The Complex Beauty of Super Mario Sunshine
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 เม.ย. 2024
- Super Mario Sunshine is the greatest game ever made. Well, no it's not. But it is somehow both fairly criticized and completely underappreciated. What can you find in this beautiful game when you're willing to look past its (many) flaws?
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• Reviewer Brain | A Hel...
the next video's gonna be great! though i can never promise when it'll be out...
00:00 - Intro
02:06 - Part 1: The Heart of Isle Delfino
10:26 - Part 2: The Bad
20:00 - Part 3: Mario the Eco-Warrior
27:47 - Part 4: Trial by Vibes
30:12 - Outro
Super Mario Sunshine Video Essay
Super Mario Sunshine Analysis
Super Mario Sunshine Retrospective
#supermariosunshine
#videoessay
#analysis - เกม
How dare you call the Toads' voice acting anything less than an artistic masterpiece.
Fereal lmao 😂😂
yeah, i honestly dont get how it could be better
😅 I uhhh....
Tbh this is when this whole videos lost credibility for me 😂
@@nikolasincorporated must of never played the game then.
Something I love about sunshine that captures the progression aspect is how every time you get a shine, delfino plaza gets brighter, with the circle of light around the center expanding every time. A small detail, but it's just something really nice about the game and its presentation
Super Mario Sunshine is the only Mario game I remember playing that made me feel like the setting actually mattered. It felt like a place where people lived, and stories unfolded for Mario to get involved in. That connects to me on a deeper level than any random assortment of worlds/levels, regardless of the gameplay.
This is why, to this day, I continue to tell others that Mario Sunshine is my favorite Mario game. Not even Odyssey, as great a game as it is, could compare.
This, this is why i like this game more than most other mario games.
Because despite the fact Mario and Nintendo are the definition of “don’t fix it when it isn’t broke” it is still so hard to continue on in their games with the nearly same settings and feelings.
Its also why i like Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door mostly for its setting and characters because it’s different it feels different and it actually feels like there’s more to this world than Mushroom Kingdom.
Same for Luigi’s Mansion partially since its so different from other generic Haunted Mario levels filled only with Boos.
same, honestly, it's a perfect example of what Mario could be.
@@Jane-oz7pp the same setting? no diverse levels?
Galaxy has a setting that matters as well, which is space and the multiple galaxy Mario visits. It’s all connected together through the Observatory hub.
One of the coolest minor details about Sunshine is the fact you can see different levels off in the distance. Makes it all feel like they’re all actual places.
As a kid, the levels never felt linear. I think mainly for two reasons. One because it didn't force you to play each shine in a row. You could play one mission of one map and then go to any other map that was unlocked as you pleased, or you could even unlock shines in the plaza. And two because the progression of the story and the missions just felt so natural and because they were all located within the same map. So it just felt like these things were simply evolving as you played, rather than the game herding you from location to location like other more linear games do.
I just wish Nintendo would build characters, atmosphere, and general memorability like this game had. Odyssey was a huge, huge step in the right direction and I'm so thankful for that.
Is there some kind of consensus about saying that? odyssey is awful, it's a mess and environments are extremely ugly.
Odyssey became like Mario 64, you are obliged to say it was great even if it wasn't.
@@thecorruptversion I'm not sure there's a general consensus. I don't like it nearly as much as Sunshine or 64. But I'm so happy they made another sandbox-style game. I would agree on the visuals, they are not my thing. Too plasticy.
Disagree on 64, that in my mind is a masterwork.
Idk, Odyssey does not come close to recreating that magic feeling that Sunshine has. Nostalgia doesn't play a role for me, I played Odyssey before I played Sunshine (and 64). Imo Sunshine is by far the most magical of the three.
@@Damdaaa I mostly agree. I do think Sunshine is the best 3D Mario game. It's the most lived-in world, it has tons of NPCs with adaptive dialogue, so many scripted events that make the world feel more dynamic, gorgeous visuals that hold up well today, the best music in my opinion, super tight and satisfying controls, and the prettiest video game water I ever did see.
Interesting that you played Odyssey first and still rank Sunshine so much higher. For me, nostalgia is a significant factor so it's hard to tell where my nostalgia goggles end and my real opinion begins. Your opinion is unbiased, yet you still regard Sunshine the best. I think that says a lot about Sunshine's underrated quality. I hope I would feel the same way if I hadn't played Sunshine as a preteen.
@@ValseInstrumentalist Yeah obviously I can see Sunshine's flaws, the pachinko machine and Lily pad level (plus some others) are just objectively bad (not bad ideas just very poorly executed) but the entire atmosphere is just so real. It's like usually Mario goes on this adventure through whatever the fuck the mushroom kingdom and all of the other surrounding areas is, but in Sunshine he goes to a place that could literally be real. It makes it so much easier to "connect" with Mario, like he's a human too (is he??) idk, I really hope Nintendo makes something similar to Sunshine (or Sunshine 2, one can dream lol) but I honestly doubt it.
It absolutely DESTROYS me that it took so long for this extraordinary video essay to appear in my recommended. Brilliantly edited and written!!
Thank you :)
One thing that wasn't mentioned was how Isle Delfinos flooding was one of the most shocking things to come back to. And also a poignant reminder of rising see levels
where does the water come from if the sea level rises?
This was also the first Mario game I played. I had no idea that all the cool gameplay mechanics I kept finding, like falling through the pool behind the tower into the sewers, were glitches. This game made me very interested in exploring every last inch of the island to find more neat gameplay mechanics, and it's still one of my favorite games for that.
Yep, sometimes you found funny things. I will have to try out falling into the sewers. But one glitch I discovered, that I no longer know how to replicate was falling onto the "floor" underneath Pianta Village. So basically instead of falling to your death if you slide down the right mushroom under the world you just live. 😂 Then you can roam around there. Now, there is nothing there, but you can roam around nonetheless
I also love how you spend the whole game slowly reviving isle delfino to it’s former glory, experiencing pianta’s stories play out as you watch more and more light return to the isle, just to have it all flood right before corona mountain. If you continuously kept up with the piantas in the hub world throughout your gameplay and start to know each one, talking to them durning the flood feels like you’re genuinely experiencing this disaster alongside them. It’s not just random piantas standing on the roof tops, it’s market workers and native islanders you’ve gotten to know. I still remember instantly worrying about the pianta who was stuck on the island and didn’t know how to swim, frantically looking for him to make sure he was ok the first time I experienced the flood as a kid. It’s things like that that make me realize sunshine was so much more than a game to me. It felt like a real community with genuine inhabitants and I felt so immersed. I truly can’t think of many other games I can say had this type of emotional effect on me outside of super Mario sunshine :’)
12:00 as a kid I saw the ad for Super Mario Sunshine on TV and asked for a Nintendo 64. when I got SM64 i was so disappointed lol 1-2 years later we got Mario Sunshine and it was the happiest day of my life. I enjoyed SM 64, but Sunshine vibes are just different. my father and I enjoyed it much more
its kinda weird how the imperfect games are the ones we look back on fondly the most, huh?
The longer time goes on, the more I realize that we don't engage with video games on a level of trying to find objective perfection - Kirby Super Star came out in 1996 and is utterly flawless and for some reason we kept making games after that for some reason. Instead, I find what makes for a legendary game is how willing we are to look past its flaws because of the generosity and joy that its positives instill in us. And Mario Sunshine is, like, a primo quality example of that. After Odyssey came out, I was admittedly wondering to myself where I stood with Sunshine - its movement was wholly unique amongst the Mario pantheon, yet after Odyssey's jumping ended up being "that, but more, and with an even bigger city to bounce around in", I did start to wonder why I connected so much with Isle Delfino and regarded it fondly, rather than just letting it fall into antiquity. And yeah, nostalgia exists, but there was something more there that you really put wonderfully into words. That slow progression with and connection to the game world, seeing all these little stories unfold, repairing the island - that's a special feeling that's very unique to Sunshine, especially with how in-depth it goes. And relating that to the vacation theme, especially in an era where Nintendo seemed super conscious about the environment (hi Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire, Pikmin, Kirby 64's Shiver Star) is incredibly well done, kudos to you there. Looking forward to whatever you decide to discuss next, was a pleasure watching!
Thank you so much 😊 Im really happy other people who appreciate Sunshine are connecting with this video...I was honestly worried it would only make sense to me
"a legendary game is how willing we are to look past its flaws because of the generosity and joy that its positives instill in us." beautifully well said. I felt similarly... odyssey felt like a mishmash ... it was fun in a zany variety kind of way. Sunshine was stronger and deeper with its setting and theme definitely.
better having that long-ass hard to read note spoken instead of typed. Takes up the whole screen.
Like am i meant to be looking at game footage or squinting at a random page of words all the sudden?
Actually the only objectively perfect video game is Tetris.
Tetris literally achieved perfection of its concept from the very beginning. All arrangements of tetronimo were explored, the difficulty curve is consistent, the concept is universal,
It can not be expanded nor streamlined without ultimately tampering with the balance of perfection as a whole.
But everything else you said is true, a game with low lows often makes its high highs contrast and even shine more brightly.
@@sasaki999pro I feel like the t-spin removes objectivity. Depending on your preferences, the t-spin creating a stall now creates a divide into which version of Tetris would be "perfect" based on how much you think the stalling aspect adds or subtracts to it. Not to mention piece preview. "Tetris" may be perfect, but what version of Tetris IS perfect is now subjective to each player.
I don't comment very often, but I just love this video! For years I've heard a variety of takes on Super Mario Sunshine that I couldn't disagree with on a technical level, but there was always some aspect that didn't capture the *vibes* I feel for the game. This is easily the first time to memory that I've seen someone put just what I feel to words and I'm very glad to see that. Looking forward to future videos of yours!
Aw thank you :) Im glad I was able to capture the vibes
I remember watching kingK's vid years back and thinking some of the same things you mentioned here. I adore how this game develops the story for each of these levels, and I'm really glad someone was able to put it to words like this. Stellar vid dude, waiting for your channel to blow up!
I remember when I was young and played SMS, I had a fascination with some of the secret level backgrounds. Seeing how Sky ones were in a cloudy infinite expanse high high above the planet, or train tracks looping all around you which you could sometimes spy a little train drawing chugging along was just pleasant to take in.
I think Sunshine was the first time a game ever struck me with wonder when I first entered one of the secret stages. It was my first game beyond the N64 where I was used to confined spaces that didn't leave much to the imagination. The cloudy sea felt so incomprehensibly large and I spent a lot of time just staring at it as the serene music would play. I wished I could use the hover nozzle forever and explore beyond the clouds.
Even nowadays, knowing that the whole effect is a facade, a blue cone with cloud textures mapped on rotating cylinders that follow the player's camera, I still can't help but admire it on repeat playthroughs. It's still just such a pleasant place to be.
@@uglybad4 those memories were so formative for me
i love how peach sounds so shocked that she could be bowser jrs mom. like girl you would have been there
It really is a shame that Sunshine was a victim of being on the GameCube. It’s become the most mysterious mainline Mario game just because of what got cut from the final release and what little ideas remain on the disc.
This is what I remember the most of the game and what I love about it, people often overlook isle delfino as a whole character, a character that evolves among its habitants and most of all, it’s so cohesive in its settings (something that no other Mario game has ever achieved). That’s why I get the most involve on this game.
That's a really interesting take, eco-mario is definitely headcannon for me, it's such a cool interpretation
I mean I think it's pretty explicit, it doesn't have to be anyone's headcannon, the game is obviously about protecting the environment lol
Whild you are peotecting the environment, his "literary analysis" was really reaching. You don't engage with damage from tourism and invasive species but you fight an evil antagonist and his monsters whom he is using to get his objective. He also mentioned that two characters are boyfriends (in his headcanon), which certainly isn't the case as Nintendo is so family friendly that they don't even explicitly turn Mario and Princess Peach into a couple. Plus it somewhat annoys me that affectionate friendships are so often perceived as romantic these days. That was a minor thing i wouldn't have mentioned without the reaching equation of bowser's minions with tourism.
@@nvrndingsmmrit’s obvious now that you’re an adult, but when I was a kid I never thought Sunshine was about the environment.
@VisualTraining Maybe I should just speak for myself, but I remember being a kid and pretty quickly understanding "This sludge is pollution! And it's hurting this beautiful place! It's important to clean up!"
Nintendo of America leaned pretty heavily into the cleaning the environment for its ads back in the day for this game. One looked like a psa about cleaning up litter. Also I think they gave stuff to schools to give to students for Earth Day.
Speaking from the perspective of someone who played all the main Mario games before playing Sunshine and therefore has no hint of nostalgia for the game, I must admit I was surprised by how much I liked it.
I completely agree with everything you're saying. It might sometimes sound like an overanalysis, but you can really feel that storytelling and world-building.
Galaxy and Sunshine are the Mario games that focus the most on the player's aesthetic experience, immersing us in a unique and interesting atmosphere, completely different between the two. And as much as I love Galaxy, I must admit that Sunshine's atmosphere is much better implemented.
Thanks for the amazing video!
Since water is not compressible, there is no way that the amount of water in the backpack is actually stored inside its container.
Thank you SO MUCH for discussing the actual themes of Mario Sunshine- you might be "reading too deeply" into a Mario game, I don't know, but as someone who grew up in a tourist trap beach town (and playing Sunshine as well...), your analysis really resonates with me.
As a kid, I remember the only field trip I ever went on was to the local hotel, where they showed us the kitchens and discussed how they handled things like laundry and cleaning. Sure, at the time it was a fun break from class and a free source of cookies, but as an adult, I can't help but feel that it was preparing an oversized class of kids at an underfunded elementary school for reality- that most of us would find our livelihoods serving the tourists visiting our community.
Our streets were littered with garbage, it was often unsafe to swim in our beautiful waters because of sewage, and I can't help but feel that I loved Super Mario Sunshine because of some form of catharsis.
I... I am so happy that someone made a video this complex and narratively engaging with regards to Sunshine. It's such a wonderfully made game and the positively WEIRD reception it got is probably why other Mario games are, with some exceptions, far more... normal, even though there are a lot of people who find it even more enjoyable than 64. This is such an astounding video and I am so happy I sat down and watched it!
I find Sunshine more enjoyable than 64.
Yeah but the tourism damage part was really reaching
Sunshine is still my favorite 3D Mario game
Finally, someone that actually appreciates this game. I didn’t connect all the dots here on my own, but I felt the vibes, and when you alluded to the tourism being the problem with the island my brain connected all the dots. You’re so right, though I’m curious how you missed the “Shadow Mario” aspect: Mario is a tourist too. He came here to exploit the island as much as the Bowser and Son did, and he fights his own shadow everywhere he goes before finally being welcomed into the communities he’s helping in their 8th shine levels. Something to think about
this was such a fantastic video essay, it's refreshing to hear someone talk about/analyze a piece of media they really love while acknowledging its flaws. This angle to mario sunshine makes SO much sense. I always found it deeply satisfying to see levels get clean and back to normal and to see the residents actually benefitting from that
This is by far the best Super Mario Sunshine review I’ve ever seen!
Like you, this was also my first Super Mario game and it has a very special place in my heart. But I’m still amazed by your narration of the whole story and how much attention to detail you’ve shown, it just made me love it even more.
Seeing other videos on this and knowing how much hate this game has received made me really sad that they were not appreciating the complexity of the storyline in almost a cinematographic way and I sincerely thank you for all the dedication you put into making this analysis. YOU ARE THE BEST ❤
Talking about the lack of long jump in Sunshine, there's actually a hidden mechanic where, if you input a b-dive just after performing a high turn flip, you can cover a huge leap with your jump. I called it Mario's Rocket. The thing is, when a game is so rich with different and organic mechanics, new ones start to emerge from the players sheer will to experiment and try new things. What a beautiful game Sunshine is!
Beautifully said! I live in Hawaii and am witnessing firsthand the destruction of ecosystems caused by rampant monetization and over tourism…maybe that’s why I loved this game so much as a kid and still love it to this day. I appreciate the content!
It makes me smile to see someone talk about Super Mario Sunshine in a positive light!
I can see how you'd come to the conclusion about the effects of tourism thing. It really does seem like that was the message they had in mind!
honestly my biggest gripe with the game is how the wrong subtle movements end up turning into wrong big movements. The number of times I’ve fallen off of secret levels because of a tiny wrong input
Sunshine might not be the best mario gameplay wise, but it is the most fun mario game to me.
The atmosphere, the music, the characters... Its not just random levels, its a connected world that feels alive and invites you to become a part of it. I love it!
You have no idea how much this video warmed my heart. Sunshine was also my first videogame and seeing someone talk about it with as much love as I hold for it while also still discussing it in such a nuanced way truly made my day
Beautiful video and great analysis! I really loved you digging into how the progression of the gameplay tells a story.
Thank you! I dig the celeste profile pic btw
This is a phenomenal video essay, can't wait to see what games you cover in the future!
loved this video! your analysis of the game's narrative as a commentary on tourism is brilliant, that's not really a persepctive i've heard before and your examples were on point. definitely looking forward to whatever you make next!
Thank you! Im gonna try and make a whole lot more of these :)
A double dash video would heal my soul 🤍 that and sunshine were also my introduction to video games as a whole! :)
Very inspiring and well-made review. I enjoyed the editing and everything else about it a lot!
"Mario has access to technology that makes him uniquely equipped to clean the pollution, more so than the actual victims, so it is still his responsibility to do what he can."
It's always so refreshing to encounter this mindset. So long as it's being applied respectfully. (The UK went through a fairly lengthy period where their colonial empire was justified by claiming that the people of those colonies could not rule themselves, and that Britain was uniquely capable of bringing them the benefits of civilization. Which...uhh...hence the need for respect to be included if you decide to take that sentence as a mission statement.)
i just discovered your channel from the pokemon black & white and b2w2 videos and i really love your work. your videos are emotionally honest, well thought out, and fair in a way i rarely see not just on youtube but in general. i hope you do much more, and find some measure of fultillment in doing so!
This video was absolutely incredibe. I never realized how much depth a game like Mario Sunshine could have. From a technical standpoint, the controls and physics of the game might not be the best, but if you look into it a little more the game has excellent storytelling that helps immerse the player in it's tropical setting. Most importantly, it sends a message, and I don't feel like every Mario game can say it does that so that just makes Sunshine even more unique. It makes me happy I can look at Sunshine with this perspective and appreciate it even more now so thanks. :)
Idk man I’ve never understood why people dislike it. It’s my favorite mainline mario game, easily.
Just mesmerizing work here. Loved every second of the video and how you turned typical readings of this game around in my mind. In recent years I have to say I was much more on the "Sunshine meh" train, but when I was younger it really was unlike anything I've ever played. I'm also just a humongous Bowser Jr. fan, so that probably helped more than anything lol. But yeah, fantastic stuff in this one and happy to see more charitable takes on games who's discourse gets muddied over years of analysis. Hope the rest of 2021 is great for you, Skye!
Really enjoyed this video :)
Super Mario sunshine will always have a place in my hearth even though most of my exposure to it was trough old let's plays ten years ago, the atmosphere and the world of the game are so enjoyable and full of life, so much so that cleaning them feels more an activity to enjoy than a chore
Yes! A lot of people get annoyed with having to use fludd but even without the story justifications the mechanic was always very satisfying to me
I will never forget the christmas of 2002 waking up with my mew gamecube, super mario sunshine (i wanted it more than anything) and star fox adventures, it was the best christmas of my life, im 27 now and that was a long time ago. My parents really made sure i had a great christmas.
I felt as though you were speaking on my behalf. I loved how the duds didn't take away from your enjoyment of the game because, at the end of the game, those didn't matter to the world and the fun you were having along with the main mission, helping the island. Not because you had to but because the game shows you that this is the right thing to do. Love the bio major, and how you bring that into this. Beautifully done. You've got a new subscriber! (LOL jk but yea actually)
This is the best Mario Sunshine retrospective/video essay I've seen. Hands down.
Mario Sunshine has always been my favorite 3D Mario game (with Odyssey coming really close), and it's mostly because of its organic and interconnected setting, atmosphere, and environmental storytelling. Yes, the game is easily the most technically flawed: It's extremely unpolished and glitchy for a Triple-A Nintendo game, it's full of padding, the inability to track blue coins makes 100%-ing the game a pain in the ass, and a good handful of the missions are just... not fun.
But it's something that I can easily overlook because I just get so immersed in the cohesive tropical setting. I love the creativity brought about by limiting the level environments to a tropical island setting. Sure, we don't get a snow world or desert world like we get in other Mario games, but we do get environments that we just never would have seen otherwise: a tranquil lakeside village, a bustling harbor, an amusement park, a cliffside bay, a haunted hotel on the beach at sunset, a mountain village.
It's amazing how much the devs were able to get out of limiting themselves to a tropical island setting, and it's something I would love to see in a future 3D Mario.
On another note, I love that you defended the Piantas. A popular thing to say about the natives is that they're all assholes, and yes, several of them are extremely rude. But most of them are just natives in a state of crisis. Their homeland and culture are literally being defaced by outsiders. Of course they're a little on edge.
Also, one more thing: Something that not many people really notice is how the same NPCs' dialogue often changes from episode to episode in most of the levels, signifying some sort of arc.
For example: In Ricco Harbor, in most of the episodes, you can talk to these two custodian Piantas on the deck of one of the ships just mopping, and when you talk to them in the first couple episodes, they'll tell you about how much they love mopping. But in the later episodes when you talk to them, they'll sort of have a meltdown and confess to Mario that they really hate their jobs and that the captain is making them mop as punishment for slacking off.
Or in Sirena Beach, if you go into the women's bathroom, you'll find a female Pianta who will at first be flabbergasted that you're in the women's bathroom, then politely tell you that the men's bathroom is on the other side. Then in later episodes, if you go in there again and talk to her, she simply says something like: "You came in here KNOWING it was the women's bathroom. Shame on you!"
Then in Episode 7 when all the hotel patrons are evacuated outside due to Shadow Mario, the woman will be out there as well and when you talk to her, she'll say: "Hey! Stay out of the women's bathroom!"
It's little details like that that really make me love the game.
I believe this is the first of your videos I've seen, but I'm already enthralled. Sunshine is a game that did a lot for me as a child, and even though it wasn't my very first Mario game, it was one that influenced me greatly over time. Seeing an analysis this deep and complex over a game this special to me is truly a unique little treat. Well done.
Just found your channel and I love it!!
SMS never really has anyone touch on just how integrated the culture and subtle world building is despite it being such a key factor in the game's narrative and world as a whole, and I think you touched on its nuances really effectively!
This is an absolutely amazing video. The editing and writing are so good. I really can't believe you don't have more Subscribers.
Super Mario Sunshine is one of my favorite games of all time and after watching this video, I can appreciate it even more.
You went into so much detail that it really made me think about things I've never even thought about before. Like the Gooper Blooper for example.
I never thought that it might be inside the shipping containers because Bowser is importing them. That's a really good theory.
Hoping more people will find your channel because your videos are top-notch. Looking forward to future uploads. Amazing work.
Aw thank you so much :) I'm gonna try to make a whole lot more of these! Keep an eye out
This game was my childhood, thank you so much for putting into words why it means so much to me. The story of Sunshine is all within the land and its residents and it's super cool to see all of the NPCs evolve episode after episode. No one really talks about that! I feel seen.
Thank you for this video! I crave videos that analyze games with this depth
Glad you enjoyed :) There will be a lot more where that came from!
Lovely personal essay and analysis! Great work! :D I recognize Sunshine's flaws will still finding a lot to enjoy -
the water and paint effects/cleaning are wonderful, and I will never tire of spraying water ahead and diving into to slide!
Odysee is fantabulous (and more recently, Bowser's Fury proved a real treat) but Galaxy remains my fav.
It just exudes exuberance and boundless creative energy, and when the music kicks in it makes my soul soar.
Man these videos are so well thought out and high quality, can’t believe I haven’t come across this channel before. Mario Sunshine is an absolute classic imo and will always have a special place in my heart, glad to see it getting the love it deserves 💚
*Thank you so much to my $5 Patreon supporters Sleepteiner and Stuke!!! I apologize for forgetting to make the credits :(*
What do you think of my interpretation of Super Mario Sunshine? Is it even something that should be interpreted? Did I miss anything that would influence my argument? If you want early access to my videos as well as the ability to vote on future subjects, consider joining my Patreon www.patreon.com/skyehoppers ! I'm aiming to build a community of like-minded people discussing and analyzing media without the pressure that an academic setting creates. Here are some little discussion questions for things that didn't make it into the script!
1. What do you think of Il Piantissimo? Is he really just an afterthought or does he too contribute to the themes of the game?
2. Is there anything interesting to be learned from analyzing the core plot of the game? (The Peach and Bowser Jr. stuff) I sure couldn't think of anything.
3. I didn't talk much about Pianta Village, and it was the level whose problems have the least obvious connection with Shadow Mario. Is it meaningful that the issues you solve in Pianta Village seem to be, at least on the surface, coming from the village itself?
With regards to Pianta Village, it is ultimately the cultural center of Isle Delfino. While Noki Bay has similar cultural significance, it still has plenty of grand beauty and spectacle that tourists would be likely to flock to. Pianta Village is the most secluded, isolated part of Isle Delfino, which is emphasized the fact that it only has a singular entrance in the form of a narrow, rickety bridge. With tourists having relatively little reason to come there, it makes sense that it would be by far the least impacted by the negative effects of tourism that the game demonstrates. To the outside world, it's a normal, unremarkable community of natives. Thus it is relatively unperturbed by outside events.
Hey! I know I’m a year late here, but I just wanted to say that I think I’ve watched just about every review and retrospective available for Mario Sunshine at this point, and I think that this is one of the best. I love your commentary around storytelling and the overall game atmosphere. As you said, it’s easy to get caught up with the mechanics and miss the game’s golden heart. Great video, thanks for making this!
It's funny how Nintendo went directly from making a world full of life in Sunshine to one that explores the melancholy of loneliness in Galaxy
This video was amazing. Rediscovering the joy of Sunshine and why I loved it so much
Excited to watch this when I get off of school :D
This was such an incredible video, I loved your analysis of the story and the message behind it and your passion was so lovely to hear! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts ❤
As a huge fan of Sunshine (it is also my favorite of the mainline Marios) this video was a super fun watch. I think out of the handful we've recieved over the last couple decades, Sunshine is the most unique which naturally creates these polarizing opinions.
And as a huge fan of King K, it's been a pleasure watching your Reconstructed videos. You've got a wonderful voice for this sort of thing, and the script/reading is paced very relaxed. Thanks for all the effort you've put forward! :)
I love your analysis, these videos are so well put together
I was too dumb to pick up on the hint of how to get into Noki Bay when I first played this game. I must have had at least two hundred hours of running around before I figured it out. One day, on a whim, I just happened to look up into that bright ray of light. Getting teleported to a whole new area I never knew existed is still to this day one of the most magic experiences I've had playing games.
Very impressive and pleasing writing and editing! Congrats and thank you! 😊 I will also always vibe with Sunshine 😌
I have a similar history with Mario Sunshine being one of my earliest video game experiences with the small caveat of playing Super Mario World first .. that leap in visual fidelity blew my mind as a kid and Noki bay always filled me with this overwhelming sense of wonder and awe
great video!
i was recommended this by someone, and wow i’m glad. while i never beat sunshine as a kid, the way you speak about it i wish i had. your love of the game is so clear by how you speak about it. i never thought about the ecosystem approach to it, it’s coop !! the themes are surprisingly tight for a mario game.
your editing style is sharp too, definitely earned yourself a sub and a watch of your other videos. keep up the good work!
Good analysis! Sunshine still has striking moments so many years later, especially the Sand Bird. I like the interpretation of preserving Defino from tourism, it's also a very timely message. Thanks for the video!
this game has gotten me though so much and will forever be one held so closely to my heart.
ive always had a weird fondness for sunshine, i watched a lets play of it as a kid, and later bought it on a flea market and almost completed it on my wii. i really loved this video. its about time for me to replay the game, i think.
I really hope your channel explodes in popularity, you do an amazing job. And you reminded me of one of my all time favourite game ever, thank you !
Excellent videos, looking forward to watch more of them!
It’s a good concept that wasn’t executed perfectly. You can see bits and pieces of when it’s great and the same for the bad. I think it’s kinda cool to have 1 Mario game that has people mostly split
You. You get it. THANK YOU for encapsulating the underlying genius of this game and what I believe so beautifully sets it apart from all the rest of the series! I love the progressive nature of the episodes and how they gradually evolve the world and its stories therein. Plus, who doesn't love the feeling of escaping to a tropical getaway with such memorable races and vibrant colors? I personally advocate for Sunshine every chance I get - and I hope future Mario games learn from the golden nuggets hidden within its shortcomings.
P.S. I am here for this enemies-to-lovers Pianta agenda
Sunshine was one of my favorites as a kid because of the tropical atmosphere.
I’ve always had an aversion to fall and winter as a kid, I never enjoyed the cold air and colorless landscapes during winter and fall was a really bad time for my asthma back then.
That and some of the moves in this game like the spin jump and side jump have some of the best game feel in all of 3D Mario
Great video! I never looked too far into this game. I'm starting to question everything now.
Sunshine is my favorite of the 3d titles and you did a great job exploring facets that are missed by so many players. Well done! You’ve earned my sub. ❤️
I always loved it. My classmates were going on actual vacations in the mediterranean, i would spend my summers with Mario Sunshine.
thanks for laying out why I love this game, I've played it at least once a year since it came out and will continue to do so :)
Great video. I saw the "shout out" to this video on Adam Millard's channel. Happy to subscribe to your channel! Keep up the great work.
Thanks for making this vid. Sunshine is my favorite game and I’m glad to see people revealing new layers.
I really think story matters in games, a good motivated, well acted/written story will engage the player and get them to buy in. Often gettkng us to overlook flaws, because we're into whats going on. I think alot of modern games overlook that now-a-days.
I definitly like how the secret levels are like going into a mystery dimension,
it could be made better yes, at least they went forward with it and made them as separated as possible
They are there so we get that pacing of 2 games in one, we get the cohesive world design but also the arcady mario platforming fun
This is such a wonderful, thoughtful, and sweet analysis of a classic. I haven't played this game since I was a little child without a whole lot of media comprehension, but within a few minutes of listening to this essay, all the points you were trying to make began clicking into place. Incredible execution. You can really feel the abundance of love that went into this.
I agree. They're boyfriends.
I grew up with 64... but Sunshine will always be "my" Mario game. I'm glad to see that many other people deeply connected with it, despite its reputation
I agree, the vibes are on point.
I love watching your video about Super Mario Sunshine!
0:57 Is no one gonna talk about that goofy shine sprite transition he did to hide yoshi’s death, lmaooo.
Wow, what an impressive video essay! I thought your points were all very well researched, laid out, and reasoned, but without wiping any part of the video clean of your own personal feelings and memories regarding the game. Probably the fairest retrospective of this game I've seen. Fun side note: Sunshine is the first Mario game I've learned speedrun short cuts and sequence breaks for just so I didn't have to play some levels the intended way. That in and of itself is a pretty neat feature, though.
Super Mario Sunshine was also my first game. We had to live with my grandparents after our house became overrun by mold, and my Uncle gave me his gamecube thag has Sunshine and Double Dash. I pourd my life and soul into sunshine. Its very special to me in particular because of my dad. I was probably 5 or 6 (so obviously bad at games) and so when i was stuck my dad would come walk me through it or beat it for me. Those were some of the best memories I had with him. As i got older our relationship crumbled, and in 2018 he passed. But as bad as our relationship got, i can still look back at Sunshine and the memories we made playing that game so fondly. Its such a special beautiful game
very very nice video, i've been wanting someone to make a video about sms for quite a while, without saying "sunshine bad, 64 good" and leaving it at that. i commend you for actually finding a deeper meaning in this seemingly random game. fantastic work, great editing, and you have a good voice too :) hope your channel pops off
Glad i saw this video, never really played the game in the right order so i never really saw it's story as a whole. This makes me love Sunshine even more, if it's possible, it's gameplay, vibes, music are all superb and always fun to come back to.
I like the "bad" levels. The throwing thing is weird and out of nowhere but it is fun to do and fun to fuck up just because it's absurd. It's mario so it isn't really hard enough to be an issue. The variety is nice regardless if it doesn't land.
As a big Sunshine fan, there were points that I didn't even consider (like King Boo's gambling ring thing, and the invasive species point), but it did open my eyes more in making the world of Sunshine even more immersive than it already was.
So many people miss out on all this because I don't think they really bother talking to other characters to get the picture of whats actually going on and why you're doing what you're doing. The random Pianta's and Noki's are also all very entertaining to talk to, some of they say can be very quirky lol
Great video its always nice to see others opinions on the game, I remember playing it for the very first time as a child in the play area at McDonalds then having my mother surprise me later that same day with the game, it will always be a game I go back to as a comfort game, I'm glad sunshine is getting more recognition nowadays.
I used to think the courtroom cutscene was the worst cutscene I've seen in my entire life. Then I realized that Japanese court probably works in a similar manner, and appreciated their attention to detail
This is the first video of yours I've found and can't wait to watch all the rest, I've always liked Sunshine I think because I never had that SM64 comparison. The vibes of 64 always felt off to me whereas sunshine just felt like diving into a sunny new world 🌞
every video you make is just so good man, keep it up
lovely video. way more people should look more into the game’s messages it tells through the gameplay. i love this game with almost all my heart.
Absolutely wonderful video. I too have a deep connection to Sunshine despite its issues and even from the very beginning of this look back I knew I was in for a treat. Thank you
I never played any Mario games but watch lots of videos about them. Sunshine has always stood out for its setting to me. Even ignoring its storyline, having a concrete setting that gets constantly reinforced gives the game so much more life.
Also, the resurgence of respect for Sunshine is likely also due to Odyssey. People who criticized it for changing Mario's moveset are now aware that this is something that can work really, really well, and returning to Sunshine with that. It's no longer an annoying divergence from form, so they can appreciate it without the surface-level frustration that comes with mechanical change.
op im in love with you. i cannot tell you how much ive loved this game my entire life and im so glad others love it as much or even more than i do. thank you