Two Masterpieces from Nintendo Still Shine on the Nintendo Switch
Two iconic games from Nintendo have stood the test of time with grace and charm. Playing Super Mario Galaxy 1 + Super Mario Galaxy 2 on the Nintendo Switch 2 brings a sense of joy and excitement as you take on the challenges crafted by Nintendo. While the remasters may be a modest effort, they offer improvements, especially on the Nintendo Switch 2, and continue to be a delight to play.
The Long-Awaited Arrival of Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2
After more than 8 years of anticipation, Nintendo finally delivered the desire of many fans with the release of Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2. While it may not fulfill every dream, the effort put into visually updating these classics surpasses that of Super Mario 3D All-Stars. The easy accessibility to these two memorable classics, which have left a lasting impact on Nintendo’s history, is truly commendable.
A Journey Through Nintendo’s Legacy
Playing Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 on the Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch feels like a journey through the generations of Nintendo. Despite the challenges of bringing these games to new platforms, Nintendo’s commitment to preserving the essence of these classics shines through. The unique gameplay mechanics, such as gravity manipulation and motion controls, continue to captivate players even in 2025.
The Galactic Experience Continues
The enhanced versions of Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 for the Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch offer improved graphics, performance, and the new Assist Mode. These galactic adventures are filled with secrets, challenges, and surprises that test your skills and creativity. Nintendo’s ability to reinvent its iconic series while staying true to its roots is evident in the enduring appeal of the Super Mario Galaxy games.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 from 2010 is another testament to how splendid that phase of Nintendo was, specifically the Super Mario team. It is not surprising to know that it started as a kind of expansion to the first game, so natural is the transition from one to the other, but the best thing I can write is that after all these years, fans still debate about which is the best, the first or the second. The second goes further in the diversity of challenges and mechanics, but it wouldn’t exist without the first that practically debuted all its concepts.
Playing Super Mario Galaxy 1 + Super Mario Galaxy 2 in 2025 is absolutely delightful and it was a crime for these games not to be easily available. The new powers, Yoshi, and the team’s playfulness in manipulating perspectives and rhythms to enhance the challenges make both games a joy to play.
### The extra brilliance of the Nintendo Switch 2
In the Nintendo Wii generation, the big novelty was motion controls, something that became the basis of the design of these two games. Whether with the consoles connected to a TV base or in handheld mode, motion controls play a very important role in practically every level, perhaps more in the second game with the introduction of levels with Yoshi.
Like the first game in the All-Stars collection, you may need time to get used to how motion controls work when playing on a TV, while in handheld mode you have to move the console or touch the screen, something that doesn’t always go smoothly. Moving the console can limit your view of the game and touching the screen forces you to quickly move the hand responsible for jumps. With the console in hand, it’s not always comfortable to take the hand that holds it to touch the screen.
However, it’s the essence of the game and motion control is part of its charm. The touch screen emerged in the transition to the Nintendo Switch and can be helpful, but you have to keep that in mind when playing in handheld mode. The new Help Mode, which gives you 6 HP and saves you from falling in a level, is a great addition to share the game with younger players or even to save your sanity in some of the more demanding levels.
However, I would say that the highlight is the ability to play both Super Mario Galaxy games in 4K on the Nintendo Switch 2. Playing these memorable classics with sharp image quality and overall graphics improvements is more than just a blast of nostalgia, it conveys a strong sense that they are still completely current. In handheld mode on the Switch 2, running at native 1080p, they are a delight to the eyes, but even on the Switch 1, running at 720p on an OLED, they manage to impress.
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