|
|
:: Super Mario Sunshine for GCN Review |
People who have no clue what this game is will tell you that it’s a horrible kiddy-game (based on the terrible commercial) and that you’re stupid if you play it. Actually, I found it to be just the opposite. Now grab your sunglasses, Mario’s going on vacation!
The game starts off with Mario, Peach, and Toadsworth (new character, whoo) all in an airplane headed for tropical Isle Delfino. When the plane lands, they see that the island is covered in a mucky paint-like substance. Mario finds a strange waterpumping device called FLUDD, invented by Professor E. Gadd (of Luigi’s Mansion fame), and cleans up a rather unsavory paint-covered Piranha Plant. Mario is feeling good about himself, after helping take care of this, but then gets put in jail for defacing the island. What? How could this be?! Mario soon finds out that it was done by an imposter, and Mario himself gets blamed for the mess. He ends up being sentenced to something close to community service- cleaning up the island.
The game’s graphics are very well-done. The characters are colorful, detailed, and move realistically. The paint-jobs are done with a cel-shaded look, and the lighting effects are superb. Many of the different characters have a very unique look (to the point where you can tell every Pianta and Noki apart), and the water effects are breathtaking, with a perfect blend of reflection and translucency. If Mario moves just a little bit in the water, it ripples a little bit. If he decides to fall into the water from high up, waves end up splashing against the shore. Maybe he feels like going underwater, and the camera stays above water. In that situation, the water waved distort Mario’s image realistically, while still reflecting the clouds and the cliffs.
The levels themselves have a very natural and realistic look to them, feeling more organic than the levels in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario World. You might see a large cliff jutting out of the water, with a blue coin nestled on top of it. In your mind, you think that it would be best to get the rocket nozzle and blast your way up there. But in real life, if you saw a cliff, you would expect an alternate route to the top besides straight up, and in Super Mario Sunshine, it’s the same way. There are so many different routes you can take to so many different areas, it’s amazing what you can do if you just sit down and think about different possibilities. Also, you’re likely to run into small hills, like you would in a real village. There is very rarely a land formation that seems to come out of nowhere, and because of this, it makes the game seem a lot more realistic and entertaining.
The game-play itself is just plain fun. The FLUDD’s different functions are easy to learn and use, and completing tasks is very entertaining. Sadly, the game is a bit easy, but despite this, it’s still a fun game that you want to play over and over again. After completing the main story, the real challenge begins, as Shine Sprites, the little collectable things, start becoming harder and harder to come across. (You end up having to search for Blue Coins, which is rather boring.) There’s also the “hidden” shines, which I have so far only come across one. Also, included in the game are “Secret of...” levels, where you go into a somewhat classic style of game-play.
The music to the game fits the island setting, with the main instruments used being the folk guitar, and steel drums. The sound to the game is sharp and clear, and it has voice acting. (The voice acting is overall excellent, having actual feeling and emotion.)
Overall, this game is a must-have for any Mario fans. I, myself, don’t like the particular style of these “collect whatever you can” games, but I think that this one is possibly the favorite of that genre. As for it being a Mario game, I still think Super Mario World is the best. However, as far as GameCube games go, I give this game a whopping 5 out of 5 eggs! This review wasn’t as entertaining as the others. I am very sorry. To make up for it, I shall do a magical disco dance of doom. *Begins jumping around and dancing, knocking Fan Art off of the walls*
|
| Reviewed by Shoshi Eggshell ::
|
|
