There's no denying that Super Mario Galaxy is the foundation for Super Mario Galaxy 2. The sequel uses the same engine, same controls, and same basic concept. So if anything, the reason why Super Mario Galaxy 2 is so damn fantastic is mostly due to the fact that the team learned from the first game: what worked, what needed fixing, and how to improve on such an already masterful Wii creation. The result of that effort is one of the most refined and most fulfilling videogame experiences of this generation.
The original Super Mario Galaxy already oozed creativity as it evolved the once-innovative 3D platforming into something spectacular. In the game, players had the ability to roam areas that ranged from standard Mario-style levels to miniature planetoids with their own orbital gravity, while still utilizing the same familiar and refined gameplay mechanics. The sequel steps it up with more of what we got with the first game, while taking the gameplay in new directions with sharp and very welcome additions.
This shift in presentation is also applied to the game's progression. Nintendo's Galaxy team simplified the way players move through the different worlds: it's now much more similar to the maps of the 2D Mario games, established first in Super Mario Bros. 3 and evolved in Super Mario World and New Super Mario Bros. While it drastically shifts the "explore until you find your next challenge" design introduced in Super Mario 64, I think it's a change for the better and streamlines the pick-up-and-play approach. If you, for example, stop playing for a extended period of time and return, you'll less likely to be disoriented like you would be in Super Mario Galaxy's visually impressive but ultimately overwhelming Observatory hubworld.
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