E3 09: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Revealed

During today's E3 press conference, Nintendo's Cammie Dunaway introduced a rumored sequel to the hit 3D console game, Super Mario Galaxy 2.

While the game has a very similar look and feel to the first game, with some added (and welcome) elements.  Players will still control Mario and have access to things like the Bee Suit.  Switches, stars that shoot you to new planets, Bullet Bills, and other enemies seem to come back to challenge Mario.  One major new element, though, brings this sequel to new heights:

Yoshi.

That's right, everyone's favorite, ride-able dinosaur is coming back to Mario's universe in Super Mario Galaxy 2.  Lots of footage in the E3 trailer shows Mario riding different colored Yoshis, each appearing to have different abilities to aid Mario through the game.

Additionally, a switch that Mario hit at one point during the game turned the screen black and white.  Not sure how that will affect gameplay, but it is likely to be local to that level.

Yoshi's inclusion on the next game, while mostly having Mario on his back, brings up the point of multiplayer.  While nothing has been confirmed, we can assume that the same element of drop in/drop out co-op will be included in this game.  Regardless, we have another Mario game with multiplayer to look forward to in New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

More information as we get it, of course.  We can expect the game in 2010.

Update: Check out the trailer for yourself above!