New Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid: Other M trailers

Nintendo continues to amaze with their willingness to actually show off their products. New trailers for Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid: Other M have just surfaced.

This new Galaxy 2 footage shows off several new aspects of the game. For starters, it now appears certain that Galaxy 2‘s levels will be navigated via the “branching path” style, usually reserved for Mario’s 2D outings, rather than the “hub world” method originated in Mario 64. Flag checkpoints also appear to have finally made the transition from 2D to 3D Mario. A new “Rock Mario” suit also appears, which turns the plump plumber into a Geodude-looking rolling rock. The video also shows Yoshi grabbing a “Light” power-up that allows him to navigate what would otherwise be the deadly void of space.

Metroid: Other M‘s new trailer has finally got me believing. I still feel a little Metroid-ed out, but the transitions from sidescrolling to first-person mode appear quick, and the action of the game overall seems fast, and I dare say, furious. It’s strange how this Wii-mote-turned-sideways thing has inspired Nintendo developers to go back and explore retro playstyles, and yet the N64 and GameCube controllers were just as, if not more, capable of doing the same kinds gameplay.