Genre: Adventure Platform
Developer: EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
# of Players: 1 Player
Memory: 7 Blocks
ERSB: Everyone
Also On: None
Presentation
Seeking well-deserved rest and relaxation, Mario and Princess Peach travel to a beautiful remote island. It is said the local citizens are friendly and the weather forecast suggests year-round sunshine. However, when they get to the island, they quickly find out that the peaceful paradise has been polluted by a mysterious stranger. Worse still, the individual bears a striking resemblance to Mario! Determined to clear his reputation and clean up the island, Mario sets off on his greatest adventure yet. Yup that’s SMS for you quite simple right?? No I think not. Mario has to do jail time. Clean up an entire Island. All while trying to find out who framed him. Sounds interesting? It should this is the deepest story line in Super Mario history.
Mario is back nuff said...
Graphics
Simpily these graphics could be better, much better they don’t really push the gamecube potential. However the water effects are stunning. The best I’ve ever seen. Even better than the likes of Splashdown & Wave Race: Blue Storm. Water splashes onto sludge and the sludge fades a rolls as if it were real. While in the water it moves perfectly with Mario. As if it were alive. My weakness in Mario games was always water stages. I hated them all! But Now in SMS I look foward to getting wet and wild. The game does have small framerate drops at rare points when the screen is packed of action. Some of the texture work is slightly blurred but again this is rare. However the great/gigantic enviroment more than makes up for it. The most impressive part of the graphics is the fact that mario can spot a coin or shine at the other side of the massive level. Becuse the game engine has amazing draw distance. It’s really a sight to see. Mario and friends charcter models are solid and done very well. Even it they are not a detailed as they are in Super Smash Bros. Melee. As it always in Mario games. The visuals are not super duper excellent. But great enough for you to over look it’s small problems. The only real gripe I have is the CG parts of the game. Not much work went into them at all. The should have stuck with in-game cut-scenes. Oh yeah I like that sun dress of Peach wears.
Sound
The music in Sunshine is fitting. Steel drums and other tropical sounds make up the bulk of the soundtrack; it’s very catchy stuff. The greatest audio treat, however, is the occasional retro track. Themes from the original Mario Brothers game, nicely remixed, pop up now and again. Even some classic sound effects have returned, such as the block bashing and pipe noises. The voice acting is a mixed bag. Mario’s classic noises have remained intact, and he talks more than before. The voice acting on the villain is quite good. Peach, however, sounds like a robotic Hooker. Fortunately, she doesn’t have many lines.
Gameplay
Even though the story sounds good for Super Mario Sunshine that’s not what’s going to wow gamers. It’s the fun, exploration, adventure, and action, platform gameplay that has always made us give hundereds of hours of our lives to Mario every time a new game is released in the series. Nintendo seems to have redone a lot of the gameplay, and it’s looking a lot like: “Mario 64’s Properly Evolved Version” that Shigeru Miyamoto always calls it. But as much as he say’s it’s not. I here to tell you this game is just as much "Revolution" as it is "Evolution". And if your going to travel across Se Life villages, Volcano’s, Snowy Mountains, Green valleys, and best of all Beaches. Mario Sunshine is definitely one this years best games.
For those of you who enjoyed Mario 64, much of the same feeling seeps through in Mario Sunshine. All of the classic moves are here. Jumping, double and triple jumping and the classic butt-stomp are all just a button press away. The biggest noticeable change has to be the unique combat system. The days of punching and pulling a Mike Tyson are over for Mario. While this may come as a shock to many, I was on edge to see what Miyamoto would pull out of his back of tricks. If you have seen any coverage of the game, you notice an odd looking backpack-thing. This is in fact a water-cannon device that is not only used as a weapon but your primary means of exploration. By simply squeezing the right trigger, you can propel a blast of water that whacks your enemy. Standing still using the digital pad allows you to be a bit more precise (a la DK64). What I found so intriguing and what makes a Mario game a Mario game, are the alternative effects. Since the main goal of the game is to clean up the "sludge" and cover the slime producing holes; the water cannon is your primary means to clean the town. However, randomly spraying water will dynamically change the environment. Spraying an open field and seemingly a dead end; will produce a budding plant that turns into a tree. Foliage grows, and you can use these plants and trees as a means to explore and find new levels as well as new heights. By pointing the nozzle downward you can propel skyward. Your water is limited, however, but can easily be refilled by simply finding a water source and jumping in... You’ll quickly discover that this tool is the bread-and-butter of Sunshine Mario, and is incredibly fun to experiment with. Even after 30+ hours of play, I still find new uses for it. As much fun as the H20-blow is don’t forget about Mario’s rolly belly. He can slip and slide with the best of them, and many new areas can only be found by doing so...
As with all previous Mario games, I expected to hop around and platform in 3D. I also expected to gather coins, find secret levels and meet old characters. All of my expectations were, for the most part, met and in some aspects, exceeded. Things like collecting coins are still here, and the "SHINE" is the Mario 64 equivalent of a "STAR". You can acquire "shine" by collecting coins, defeating bosses or finding them hidden deep within the levels. When it comes down to it, Mario Sunshine is the first real platformer for the next generation. It is a genre that is totally hit or miss, and Sunshine hits the mark full blast. While I compared Sunshine with 64 a good bit, the differences weren’t too grand. In fact, the overall feeling I got with 64 was similar to Sunshine. Now, this isn’t a bad thing; but I was expecting a bit more of a dramatic change...
One of my concerns about Sunshine Mario was going to be the overall physics and gameplay. I was surprised to never once find myself stuck in a corner, being pummeled to death because of bad camera angles. This is by far the greatest achievement the game has made. In the 3D world, cameras can really plague a good game making it simply unplayable. Most will find the camera angles to be natural, unique and ever changing. The "64" line of games (Mario and Donkey Kong) had serious issues with camera control, but that is a thing of the past. Even with ever-changing angles, I felt totally in control. Speaking of control, the physics are top notch and Mario is quite responsive to the Gamecubes superior controller. Since you are basically limited in your choice of weaponry/tools, getting to know the water cannon is mandatory. You’ll soon warm up to the controls, and controlling Mario has never been easier. This isn’t to say the game itself is easy, because it’s not. Sure the first level or two are designed to break you in (and satisfy young gamers), the game quickly unfolds making it more of an adventure like Zelda; rather than strictly a platformer. This should appease a wide range of players, and I have to admit "solving" new levels were extremely rewarding and very satisfying.
To keep the traditional aspects of Mario touching a new generation of gamers, Nintendo treats us with familiar faces and familiar experiences. The whole gang is back, and expect a few "cameos" scattered throughout the game. Even the touted "Yoshi" is back but to me becomes more of a "Jar-Jar Binks" rather than a trusty companion. His only real "talent" is to remove special graffiti that only the juice he spits can remove it. I would have opted for a bottle of Orange Glow, but the whole Yoshi experience is just that... an experience. But after an hour or so of play, you will quickly decide that the game feels like cold sheets on a warm night. The experience is refreshing, exciting and sports classic fun. It’s good to see that gameplay can still make a game successful.
My second biggest concern was the longevity of the game. Again, I have to admit that I went into the game a bit too confident. Big gamer like myself? Hah! This little plumber doesn’t stand a chance against me! I was quickly put in my place, and felt waves of angst flow from the screen to my face. At times the game was ungodly difficult and challenging, but yet perfectly balanced. High kudos for the balancing act, because nothing can make a game plummet for it to be too hard. Retrospectively, if it were too easy we would have another Luigi’s Mansion on our hands. Well, completing Mario was quite rewarding and the second time through only took me a mere 18-hours. The first time I wanted to experience it for all it had, and it took me double that. Do I still find the game fun? Are you kidding? The games replay is unbelievable. There are so many secrets and new possibilities that really make the game limitless. Little things like the water cannon make it so enjoyable. Climbing on a leaf in the water and then shooting backwards, transforms the leaf into a makeshift powerboat. Holding onto wires and shooting will propel you like a jet plane. I think most gamers will find Sunshine Mario to be hands-down better than 64 in every way imaginable. While the game isn’t perfect, I felt that Nintendo published nearly a flawless victory.
Conclusion
Mario has once again proved to us all he will never just sell off his name. Mario has continued to live his life on excellence of gameplay. And that’s were it counts. And oh yes the Everyone ESRB rating is well fitting for Mario. The even the youngest kiddies out there can run around look at the colors and have the time of there lives. While older experinced gamers will have the time of their lives collecting Shines and completing the game. That my friends is something only the Big N can do. Besides Sports games. Nintendo are the only software developers that make a game that reaches out to people of all ages. And gives them all equal enjoyment. Plain and Simple Maro, Miyamoto, & the talented staff at EAD. Has done it again. The only big problem I had with the game was the fact that the US version only says Shine instead of Shine Get like the Japanese version. So I leave you with this.
~SHINE GET BABY~
Video(s)
Super Mario Sunshie Trailer
