The Complex Beauty of Super Mario Sunshine
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- Опубликовано: 7 июн 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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Script partially inspired by the "reviewer brain" video from Transparency
• 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 
Игры
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.
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.
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.
It certainly had the ɓest setting and the only one of the normal Mario games (the RPG/Paper series being different, obviously) where the setting is an actual world instead of just obstacle courses. However, I enjoyed Galaxy and Odyssey more because the gameplay)
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
It gets slowly brighter up to 60 and then is fully lit.
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.
i love how peach sounds so shocked that she could be bowser jrs mom. like girl you would have been there
I think she has some heat exhaustion
You’ve ever heard of lacing someone’s drink? This shit is dark
@@RadeenChoudhuryeveryone's heard of that is it new to you? No offense but are you young?
Even still it doesn't make since that she be drugged, I mean, I guess I don't know about the mechanics of pregnancy in the Mario universe but generally it's a 9month experience impossible to forget without also permanently forgetting vital information necessary to live life without a care taker
Huh... actually... would she need to have been there?
Hear me out.
In the Mario universe, it's shown that storks actually do deliver babies to the parents, so I guess it could very well be possible that she did not know about her own son?
She's been hitting them both.
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.
The problem for me was not that the game felt linear, but that whenever the required shines decided to power on Xtreme Pane Mode, you have to do it eventually. That’s only my take though. Personally, if the game had more polish and was balanced better, I’m sure I would’ve loved it.
Yeah and in some levels you don’t even have to do them in order (don’t know how many though) but in a few, there are already the next episodes shine in the level to and you can go to it and do it the one that mainly comes to mind is Petey piranha on the first episode but the only thing that sucks about how linear it is that some levels that are required are randomly extremely hard for no reason like the hotel red coins I don’t think I’ve ever been able to do that one my own otherwise I get lost or forget how to get to the room above the box room.
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?
@@TheJacklikesvideos Icebergs melting or do you mean in the game?
@@TheJacklikesvideos The water in the oceans expands as they get warmer
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 :’)
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.
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
To me, Galaxy is the one that sticks out, while I see Mario 64, Sunshine and Odyssey as a continuum.
I’m a Chuckster.
its kinda weird how the imperfect games are the ones we look back on fondly the most, huh?
Quite often because they try and do things that aren't quite normal, which doesn't always work out, at least not flawlessly, but it's so interesting and has so many good parts to it you end up remembering it more
Imperfect is better than perfect imo
@@ShadowVincent3 i agree. Games that explore new ideas are memorable. A good example imo kirby air ride. Flawed game, but the concept of City Trial and diverse vehicles leave a lasting impression.
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
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!
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 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
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 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... 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
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!
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.
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 ❤
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
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
"to truly love something you must first understand it's flaws" - some wise guy a long time ago
It's not a bad game if you enjoy it.
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 :)
Very inspiring and well-made review. I enjoyed the editing and everything else about it a lot!
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.
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!
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 is why, every time I play Sunshine, I save the eighth episode of each level until the end. After I beat bowser and get every other shine, I celebrate by enjoying the culture of these places. Taking part in the watermelon festival, celebrating the fluff festival, and the crown jewel of it all, the red coin fish. I don’t care that the level on a gameplay pov isn’t that good; it’s my favorite shine because of the vibe. After a journey filled with nostalgia and emotion, capping it all off in the now-bustling ancestral home of the Nokis, and shutting off the console once I gently touch the sand at the bottom and grab the shine will never be anything less than sublime to me
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.
Yeah but also people call it the most Sega game (I don’t think anyone does anymore but people actually have spoken or typed that)
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
Excited to watch this when I get off of school :D
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!
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)
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!
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
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!
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 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.
Yeah i prefer when mario games dont go thru all the environments. The grass, desert, snow, bowser world etc. shtick gets boring. I like how Sunshine, Thousand Year Door & Super Mario world didn't go that route
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 !
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.
*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.
"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.)
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
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 💚
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!
You write intelligent, thoughtful videos, you're pleasant to listen to AND you're gorgeous. I can't believe you don't have more subs.
every video you make is just so good man, keep it up
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.
Came here because of Adam Millards recommendation in his Tunic video. I was not disappointed. Nice work there! You gained a new subscriber.
Oh and BTW I never understood the hate Sunshine has gotten. And my first Mario game was SMB1 on the NES back in the day and I had played 64. Sunshine was different, but in my opinion also really really good.
I’ve never gotten the reason why Sunshine was so divisive either, by the way what were your favorite aspects of Super Mario Sunshine?
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
I love your analysis, these videos are so well put together
Excellent videos, looking forward to watch more of them!
Idk man I’ve never understood why people dislike it. It’s my favorite mainline mario game, easily.
Great video! Glad to see you back with more analysis. Excuse the long rambling comment incoming - but hey, I just listened to 5000 words about a game I haven't even played.
This was a pretty insightful look at the game even when I've never played it, and, admittedly, don't really have any interest in every playing it. The way that Sunshine is apparently an actual fleshed-out world with an identity is something I was never really aware of - the most I knew about was just that it was meant to feel like the fun summer adventure that Delfino Plaza's music evokes.
I didn't play a ton of Mario as a kid. But there was a time when I saw some videos of Super Mario 64 on youtube. I was young enough that I didn't even really process that it was a game (for all I knew it could have been a fan animation, which I also watched some of around that time) and I definitely didn't know what game it was, or that SM64 existed. But something about the idea of that dreamlike castle to explore, and the inherent fantastical feeling of jumping into the world of a painting, captured my imagination. Like you say, SM64 is abstract. Both the castle and the levels feel like something out of a dream (or are my dreams just like that?). And for a while, this is how I thought of Mario games. The first one I actually played (other than spinoffs like Kart and Party) was NSMB on the DS. This, like most of the 2D games, was similarly abstract, even if in a much less immersive way than the 3D games. But for years that was my impression of what Mario games were like. I saw them as similar to Kirby games - experiences where it would feel extremely out of character to see the characters have actual dialogue (and I'm not a fan of how Kirby has started to do that). The first Mario game I played that actually tried to create a sense of a lived-in world was, shockingly, Super Mario Odyssey.
(Side note, what do you think of Odyssey's worlds? Do you think they compare to Sunshine in depth and telling a story, or do you think they're just more shallow window dressing? Jumping off of another video essay like you did, I think Joseph Anderson's look at Odyssey is interesting, even if I disagree with a lot. And one of my core disagreements is how he casually mentions that a lot of his issues with the game would be better if the worlds were interesting, but in his (paraphrased) words, the worlds in Odyssey are very generic and boring. IMO, that doesn't give it enough credit, but I'm curious as to your perspective.)
Anyway, all of that is to say, I'm genuinely surprised and impressed that Sunshine did all of this so early. I didn't realize Odyssey had a precursor in making a genuine, lived-in feeling world (I also haven't even played Galaxy), much less one that did it with so much depth to its themes and purpose to making that world feel alive. From my perspective of not having played it, I do think this sounds extremely convincing - I doubt anybody would disagree that Isle Delfino is meant to feel like a tourist destination, and I think the rest of this reasonably follows from that analysis.
The idea of pollution and other damage to the environments due to tourists being portrayed as a 'darkness' makes me think of how that's a surprisingly common theme in Nintendo's games, and certain genres of japanese media in general. I definitely feel like Zelda plays with a similar idea, especially in Ocarina of Time, and I've heard some analysis of a lot of that being inspired by Princess Mononoke. And of course, Okami is one of the most obvious examples. The use of darkness as a distinct effect on the world, that can also be a metaphor for a real-world issue, is something I don't think I've really seen outside of japanese stuff.
I want to mention that I feel I have similar thoughts toward finding the depth in games. With some games, I find myself constantly questioning if the depth I find in them is really there, or if it makes the games "good." Of course, we both know it's all subjective and we should only care about what we can personally get out of games, as well as sharing those thoughts with others. But it's still a difficult-to-escape instinct, to try and justify that something is good when it's often criticized. Especially when it's something one experienced at a young age.
Do these themes make Super Mario Sunshine a misunderstood, genius masterpiece? Or do they make it nothing more than a janky but fun experience for children, that does have a decent backbone to make a good impression on the kids? These are completely stupid questions to ask, but they're the kind I find myself asking myself anyway about games I love. Is Explorers of Sky actually one of the best stories ever? Is Bravely Second as deep as it is for me personally? With so much online discourse toward trying to prove games are good or bad, sometimes it feels like I can't even keep track of where the scale is set. If the depth I see is extraordinary or something that should be the bare minimum standard in most game stories, that you'd find anywhere if you overanalyzed enough.
But, seeing your analysis at least, I think it's impressive. I think that the game's story sounds meaningful and well-conveyed, and that you've done an impressive job of realizing it all.
And I think that whether stories really only mean something to us just because we experienced them as kids is something to embrace, not to reject. Super Mario Sunshine doesn't have to be good for everyone who plays it now as an adult because of this depth. What matters is that those who resonate with it, for whatever reason, get what meaning out of it that they do. I don't know if the plot of Explorers of Sky is really revolutionary and masterful, or just kinda good for kids? After all, the present me has experienced Disco Elysium, and started branching out into some of the novels that inspired DE. But what Explorers of Sky means to me is constant regardless. I had an interesting experience recently trying to play Okami. For me, it was honestly just kind of boring - felt as though I was spending most of the time on boring tasks, and that the combat system never really made intuitive sense to me. But at the same time, I was completely convinced that if I had played it when I was young enough, it might have been one of my favorite games ever. And that doesn't mean it's "for kids" so much as just tastes evolve, and our experiences with games are heavily affected by where we are in our lives and what we're looking for at the time when we play them. Okami's story is simple and charming, and clearly has deep subtext behind it, but it isn't really what I'm looking for anymore.
Likewise, Sunshine isn't really what I'm looking for right now, but I'm glad I got to see your explanation of what you find so special about it. It's not about finding what Sunshine is "really about" so much as I think your perspective was interesting and worthwhile to hear.
Finally, thank you for showing Owl Boy. I saw it in a Dunkey video YEARS ago and could not for the life of me remember what the hell it was called, or the video I first saw it in. That's been bothering me for so long and you finally resolved it. I don't even really want to play it, I just wanted to know.
In conclusion: Gooper Blooper.
Thank you for the wonderful comment :) I really appreciate how much you engage with what I create. And yeah idk I think just the subjective, sometimes almost random ways we connect with different pieces of art is really cool! Too much emphasis has been placed on whether something is good or not, and thats just one narrow lens to experience things through.
I haven't replayed Odyssey since it was released, but I dont think its world scratches the same itch for me that Isle Delfino does. Because each area is so disconnected from the others I find it hard to come up any cohesive message the game might communicate. There are definitely interesting elements, like the robots in the forest level and that dragon in the ruins level, so maybe there's something there! But I am less interested in spending the time to find out than I was for Sunshine, mostly because my memories of the game aren't quite as deep or fond. As I said in the video if it weren't for my personal relationship with Sunshine I wouldn't have had the interest needed to get this sort of reading out of it. While I never played Explorers of Sky specifically, I also connected pretty strongly to the Pokemon mystery dungeon games as a kid so I know exactly what youre talking about there. Maybe worth revisiting for the channel?? Who knows I hadnt considered it before but I could probably make it work.
Lastly, your comment reminded me how I really need to get around to Disco Elysium! And also expect an Okami essay sometime next year (no promises though lol)
This video was amazing. Rediscovering the joy of Sunshine and why I loved it so much
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! :)
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
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!
Very impressive and pleasing writing and editing! Congrats and thank you! 😊 I will also always vibe with Sunshine 😌
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.
'...both emotional and muscle.' *chef's kiss*
Really enjoyed the video!
I also recently wondered why I remembered Super Mario Sunshine so fondly. Hearing your interpretation of the deeper meaning of the story, the environmentalism and the critic of exploitation in a (post)colonial setting, just resonates so well with me.
So it's no wonder really. The game just creates a world I care about and is filled with adversaries I'm concerned about.
The fact that peach even considers the fact that she might be bowser jr’s mom proves that she got it on with bowser at least once
Super Mario Sunshine is my favorite game. Nice video 👍
Would i say it’s the best most polished game ever? No not really. But it’s definitely my favorite 3D Mario game and the one i consistently have the most fun with.
Great reply!
A double dash video would heal my soul 🤍 that and sunshine were also my introduction to video games as a whole! :)
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.
a friend send me along to check this video out, and wow. i never once considered this view of the game but i can absolutely see it. keep up the amazing work, i look forward to your future videos :)!
Aw thank you! Im gonna try to make a whole lot more like this :)
I will forever associate a fresh breeze on a sunny spring morning with this Game 🙏
Only at the beginning part, and I’m already giving you a like JUST for that splat transition! ❤
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. ❤️
Nice use of the 3D All Stars cutscenes for better quality :)
(and thankfully not actually playing that version)
This got me thinking on the role of tedium and common intolerance toward it. I'll probably write about that; thanks :^)
Good catch on the cutscenes! For some reason the pre-rendered stuff all looked kinda distorted on Dolphin so I substituted the 3DAS ones.
Oh hey, I also have a bachelor's degree in biology which I'm unlikely to use for anything in particular! :D You make some interesting points in this video. I can definitely see how Nintendo probably intended for some kind of environmentalist message with the game, but I suspect it might not go quite as deep as you make it out to be. The idea of pollution being bad and the Piantas being victims of outsiders seems on point, but I have a hard time seeing Nintendo attempting to convey a neo-colonialist message in a game primarily aimed at kids. Particularly the segment about King Boo taking over the casino to exploit a treasured establishment seemed like a bit of a stretch to me, and I don't know if I think that angle is really supported by what happens in the game, as King Boo isn't really running the show, just lurking in the shadows and causing mischief so nobody wants to go in there.
Either way, great video, and a great game for sure!
Thats fair! And yeah I definitely think any anti-colonialist reading that comes across was not on purpose. Just likely a byproduct of the designers throwing ideas around that came to mind when imagining a struggling touristy island. And hmm yeah I never really questioned whether King Boo was actually in charge or not, just an assumption on my part. I think there was a line of dialogue that implied the hotel manager works for King Boo? But maybe it was the other way around. Idk I still think having a sparkling casino under an otherwise run-down hotel contributes to the reading at least a bit?
But thank you! I do appreciate all the comments you leave you've been sticking with my channel longer than just about anybody 🥲
@@Skyehoppers I don't remember any dialogue implying that the manager works for King Boo, but it was quite some time ago I really paid close attention to the dialogue so I might have missed it. And sure, the casino does lend itself to such a reading in many ways, but I think if it was actually intended to reference neo-colonialism then King Boo running the casino would've been presented as legitimate to the public even though it's harmful to the locals. But I think in the game it comes across more as an illegal infestation. But of course, regardless of the actual developer intentions, I think everyone has the right to interpret a work however they like and I do think it's an interesting angle!
No problem! I like the style of content you make and I know how much engagement from the audience means when you're a smaller channel, so I'm happy to provide that! :)
The gambling part fits the Hawaii theme very well along with the other stuff, Hawaii has had a history of organized crime bringing along with it illegal gambling (especially because gambling is illegal there).
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 ❤
Great video! I never looked too far into this game. I'm starting to question everything now.
I've never considered looking at Sunshine from this ecological perspective that you offer in this video. This makes me appreciate the game so much more. The world of Isle Delfino has always been interesting to me, but I've admittedly never engaged with it too much beyond the surface level (though it does have a very beautiful surface). Thanks for this genuinely educational analysis of the game, I feel like I've learned a lot about the game's messages. Subscribed.
Never considered either...because it's really reaching. The problem on that island aren't tourists but an evil antagonist invading with his monster minions, including ghosts.
Sunshine is a superior title of the entire franchise solely because Mario - a plumber - gets to actually do something related to his character job.
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!
I definitely wouldnt call it “overanalyzing.” Love for Sunshine is great to see, and even though I think many of us could see some of the obvious themes with pollution, hearing you dive deep and put it all into words really shows just how much thought the developers had for this game despite having to release it without having fully finished a few things lol
Whoever says Sunshine is anything less than a masterpiece is mentality unsound. It's my favorite 3D Mario my leaps and bounds.
People who say they like Galaxy more just don’t get it !!!
Super Mario: White saviour complex
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!
I love watching your video about Super Mario Sunshine!
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 🌞
This video is well edited dude! Its an entertaining watch and listening
this game has gotten me though so much and will forever be one held so closely to my heart.
excellent vid, I agree with everything. I also never played Mario 64, only Mario Sunshine, and loved it for itself. i love that Sunshine is about cleaning up pollution, that is excellent plot, i love that you leave places better than you found them instead of blocks destroyed and valuables pillaged (I love hitting blocks and getting coins as much as the next player but if you want to talk subconscious messaging then lol), i love that delfino always felt like a place people lived instead of mushroom kingdom with bad guys all coming at you from the right side of the screen like they are being personally deployed by bowser against you. i love that you return to the plaza and things have improved from your success on a level, i love that you return to levels where new things have happened for bad or good and have to get a shine in a new way based off that (progression!). i never understood people badtalking sunshine - it always has been and always will be a good+special+fun game to me. The Vibes Are On Point.
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!
Mario Sunshine is a perfect imperfect game. It's clunkyness can be frustrating and it's worst levels are brutaly unfair. That being said, I replay it every summer because the things it does do right... Hoh boi does it do them right. I actually do wish we could receive a finished version that wasn't rushed in development. Great Video! Especially the part about storytelling, on point.
Since water is not compressible, there is no way that the amount of water in the backpack is actually stored inside its container.
This made me emotional! Thank you! Super Mario Sunshine was the first video game I ever owned and it shaped what I look for in a game. My favorite thing about so many of the mainline GameCube era games is the character and personality they all had. Sunshine, TTYD, WindWaker, and Pikmin 2 all stand out to me for this reason. They weren’t ashamed of being fun, bright games with exploratory mechanics and interesting subtext. I’ll forever love this era of Nintendo for that. Anyway! Great video essay ☀️✨
Please don't ever stop making content, we all adore it. You're gonna be the next Summoning Salt.
Thank you, thats honestly one of the best possible compliments I could get :) Ill try my best!!