All of these little negatives for me just added up to create a game that was at times just not very fun to play. It was in no means a bad game, and its certainly possible to look past the flaws and have a good time with this game. I guess in some way I just expected a more polished product from Nintendo and from Mario games in general. Part of it has to with high expectations considering the legacy of the series. Sunshine was a victim of this legacy in a way.

While I liked that you could no longer punch and kick to kill enemies and now had to resort to other more Mario-typic methods (like stomping) to kill enemies, the rest of the game largely took annoying elements of Mario 64 and magnified them. There seemed to be fewer levels and a larger number of fetch quests designed to have you replay the same old levels over and over. While there were more platforming challenges than before, they seemed to merely tax the limitations of 3D controls rather than tax your skill and reflexes the way the 2D titles did. The enemies were of the same unchallenging decorative nature of Mario 64, and the levels still felt closed-in and constricted, centered on gimmicks.

All in all, the game was not really fun, interesting, or rewarding enough to be worth trudging through repeat plays of the levels scouring for stars/suns or navigating the frustrating puzzle/platform challenged.

But then, I didn’t really like Mario 64 either. It was a good first foray into the world of 3D, but ultimately, Nintendo will have to return the Mario series to a more linear, sprawling, challenging format, involving more survival and less fetch-questing, more floating block, bricks, powerups, and koopa-troopa stomping to regain my interest. Essentially, I want Super Mario Bros in full 3D, not some wacky, random Miyamoto gimmick presentation.

Thought it was a cracking game, and the plot was really good and engrossing I thought.

My only criticism of it was that the basic premise was too similar to SM64:

SM64 – collect 120 stars, allowing access to new levels
SMS: collect 120 Shines, allowing access to new levels

That aside, I think it’s a brilliant game and one of the best on the GC

The problem I had with the game was for a Nintendo game, it was very unpolished. It had way too many glitches, especially the ghost hotel part. That was just straight up bad. I just expected a Nintendo made game and espeically a true Mario game to be more polished.

I don’t think the game sucks by any means, but there’s no way I consider this one of the best games ever made, and I’m not even sure it’s in the Top 5 of best Mario games made.

one of my favorite games. took mario 64’s place in my heart, and them sum. Most of these silly complaints come from people who gave up on the game without giving it a chance to own their souls. it would be like walking out on “the 6th sense” 5 minutes before the end and writing a review about it.

can’t wait to get home and strap on my FLUDD in rocket mode…

I could just about cope with some of the difficulty but then they went ahead and made ultra-frustrating design choices where you go through a huge load of difficult platforming sections fluff one tiny jump then end up at the bottom, having to do it all again.

That was fine for short 2D Mario stages, but became mind-bendingly annoying with large 3D levels.

The article is great, makes you wanna pick it up again.

Unfortunately, Sunshine bores the shit out of me. Can’t tell why. But with Galaxy around the corner and this article I will give it another go.

The catchy tune will be stuck in my head the rest of the day. Thanks.