Super Mario Sunshine
Platforms: GCN
Players: 1
Original Release Date(s): Aug 25 2002(US), Oct 4 2002(EU), Oct 2002(AU), Jul 19 2002(JP)
After the critical acclaim that Super Mario 64 was given Nintendo were always going to find it hard to match that, and with Nintendo's successor to the Nintendo 64 the Gamecube there would of course be a Mario game although no longer launching the system that it had the honour of doing so with the previous three generations of Nintendo home consoles, instead gamers would have to wait for Mario's next outing.
Presentation
A slight mixed bag really while the game in many ways still has a Mario feel the setting is very far removed from the regular Mario universe and set on a tropical holiday resort, while Nintendo has tried a different approach with this game in ways over others released at the time, the combination just doesn't always feel right, with the poor quality FMV videos that add little to the game but then they do try to help the story progress but then again do Mario games really need to have voiced cut scenes to have the story progress?
In a way I can applaud Nintendo for trying something new with one of it's key games but at the same time it tries to be too much like all the average platform games on the market and have them in there for the sake of it because the storage space is there.
Graphics
Very bright and very colourful are the first things that come to mind but they perfectly suit the setting of the game although with the exception of the main characters and a few enemies there are many new things with in the game and in many ways adds a fresh look to the Mario series, but much like Super Mario Bros. 2 on the NES this is very far removed from your average looking Mario game.
One thing this game really does take advantage of is the Gamecube's extra power to do all kinds of particle effects and this game really uses that to the full, from the haze heat effect to all the water effects thrown out in the game and the way things break up into bubbles and explode all adds to a really nice graphical look. The liquid effect used for the ooze of the enemies should also be of high praise as not only does it truly look like it is moving but the leave a random trail of ooze behind them too giving the game a much more random and natural look as it's not set in stone what the trail will be.
Maybe the one criticism is the lack of variety in the locations due to the setting of the game on a holiday resort other than a few slight differences many of the places all feel the same, but in there end there was only so much that could be done with the setting.
Sound
Once again done with a very high quality like previous Mario tittles and some tunes that you will really never get bored of and the hub world of Delfino Plaza will have the constant ding dong of the tannoy announcements that you get used to hearing and don't get annoying.
Maybe the one biggest change is the amount of voice acting done through the FMV cut scenes and while they are a very high qualty they add little to nothing to the overall game, and FLUDD's voice is nothing but annoying, but it certainly all gives the game some diversity not seen in other Mario games.
Gameplay
If there has been one focus on this game it has been to how it plays as you can expect it is an evolution of Super Mario 64 that uses the Gamecube control pads new features well with the analog shoulder buttons that allow the different levels of pressure applied to change the intensity of how you use the new signature item in FLUDD, from a light press that allows you to move and shoot water at the same time to a hard press that keeps you stationary while aiming and shooting. FLUDD also has a range of other abilities like being able to float, shoot up into the shy above and even get jet propelled so fast you can run across water.
While FLUDD plays a huge part in how the game plays don't think it changes how much this plays like a Mario game as there are certainly sections of this game that will test your skills more so the levels that remove FLUUD and have you rely on your platforming skills and they are some of hardest levels you will find in any game, Yoshi also makes an appearance within the game and he seems in many ways like a more mobile version of FLUDD and is powered up by fruit rather than water and in a way seems like a slight after thought.
Maybe the biggest gripe is the camera doesn't feel as tight as it did with Super Mario 64 and you have to continuously re adjust it using the c-stick as you play, other than that one tiny thing though the game plays as well as you would expect and is certainly the stand out quality of the game as you would expect from Nintendo.
Lasting Appeal
One criticism about Super Mario 64 was maybe it wasn't quite as tough to beat as previous Mario games, well Super Mario Sunshine certainly goes some way to fixing that with some really challenging levels that will have you trying over and over again to beat them as they can be rather difficult, but not to the point of feeling cheep, because when you finally get that Shine you will feel quite good about it, and with 120 Shines to get you will be at it for some time as some are also quite well hidden, certainly much much harder than the N64 outing and a good challenge to anyone, and once again you will always go back and play your favourite parts over again.
Overall
I referred to it as the Super Mario Bros. 2 of the 3D Mario games and that's what it is in many ways due to the location the game is set and how far removed it feels to any other game in the series because of the gameplay mechanics of FLUDD, but unlike that game this was designed from the ground up as a Mario game and much like that game it is better than the vast amount of other platform games out there despite certain bad points.Really if you are a Mario fan this game is for you and if you can put up with the handful of annoyances the game has it is an amazing experience.
Scores
Players: 1
Original Release Date(s): Aug 25 2002(US), Oct 4 2002(EU), Oct 2002(AU), Jul 19 2002(JP)
After the critical acclaim that Super Mario 64 was given Nintendo were always going to find it hard to match that, and with Nintendo's successor to the Nintendo 64 the Gamecube there would of course be a Mario game although no longer launching the system that it had the honour of doing so with the previous three generations of Nintendo home consoles, instead gamers would have to wait for Mario's next outing.
Presentation
A slight mixed bag really while the game in many ways still has a Mario feel the setting is very far removed from the regular Mario universe and set on a tropical holiday resort, while Nintendo has tried a different approach with this game in ways over others released at the time, the combination just doesn't always feel right, with the poor quality FMV videos that add little to the game but then they do try to help the story progress but then again do Mario games really need to have voiced cut scenes to have the story progress?
In a way I can applaud Nintendo for trying something new with one of it's key games but at the same time it tries to be too much like all the average platform games on the market and have them in there for the sake of it because the storage space is there.
Graphics
Very bright and very colourful are the first things that come to mind but they perfectly suit the setting of the game although with the exception of the main characters and a few enemies there are many new things with in the game and in many ways adds a fresh look to the Mario series, but much like Super Mario Bros. 2 on the NES this is very far removed from your average looking Mario game.
One thing this game really does take advantage of is the Gamecube's extra power to do all kinds of particle effects and this game really uses that to the full, from the haze heat effect to all the water effects thrown out in the game and the way things break up into bubbles and explode all adds to a really nice graphical look. The liquid effect used for the ooze of the enemies should also be of high praise as not only does it truly look like it is moving but the leave a random trail of ooze behind them too giving the game a much more random and natural look as it's not set in stone what the trail will be.
Maybe the one criticism is the lack of variety in the locations due to the setting of the game on a holiday resort other than a few slight differences many of the places all feel the same, but in there end there was only so much that could be done with the setting.
Sound
Once again done with a very high quality like previous Mario tittles and some tunes that you will really never get bored of and the hub world of Delfino Plaza will have the constant ding dong of the tannoy announcements that you get used to hearing and don't get annoying.
Maybe the one biggest change is the amount of voice acting done through the FMV cut scenes and while they are a very high qualty they add little to nothing to the overall game, and FLUDD's voice is nothing but annoying, but it certainly all gives the game some diversity not seen in other Mario games.
Gameplay
If there has been one focus on this game it has been to how it plays as you can expect it is an evolution of Super Mario 64 that uses the Gamecube control pads new features well with the analog shoulder buttons that allow the different levels of pressure applied to change the intensity of how you use the new signature item in FLUDD, from a light press that allows you to move and shoot water at the same time to a hard press that keeps you stationary while aiming and shooting. FLUDD also has a range of other abilities like being able to float, shoot up into the shy above and even get jet propelled so fast you can run across water.
While FLUDD plays a huge part in how the game plays don't think it changes how much this plays like a Mario game as there are certainly sections of this game that will test your skills more so the levels that remove FLUUD and have you rely on your platforming skills and they are some of hardest levels you will find in any game, Yoshi also makes an appearance within the game and he seems in many ways like a more mobile version of FLUDD and is powered up by fruit rather than water and in a way seems like a slight after thought.
Maybe the biggest gripe is the camera doesn't feel as tight as it did with Super Mario 64 and you have to continuously re adjust it using the c-stick as you play, other than that one tiny thing though the game plays as well as you would expect and is certainly the stand out quality of the game as you would expect from Nintendo.
Lasting Appeal
One criticism about Super Mario 64 was maybe it wasn't quite as tough to beat as previous Mario games, well Super Mario Sunshine certainly goes some way to fixing that with some really challenging levels that will have you trying over and over again to beat them as they can be rather difficult, but not to the point of feeling cheep, because when you finally get that Shine you will feel quite good about it, and with 120 Shines to get you will be at it for some time as some are also quite well hidden, certainly much much harder than the N64 outing and a good challenge to anyone, and once again you will always go back and play your favourite parts over again.
Overall
I referred to it as the Super Mario Bros. 2 of the 3D Mario games and that's what it is in many ways due to the location the game is set and how far removed it feels to any other game in the series because of the gameplay mechanics of FLUDD, but unlike that game this was designed from the ground up as a Mario game and much like that game it is better than the vast amount of other platform games out there despite certain bad points.Really if you are a Mario fan this game is for you and if you can put up with the handful of annoyances the game has it is an amazing experience.
Scores
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