VicViper wrote:CharlieR wrote:I was just about to post about if it sunshine had any other character in it as the main protagonist, it probably would not have been as well-received... so great minds think alike. I wonder what would happen if if it was an entry in the Sonic series?
I just started replaying it on this collection, so we will see if my opinion changes. I've owned it a few times for the gamecube but could never get into it. I wanted to like it, since it is part of the main Mario series, but it just wasn't really that fun. I just remember thinking everything felt like a chore, and it just didn't feel like a Mario game.
What I find really interesting is that some people say this is their favorite 3d Mario game. Really? Better than 64, either of the galaxy games, or 3d world? I guess people like the exploration, the turbo nozzle, etc. I just don't see it.
I'd say I prefer Sunshine over 64 because 64's level design is for the most part either generic, simplistic, plain bad, or just not very memorable at all. 64 also has a bunch of Stars that just feel like filler that wasn't thought through, hence why in the DS remake some of them were removed (yes, removed. It might have 150 stars, but it did remove some of 64's lesser content as well).
64's remembered well for its controls and its early "free-roaming" aspect, but beyond that, the levels aren't really all that great themselves overall. That's not to say there aren't good ones, but they're drowned in a sea of okay/mediocre.
You'll find me dead in the water before you hear me say that Dire Dire Docks is a good world, it's a freaking chore to go from the start of the level to the submarine area pretty much every time. It'd be something if it had any challenge to it, but you just swim straight for nearly a minute to get half of the stars in that world, and the rest aren't all that much more involved.
However, I'll admit that while Sunshine's main content is great, the 100% is 200% not worth it. The blue coins are terribly implemented, and there are a few duds too. I can see why some people don't like some of the gimmicky missions, but I'd at least say it gives the game more personality, and 64 could've used some of that too to make it less plain.
Given that Mario 64 was exploring new game design areas that were not established yet, I find it hard to be hyper critical of the design. Mario 64 (and it's sibling in development, Zelda OoT) were designed early in the development era of full 3D adventure/platformers, and quickly became the benchmark for standard design of their respective areas.
That said, I agree that the 100% of SS looks to be tedious as heck; I found a blue coin mark early in the main hub right after the first chase with Shadow Mario, and either I need an upgrade to get both it and its matching Blue Coin without as much pain, or I need to find a way to invert the blasted camera controls so that I can easily do the water belly slide.