Best game Treasure has ever made. I know those are big words and I do love my Guardian Heroes & Gradius V, but goddamn S&P2 is mindblowing. Some of the later stages are absolutely incredible and the boss fights are INTENSE and badass. I love how the levels are HUGE and each level is like 3 full separate levels combined into one. Complete with like 3 full size bosses per stage.
I'll either double dip on the US version or replay the JP version one of these days, because the save is locked and I can't move it to my new Wii. Stupid leaderboards preventing save moving

My favorite stages are
Stage 2 boss
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
I think stage 1 & 6 are the weakest. But the middle section is so fucking good.
Would give 11/10 if possible. Best game on Wii.
i played the japanese version eons ago and it really didn't leave any impressions... i stopped somewhere after the underwater level
dude, you stopped right where it gets GOOD.
and
spoiler (click to show/hide)
how did you not think the transforming dolphin boss was awesome??
Just picked up my copy, and played through stages 0-2... so far it doesn't seem as challenging as the first game but I'm sure that'll pick up. Some of the boss fights are pretty whoa, and the second stage boss already solidifies this as my GOTY. It plays smooth as butter with the Wiimote + Nunchuck. Anybody else get it?
The game gets pretty hard later. I honestly recommend for people to start on easy first and then do normal. Because getting 5 hours into normal and then getting completely stuck and having to start from stage 0 and work your way back on easy is boring.