy 2 should be more “hardcore” than Galaxy. Woo!