Shades on! Mario's debut on Cube is a historic blinder. Better than Mario 64? You betcha!
Yanking tentacles off giant land-dwelling squids is not unusual. Nor is riding a gargling pet dinosaur, with the ability to squirt juice at fish and transform them into solid moving platforms. But ordinary events in the world of Mario Sunshine are extraordinary, mind-blowing and limitlessly entertaining in ours. So shrug off all your ideas about what's 'normal', and set your mind free. Mario on GC will draw you into a paradise of fantastical surprises and constant flashes of pure genius. W'hoo!
To describe this game as utterly sensational is like saying Shigeru Miyamoto is just a programmer. Your eyes will pulsate with pleasure and your heart will melt with joy as you explore Mario's colossal universe. But beneath this happy glowing exterior lie rock-solid challenges and hardcore gameplay of the highest calibre.
This is an adventure so addictive that you'll be forgiven for believing that Nintendo has built a mini tractor-beam into the disc. Prepare to have your sleep patterns disrupted, and stock up on provisions, because once Mario Sunshine is locked and loaded in your Cube, it's not leaving, and neither are you. Simply put, this is the best platform game. Ever.
Step into the ultimate playground. When you're faced with a challenge or puzzle, you can be assured that the correct way to overcome it is also the most fun solution. And it's this devotion to pure concentrated fun that makes Mario Sunshine's gameplay so astonishing and rewarding. It's a mammoth sugar-coated slice of gaming genius that will provide you with some of the happiest hours you'll ever spend in front of your telly.
Michael Cooper
// Overview
Verdict
Gawd knows how Nintendo keep on reinventing the wheel, but we're not kidding when we say they've done it again. Every moment of Mario Sunshine is a playful ounce of magic that sets your imagination on fire and makes your gaming mojo bubble up like an erupting volcano.
Hi i am a huge gamer and i seen your review for Super Mario Sunshine getting a maximum 10/10,i know most Mario games are good but to give it 10/10 when you only give a magnificent game like Resident Evil 4 only 9.7/10 is ludicrous,Resident Evil 4 is the best game on the gamecube and if a game deserves 10/10 that game most certainly does not Mario Sunshine.
An evil imposter posing as Mario has been leaving icky paint-like goo all over the place. And everyone's favourite hairy-lipped hero has been framed for the crime and forced to clear it up. But there's far more to Mario Sunshine than just spraying away gunk. You're forced to employ a catalogue of different skills in order to earn Shines. It's not just a case of squirting water at stuff. No sir.
Every scenario you find yourself in boasts its own unique and bizarre twist. And this is what makes Mario Sunshine so addictive and charming. No matter how tough the challenge, you can't help coming back for more, like a moth to a flame. The thrill of finding out what strange and magical event comes next is just too great to resist.
Somehow you've got to overpower this gargantuan locomotive-like caterpillar. Watch out, here comes the choo-choo!
This ugly underwater beastie thing has got nasty crap smeared all over his pearly whites. Blast 'em clean for a shiny reward
Massive lava-spreading beasts are running wild and crazy in Monte Village. There's only one man for the job, of course...
Squid surfing: these useful little squishy fellas move like greased lightning, so hold onto your hat, you're going places!
Every time you spray this giant electric stingray it splits into smaller stingrays. Like a weird version of Asteroids
The Piranha Plants are back, thank the Lord. And they're mad as ever. But they don't like it up 'em. At all. So get squirting
It's impossible to predict the surprises in store. Who would've imagined that purple Yoshis have the ability to turn fish into solid platforms?
// SQUIRT THE DIRT
The standard squirt function is ideal for cleaning up gloop and eradicating certain enemies. It can be used to inflate and fire off funny little floaty pig-like creatures. You can also use it to propel boats and other floating objects. Improvisation's where it's at.
Take aim and shoot water with the accuracy of a sniper
Turn this leaf into a makeshift vehicle
"I'm-a innocent, guv!" Spray away the grime to pay for your crime
// WHAT'S THE STORY WITH YOSHI?
Yes! Clap your hands and squeal with happiness. Riding Yoshi in Super Mario Sunshine is so much fun it almost hurts. But what you might not be expecting is the fact that Yoshi is seriously high maintenance.
First off, when you find him he's in an egg and dreaming of a specific piece of food. So you've got to hunt for whatever it is he wants and take it to him. And once hatched, the greedy bugger needs frequent feeding in order to keep his Juice gauge topped up. If this empties, he'll evaporate into thin air. But caring for your Yoshi is hardly unfair, because fuelling him with different fruit will reward your cutesy steed with some pretty stunning abilities. Enjoy.
Even before he's hatched, Yoshi is absolutely ravenous
Yoshi's a real hit with the ladies. Wonder why?
// without a net
Insane retro-style challenges are scattered throughout your quest. When warped into these mad old-skool dimensions, raw platform gaming excellence is the only thing to save you.
With no FLUDD backpack and no safety net, these stages are easily some of the toughest and most intimidating platforming set pieces in history. But this is what's so brilliant about Mario Sunshine. Your gaming mettle is tested to its absolute limits. You'll sweat bullets with tension, but conquer one of these scary levels and you feel like a king. You da man.
You will feel spookily naked and intimidated without your trusty FLUDD backpack
These huge blocks rotate. Make sure you stay on top or you'll slide off into oblivion
If you make it this far, wall-jump your way up to a vital 1-up
A set of giant rolling cogs are your next obstacle. Don't put a foot wrong
Things start getting insanely difficult. Keep cool, and remember you can do it
Hop around like a madman, and run like the wind to keep on top of the blocks
Ah. At last, the final leap to safety. As well as being rewarded for your stirling efforts with a Shine, you'll feel like a true gaming god for your troubles
// IT'S A BIG 'UN
The worlds in Mario Sunshine are enormous. But their sheer size isn't the most impressive thing. It's the beautifully intricate level design that really sucks you in and keeps you exploring. With so much to do and see in each world, you won't ever want to leave. In fact, we guarantee that you'll spend more than half your time just messing around.
All the worlds in Mario Sunshine are amazingly thick and alive with intense, buzzing activity
Get up on high, and you'll be able to assess everything that's going on and plan your next move
Make sure you investigate every inch of land, so you won't miss out on anything
Pinna Park: A theme park world rammed to the hilt with tons of crazy areas to explore
Ricco Harbor: first time you clap you eyes on this World you'll choke with excitement
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
