But co-op changes everything and this is a great example. While a few things were still frustrating Paul and I were able to power through the last 60% of the game and I really enjoyed it. Of course, the joking around and wackiness was the most enjoyable part, but the game itself became much more entertaining as well. It almost felt as if it was designed to be played with two players from the start.

As Paul mentioned we coined the phrase “binch” which basically means “to pinch a bitch” or vice versa. Much binching was had. I don’t even know how that word was invented, but there you go. Put it in the Urban Dictionary or whatever.

I’m mostly just glad we unlocked a bunch of characters.. I feel like all that stress of having to beat SSE is gone and now I can actually play the part of the game I like.

The gameplay was very smooth as well. I have to admit I was a bit dubious about the “shake the remote to spin” mechanic, but it actually works quite well. Similar the pointer mechanic is pretty seamless as well, that is, except when your co-pilot player is trying to draw thunder clouds on the screen using his pointer trail. The “shoot star bits” with the remote thing is a little odd to me. Where do they come from? Why can it happen? No one knows. Well maybe someone does but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t make any sense. Luckily, neither does wearing a bee costume and crawling all over a queen bee to collect star fragments. So in that regard it all hangs together.

Really though, what is the deal with Mario and those stars? Every single thing is related to a star or a mushroom or some kind of crazy thing. I have to think that the stars are just a kid-friendly representation of heroin or something, and Mario is on a quest for his next hit. When you think about it like that all the crazy ass magic actually starts to make some more sense.

Still, great game.