I said this in another thread but i expect the settled metaranking for this game to be about the same as the original. It's apparent that it improved enough upon the first but it's too similar to its predecessor and reviews will pull out the "been there, done that" card. I reckon average criticism's, aside from what i just stated, to be reasons such as a lack of inovation and the need to keep the same formula, clunky controls or poor camera, weak storyline, bad dialogue and other such excuses. I think this game is safe, but it may get the one "evil" review that gives the game a ridiculously low score that'll drag the metaranking down 2 or 3 percent, like GameCritics review of Muramasa.
Everybody should expect mid-low 80's, maybe 85-88 if it gets enough lucky 90+ scores (Nintendo specialist reviewers may help here). 89+ is pushing it, it won't reach these scores because it's just too similar to the first game, those who hated it before won't like it now. Super Mario Galaxy 2 will have a score lower than the first game, but thats for another day.
