Game of the Week #43

The Passion of the Mario · 08-07-2010, 06:48 AM

Super Mario Sunshine (GCN, 2002)

As far as Super Mario adventures go, Super Mario Sunshine is a bit of a dark horse. In many fundamental ways it is quite similar to both Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy, but in other ways it is quite different. The implementation of the water-squirting FLUDD in place of more traditional power-ups and attack techniques certainly distinguishes it, as does the comparatively realistic look of the tropical worlds making up Isle Delfino. (No floating blocks or giant mushrooms here, and Ricco Harbor looks like something out of Sonic Adventure.) Few of Mario's classic enemies appear, and those that do have received makeovers. (Koopa Troopa is electrified, Monty Mole is stuck in a tank, Blooper looks more like a real-life squid, and Bob-Omb has become digitized.) Super Mario Sunshine also saw the introduction of Bowser Jr, and that's a burden that the game is always going to have to bear. Beneath its sometimes eyebrow-raising exterior, however, is a truly enjoyable and masterful game with beautiful graphics, loads of secrets, and lots of stuff to do. And it can be hard, too. If you want all 120 Shine Sprites, you're going to have to pull off some seriously difficult tasks. It's definitely the most challenging of all of Mario's 3-D adventures.

Super Mario Sunshine is also notable for providing the first appearances of Toadsworth, Petey Piranha, and the tree-headed, skirt-wearing race of people known as the Piantas.

***CaptHayfever*** · 08-07-2010, 03:12 PM

Let's get one thing straight here: Introducing Piantas is not notable.

Quote:

Super Mario Sunshine also saw the introduction of Bowser Jr, and that's a burden that the game is always going to have to bear.

But this sentence is made of win.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

Rainbow Dash · 08-07-2010, 03:32 PM

hey if you don't think piantas own you better step off

CuccoLady · 08-07-2010, 08:02 PM

I don't think this game was the hardest 3-D mario by a long shot, but I DO love it to death. And the Noki were way cooler than the Piantas. They should've kept, not the other way around.

But the Piantas were awesome in TTYD so I can forgive their existence. 8{D

**Valigarmander** · 08-07-2010, 08:13 PM

I thought that this game was more difficult than Super Mario 64 or either of the Galaxy games. If not difficult, than frustrating.

Then again, it's been a while since I've played.

The Passion of the Mario · 08-07-2010, 08:50 PM

I can rip through Mario's other 3-D adventures more or less in my sleep, but some of Super Mario Sunshine's timed Red Coin challenges on the obstacle courses (as well as finding all 30 Blue Coins in levels like Noki Bay) make SMS supremely frustrating at times.

And yes, the Pianta mafia in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is awesome.

Dizzy · 08-10-2010, 12:36 AM

I, for one, loved this game. I love tropical settings, and I didn't feel that using F.L.U.D.D. took away from the experience at all.

Jere · 08-10-2010, 04:26 AM

Myself thought it was awesome to have a waterdriven Jetpack

Rainbow Dash · 08-10-2010, 04:40 AM

many new things were tried
in the end few of them worked
the tale of sunshine

08-07-2010, 06:48 AM	#1
The Passion of the Mario Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Gender: Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts	Game of the Week #43 Super Mario Sunshine (GCN, 2002) As far as Super Mario adventures go, Super Mario Sunshine is a bit of a dark horse. In many fundamental ways it is quite similar to both Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy, but in other ways it is quite different. The implementation of the water-squirting FLUDD in place of more traditional power-ups and attack techniques certainly distinguishes it, as does the comparatively realistic look of the tropical worlds making up Isle Delfino. (No floating blocks or giant mushrooms here, and Ricco Harbor looks like something out of Sonic Adventure.) Few of Mario's classic enemies appear, and those that do have received makeovers. (Koopa Troopa is electrified, Monty Mole is stuck in a tank, Blooper looks more like a real-life squid, and Bob-Omb has become digitized.) Super Mario Sunshine also saw the introduction of Bowser Jr, and that's a burden that the game is always going to have to bear. Beneath its sometimes eyebrow-raising exterior, however, is a truly enjoyable and masterful game with beautiful graphics, loads of secrets, and lots of stuff to do. And it can be hard, too. If you want all 120 Shine Sprites, you're going to have to pull off some seriously difficult tasks. It's definitely the most challenging of all of Mario's 3-D adventures. Super Mario Sunshine is also notable for providing the first appearances of Toadsworth, Petey Piranha, and the tree-headed, skirt-wearing race of people known as the Piantas.

08-07-2010, 03:32 PM	#3
Rainbow Dash been dreamin', i've been waitin' Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: a bomb-ass cloud house bachelorette pad Gender: Posts: 24,402 Thanks: 173 Thanked 1,179 Times in 716 Posts	hey if you don't think piantas own you better step off

08-07-2010, 08:02 PM	#4
CuccoLady Anime and Cartoons Mod Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: THIS LOCATION REMINDS ME OF A PUZZLE, LUKE Gender: Posts: 9,077 Thanks: 2,825 Thanked 1,222 Times in 822 Posts	I don't think this game was the hardest 3-D mario by a long shot, but I DO love it to death. And the Noki were way cooler than the Piantas. They should've kept, not the other way around. But the Piantas were awesome in TTYD so I can forgive their existence. 8{D

08-07-2010, 08:13 PM	#5
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,701 Times in 2,581 Posts Blog Entries: 20	I thought that this game was more difficult than Super Mario 64 or either of the Galaxy games. If not difficult, than frustrating. Then again, it's been a while since I've played.

08-07-2010, 08:50 PM	#6
The Passion of the Mario Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Gender: Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts	I can rip through Mario's other 3-D adventures more or less in my sleep, but some of Super Mario Sunshine's timed Red Coin challenges on the obstacle courses (as well as finding all 30 Blue Coins in levels like Noki Bay) make SMS supremely frustrating at times. And yes, the Pianta mafia in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is awesome.

08-10-2010, 12:36 AM	#7
Dizzy Podiaphobe Join Date: Oct 2007 Gender: Posts: 19,359 Thanks: 1,764 Thanked 1,162 Times in 805 Posts Blog Entries: 116	I, for one, loved this game. I love tropical settings, and I didn't feel that using F.L.U.D.D. took away from the experience at all.

08-10-2010, 04:26 AM	#8
Jere Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sutme Gender: Posts: 3,648 Thanks: 404 Thanked 331 Times in 256 Posts Blog Entries: 3	Myself thought it was awesome to have a waterdriven Jetpack

08-10-2010, 04:40 AM	#9
Rainbow Dash been dreamin', i've been waitin' Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: a bomb-ass cloud house bachelorette pad Gender: Posts: 24,402 Thanks: 173 Thanked 1,179 Times in 716 Posts	many new things were tried in the end few of them worked the tale of sunshine