Super Mario Sunshine!

[Stalkid64]

(Note: This really does belong on this forum, as topic may vary too much for it to belong in the obscure `Gaming`forum... it also gets a bigger discussion going.)

Well, two very long nights and countless daytime hours later I have to say... THIS is the kind of thing I bought a GameCube for. Superbly addictive gameplay all wrapped up in beautiful visuals and audio that stand out from the crowd.
For anyone who, like me, was expecting what would essentially be Mario 64 with bells and whistles and not a lot more (not a bad thing as such), be prepared for quite a shock.
Mostly because oh damn is this game bloody hard at times. Not in the bad, frustrating "oh look, I'm dead again because I didn't know that was going to happen. Now I'll have to play for half an hour just to get back there" way of Resident Evil, but simply because it seems to require a lot more skill than anything has done for years. I'm sure people will agree that at points Mario Sunshine becomes and redefines the meaning of `hardcore` for modern platform gaming. And quite where some of the more bizarre and surreal parts of the game come from... well, let's just wonder what exactly Miyamoto-san grows in his garden. Watermelon festival? Abstract `crayon-drawn 2D` animated skyboxes (2D Trains and planes...)? Squid racer?
Post your favourite or even least favourite (if that's even possible) things from the game here... now! Try not to be too spoiler-ish though, k?
Me, I'm sticking with the water as standout feature right now... Ocean + turbo nozzle = jaw-drop.
Also, new for discussion - Is The Legend of Zelda actually running on the same engine as Mario Sunshine..? Just look at the palm trees in particular and generally clear, sharp but simple visuals. Remember (for anyone who hasn't seen this months NGC Magazine)... Zelda IS NOT actually cel-shaded. The cel-shading technique technically refers in part to the JSR/JGR method of `black outlines around characters etc.`Which Zelda has none of. In fact, aside from the water and the higher-than-usual standard animation, if you watch the videos closely you see it's more like a normal 3D game with exceptionally crafted models and simpler textures.
And in fact, looks a huge deal like Mario Sunshine. Mario 64 and Zelda:TOoT shared their game engines too... it would make sense to lower development times if they used the Mario Sunshine engine as well. Anyone who has seen the sunflowers outside Pinna Park will understand where the debate on this came from, as well as why the technique used in the cut scenes may be giving something away.

[blizz]

(note there already is a thread in the gaming forum)

having said that I like the old school levels without the water pack

[Doomulation]

Wtf, both games look too childish, imo

[yogaman]

I though GCN was designed to target the "younger" people aka children

[Reznor007]

If everyone remembers right, all the previous Mario and Zelda games(with the exception on OOT/MM) have been rather cartoony looking.

And Super Mario Sunshine kicks ass. If anyone doesn't like it, then there must be something wrong with them.

[Johnny_Rico]

That's a very good review, Stalkid64!

[yogaman]

well, erm as far as I can remember a review on tv, mario has to clean an island and to rescue the princess from a phony. IMO the graphics look really nice but I don't see that big change from Mario64 ....
Also Luigis Manson is more of a ghostbuster sequel....

[Stalkid64]

Originally posted by yogaman
I though GCN was designed to target the "younger" people aka children

No no NO! The N G C was designed to target everyone, as was said many many times. Particularly those who like a bit more quality in their games.
Incidentally I'd be amazed if any child could finish even half of the levels in Sunshine... and there is a fairly huge change from Mario 64 as it happens. Possibly just in the way the tasks are structured but it doesn't feel quite like Mario 64... someone please back me up here.
(Well put Reznor007 btw. People seem to be forgetting that a lot.)
Though the more I see the more I'm sure there's a good chunk of modified Sunshine engine gone into Zelda... it sometimes just hits you when you're playing certain sections. The entry area of Pinna Park with the palm trees and sunflowers just looks so much like it could've come from the new Zelda. Heck, if I get my Zelda demo disc in time I'll throw some more on that subject into my eventual review.
Also, Luigi's Mansion is a damn sight more fun than it gets credit for. The NGC's "Pilotwings 64" equivalent perhaps...

[RatTrap]

yeah.. i agree with you on that kids probably won't be able to finish all the lvls.. i mean them weird parts without the watergizmo get freaken hard!.. i've played alot of Mario games.. and never had so much trouble b4.. but at the same time.. my cousin was able to finish the first 3 "worlds"-lvls with the 2 first sunshines or something like that.. and he is a 8 year old.. so you could say it's playable for the litle kids.. and probably even finishable.. but if you wanna finish the whole game.. it's daaamn hard..

about zelda.. it is cell-shaded.. but you see.. in cell-shading there's like 50 billion diferent combinations.. it would be hard to really explain it all.. even normal rendering is a type of cell-shading.. the diference is just a thing you get to choose from.. like adding thicker outlines.. or no outlines.. or adding rendered outlines.. and maybe having only link 2-bit cell-shaded and the rest of the world 3 or even 5-bit cell shaded.. etc.. the posabilities are endless..

but yeah.. in zelda they have probably used part of or the same engine as in mario sunshine.. i'm not sure yet.. it's kind of hard to tell because in cellshading you lose alot of light&shadow.. and replace it with static colors (well not exactly but i'm simplifying abit).. wich can make even a picture of yourself unrecognisable to yourself.. of course though.. the feel might give it away in the end.. but how ever i or you see it.. cell-da is gonna rock ..

and yeah.. luigis mansio is really nice.. very limited to the amount of times you'll wanna finish it.. but it's a good game.. the originality is what i like about it.. and learning to use controls that way is kind of tricky in the beginning.. the game itself was hellarious.. luigis shicken-shit-ness was just almost too much fun sometimes..

[Reznor007]

Originally posted by yogaman
well, erm as far as I can remember a review on tv, mario has to clean an island and to rescue the princess from a phony. IMO the graphics look really nice but I don't see that big change from Mario64 ....
Also Luigis Manson is more of a ghostbuster sequel....

Just play the mission where you ride the roller coaster while Bullet Bills chase you and you have to shoot a giant Bowser robot. There's a big improvement from Mario64.