Chomp
Chutes
It wouldn’t be 3D Mario without a downhill race. Galaxy’s manta ray act was suitably twisty-turny-sweary and looks to be succeeded by a more grounded on-foot effort. Mario slides down a chute like a kid testing out his new shoes on a polished shopping centre floor. Before Heelys killed skidding dead, that is.
Cloud Mario
The Cloud Suit transforms our hero into a bizarre amalgamation of man and power-up that sprouts fluffy mid-air platforms when you shake the remote. This enables you to make dramatic leaps, then summon a cloud at the last second to save you from plummeting into one of the game’s many bottomless pits. The catch: you only get three shakes at a time, and once you’ve used that third platform, you’re just a regular Mario in a silly cloud costume.
Coin (big)
Supermassive Galaxy lets you climb up a coin the size of the London Eye. A coin. Gives giant chocolate pennies an inferiority complex.
Coin (small)
In Galaxy 1, Lumas demanded star bits to transform into bonus areas. They were easy to come by, so success was just a case of waiting for star bits to rain down. Coins are the new Luma toll, and much harder to come by, making for an all-round hike in difficulty.
Comet Coin
If stars are passing your driving test, then comet coins are passing your driving test without running anyone over. Designed to separate the wheat from the chaff – nay, to kerb-stomp the chaff – they are placed in dangerous places. Think balanced precariously over chasms. Similar to New Super Mario Bros’ star coins, they unlock even harder levels. You’ll regret even collecting them.
Cylindrical 2D
Often, greatness is as easy as sticking two already great things together. Think sausages and mash. Or rabbits and cosmetics testing. Nintendo understand. Mix Galaxy’s awesome 2D platforming with Galaxy’s awesome rotating 3D shapes and you get awesome 2D platforming on rotating shapes. Jump Mario off to fall forever. There is no bottom. There is no top. There is only joy.
Dark matter
Dark matter destroys anything it touches, and yet Bowser was able to build a factory capable of producing it. Huh? So it destroys everything except factories that make it? CONVENIENT. Get ready to dodge the insta-death goo again – patches have been sighted in Galaxy 2. At least you’ll be prepared for when the Large Hadron Collider starts producing the stuff.
Dark matter Mario
Oh no! Not only is the insta-death goo back, but this time it has grown limbs and wants to hug you. Every step Mario takes in this dark matter galaxy spawns a doppelganger behind him. Specul-O-Tron says: “Prepare to weep frustrato-tears, man babies!”
Dash Pepper
Central heating for dinosaurs, dash peppers give Yoshi a happy glow and speed him up to Mach 5. Emitting an adorable ‘hot-hot-hot’ panting sound, he zips up vertical surfaces and puts the Prince of Persia’s wall-running to shame.
Delfino Island
A treasure trove of retro motifs, Galaxy is a triple-jump down memory lane. So it makes sense for Nintendo to revisit Sunshine’s tropical paradise. Galaxy’s visual sheen works wonders for the golden sands and sparkling sea. We’d love to see EAD Tokyo take it further and bring back Delfino’s level-reflecting solar panels. *Pre-emptive swoon*
Demolition Man
No, Sly Stallone does not pop in for a cameo (apart from the level he shares with Sonic and Guybrush Threepwood, of course). But when Mario freezes the watery Cosmic Cove, his spin attack shatters frozen pond life like poor old Wesley Snipes. Bet the water boatman-esque Skeeters really regret making their Galaxy debut.
Dice
Warp pipes occasionally bring Mario to three giant dice emblazoned with different items. Spin attacking throws the dice. If three symbols align, the item in question is given. A fun variation on Mario’s many versions of match-threeslot machines.
DoO-dOo-dOO-dOO-dodo-dododoO-doO-doO-doO-dodo-doO…
All together now: Doo-doo-doo-doo-dodo-dododoo-doo-doo-doo-dodo-doo… yes, it’s starman – scientifically proven to be 97% jollier than any other game pickup to date. It turns the tables on Mario’s foes and turns a frown upside down. Not that there’s any frowning in Galaxy 2.
Drill
Drill Mario puts a whole new perspective on the action. With this baby whirring away, every level has an underside or an inside – just spin away to find out. It’s good for puzzling, too – Mario can use it to drill up through pillars he couldn’t otherwise climb.
Drill torpedoes
The Bullet Bill/Torpedo Ted family welcomes a new ground-dwelling member. Yellow bullets with drill nozzles attached, they swim through the soil towards Mario’s pottering boots. We’ll have to ask Miyamoto what they’re called because there doesn’t seem to be an official name for them yet. Drilling Dave doesn’t sound right.
