What were your thoughts on Super Mario Sunshine?

[ranger19]

As New Super Mario Bros. hits shelves, I started thinking back to the long list of previous Mario games. I believe I can say I've at least played every main Mario game that's been released in the US, that had Mario as the main playable character (so excluding the Yoshi's Island games). Moreover, in many of them I've gotten all the stars/coins/yoshi eggs/star coins/secret exits/yoshi coins to earn the 100% award.

That said, there's always been one game in the series I could never quite get myself into: Super Mario Sunshine. My first encounter with it was at a friend's house, and during the sleepover I remember playing a decent bit when I woke up in the morning while my friend slept. I eventually got it for myself when I got my own gamecube, but I could simply never quite get myself into the game.

Maybe it was my perfectionism cringing at all the goo I could never completely wash away, or maybe it was that the water gun mechanic simply didn't seem to fit in the Mario universe. I've tried several times to come back to it, but I just can't. What are your thoughts? Am I alone in this respect? I love all the other Mario games, and am looking forward to NSMBW and SMG2. Maybe people who don't like the more traditional Mario platformers enjoyed this one better? Let me know.

 

[Cowabungaa]

I loved it, a lot, a LOT. I used to spend hours just hopping and hovering around Delfino Plaza listening to that fantastic soundtrack. I loved the colourful island, it's my favourite Mario game ever. And I do like the other Mario games, but this one was just so delightfully colourful and refreshing (something you don't often get in a Mario game), it still makes me smile.

Also, SMS has the best incarnation of the Mario tune EVER:
I loved those special stages, so so so much.

 

[DrDeath3191]

I don't think it's as bad as everyone says. I personally enjoyed every moment of the game.

 

[Lukeje]

It was worth it just for the bits where FLUDD was taken off you; they were the hardest, yet most satisfying, sections.

 

[Malcheior Sveth]

I really liked the whole game. The camera was a bit finicky at times, but I thought it was a nice new idea for the Mario franchise. I don't really get why everyone hates it...

 

[Pimppeter2]

It was an amazingly great game. Colorful and brilliant

 

[zombie711]

I liked it. It was different but fun, except when they took away fludd

 

[MGlBlaze]

I don't get all the hate for this game, either. I really enjoyed it, I loved how colourful it was, there was a fair amount of variance in the things to be done, too.

Seriously, one minute you could be surfing on a Blooper, pushing around watermelons, or fighting a giant ghost-manta-ray that leaves a trail of electric goo and splits into smaller and smaller pieces as the fight continues. That's just a few, too.

Well, okay, some of the things you needed to do got seriousely annoying, but most of it was really well done.

A must-have for the gamecube.

 

[Suskie]

It's not as good as 64 or Galaxy but it still hands head and shoulders above most other 3D platformers. I don't really get all the hatred either -- especially towards the waterpack, which I felt really contributed to the platforming itself. Plus those little floating levels were awesome.

 

[LeonLethality]

it was amazing! very colourful, very fun and probably some of the best water graphics I had ever seen when it first came out... ahhh nostalgia

 

[XIII's Number XIV]

Very colorful, bright, and pleasing for the eye.

Although for controls...ugh, I never got used to them.

 

[tk1989]

I liked it. It was different but fun, except when they took away fludd

i personally thought it was best when they took away fludd.

I dunno, i enjoyed the game, but it was sunshine that made me realise that i had outgrown mario attributed to how easy the game was. I felt let down because i had strived so hard to finish Super Mario 64, it was challenging and i really felt like i had accomplished something when i finished it. I did not get that feeling with sunshine.

 

[mew4ever23]

Good game, but the Camera was rather finicky.

 

[Lieju]

I bought and played it when it came out, and while I liked it, not as much as other "real" Mario games I have played during the years. I didn't have that much problems with the water-squirt-thing, but some of the blue coins were freaking impossible to find without walkthroughs, there was less diversity in different stages than in Super Mario 64 or Mario Galaxy, and the final boss fight was too easy.

 

[Librarian Mike]

I really like Sunshine, but I've never been able to finish it. It's not 'real Mario 2' hard, but it's still tough.

What frustrates me regarding this game is people who rip on Nintendo for cannibalizing its franchises, but when they try something different, like this game, it gets trashed for not adhering to the 'Mario formula'.

 

[AlphaOmega]

It is HAPPY and I really really enjoy it to this day; the whole look and feel of the game is just nice.

 

[Rimefrost]

I loved Sunshine. I can't understand the bad reputation it gets, it is my favorite of the 3d Mario titles, and I did play 64 when it came out. I was not a fan of Galaxy all that much, it was not quite as fun as the others.

 

[mindclockwork]

it was pretty neat i admit, however whole mario thing starts to be bit... old. alot.

 

[Cuniculus]

Honestly, I thought it was a good game. Obviously didn't follow the entire Mario format to a T, but still good none the less.