Super Mario Galaxy 2 – 10 Best (& Worst) Stars

I’ve always maintained that the first Galaxy was my favourite Mario game, but after replaying Galaxy 2 I’m conflicted. The levels were awesome once again, and the stars were arguably cleaner and more fun than in the previous game.

I’ll pick my 10 favourite and least favourite stars (not galaxies) from Galaxy 2, just like I did for the first game. Yet again I’m excluding the purple coin levels to make it challenging for myself.

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

10 (WORST) – The Chimp’s Score Challenge (Slimy Spring)

I wasn’t really a fan of any of the Chimp Score Challenges across multiple galaxies, but the one in Slimy Spring felt the least necessary.

It’s extremely easy to get the required score when there are so many Boos to shine a light on, and the galaxy itself is far too drab and dreary to warrant an extra star.

10 (BEST) – Sneaking Down the Creepy Corridor (Haunty Halls)

I would’ve liked this level to be longer, but running along a Boo-themed galaxy – and getting chased by the biggest one of all – is more fun than you’d think.

9 – The Secret Wall Jump (Honeybloom)

Some of the shorter levels in the Galaxy games can be a fun doddle, but Honeybloom’s secret star is completely pointless.

You make a trivial jump at the start of the galaxy and you immediately reach a hidden star. This is one of those levels which feels tacked-on, as if the developers desperately needed to reach the 120-star final figure.

9 – Saddle Up with Yoshi (Yoshi Star)

If there’s one thing the first Galaxy game was sorely missing, it was Yoshi.

His new abilities gel really well with the existing mechanics, and the platforming sections are well-designed.

8 – Spiny Rainbow Romp (Yoshi Star)

The first of the “Romp” type stars, and I always groan whenever I remember what this level asks of the player.

The time limit is tight, the sticky mud is infuriating, and it’s not as fun as the developers think to run around aimlessly kicking Spinys.

8 – Silver Stars Pop-Up (Boo Moon)

The haunted / Boo themed levels are always among my personal favourites for their engrossing atmosphere, and this star from Boo Moon is a joy from start to finish.

The maze is great, the moving platform section keeps you on your toes, and the silver stars pop-up gimmick is lots of fun.

7 – Dark Octo-Army Romp (Flash Black)

Another Mario killing spree “Romp” star, and another that I don’t care for in the slightest.

The darkened platforms can be extremely tedious to wait for, and Octos are some of the most annoying enemies in the Galaxy games.

7 – Twin Falls Hideaway (Cosmic Cove)

Cosmic Cove is always such a delight to play through, and its first star is the definition of good vibes.

You swim through a serene lake to the mellow music of the soundtrack, and you can then skate around on ice to your heart’s content.

6 – Cosmic Clones in the Chompworks (Chompworks)

The original Chompworks level was lots of fun, and the golden chomp section in particular is great, but the cosmic clones spoil the party.

There’s just not enough space to fit all of the infinitely spawning clones, and the random enemies in the way are an unnecessary challenge.

6 – Tall Trunk’s Big Slide (Tall Trunk)

This placement needs little explaining – you shred some gnar down an intense slide, dodging enemies as you go. A classic Mario level.

5 – The Chimp’s Skating Challenges (Freezy Flake / Shiverburn)

We have a tie for the fifth-worst Galaxy 2 level. As far as I can tell, both of the skating challenges in Freezy Flake and Shiverburn are effectively the same.

Not only is the skating mechanic poorly utilised in this naff challenge, but the developers had the nerve to copy-paste the same level twice!

5 – Bowser Jr.’s Mighty Megahammer (Bowser Jr.’s Fearsome Fleet)

Bowser Jr. has some of the best bosses in Galaxy 2 (apart from Gobblegut … I’d take any boss over that monstrosity), and Megahammer is probably my favourite main battle.

Using Yoshi to send the bullet bills back is a blast, and the constant action means there’s never a dull moment.

4 – Rolling Crabber Romp (Boulder Bowl)

My least favourite of the “Romp” stars, mainly for the power-up they force you to use.

The Boulder power-up is my least favourite in the game, and I hate how it controls on a tiny planet like this. Also, the time limit feels particularly mean this time around.

4 – Bowser’s Fortified Fortress (Bowser’s Galaxy Generator)

The final level in the game, and the developers stuck the landing.

It doesn’t quite have the gravitas of the first game’s finale, and the Bowser fights aren’t nearly as good, but the level beforehand is tough as nails and satisfying to complete.

3 – Silver Stars on the Cyclone (Stone Cyclone)

This Beach Bowl secret star was a fun challenge in the first Galaxy game. The logical next step, therefore, would be to make it stupidly challenging and remove all the fun. Right?

It’s a lazy copy-paste to begin with, but the extra fast enemies make this one of the hardest Mario levels of all time. And not in the fun way.

3 – Where the Chomps Are Made of Gold (Chompworks)

Chompworks is one of the most unique galaxies in the game, and every section of the first level oozes style and charm.

Manoeuvring the chomps in your favour is way more fun than I thought it would be, and that final golden chomp section is a blast … until the cosmic clone variant ruins it.

2 – The Ledge Hammer Trap (Clockwork Ruins)

This star was a weird one to place, as the actual level itself is just passable. It’s the level before the bonus star that lets it down.

Collecting all of the required coins on the rotating platforms made me want to tear my hair out, as I’d always get to within a couple and fall to my death, needing to start all over again. I’m sure most people don’t mind Clockwork Ruins, but its platforming does my head in.

2 – Prince Pikante’s Peppery Mood (Shiverburn)

I’m a sucker for “hot and cold collide” type levels, so Freezeflame was one of my favourite galaxies in the original game.

Shiverburn serves as an excellent spiritual successor, and the final boss fight against Prince Pikante, where you have to skate around the projectiles, is one of the most engaging in the game.

1 – Snacktime for Gobblegut (Battle Belt)

I hated the original Gobblegut fight in the first Bowser Jr. galaxy, but I can almost forgive that star for the excellent level beforehand.

What I can’t forgive, however, is the fiery variant tacked on as a bonus star in Battle Belt. Not only do you have to replay one of the most tedious levels in the game, but you then have to fight one of the worst Mario bosses of all time. A travesty of a star.

1 – Head in the Clouds (Cloudy Court)

Like with how Shiverburn acted as a spiritual successor to Freezeflame, Cloudy Court was the natural follow-up to Gusty Gardens. Since Gusty Gardens is my favourite galaxy in either of the games, you can imagine how thrilled I was that it got a sequel.

This star is a delight from start to finish, and using the cloud power-up to manoeuvre through gusts of wind and musical instruments is the perfect example of level design done right.

Aaand that’s my list! You can check out some of my latest blog posts below: