# I hated hated hated Super Mario Sunshine

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [July 14, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923 "2009-07-14T01:06:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/1 "2009-07-14T01:06:03Z")

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I was going to start a thread about a marathon going that’s live on the net now for a charity of providing bedridden children with books and games. I wasn’t sure on the rules on the site regarding a site dedicated to that. If you look it up yourself it shouldn’t be difficult to find. Don’t take my word on it’s legitimacy, (though I’m pretty damn sure it is, as it’s been news on a lot of gaming sites), do the research if you want to donate.

It’s a Mario Marathon. If they reach a certain amount of cash, they get to, (or have to), play more Mario. I’ve been casually watching. I miss the side-scrolling days. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island IS a Mario game by the way… and they skipped it! I watched a good amount of Mario 64, and Galaxy. I was never a \*HUGE \*fan of Mario 64. I loved the game and got %100 when I first got it, but even then I couldn’t help but look past the inevitable leap in gaming it was, and just get annoyed at many areas. I mean… seriously, getting 100 coins on ALL the levels!?

Mario 64 was NOTHING compared to SMS. I’ve always gotten %100 in all the Mario games I’ve had. Even beat Galaxy with Luigi… it was my pleasure! Despite the previous 3D Mario’s, which are my least two favorite non-spin-off Mario games – Galaxy is on the very top. My least favorite, which I didn’t even bother BEATING with minimum completion is being played right now by the bunch. I’m reminded why I hated it. Weird camera limitations, frustrating water accessories that constantly need refilling, coin-collection to the MAX, all the backtracking, and to be honest… It’s actually kind of ugly.

Galaxy was the last game they were going to play unless they’ve reached a certain goal in donations… so now they have to play SMS, which one or a few claim to be their favorite. Anyone here play it? What did you think?

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**Author:** ![acetylene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@acetylene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/acetylene)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/2 "2009-07-14T01:30:05Z")

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Huh. SMS is the Mario game my boys and I have replayed the most. We still go back to it from time to time. Then again, we loved Wind Waker too, so I guess there’s no accounting for our taste!

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**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/3 "2009-07-14T01:39:06Z")

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Hey, I loved Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link and Wind Waker. I liked Super Mario Bros 2 (US) better than the first Super Mario Bros and Word, (not SMB3). Also Yoshi’s Island is my 2D Mario game of choice. To each their own! 🙂

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**Author:** ![Salix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@Salix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salix)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/4 "2009-07-14T02:38:03Z")

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I enjoyed Super Mario Sunshine, but it had a few annoying and tedious things to do. There’s one part where you’re asked to kick some big durian fruits across the city into a basket, and it’s hard to line up the kicks correctly and keep the durians from going in the water. Also, there’s the shine that requires you to take Yoshi across the sea on a series of boats, grabbing fruit all the way so Yoshi doesn’t run out of energy, and then when you finally get to the pipe that takes you to the bonus level, you have to carefully navigate a toxic river on a rapidly decaying leaf. If you run out of lives in the river area, you have to ride the boats all over again.

The most annoying thing of all, though, is that the game doesn’t keep track of which blue coins you’ve collected and which ones you haven’t, so it’s a real pain if you want to collect them all. I’ve gotten all the stars with both Mario and Luigi in Galaxy, but I still haven’t collected everything in Sunshine.

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**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/5 "2009-07-14T03:15:33Z")

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> [@Salix](#):
>
> Also, there’s the shine that requires you to take Yoshi across the sea on a series of boats, grabbing fruit all the way so Yoshi doesn’t run out of energy, and then when you finally get to the pipe that takes you to the bonus level, you have to carefully navigate a toxic river on a rapidly decaying leaf. If you run out of lives in the river area, you have to ride the boats all over again.

_Shivers_  
Yes, I THAT shine…!

Then you have to go fruit hunting all the time. It was such a ‘fetch-quest’ game. That, and the birth of Bowser Jr, which wouldn’t be a problem if it didn’t result in the near demise of Morton Koopa Jr. or any of the other Koopa Kids! :mad:

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**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/6 "2009-07-14T06:10:52Z")

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I liked Sunshine quite a bit.

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**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/7 "2009-07-14T06:25:59Z")

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Mario Sunshine is a bar-none, the worst Mario game in the main series. In fact, it’s a bad game, period. Marred by baffling control choices, a horrible camera (fucking ‘behind the ferris wheel’ bullshit), uninspired levels, boring objectives, the worst characters this side of a Rare game, and some of the most god-awful voice acting heard to mankind, the game is an insult to the Mario name.

But I’m thankful for its existence, as it seemed to serve as a sponge for all of Nintendo’s bad ideas, allowing Galaxy to flourish (which is one of this generation’s best games).

ETA: The game is to Mario 64 what 2010 was 2001: A Space Odyssey. An insult to its predecessor.

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**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/8 "2009-07-14T06:27:35Z")

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> [@MyFootsZZZ](#):
>
> I miss the side-scrolling days. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island IS a Mario game by the way… and they skipped it!

[annoying 12 year old]

Nuh uh! It’s not a Mario game because you don’t PLAY AS MARIO! Oh, and it sucks! So there!

[/annoying 12 year old]

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**Author:** ![VanillaGorilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@VanillaGorilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanillaGorilla)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/9 "2009-07-14T10:32:34Z")

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> [@Red\_Barchetta](#):
>
> Mario Sunshine is a bar-none, the worst Mario game in the main series. In fact, it’s a bad game, period. Marred by baffling control choices, a horrible camera (fucking ‘behind the ferris wheel’ bullshit), uninspired levels, boring objectives, the worst characters this side of a Rare game, and some of the most god-awful voice acting heard to mankind, the game is an insult to the Mario name.

Agreed. I didn’t even bother to finish the game. There was just no fun.

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**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/10 "2009-07-14T10:54:11Z")

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> [@MyFootsZZZ](#):
>
> I was going to start a thread about a marathon going that’s live on the net now for a charity of providing bedridden children with books and games. I wasn’t sure on the rules on the site regarding a site dedicated to that. If you look it up yourself it shouldn’t be difficult to find. Don’t take my word on it’s legitimacy, (though I’m pretty damn sure it is, as it’s been news on a lot of gaming sites), do the research if you want to donate.

Was it _Child’s Play_ by the guys from Penny Arcade perhaps?

> [@Red Barchetta](#):
>
> the worst characters this side of a Rare game,

What’s wrong with Rare?

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**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/11 "2009-07-14T11:00:11Z")

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> [@Jragon](#):
>
> Was it _Child’s Play_ by the guys from Penny Arcade perhaps?

Er, missed edit by a hair - I think the drive is over now, on accounts of I can’t find a feed or anything anymore, so I felt it safe to say it.

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**Author:** ![ReuvenB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/12 "2009-07-14T11:15:34Z")

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I don’t think SMS is the worst game ever, but it certainly might be the worst Mario game so far. I played it to completion, had a bit of fun, and then put it down and forgot about it. On the other hand, I still break out the SNES to play Yoshi’s Island. It’s really just an awesome game.

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**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/13 "2009-07-14T12:52:51Z")

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> [@Justin\_Bailey](#):
>
> [annoying 12 year old]
> 
> Nuh uh! It’s not a Mario game because you don’t PLAY AS MARIO! Oh, and it sucks! So there!
> 
> [/annoying 12 year old]

[annoying 12 year old]

Oh yeah!? Well… I have hair growing in places it hadn’t gown before!

[/annoying 12 year old]

> [@Jragon](#):
>
> Er, missed edit by a hair - I think the drive is over now, on accounts of I can’t find a feed or anything anymore, so I felt it safe to say it.

I think it’s still on… but they seem near the end.

**Red Barchetta** is right, I don’t even like it as a game, let alone a Mario game. Also right about the characters, those island inhabitants were just bland.

**XWalrus2** I would still be playing Yoshi’s Island as well but my game’s save battery ran out. I don’t make a habit of buying games I already have, but I wish that would be available on the Virtual Console… I could send the game in to Nintendo, but would rather save permanently. Galaxy is a game I will be playing for years too.

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**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/14 "2009-07-14T13:30:01Z")

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I thought Mario Sunshine was okay though I didn’t like the watergun mechanic. The best stuff by far were the strange bonus levels and it was a good thing that they essentially took those as their basis for Mario Galaxy.

Oh and anyone who argues that a game that goes by “Super Mario World 2” isn’t a Mario game is an idiot. Who cares if you drive Yoshi most of the time?

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**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/15 "2009-07-14T14:13:14Z")

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> [@Just\_Some\_Guy](#):
>
> Oh and anyone who argues that a game that goes by “Super Mario World 2” isn’t a Mario game is an idiot.

Oh SNAP! :eek:

What about the US version of **Super Mario Bros. 2** , originally Doki Doki Panic? Everyone complains about it being the black sheep of the Mario games, but I still think it’s canon. It was just a dream anyway. It gave us Shy Guys, Ninja’s, unique character abilities, and picking up and throwing items. I WISH we could see Wart come back in SOME form. After his sinister laugh at the end credits, (as if he was going to return), he has yet to reappear. Japan’s been exposed to the US SMB2 when All Stars came out, so it’s not as if it’s a big secret.

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**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/16 "2009-07-14T15:41:48Z")

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> [@MyFootsZZZ](#):
>
> Oh SNAP! :eek:
> 
> What about the US version of **Super Mario Bros. 2** , originally Doki Doki Panic? Everyone complains about it being the black sheep of the Mario games, but I still think it’s canon. It was just a dream anyway. It gave us Shy Guys, Ninja’s, unique character abilities, and picking up and throwing items. I WISH we could see Wart come back in SOME form. After his sinister laugh at the end credits, (as if he was going to return), he has yet to reappear. Japan’s been exposed to the US SMB2 when All Stars came out, so it’s not as if it’s a big secret.

It’s more “canon” than the JP Super Mario Bros 2 game, at least Miyamoto actually, you know, worked on Panic. Not to mention you can pretty much count it by default on account of about half of the iconic modern Mario villains coming from there.

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**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/17 "2009-07-14T16:05:52Z")

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> [@Just\_Some\_Guy](#):
>
> Oh and anyone who argues that a game that goes by “Super Mario World 2” isn’t a Mario game is an idiot. Who cares if you drive Yoshi most of the time?

Except it’s not “Super Mario World 2”, it’s Yoshi’s Island with the Super Mario World 2 tacked on the title for name recognition.

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**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/18 "2009-07-14T20:03:09Z")

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> [@Jragon](#):
>
> What’s wrong with Rare?

I love old-Rare (and even some of their new stuff), but a lot of people don’t care for their character designs. I actually don’t mind most of them, but that didn’t stop me from making the joke 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/19 "2009-07-14T20:05:57Z")

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> [@MyFootsZZZ](#):
>
> Oh SNAP! :eek:
> 
> What about the US version of **Super Mario Bros. 2** , originally Doki Doki Panic? Everyone complains about it being the black sheep of the Mario games, but I still think it’s canon. It was just a dream anyway. It gave us Shy Guys, Ninja’s, unique character abilities, and picking up and throwing items. I WISH we could see Wart come back in SOME form. After his sinister laugh at the end credits, (as if he was going to return), he has yet to reappear. Japan’s been exposed to the US SMB2 when All Stars came out, so it’s not as if it’s a big secret.

Gameplay wise, Mario 2 is a pretty significant departure from the Mario games before or since. But as you mentioned, many of the items and characters have been used in other Mario games. It was even released in Japan shortly after the US release as “Super Mario USA”–it’s definitely canon, just a bit with an oddball history.

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**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hated-hated-hated-super-mario-sunshine/502923/20 "2009-07-14T22:09:10Z")

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> [@Justin\_Bailey](#):
>
> Except it’s not “Super Mario World 2”, it’s Yoshi’s Island with the Super Mario World 2 tacked on the title for name recognition.

Like SMB2? Yoshi’s Island has more of a claim to the title than SMB2 (which I wouldn’t dispute either) since it was created to be SMW’s sequel.

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