Miyamoto, again, confirms that Galaxy 2 is really just Galaxy: The Lost Levels. What I mean by ‘Lost Levels’ is the Japanese version of Super Mario Brothers 2 which was essentailly Super Mario Brothers 1’s assets reused, with a few new power-ups, and much harder levels. SMB: The Lost Levels ended up being a disapointment and was considered the ‘wrong game’. Doki Doki Panic turned into SMB2 for America and for the launch of GBA in Japan, SMB2:USA was the launch game, not SMB2: The Lost Levels.
Mario Galaxy: The Lost Levels will likely end up being the ‘wrong game’ for similar reasons. One thing is for certain is that Galaxy 2 will sell less than Galaxy 1 after all since most people will buy the first one before the second one. And most people will be disapointed after buying the first one. In used game shops, the Wii shelves, aside from being filled with the usual ‘used’ shovelware junk that no one wants, there are many copies of Super Mario Galaxy.
In Japan, Super Mario Galaxy hasn’t even sold one million copies yet. So the reason why Miyamoto and all are making a Galaxy: The Lost Levels is perplexing. Galaxy isn’t driving the Wii momentum. Galaxy isn’t a system seller except for a few people on Internet message forums who talk about games all day. Galaxy is also a game that doesn’t need a sequel. Nintendo’s efforts would have been better directed putting out Pikmin 3 or another ‘core’ Nintendo title over. We haven’t even gotten a Zelda Wii yet but the sequel to the Mario Wii game will be out before Zelda Wii does! It is absurd.
So my predictions for Galaxy: The Lost Levels will be that, aside from initial sales, this game will be largely ignored, will fail to be a system seller for the Wii, and will generally be remembered historically as a waste of time from Nintendo.
This game depends entirely on satisfied, eagerly wanting more, Mario Galaxy 1 customers. I don’t think there are too many of those.