Topic: Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2

@1UP_MARIO 42quid is a great price, it's gone up to 50 now which is still cheaper than most I can see. How's ShopTo for preorders I've had a few PS plus codes from there but never preordered anything.

@Hapless yea they good although currys nearly always give a 20% discount first week

@Azileron I think on the original Switch cartridge all the systems were emulated, the Gamecube, wii and N64. However emulation is a sliding scale and can go from partial emulation to full emulation. It could be the powerpc cpu is emulated but the graphics calls are re-routed to Switch APIs. I think Mario Galaxy is the best performing game in the collection despite being on the most powerful original hardware so it seems like they had to optimise the game for Switch where as they don't seem to have bothered to do that with Mario 64 and Sunshine which are noticeably worse. Switch probably has enough grunt to do native emulation of N64 and Gamecube but not wii so I guess that had to be re-written. I guess its looking hopeful that Mario Galaxy 2 will get the same performance level.

Dare I mention that if you own the original games you can emulate on another system with 4K 60 resolution and use an upgraded texture pack to give truly amazing graphics to this game.

A few reasons I think. Firstly Skyward Sword HD improved the framerate to 60fps, and reworked assets. It also added a new control scheme that allowed you to play it on the go and it released 4 years ago. And in 2021 we didn't have the Switch 2 out, we didn't have Gamecube on NSO so the bar to clear was much lower

Donkey Kong Country Returns? I didn't care for the idea of getting a remake of that one. Tropical Freeze is enough of a DKC hit for me. I don't see value in complaining about price for something that I was never going to get. DKCR HD could've been $10 and I still wouldn't have got it, so what difference does it make to me what it costs?

But Galaxy 1 & 2? Well, firstly I want them which is why I care enough at all to even comment. So the price point is an actual point of friction. And secondly it's launching at a point in time when there are GC games on NSO. Which is, more or less, the same quality tier of games as the Wii in terms of scale. Also with Switch 2 out I kinda want a bit more out of these remakes rather than just "it's now in HD". TTYD HD or Prime Remastered tier you know?

A framerate boost won't do it, the original already ran at 60fps. And as nice as a higher resolution output is, possibly even pushed to 4K on Switch 2, that doesn't mean much if the assets aren't also improved. Which it's hard to say if they are. As someone who has the original disc, a PC, a Steam Deck and also a copy of 3D All Stars..... I'm not sure what I'm getting out of it

For people diving into it the first time? Sure. But even there I don't see why you'd spend that much for this double pack over, say, DK Bananza or Super Mario Odyssey or just waiting for Sunshine to drop on NSO. The Galaxy games, and especially 2, are fantastic titles.... but $90AU is a bit much....

@skywake If you check the main site: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/super-mario-galaxy...

You can see that they say this:

Both games feature enhanced resolution (1080p on Nintendo Switch and 4K on Nintendo Switch 2 with a free update) and improvements to the onscreen menus and interface.

So yeah no talk about textures, but confirmation for 4K

@skywake @darkfenrir
They did redo the textures. I saw comparison pics with the 3D all stars version and its a massive difference.

Here's just one of those comparisons. And again, this is vs the 3D All Stars version which was already upscaled.

@JaxonH
I recall that's actually a pre-rendered cutscene, which means they've taken the time to re-render the cutscenes instead of upscaling their previous renders.

Have them already on Wii, can emulate them at will. No need to fork 70 bucks for this uninspired double pack.

@RupeeClock
If they make the graphics too good, they risk people becoming unable to separate fiction from reality.

@RupeeClock
Ya the games look great.

And thank God they're coming to Switch 1/2 cause I cant stomach the Wii versions in 480p nor can I stand using the Wiimote with no right analog, which is essentially required on Dolphin since these games rely on the pointer while simultaneously moving and controlling the camera and jumping. Not to mention neither option provides the hybrid advantage, and I dont waste my time with stuff I can only play in front of one specific tv.

The joycon actually allow you to move with left analog, control camera with right analog and control the cursor with gyro. And the gyro on NSW2 joycon is so much more accurate. I know cause I fired up Galaxy on 3D All Stars a few days ago and was shocked at how stable the gyro was with minimal drift.

They really cleaned these games up nicely. And with the art style being used they almost look like modern releases. Not quite, but close enough.

Ive never played Galaxy 2 at all, and only a tiny bit of Galaxy. Its funny- I started playing Galaxy like a day before this was announced. But now I'll just wait for these new remasters. I hear they're 2 of the best games ever made.

@JaxonH 2 fantastic games. I’ll put 2 higher as it has more wow moments personally for me. The amount of Easter eggs you’ll realise from previous Mario adventures across Mario bros, 3, world, 64, sunshine. Simply a masterpiece. Also the music although similar to Galaxy is my favourite gaming soundtrack. Enjoy

Here's some more examples of improved textures. Seems they didn't redo everything, but only focused on the stuff that really stood out as low res, namely floor textures. Since you see the ground up close more than anything else.

@1UP_MARIO
Right on.

hmmm might have to get both games then. I only bought the last pack for sunshine.

My Nintendo store UK
Super Mario cosmic bundle comes comes with 2 steel posters
Luma keyring
Sticker set

@Ryu_Niiyama
Getting both games in widescreen (may have already been widescreen, Idk, but these for sure will be), in 4k 60fps (1080p 60fps handheld), with improved textures and redone UI, new Assist Mode and storybook content, hybrid handheld playable with joycon 2 that have minimal gyro drift and can properly emulate the pointer while still using right analog for camera...

To me is worth it. The alternative is playing in 480p on Wii U, or emulating on PC connected to my TV getting a sensor bar hooked up and using a Wiimote, which I find inadequate given the lack of right analog and awkward placement of d-pad. And neither of those options provide a hybrid experience, nor the aforementionrd bells and whistles.

Being so highly regarded, I definitely want these on Switch 2.

@JaxonH, I looked at those comparison images, they are quite the difference. Though I didn't need those to convince me, I was already going to get the games at some point anyway which is why I made this thread 😃.

@JaxonH
To clarify, these were showpieces on the Wii. Obviously limited to 480p but like most Wii games they ran in 16:9 and a stable 60fps. Other than the cutscenes (which were originally letterboxed) there's no real change here in terms of framerate or aspect ratio. Honestly if you play these on a CRT they still look great and there are some good CRT filters out there if you want to go the emulation route

And, IMO, the JoyCon is never going to be able to compete with the feel of the WiiMote here. For me, if they added WiiMote support somehow THAT would be an instant buy. So the improved controller aspect doesn't appeal to me even slightly

But yeah, seems to be a bit more done here than Nintendo originally presented. They seem to have a habit lately of underselling stuff and making people dig to figure out what the deal is. Which is kinda frustrating. But these improvements seem worthwhile and push it well beyond "just emulate it". And no, before anyone says it, fan texture packs are almost universally bad. There's always a temptation to overcook it that that crowd just can't resist

I might end up picking these up if I can find a decent deal. At retail here the bundle is $80AU for the physical copy, less than the $90AU on the eShop but still a bit much. And there are too many other things coming out I'd get before this. But if I can get it for $60 down the track? Sure

https://nintendoeverything.com/super-mario-galaxy-super-mario...

Mouse controls are actually huge. Especially for Galaxy 2.

Watching comparison videos helped me understand, that this is not just a resolution update. They really put work into these masterpieces. I might get them after all, at some point.

The Wii version supported anamorphic widescreen, i.e. the pixels get stretched out to fill the space. This is fine for a CRT display but looks pretty bad on a modern flat panel, and that's aside from any upscaling that it has to do.

Although a bit shocked by the initial price, I'm warming to the idea that this might still be worth it if the games are getting a substantial rework, rather than the bare bones ones that the 3D All Stars release had.