Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine (Yo it's time for a hell vacation)

[LaZodiac]

http://i.imgur.com/SCFUxxj.jpg

Hello and welcome! We're going to be starting Super Mario Sunshine today. One of the launch titles for the Gamecube, it's sort of the "black sheep" of Mario games, due to it's special mechanics. I think it holds up fairly well, and looks super cute. So lets get this show on the road. As with all my other threads I'm going to be keeping track of posts and stuff and the person who contributes the most gets a nifty reward blah blah you know the drill this is like the third thread I've done. Let's bask in the Sunshine!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [1] Delfino Island (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMyBRGNaIJs)

Video Length: 24:04

Shines: Air Strip 1, Bianco Hills 1 and 2.

Starting us off with this game we get an actually fairly lengthy cutscene that introduces us to full on voice acting in a Mario game (beyond Peach's letter at the start of Mario 64). It's...pretty mixed all around, but I think Peach's voice acting is good for her. Same with FLUDD, she just sounds super adorable to me. I'll touch more on other voices as we meet them.

After nearly getting involved in an international incident due to a plane crash, we find ourselves conscripted into cleaning up the Air Strip's big mess. This giant blobo thing is a Polluted Piranha, and even being a boss doesn't make it worth getting it's name bolded. The Polluted Piranha, and all of it's variations, are really really boring (but brief) "fights" and while this is really an early game problem ONLY, it is still a problem I feel. But whatever, after beating up a defenseless goop monster we get a Shine Sprite. If Power Stars are what power the Mushroom Kingdom, these sun shaped objects power the city state of Delfino Island.

After saving the day we're then...arrested by the Delfino Island police department. The DIPD. Hah...yeah about that international incident? They just arrested the national hero of one of the largest Kingdoms in the world. This is kiiind of ridiculous, especially considering the court proceedings are a total kangaroo court! On the plus side, we only have to clean the island which, lets be fair, Mario would of broken his vacation to do that himself. He's just that kind of guy. With that, we now have our goal. Clean the island, regain the Shine Sprites, and then have our vacation!

Starting us off in the Delfino Plaza proper we have another Polluted Piranha (this one capable of spawning little goop things called Swoopin' Stus), and after dealing with that...Shadow Mario appears! He kidnaps Peach and we have to chase him down! This is the part where I praise Sunshine probably overmuch by saying that this chase scene is actually really really good since it'll teach you stuff without you realizing it. As you spray Shadow Mario it'll cover the ground in front of you, and it's pretty obvious you'll probably press B to try and do the slide dash thing to try and keep up with him. Then you'll start sliding, and learn to do the water slide move. Very quickly through the race he does a wall jump to escape you, and that's your hint that you yourself can do wall jumps. It's all pretty cool and I like it a lot. After saving Peach (game over?) he heads into a portal on the Great Pianta statue. Guess we've gotta pursue, and enter our first level proper!

A brief explanation of how levels work. Each level has 8 episodes (so 8 shines), 2 Secret Shines, 1 "100 Coin" Shine, and 30 Blue Coins. My intent is to try and beat each level as 100% as I can before moving onto the next, so we'll be getting all the Episode shines, and then AFTER that getting all the Secret Shines, 100 Coin Shines, and the 30 Blue Coins. I'm doing this so it's easier for me to keep track of them because if I miss one blue coin out of the 30 in a stage it's gonna take foreeeever to track it and my god there are a lot of these Blue Coins. I'll elaborate more on the Secret Shines and Blue Coins later though, when they actually come up. For now, lets focus on Bianco Hills.

Bianco Hills, a small windmill village of Pianta's next to a cute river that leads through some plains. There's a big ole hill with a large windmill on top, and the hill itself is in a lake. There's trees and stuff, quite cute a landscape. But it's all covered in grimy goo. Our first mission is to return the hill to normal by defeating another Polluted Piranha. In our way is some Strollin' Stus, Pokey Sprouts, and the big ole Piranhabon that gets shot out of the goo pile. All in all, this isn't actually that difficult. Which is why I decide to...have a little fun with this Shine. Unlike Mario 64 where almost every Star is available in every level, this game is a lot more closed off on the amount of flailing around you can do with it's Shine collection order. But when I can, I will. Ignoring the Shine we get for completing Episode 1's task, lets skip ahead to episode 2. The obstacles are a little different if we were in Episode 2 proper, and actually a little easier to deal with if I recall. Getting to the top of the Windmill isn't that challenging, ignoring my rustiness at this game and the stickiness of walls.

At the top of the Windmill we have our first real boss...theoretically. Petey Piranha! This big ole plant baby's only attack is to spew out goo like vomit. If you touch the goo too long it hurts you, but considering your only way of attacking also prevents him from vomiting, he's PRETTY easy. Petey goes down, and then we get his Shine. Then we go back and get Episode 1's Shine since we cannot actually progress if we don't.

After a certain amount of shines have been obtained, plot events happen. Our first one is...another Polluted Piranha Plant has appeared. We're...gonna deal with that next time. Hope you guys all enjoyed the first episode of Super Mario Sunshine, I hope to see you guys here next time.

------

Don't tell anyone I didn't teach you nothing! There's a pretty big name theme going on in this game and I'mma explain it to you guys.

Delfino: This one is obvious. It's Dolphin in italian! Of course there's more: the Gamecube was codenamed "The Dolphin" so this is a double pun of sorts. Pretty cute!

Pianta: Pianta means plant in Italian, so these big ole bruisers with tree's in their heads are the plant people. Like I said, never trust a tree oni.

Bianco: Bianco is White in Italian. Given the white, almost marble like stone in this area, it makes a lot of sense to call it The White Hills. I also think it's a very calm, nice name for a starting area.

[Qwertystop]

Ah, Petey. Of all the characters who might have become recurring, he was not one I expected.

[randman22222]

You may not be the perpetrator they think you are, but you're still a criminal for spraying random citizens and jumping on them. :smalltongue:

What the hell kind of justice system is that anyway? Inquisitorial, but run by the laziest investigators ever??

[Teddy]

Ahh, new thread. Hopefully I'll be able to keep better up with this one... http://i.imgur.com/rcxULF7.png


Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [1] Delfino Island (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMyBRGNaIJs)

[B]Video Length: 24:04

I love how utterly bored Peach must be to go all fascinated as soon as a shine appears on the travel screen... http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

Blah, blah, stereotypical resort commercial, blah...

Hey, toad pilots, don't you think you are a little reckless flyers? You're coming in too fast! http://i.imgur.com/AT4x3dQ.png

And I mean, landing on a strip which has foreign shapes on it doesn't seem like the brightest idea ever...

That said, the Pianta don't deserve much credit either. Who thought it was a good idea to put the buildings at the end of the landing strip. What if you had to abort? http://i.imgur.com/AT4x3dQ.png

Big red paint volcano pit looks kinda menacing before you run accidently run into it...

Zodi, what is it with you and AI sidekicks who speak Statistical? http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

Wow, removing the paint causes some terrifying geological events... http://i.imgur.com/AT4x3dQ.png

Wow, that was a staged trial if I ever saw one. Even foreign royals get overruled for no particular reason. I think they're just too lazy to run around and do the cleaning themselves... http://i.imgur.com/rcxULF7.png

I like how you point out the wall jump hint and then proceed to not do a wall jump yourself... http://i.imgur.com/rcxULF7.png

Hmm, not particulary much to say about that level. Except possibly "poor windmill"...

[LaZodiac]

Ah, Petey. Of all the characters who might have become recurring, he was not one I expected.

Yup! For some reason or another, Petey shows up a lot in future Mario games.


Ahh, new thread. Hopefully I'll be able to keep better up with this one... http://i.imgur.com/rcxULF7.png

Hey, toad pilots, don't you think you are a little reckless flyers? You're coming in too fast! http://i.imgur.com/AT4x3dQ.png

And I mean, landing on a strip which has foreign shapes on it doesn't seem like the brightest idea ever...

Zodi, what is it with you and AI sidekicks who speak Statistical? http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

Wow, removing the paint causes some terrifying geological events... http://i.imgur.com/AT4x3dQ.png

I like how you point out the wall jump hint and then proceed to not do a wall jump yourself... http://i.imgur.com/rcxULF7.png

Hmm, not particulary much to say about that level. Except possibly "poor windmill"...

Fingers crossed :smallamused:

I hope the Toad's have booster seats in the cockpit. They're a little short to be flying airplanes anyway.

I like robots!

Yeah, they don't really explain it but the goop covers up stuff so well that it squishes it down. You free it by washing it off. Pretty neat.

Hey I'm pretty sure I did a wall jump! Once or twice >_>

Yeah, the windmill gets a couple bits of abuse in this level.

[Qwertystop]

Re: 1:52 - to be fair, if I discovered an island shaped that much like a dolphin, I think I'd have named it "Dolphin Island" too.

[Teddy]

Come to think of it, that airstrip almost looks like something the Americans could have put together during the war. The Pianta are probably just one big cargo cult. http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

[Cuthalion]

Hey there.

[LaZodiac]

Hey there.

...right I forgot to tell you I was starting it early. Sorry! Don't worry, I don't want you to rush the thing I asked you for :smallamused:

[enderlord99]

http://i.imgur.com/pQjoQ.png?fb

[LaZodiac]

http://i.imgur.com/pQjoQ.png?fb

I'll keep that in mind, though I'll be honest I prefer the red outline with white font because that feels like it's kinda...my "thing" as it where?

But yeah that's a question, how readable are the subtitles and stuff? I'm still new at this >_>

[enderlord99]

What do you think of white text with a web-safe colo(u)r #600 (http://www.color-hex.com/color/660000) outline?

[Amidus Drexel]

Heh, I remember that sequence break. Shame you have to fight the polluted piranha again afterwards, though.

[137beth]

I remember playing this game about a decade ago now. Personally, it was my least favorite of the 3D Mario platformers (i.e., I liked it less than SM64 and SM Galaxy 1 or 2). Partly I wasn't a fan of the level designs, and partly the water jet-based controls felt awkward to me.
Looking back, maybe it does hold up better than some of its contemporary games.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

I really think we now have a better idea as to why Peach keeps getting kidnapped....

Also, Mario has another major problem. Let's see... Third-Person action-adventure where he obtains a tool vital to progression almost right out of the box, an annoyingly pedantic 'companion' who explains the obvious and is annoying and/or obnoxious in their insistence on informing you of the game mechanics and when/where to use them... with a shadow version of himself as a boss.

If he picks up a green outfit with a floppy hat, I'mma gonna toss popcorn at the screen.

[Qwertystop]

I really think we now have a better idea as to why Peach keeps getting kidnapped....

Also, Mario has another major problem. Let's see... Third-Person action-adventure where he obtains a tool vital to progression almost right out of the box, an annoyingly pedantic 'companion' who explains the obvious and is annoying and/or obnoxious in their insistence on informing you of the game mechanics and when/where to use them... with a shadow version of himself as a boss.

If he picks up a green outfit with a floppy hat, I'mma gonna toss popcorn at the screen.

Fludd isn't that bad - keep in mind, this is pretty much the tutorial level. She doesn't bring things up very often past that, as far as I recall.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Fludd isn't that bad - keep in mind, this is pretty much the tutorial level. She doesn't bring things up very often past that, as far as I recall.

That also reminds me... there's a HALO reference there. Which is particularly facepalm-worthy if you think about it too hard and long.

[LaZodiac]

That also reminds me... there's a HALO reference there. Which is particularly facepalm-worthy if you think about it too hard and long.

Mario~. I've become one with the swaaaarm.

Cuth finished my Sunshine avatar you can see a picture of it here: http://i.imgur.com/oWbr5Qc.png

[Cuthalion]

Zodi wouldn't let me put a mustache on. :smallyuk:

[Amidus Drexel]

Mario~. I've become one with the swaaaarm.

Cuth finished my Sunshine avatar you can see a picture of it here: http://i.imgur.com/oWbr5Qc.png

Sweet. :smallcool:


Zodi wouldn't let me put a mustache on. :smallyuk:

I kinda want to see what that'd look like now. :smallamused:

[TheWombatOfDoom]

Dude, that avatar is well done. Great work, Cuth!

[Cuthalion]

Dude, that avatar is well done. Great work, Cuth!

Thanks! :smallsmile:


And yet I still don't have my signature-banner covered with flags that themselves illustrate the process of turning into the Hulk and back.:smallfrown:

Yet I still somehow don't quite understand the premise. :smallconfused:

[LaZodiac]

Back home from babysitting, it's time for some Sunshine!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [2] Crashing Through The Hills (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieyhIJi-m8s)

Video Length: 24:41

Shines: Bianco Hills 3, 4, 5, 6

Like I said in video, this one is a little lacking in subtitles. It crashed and drained my energy to actually write. Herp derp Zodi. You'll get more of my inane ramblings in the future, but for now the game will at least in part speak for itself. Though I'll be sure to ramble on down here.

First off today, we got enough shines to open up the next stage, so lets do that! We'll be going here later, because of how I'm doing things. However, if you go juuust to the side of the level portal, you can see that this house is...actually a house. Inside are some nasty tanooki that will take up a large bulk of the games time. You see, there are Blue Coins. You may of seen them, or seen weird graffiti on the wall that I said was related to them. The deal with the Blue Coins is that if you give ten to the tanooki, you get a Shine. There are 30 Blue Coins in each stage, and I will be getting all of them as soon as I can GET all of them (I currently cannot yet). Suffice to say, THAT will be a montage and a half. I know it's a Mario game and the plot doesn't really matter, but my god these tanooki are pretty evil, keeping the shines hidden away in their hut all day! We need those guy! Ah well. As said, we'll be getting these later...and damn if it won't be hell finding them.

That being said it's time for my uh...OTHER piece of hell. Bianco Hills episode 3 is the first "Secret" episode. Every level has one or two "Secret" episodes, and after going to the pointed out location in the opening cutscene, you get sent to...well, many people call it hell, the official name is "Secret Course" but me, I call it the Acapella Zone, due to it's music. The Acapella Zone, when you enter it, has Shadow Mario steal away FLUDD, and make you have to do a platforming challenge without her. This is great and awful. Great because it's actually kind of cool and challenging and the music is fantastic, and it also makes you appreciate how useful FLUDD actually is. It's awful because the controls are a little sticky, the fact that there are no checkpoints meaning that if you die a lot (and you likely will) the music is going to grate on you like a madness chant, and the fact that no matter how hard I try to stay calm I just kinda get my nerves shot. Acapella Zone is my nightmare scape. The first one however is fairly easy, and I only die once due to pressing jump a little too late.

Now, there is MORE to the Acapella Zones then just that, but we'll be dealing with that next time. Just a heads up on that before we continue.

Episode 4 is pretty simple, though it foreshadows doom. It's our first Red Coin mission, and it brings up a point I'd like to tell. Since this game is big one segregated episodes (some Blue Coins are only in certain levels, you can really only ever get one specific Shine per level, etc) you don't get to see where the Red coins are until this specific episode. I feel like this is a mistake. I much prefer how Mario 64 had the Red Coins always available from the beginning, so you could at least find them before you where told to do so, just to make it a little easier. That aside this Red Coin challenge, pretty easy! My complaining is more for the future.

After that, we get...ANOTHER Polluted Piranha. This one, and the one earlier in this video, are "harder" in that they take 6 hits. This last one (and I do mean last, we never have to fight these non-bosses again) is even "harder" because when you hit it the third time, it spawns a hold bunch of Swoopin' Stus. It's also riiight next to a building that you can stand on to make yourself COMPLETELY immune to it's Stuwarts. Welp. After beating him (and spying a funny little over sight in the sky) we unlock our third level, but I'm a weirdo so we're going back to the Hills!

Speaking of returning, we've got Petey Piranha back! This time we've got to be a bit more involved in getting his attention, but once we do it's fight time! This guy can fly now, and that's pretty impressive. While in the air he can spew goo bombs at you, and when you do fight him on the ground he can spin his head around to cause massive tornadoes! None of these do any damage. Once again, the only way to actually be hurt by a boss is for his goo or Stuwarts to hurt you. I swear the bosses get more interesting later.

Finally for this episode...we have another Acapella Zone. This one is a lot more difficult, and I uh...die a lot. There is a good reason one ups are so relatively easy to get in these areas, you know! There's not much to say other then "oh god wow some of these jumps where close" though. I suppose that's another negative for these areas. So, lets talk about the thing I picked up just outside the Secret Entrance for some reason! That's one of the first alternate nozzles that change what the Hover Nozzle is. This is the Turbo Nozzle, which lets us speed along the ground and water with a jet of water. It's unusable in this episode because of the poisoned water and there is never any point whatsoever to obtaining this nozzle in this stage, period. Sometimes this game is weird.

That all being said, I hope you enjoyed! I'll see you guys next time.

------

Okay so I didn't talk about any enemies in the write up above because there really wasn't a good time too, and I didn't in the video because I'm a salty girl at crashes. So lets just talk about them down here.

The blue Pokey Sprout looking things are Seed Pokeys. They dig into the ground and spew seeds everywhere and aren't very dangerous at all. You can spray em to stun em, then stomp em for a coin. We also saw a Coo Coo, which is a big ole fat chicken that uh..."produces" goop. They're gross but they can get you a lot of coins and even a one up if you don't suck! I'm pretty sure that's it for enemies. See you guys next time!

[Qwertystop]

What was that after the first secret area where you just sprayed water away from the statue and it triggered?

[LaZodiac]

What was that after the first secret area where you just sprayed water away from the statue and it triggered?

Right, forgot to mention that. I'll elaborate more on it later, but if you hold down the button for FLUDD and press A, you do an explosive water powered backflip.

[Teddy]

Back home from babysitting, it's time for some Sunshine!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [2] Crashing Through The Hills (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieyhIJi-m8s)

Video Length: 24:41

Teddy protip: If you want people to pay attention to text, don't show them more text at the same time. http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

It amazes me that the Piantas still haven't figured out that the answer to all their questions is "goo" and the solution to all their problems is water...

Gracefully jump into the cave, stick the landing! http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

Jump, jump, jump... and of course you fall on the simplest step... http://i.imgur.com/rcxULF7.png

Not taking any chances with that 1-Up, I see... http://i.imgur.com/rcxULF7.png

...
Did you intend to get sucked back in there...?

Bounce, bounce, bounce~

Making a sport out of getting sucked into portals in weird positions, are we? http://i.imgur.com/ZRHtTJs.png

Petey Piranha snoozes back...

Heh, those little Swoopin' Stus were more efficient against you than Petey... http://i.imgur.com/rcxULF7.png

Poor Shine to be grabbed by dirty Mario...

"Nothing this dirty could ever get back to normal..." Isn't that a little defeatist of you? I mean, you just got your entire village back...

Wow, the Acapella Zones definitely have a difficulty curve... http://i.imgur.com/AT4x3dQ.png

"Warning, 1-Up mushrooms may be escaping convicts."

[LaZodiac]

Teddy protip: If you want people to pay attention to text, to show them more text at the same time. http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

It amazes me that the Piantas still haven't figured out that the answer to all their questions is "goo" and the solution to all their problems is water...

Making a sport out of getting sucked into portals in weird positions, are we? http://i.imgur.com/ZRHtTJs.png

Petey Piranha snoozes back...

Heh, those little Swoopin' Stus were more efficient against you than Petey... http://i.imgur.com/rcxULF7.png
Wow, the Acapella Zones definitely have a difficulty curve... http://i.imgur.com/AT4x3dQ.png

"Warning, 1-Up mushrooms may be escaping convicts."

I'm getting better at the timing of the text commentary!

The Pianta's are honestly really really awful. Just you wait and see.

Yes, I enjoy jumping into portals in a funny way. It's fun!

To be fair Petey attacked first THEN went to bed. Also yes his Stuwarts kinda beat me up a little more then I'd care to admit.

You have nooo idea.

[HalfTangible]

There's a spoiler that actually makes the fact that the Pinatas aren't cleaning it up kinda fridge brilliant.
Or it would, if they did anything with it.

It's established that both the paintbrush and FLUDD are made by the same guy, and while the Pinatas never fix the problem itself, the game implies that that's because they can't through ordinary means. Fludd could easily be designed specifically to counter the magic brush's effects, especially if the brush wasn't as reliable as Junior later implies. The white coat man seemed awfully sure that Fludd could counter the plant... though why he didn't use it himself, I'm not sure, beyond it being the wrong size.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

The more I see this game, the more it reminds me of Mario 64, complete with unlocking levels with astrologically-shaped objects, red coins, multiple objectives per level, being absorbed into the levels from an outside area, the acapella level even reminds me of the bowser levels.

[LaZodiac]

The more I see this game, the more it reminds me of Mario 64, complete with unlocking levels with astrologically-shaped objects, red coins, multiple objectives per level, being absorbed into the levels from an outside area, the acapella level even reminds me of the bowser levels.

Well, Sunshine is definitely the spiritual successor/sequel to Mario 64, so that's not too surprising. I feel like Mario 64 still did some things right that Sunshine has done wrong, but it's still good!

[Durkoala]

Woo, new thread, new game! Hello, everybody! (ed) New page, too!

I don't know what it is exactly, but there's something in these older games that seems to be missing from modern titles. I think it may be the lack of contextual keys, so that the basic movement/combat mechanics have to be used to interact with everything. Or maybe it's the low polygon count helping immerse into a simple world?

Anyway, I haven't actually played this and I barely touched 64, so I should probably stop talking about things like i know what I'm saying.

One thing that did always bug me about Mario jumping though paintings was if he was actually going inside the painting world, into another dimension of sorts, or if they were merely transporting him to another part of the world. Mario breaking into paint makes it look like it's the first option, but then are all the people living in the paintings real people or just living illustarions? Maybe I should stop overthinking this and just say that I like how Mario can be sucked in while posed in any way.:smallredface:

Delfino is probably normally run by the mafia, but they've gone on holiday or something* and nobody's sure what to do without them. The court case is ridiculously corrupt (no, that doesn't really work because there's no evidence that anybody has a stake in this besides the darkness and the goo) stupid, because this is normal here; the piantas are completely apathic because they've paid their protection money so somebody should be along to sort this mess out soon, right?

I'm going to guess that maybe they learned the hard way that antagonising foreign monarchs is a doubly bad idea if they're also prolific warlords, ten foot tall and breath fire when Bowser took his holiday here.

The Acapella zones look really tough, and we're just getting started with them.:smalleek: They also look (and sound) pretty cool, too.

Hopefully subscribing to this thread and the channel will help me keep up better this time. I love the rambly commentary, by the way.:smallsmile:

[Amidus Drexel]

The Acapella zones look really tough, and we're just getting started with them.:smalleek: They also look (and sound) pretty cool, too.

They don't start off too bad (relatively speaking, anyway - they're still challenging), but some of the later ones are fiendishly hard.

[Qwertystop]

Woo, new thread, new game! Hello, everybody! (ed) New page, too!

I don't know what it is exactly, but there's something in these older games that seems to be missing from modern titles. I think it may be the lack of contextual keys, so that the basic movement/combat mechanics have to be used to interact with everything. Or maybe it's the low polygon count helping immerse into a simple world?

Anyway, I haven't actually played this and I barely touched 64, so I should probably stop talking about things like i know what I'm saying.

One thing that did always bug me about Mario jumping though paintings was if he was actually going inside the painting world, into another dimension of sorts, or if they were merely transporting him to another part of the world. Mario breaking into paint makes it look like it's the first option, but then are all the people living in the paintings real people or just living illustarions? Maybe I should stop overthinking this and just say that I like how Mario can be sucked in while posed in any way.:smallredface:

Delfino is probably normally run by the mafia, but they've gone on holiday or something* and nobody's sure what to do without them. The court case is ridiculously corrupt (no, that doesn't really work because there's no evidence that anybody has a stake in this besides the darkness and the goo) stupid, because this is normal here; the piantas are completely apathic because they've paid their protection money so somebody should be along to sort this mess out soon, right?

I'm going to guess that maybe they learned the hard way that antagonising foreign monarchs is a doubly bad idea if they're also prolific warlords, ten foot tall and breath fire when Bowser took his holiday here.

The Acapella zones look really tough, and we're just getting started with them.:smalleek: They also look (and sound) pretty cool, too.

Hopefully subscribing to this thread and the channel will help me keep up better this time. I love the rambly commentary, by the way.:smallsmile:

Well, 64 I'm pretty sure it was the world inside the painting. Here, though, the graffiti acts as teleporters - there's places in some areas where you can look out and see other areas of the island in the distance, though I don't recall whether there's any cannons or anything somewhere that allow direct non-graffiti travel.

Regarding the mafia - Thousand Year Door would seem to suggest that, yes.

[LaZodiac]

Woo, new thread, new game! Hello, everybody! (ed) New page, too!

I don't know what it is exactly, but there's something in these older games that seems to be missing from modern titles. I think it may be the lack of contextual keys, so that the basic movement/combat mechanics have to be used to interact with everything. Or maybe it's the low polygon count helping immerse into a simple world?

Anyway, I haven't actually played this and I barely touched 64, so I should probably stop talking about things like i know what I'm saying.

One thing that did always bug me about Mario jumping though paintings was if he was actually going inside the painting world, into another dimension of sorts, or if they were merely transporting him to another part of the world. Mario breaking into paint makes it look like it's the first option, but then are all the people living in the paintings real people or just living illustarions? Maybe I should stop overthinking this and just say that I like how Mario can be sucked in while posed in any way.:smallredface:

Delfino is probably normally run by the mafia, but they've gone on holiday or something* and nobody's sure what to do without them. The court case is ridiculously corrupt (no, that doesn't really work because there's no evidence that anybody has a stake in this besides the darkness and the goo) stupid, because this is normal here; the piantas are completely apathic because they've paid their protection money so somebody should be along to sort this mess out soon, right?

I'm going to guess that maybe they learned the hard way that antagonising foreign monarchs is a doubly bad idea if they're also prolific warlords, ten foot tall and breath fire when Bowser took his holiday here.

The Acapella zones look really tough, and we're just getting started with them.:smalleek: They also look (and sound) pretty cool, too.

Hopefully subscribing to this thread and the channel will help me keep up better this time. I love the rambly commentary, by the way.:smallsmile:

For what it's worth I think there are still games that really draw you in like Sunshine and Mario 64.

Qwerty mentioned it already, but the stuff in this game is just portals to different areas on the island. I'll be sure to show it off later, but you can see at least one location from every level.

Funny you mention that because later on in other Mario games the only Pianta's that show up are tied to a mafia.

Good luck keeping up! I'm glad you like it.

[Durkoala]

They don't start off too bad (relatively speaking, anyway - they're still challenging), but some of the later ones are fiendishly hard.

Well, I'm glad I'm not the one playing this. Right, Zodi?:smallamused:


Well, 64 I'm pretty sure it was the world inside the painting. Here, though, the graffiti acts as teleporters - there's places in some areas where you can look out and see other areas of the island in the distance, though I don't recall whether there's any cannons or anything somewhere that allow direct non-graffiti travel.

Regarding the mafia - Thousand Year Door would seem to suggest that, yes.

OK, thanks. From what I remember, 64 didn't have much in the way of story or world compared to this game, so it's more feasible that all the levels could be created worldlets. Doctor Who Space-Time tech has nothing on Mario planet.

I wasn't expecting that there really were mafia in Mario.:smallconfused:
Maybe in Bowser, but not in Mario.


For what it's worth I think there are still games that really draw you in like Sunshine and Mario 64.

Qwerty mentioned it already, but the stuff in this game is just portals to different areas on the island. I'll be sure to show it off later, but you can see at least one location from every level.

Funny you mention that because later on in other Mario games the only Pianta's that show up are tied to a mafia.

Good luck keeping up! I'm glad you like it.

Please tell me some; I've found plenty of recent games I like, but there's a certain feeling in these that I haven't found anywhere else.

blah blah, I'm enjoying it, please keep up the commentary, it's funny.

[Seerow]

Oh hey! New thread! I've been alternating between really busy and sick this last week, and so totally forgot to post. Hi!


So this game is a totally new experience for me. I think this game came out right when I hit the age that liking nintendo things stopped being "cool". It also happened to coincide with Nintendo trying out some of their weirder things giving me a convenient excuse ("This doesn't feel like the mario I always knew used to love!"), so this was a game that I never even owned.

That said, watching these videos, if advertisements and teenage snobbery hadn't turned me off to the game, the first 10 minutes or so of 'gameplay' would have. That opening cutscene, from Mario+Toads being idiots to the courts Shang-Hai-ing Mario into cleaning up the town when he would have literally done so if asked nicely anyway, the whole thing just rubbed me wrong.

That said... the gameplay itself actually looks quite fun. The Fludd adds an extra dynamic to Mario's baseline capabilities, and especially with regards to the mobility options it provides it reminds me a lot of Banjo-Kazooie (which I mentioned in the previous thread was a game I'd love to see a let's play of). I'm not as sold on the Fludd's addition to combat. The actual act of cleaning goop off the ground is tedious, and squirting enemies to defeat them feels wrong somehow (though I can't say how it particularly differs from spitting fireballs at an enemy). But as a platforming addition? Fludd is awesome, and makes the whole game feel more open and dynamic.

...so of course in the most difficult platforming challenges in the game they take it away from you. Zodi please don't kill yourself trying to 100% these. Please? :smalleek:

[LaZodiac]

Oh hey! New thread! I've been alternating between really busy and sick this last week, and so totally forgot to post. Hi!

So this game is a totally new experience for me. I think this game came out right when I hit the age that liking nintendo things stopped being "cool". It also happened to coincide with Nintendo trying out some of their weirder things giving me a convenient excuse ("This doesn't feel like the mario I always knew used to love!"), so this was a game that I never even owned.

That said, watching these videos, if advertisements and teenage snobbery hadn't turned me off to the game, the first 10 minutes or so of 'gameplay' would have. That opening cutscene, from Mario+Toads being idiots to the courts Shang-Hai-ing Mario into cleaning up the town when he would have literally done so if asked nicely anyway, the whole thing just rubbed me wrong.

That said... the gameplay itself actually looks quite fun. The Fludd adds an extra dynamic to Mario's baseline capabilities, and especially with regards to the mobility options it provides it reminds me a lot of Banjo-Kazooie (which I mentioned in the previous thread was a game I'd love to see a let's play of). I'm not as sold on the Fludd's addition to combat. The actual act of cleaning goop off the ground is tedious, and squirting enemies to defeat them feels wrong somehow (though I can't say how it particularly differs from spitting fireballs at an enemy). But as a platforming addition? Fludd is awesome, and makes the whole game feel more open and dynamic.

...so of course in the most difficult platforming challenges in the game they take it away from you. Zodi please don't kill yourself trying to 100% these. Please? :smalleek:

Hope you feel better soon Seerow! I sent you a message be sure to look at it yo~

Those reasons are somewhat understandable, though I've always followed...I believe it was CS Lewis who said that, "when I got old I put away childless notions, such as being too childish." That said, I hope you enjoy! Though yes, the opening is PRETTY off kilter. I can see being put off by it honestly.

Don't worry I won't kill myself. I still have more Zelda games to play!...though yes the Secret stages are going to be pretty rough as we go on.

[Seerow]

Hope you feel better soon Seerow! I sent you a message be sure to look at it yo~


I am feeling better now, thanks! And yep saw your message and responded already. Because apparently my e-mail provider likes me better than yours :P


Those reasons are somewhat understandable, though I've always followed...I believe it was CS Lewis who said that, "when I got old I put away childless notions, such as being too childish."


Yeah, definitely. Like I said it was a teenage thing, not something I've carried with me since then. *checks release date* geeze, yeah it's been 13 years since then, if I was born the day super mario sunshine was released I might just now be hitting that phase of my life now.

Okay I need to stop thinking of things that way. That does make me feel old. :P


That said, I hope you enjoy! Though yes, the opening is PRETTY off kilter. I can see being put off by it honestly.

Looking forward to seeing where it goes!

[LaZodiac]

Time for more Sunshine! I swear we're almost out of Bianco Hills.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [3] Hell Vacation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuLZMCkpqGY)

Video Length: 23:25

Shines: Bianco Hills 7, 8, 100 Coin, Secret 1 and 2. We're done Bianco Hills except for Blue Coins.

Starting us off, we're going to another game staple. Every 7th episode, we've got a single mission to contend with. Find Shadow Mario and beat him up. This one is fairly simple, though damn if Shadow Mario isn't a little tricky to keep an eye on. Dude's fast! Now, for those of you not interested in 100% clearing the game, all you've gotta do is fight Shadow Mario in each episode to beat the game. The 8th episode is always a bonus.

Speaking of, Episode 8 is another Red Coin mission. This time the Red Coins are all on the windmill side, and a new Nozzle is involved! This is the Rocket Nozzle, and it propels Mario up up into the air! I'm not super good at using it and really would of benefited from just using the hover nozzle and bouncing on the blue spider trampoline things. That aside there isn't much to talk about, besides my shame at the end of this coin hunt. Shaaaame.

What could be next out though, considering we finished all the episodes? Well, first of all, every stage has a 100 coin Shine. If you collect 100 coins in any episode, you get an extra Shine. Neat! There are many ways to get coins in this level. The Pokey Sprouts, when squished against walls, gives you 3 instead of one. Hit a regular Pokey without stunning it and you get 3 instead of one as well. The Coo Coo bird drops a whole bunch of coins, but make sure not to squirt it down too much or it'll die. That said, there isn't actually all that much to worry about here, there are plenty of coins. I even missed like 8 coins because for some reason, shooting the bells and getting coins from that didn't work! Also this is where I show off that you can see other stages in the levels just fyi.

After getting this Shine, another plot event happens! Looks like uh...Peach got kidnapped again and brought over to what looks like a large turtle based speed boat. With a wag of his tongue, Shadow Mario boats off to Pina Park to face us in combat! Looks like we'll have to give chase...in a bit we have more Shines to get in Bianco Hills. Pina Park is Level 4, so it'll be awhile.

After that though...it's time for hell. Every episode has two Secret Shines. IF you return to an Acapella Zone after beating it, you'll get to keep FLUDD, and you'll find a large red button. Hit it, and you start a time trial to collect all the 8 red coins scattered around the Secret Course area! This is chaos incarnate and gives some of the most butt clenchingly tight moments in game. With FLUDD we can easily do the platforming...so they make the platforming a little harder. Collecting all the coins, in an actually SUPER strict time limit, is REALLY difficult and nerve racking. Now, not all stages have two Acapella Zones. Instead you need to get the second Secret Shine some other way. I'll be going over that when we get there.

With that said and done...jeez. Episode endo. Hope to see you guys next time, and I hope you enjoyed!

[Durkoala]

You kno I said I wouldn't have time to watch this today? I was wrong.

Even if he is a shadowy double who is actually Spoiler Spoiler, it's really strange to hear intelligible sentences from a Mario. I would like to see him use that paintbrush a bit more though, just to emphasise how much of this game FLUDD is.

I forgot to talk about FLUDD last time. In theory and from what I've seen, it looks like a fun change from the usual mario powers. I like how many uses the designers have got out of 'shoot water' so far, and I'm sure there's many others yet to come. The permanant upgrade is really different from the way most other powerups supersede each other, and I quite like it, although there was nothing wrong with mushrooms and things giving you more HP and strange powers. Out of interest, how many of the people here would like to see FLUDD return in a later game, and would you like to be able to use other items with her?

By the way, that coin-acapella combo was just evil. It's like the developers wanted you to to rejoice in having Fludd for this run, just so they could crush your spirit. I do like how all this super-difficult stuff not needed to finish the game, so players who want a challenge, or for those who have to complete everything, can struggle to their heart's content, while the annoyingly rational people get to go about their day without smashing screens.

I think that Peach needs to see a doctor about all this recurring kidnapping. I wouldn't be surprised if being prone to being kidnapped was an actual disease that affects princesses, but Peach seems to have a chronic case. She could probably write travel guides based on her experiences by now.

[LaZodiac]

By the way, that coin-acapella combo was just evil. It's like the developers wanted you to to rejoice in having Fludd for this run, just so they could crush your spirit. I do like how all this super-difficult stuff not needed to finish the game, so players who want a challenge, or for those who have to complete everything, can struggle to their heart's content, while the annoyingly rational people get to go about their day without smashing screens.

I think that Peach needs to see a doctor about all this recurring kidnapping. I wouldn't be surprised if being prone to being kidnapped was an actual disease that affects princesses, but Peach seems to have a chronic case. She could probably write travel guides based on her experiences by now.

This is exactly why I'm annoyed whenever anyone says "oh Mario games aren't hard". Bitch play Champion's Road and tell me what's hard. BEATING the game is to a degree easy. COMPLETING the game is not. Though speaking of this I just got finished recording some more and hoooohohohohohooo...yeah. Difficulty. Woohoo.

That would not surprise me given that time travelers disease exists in games.

[Coidzor]

Time Trial Red Coins + A Capella Zone is a very special hell indeed.

And I was wondering why you kept going back to those bells like you expected something to happen from them. :V

That also explains why you weren't spraying the big pokeys, too, which had momentarily confused me.


I forgot to talk about FLUDD last time. In theory and from what I've seen, it looks like a fun change from the usual mario powers. I like how many uses the designers have got out of 'shoot water' so far, and I'm sure there's many others yet to come. The permanant upgrade is really different from the way most other powerups supersede each other, and I quite like it, although there was nothing wrong with mushrooms and things giving you more HP and strange powers. Out of interest, how many of the people here would like to see FLUDD return in a later game, and would you like to be able to use other items with her?

I thought FLUDD was interesting in some ways, certainly. I don't think I'd want another game that was dominated by FLUDD or FLUDD-like mechanics, though.

[Rakaydos]

Out of interest, how many of the people here would like to see FLUDD return in a later game, and would you like to be able to use other items with her?

http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/splatoon/images/9/93/A_female_Inkling_ready_for_battle.png/revision/latest?cb=20150702060927

[Durkoala]

This is exactly why I'm annoyed whenever anyone says "oh Mario games aren't hard". Bitch play Champion's Road and tell me what's hard. BEATING the game is to a degree easy. COMPLETING the game is not. Though speaking of this I just got finished recording some more and hoooohohohohohooo...yeah. Difficulty. Woohoo.

That would not surprise me given that time travelers disease exists in games.

What's time traveller's disease?


I thought FLUDD was interesting in some ways, certainly. I don't think I'd want another game that was dominated by FLUDD or FLUDD-like mechanics, though.
Can I ask you to elaborate on this? I'm interested in people's thoughts on this item which appeared in only one (rather popular) game and then disappeared and never returned to the best of my (rather patchy) knowledge. I also like hearing people's thought's on things like this, too.


http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/splatoon/images/9/93/A_female_Inkling_ready_for_battle.png/revision/latest?cb=20150702060927

I'm not sure if you're saying that Splatoon is the reappearance of FLUDD, or if you would like to see FLUDD appear in Splatoon, but both sound pretty good to me.:smallcool:

[LaZodiac]

What's time traveller's disease?


In Guilty Gear the character Axel Low has a natural disease called "Time Traveler's Disease" which causes him to randomly, at any moment, suddenly travel through time as quick as blinking.

[LaZodiac]

I hope my talk about Guilty Gear didn't scare everyone off. Cause it's Sunshine time!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [4] Who Owns Harbor Town? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjU7EoNZ5hM)

Video Length: 23:58


Shines: Ricco Harbor Shine 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Last time on Super Mario Sunshine we finished clearing out Bianco Hills (aside from the Blue Coins. I'll get into that laaater) so TODAY, we'll be going to Ricco Harbor! Ricco Harbor is a bit of a step up in difficulty compared to Bianco Hills, but also a little more fun and I think innovative with it's Episode design. We'll see how it goes once we get there!

Our first episode tasks us with the removal of the grand Glooper Blooper. We see regular Bloopers throughout the stage, and they're easily dispatched by stomping on them. Once we make our way over to the shipping containers where our lovely boss is clearly contained, it's time for things to get serious! This is the first boss that can not only damage you, it's also the first boss that can realistically KILL YOU if you're not careful. It only strikes with it's front two front arms, unless you spray water at it and make it just go ham on you with all four. However, that is it's glaring weakness. Once it's slammed the ground, you can jump on the tentacles to stun them. You can then either rip them off so that it's face is defenseless, or quickly go to it's face and give him a big ole snap by pulling his nosemouth squid thing. Two rounds of this and he's sea food.

After that we've got the Blooper Surfing Safari and...oh let me tell you, as a kid these where the death of me. The Blooper Surfing mechanic is a really, REALLY clunky thing, and it shows the instant you get on. The three Bloopers come in Green, Yellow, and Red. They all have the same MAX speed, but the Green and Yellow one go at a slower speed naturally, you have to hold forward to actually achieve the speed of the Red one. The Green one turns best, Yellow middling, and Red turns like liquid ass like it's REALLY bad. If you run into something, if you're going MAX speed (ie, are on the blooper or holding ANYTHING north of 180 degrees on the control stick) you die outright. If not you kinda smush up against the wall and have to hope and pray that your turning doesn't lead you to accidently nudging the control stick one micron into the death zone that is half the Control Stick's movement range.

Oh also now keep all this in mind while doing an actually really strictly timed obstacle course race. I'm really glad for muscle memory here, I'll tell you what. One other side thing to note about the Bloopers: you cannot get off of them without dying. This will come back to us later...

After that we have to find a Shine all trapped up in a cage on the grating catwalk system that allows the Harbor to function. This is...relatively simple a platforming challenge (which explains why I get owned so hard for trying to go about it in a fancier method). By the end of it we have access to the Rocket Nozzle, which we could just use to fly up to where the Shine Sprite is from the water, but since so many people do it that way I decided to also show the "regular" way to do it, using those spring platforms to get into the cage from the top. Unfortunately for me, something I FORGOT was that while on the side grates, B is attack and A is jump of. While on the ceiling grates, B is JUMP OFF and A is ATTACK. This is honestly one of the biggest, legitimate complaints I have about the game. There should never be a case where the controls are reversed in such a way. It's silly. Anyway Shine Get. Also I think I did a good joke here.

Next up is another Secret episode, and you know what that means. The Acapella Zone. I hope you guys like death montages, and I really do hope someone decides to go back and keep a count of all my deaths because uh...wow there are going to be a lot of them. Anyway, this Secret is nothing but a series of rolling rectangle logs, with some gears in the middle. It's...honestly not THAT hard, I just kind of panicked at ended up messing up too much. The logs are actually really lenient in how long Mario can stay walking on them, same with the gears though a little less so. The main danger of this level is forgetting to change the camera perspective to being behind you during the last segment. The instant I remembered to do that, is also the run where I won. Remember guys, camera being behind you is a good way to succeed.

Finally for this video, we've got the illustrious return of Glooper Blooper esquire. This time he's up on a helipad and thus has the included danger of knocking us off the edge. That aside..apart from some issues with Mr Camera (I swear I'm going to fire that Lakitu) this is more of a "second verse same as the first" type situation. Glooper Blooper may be the first boss that can mess us up...but he's still an early game Mario boss. No real challenge here.

And that's all. Next time I'll meet you for uh...a special kind of pain. Cackaw!

------

Italian lesson time! This time our word is "Ricco" which means Rich. I know it means it in the "Wealthy" sort of way but I can't help but think of "Ricco Burlew" for some reason. Badumtish.

[Teddy]

I like how you start it off with Mario hidden. It's both a breather and a joke! http://i.imgur.com/haudcUB.png

What? A boss which can inflict damage?! Now I've seen everything...
http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

Wait a second, if those are its tentacles... did Giant Blooper start out with 5 large tentacles? http://i.imgur.com/kavzNLd.png

Oh wait, now it got 4 new...

Any particular reason you picked the yellow blooper?

Heh, dreaded game challenges have a tendency to become much less fearsome when you grow up. Kids are almost mystifyingly clumsy in everything they do... http://i.imgur.com/rcxULF7.png

Poor shine, first you slam it with your full body weight, and then you kidnap it... http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

Are they building... a powerplant? Why would they even need a cooling tower right next to the ocean?

That platform sure is pushing one forceful cushion of water in front of it. It's not even close to your head when pushing you down! http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

Wait, did you just pass through that ramp?...

This is no construction site, it's a Zodi amusement park! http://i.imgur.com/haudcUB.png

I like the multiple paths in the platforming it had. Makes it more inviting to play with... http://i.imgur.com/jLvmsd9.png

You could wall-jump between those two steel scaffolds, oooor you could just go back and do a higher jump. http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

I didn't realise the far walls of the Acapella Zones were pixel mario lights until now...

Those "just kinda a little deep" holes in the logs are such teases!

I must say I kinda dislike that duck-horn sound at the end of the dying jingle...

Bouncing around the 1-Up shroom...~♫

The part I think looks the most annoying on the spinning logjam at the end is how often the current log blocks your vision of the next one...

Does the boss from the beginning always come back for an encore in all levels? http://i.imgur.com/kavzNLd.png

And out from the volcano comes the shine! http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

[LaZodiac]

Naw, the boss doesn't always make an encore.

Also yes I did pass through that ramp I don't know why.

And yes, everyone dislikes the horn at the end. The dying theme in this game is agony.

[Qwertystop]

Hey, that Secret stage got imported to Galaxy 2, didn't it? Or was that a different one?

[huttj509]

Does looking forward to the red coin version of that secret count as schadenfreude?

[LaZodiac]

Does looking forward to the red coin version of that secret count as schadenfreude?

Yes, yes it does. But man...you don't even know the half of what's coming. I mean unless you've played Sunshine obviously.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

As requested, the Death Count!

Bianco Hills acapella secret 1: 1
Bianco Hills acapella secret 2: 5
Bianco Hills acapella secret time trial 1: 0 ^,^
Bianco Hills acapella secret time trial 2: 3 death 1 time out
Harbor Town acapella secret 1: 13 >.<
TOTAL: 22 deaths, 1 time out

[LaZodiac]

As requested, the Death Count!

Bianco Hills acapella secret 1: 1
Bianco Hills acapella secret 2: 5
Bianco Hills acapella secret time trial 1: 0 ^,^
Bianco Hills acapella secret time trial 2: 3 death 1 time out
Harbor Town acapella secret 1: 13

Awesome, so 23 deaths total so far. Be sure to include that as well, and also holy good god I die a lot :smalleek:

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Awesome, so 23 deaths total so far. Be sure to include that as well, and also holy good god I die a lot :smalleek:

Over half your deaths was from the most recent mission. Which bodes ill for the time trial redoux...

[Coidzor]

Fun fact, Puerto Rico's Rico comes from the same root as Ricco.

Also, silly Mario, trying to be a coconut crab spider.

That was a very nice touch with finishing off the boss at exactly the same time as he was smooshing Mario, I must admit.

Those wind spirits are just the worst though. I kinda wanna punch the person who thought those up.

[Fralex]

After saving the day we're then...arrested by the Delfino Island police department. The DIPD. Hah...yeah about that international incident? They just arrested the national hero of one of the largest Kingdoms in the world. This is kiiind of ridiculous, especially considering the court proceedings are a total kangaroo court!

"Super Mario Sunshine's trial scene is some real Kafka-level ****. A stranger being tried in a new land for crimes committed by a doppleganger he can not defend or be entirely privy to, in a courtroom more abstract than exact, defended and accused by people he has never met."
-GaryX (http://www.avclub.com/article/whats-your-favorite-wtf-moment-mario-history-225230#comment-2254999853)

[HalfTangible]

"Super Mario Sunshine's trial scene is some real Kafka-level ****. A stranger being tried in a new land for crimes committed by a doppleganger he can not defend or be entirely privy to, in a courtroom more abstract than exact, defended and accused by people he has never met."
-GaryX (http://www.avclub.com/article/whats-your-favorite-wtf-moment-mario-history-225230#comment-2254999853)

He's being defended by Peach and the old Toad, neither of whom actually get to defend him

[Durkoala]

The first tme I saw somebody do the Gooper Blooper fight, I immediately thought 'Kratos has nothing on Mario'. One of the most beloved and cheerful video game heroes happily pulling a living squid to bits with his hands... yeesh.:smalleek: I also thought he was a miniboss because he's a pretty underwhelming squid thing. How difficult do the bosses in this game get?

So you can die on the public obstacle course, but not in the super secret enclosed races in the sewers? Seems legit. I do like the Booper sound effects though.
Also, "died to death". Heh.

Pineapple person complains of quiet life, you jump on his head. Truly, your name should be Monkey Paw.

I really like how close the massive platforming structure is to the town, and that there's multiple routes to the top. It's just fun and good cheer-- incarnated as a collossal bright structure that makes no physical sense. It's a bit like the mario series as a whole.
And after all that effort to get up there, you fall through the bottom, all the way back to the start if it wasn't for the rocket nozzle. How does collecting the nozzles work anyway? I'm guessing you've got to start over each time you enter a stage, but you keep all nozzles you collect until you leave the stage? Not including the normal and hover nozzles, as you have those all the time.

I love the Secret places' juxtaposition of calming acappella and crazy platforming. Do-do, do, do-do, do... Waaahhhh! *honk*

...I didn't realise that coins gave you more life. This is why I don't do death counts.

[HalfTangible]

The first tme I saw somebody do the Gooper Blooper fight, I immediately thought 'Kratos has nothing on Mario'. One of the most beloved and cheerful video game heroes happily pulling a living squid to bits with his hands... yeesh.:smalleek: I also thought he was a miniboss because he's a pretty underwhelming squid thing. How difficult do the bosses in this game get?

So you can die on the public obstacle course, but not in the super secret enclosed races in the sewers? Seems legit. I do like the Booper sound effects though.
Also, "died to death". Heh.

Pineapple person complains of quiet life, you jump on his head. Truly, your name should be Monkey Paw.

I really like how close the massive platforming structure is to the town, and that there's multiple routes to the top. It's just fun and good cheer-- incarnated as a collossal bright structure that makes no physical sense. It's a bit like the mario series as a whole.
And after all that effort to get up there, you fall through the bottom, all the way back to the start if it wasn't for the rocket nozzle. How does collecting the nozzles work anyway? I'm guessing you've got to start over each time you enter a stage, but you keep all nozzles you collect until you leave the stage? Not including the normal and hover nozzles, as you have those all the time.

I love the Secret places' juxtaposition of calming acappella and crazy platforming. Do-do, do, do-do, do... Waaahhhh! *honk*

...I didn't realise that coins gave you more life. This is why I don't do death counts.

Picking up a new nozzle switches out that nozzle with your hover nozzle. You only ever have 2 nozzles at a time.

[Durkoala]

Picking up a new nozzle switches out that nozzle with your hover nozzle. You only ever have 2 nozzles at a time.

Ah, thanks. I thought you could collect all the nozzles and have all the nozzle powers at your expense, but apparently not. Can you switch the nozzles back, or are you stuck if you can't find a hover nozzle box?

nozzle nozzle nozzle nozzle nozzle nozzle nozzle nozzle

[LaZodiac]

The first tme I saw somebody do the Gooper Blooper fight, I immediately thought 'Kratos has nothing on Mario'. One of the most beloved and cheerful video game heroes happily pulling a living squid to bits with his hands... yeesh.:smalleek: I also thought he was a miniboss because he's a pretty underwhelming squid thing. How difficult do the bosses in this game get?

So you can die on the public obstacle course, but not in the super secret enclosed races in the sewers? Seems legit. I do like the Booper sound effects though.
Also, "died to death". Heh.

Pineapple person complains of quiet life, you jump on his head. Truly, your name should be Monkey Paw.

I really like how close the massive platforming structure is to the town, and that there's multiple routes to the top. It's just fun and good cheer-- incarnated as a collossal bright structure that makes no physical sense. It's a bit like the mario series as a whole.
And after all that effort to get up there, you fall through the bottom, all the way back to the start if it wasn't for the rocket nozzle. How does collecting the nozzles work anyway? I'm guessing you've got to start over each time you enter a stage, but you keep all nozzles you collect until you leave the stage? Not including the normal and hover nozzles, as you have those all the time.

I love the Secret places' juxtaposition of calming acappella and crazy platforming. Do-do, do, do-do, do... Waaahhhh! *honk*

...I didn't realise that coins gave you more life. This is why I don't do death counts.

The bosses DO get harder, the hardest probably being in World 5.

Also naw you can die in the secret race course to, you've just gotta be careful. The Blooper Races are very fatal, there's a reason there is only one actual contestant.

The Secret Courses are nightmare incarnate. Catchy music is difficult gameplay.

I'm super thankful that Shneekey is keeping track of deaths since that's honestly something I'm curious about: how often do I die in a game like this?


Ah, thanks. I thought you could collect all the nozzles and have all the nozzle powers at your expense, but apparently not. Can you switch the nozzles back, or are you stuck if you can't find a hover nozzle box?

nozzle nozzle nozzle nozzle nozzle nozzle nozzle nozzle

You are stuck until you find it, but any episode that allows you to change nozzles will have a pretty obvious hover box.

[LaZodiac]

It's time or the hell vacation to begin in earnest.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [5] Ice Cream Pain (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDdyt_zeTbc)

Video Length: 25:20


Shines: Ricco Harbor 6, 7. Gelato Beach 1, 2, 3.

Starting us off, we're going back to Ricco Harbor to deal with some stuff. However, like I say in video, this won't be finishing off the Harbor. We've still got a ways to go before we can actually complete episode 8 of Ricco Harbor, so we'll be leaving that for later, as well as getting the two Secret Shines and the 100 Coin Shine. But yes, onwards wit the shines we CAN actually get.

First up is more Blooper Surfing, but this time we've got a timed red coin mission to go along with it! This is pretty agonizing, thought he time limit is quite generous and not really a problem. The problem is that Blooper is VERY dangerous to ride, and some of the coins are put into some pretty precarious spots! Luckily, I know about how to avoid death on the Blooper, so I make good use of that. The problem though, and this is a BIG problem, is that once you've got all 8 coins...you're still stuck on the Blooper. You don't get to be removed from it. You have to get the Shine while riding the Blooper. And god help you if you touch another Blooper. You're forced onto it and flung forward like any other time you grab a Blooper. You'll also notice the Red Blooper, ie the one that's always fatal if it crashes and has the worst turning, is right between you and the Shine. YUP!

Finally, at least for now for Ricco Harbor, we have another chase mission against Shadow Mario. He's pretty tough, if only because his walking on the various struts and stuff up above the Harbor are pretty tricky to deal with. However, he's still a little baby so his stopping to taunt us will be his undoing.

After that, it's onwards to our next world, Gelato Beach! Fun in the sun on this lovely little beach, I'm sure everything will go quite smoothly here. We're introduced to an interesting mechanic in the Sand Dunes, and we get to see the invincible but (relatively) harmless Cataquack enemies. We also meet the second race indigenous to Delfino ISland, the Noki! These sea people are described as being sagely and wise, but not very strong compared to the Pianta. So they're sea elves. Cool. Our first Shine in Gelato Beach is a simple Secret. It's not even THAT hard, though I do end up dying during it somehow. The sandy blocks wear away the instant we touch em, but they will respawn if we give it time. All in all, this is a pretty chill secret.

Next, we have an interesting shine. Huge Cataquack like monsters called Plungelos are messing up with those solar reflection discs that are helping to warm the Sand Bird egg! How could they, the rude ducks! It's up to Mario to upset them and flip them into the sky using physics...which works relatively well for almost all of them. It's an interesting fight to be sure, but not TOO challenging. Unless you have trouble figuring out the sweet spot of course, but that's to be expected.

Third up, we've got another boss! But this one is definitely more of a Capital B Boss then the Plungelos. WIGGLER TRAIN CHOO CHOO! This is a pretty involved boss fight, you've got to trip up the Wiggler three times using the Sand Dunes, then groundpound the part of his orb body that the arrow points to. Not TOO hard, but definitely with the potential for difficulty if you're bad at timing the Sand Dunes or if you happen to be magnetic for Wiggle trains.

And finally...finally we have the Sand Bird. Those of you who know this game know what is coming, but for the sake of the thread lets assume you don't. So after two shines worth of bosses, here you get this scenario that definitely seems like it'll leave to quite an involved boss fight. After all, it's this legendary Sand Bird you've been hearing about for all of Gelato Beach, and it's a big and fancy super monster apparently since it's egg is that large and requires three solar discs to reflect sunlight at it to hatch it. And what do you get when you do finally jump into the place where it burst out of when it was born?

Hell. You get Hell. This is one of the hardest, worst shines in the entiiiire game. Speed Runners developed a means to skip all of Gelato Beach except for Shine 7 and 8 just to avoid doing THIS. You're on a bird that's always flying upward, thus making it quite easy for physics to sometimes just take you away. You explicitly have to JUMP to get some of the coins, which opens you up for more disastrous physics opportunities. The bird will ALWAYS turn at least TWICE before you get to the end, thus causing an absolute despair horizon if you're unable to get past it. Finally, and perhaps most agonizing is...only 7 of the 8 red coins are on this bird. The last coin is right next to where the Shine spawns, on the top of the Sand Tower. So you've got to deal with this bird for the entire time. It' pretty agonizing! I die a lot! I die so much I decide to cut out the actual context of the deaths which I think is a mistake but not one I will make again. I hope Shneekey enjoys counting these :smallamused:

But worst of all, worst of worst of all...I get punished for my hubris. You may of noticed I don't save during the videos. It's a fail safe to ensure I don't mess up the video footage and end up having to redo the entire game due to overzealous saving.

This was, as you will see...a mistake. I hope you've enjoyed my misery, I'll see you guys Friday!

------

Italiano lessonino time! Gelato stands for Ice Cream in Italian, and it's a great word. It just sounds tasty doesn't it. It's to the point where most western cultures have specifically created a type of ice cream that they can reasonably just call Gelato, just to use the word. It's pretty neat. Ice cream, man.

[Fralex]

In spite of the difficulty, I always really enjoyed the buildup to the birth of the Sand Bird. The way each region is like its own little self-contained story was one of my favorite things about Sunshine.
Also, I never seem to tire of the Ricco Harbor theme. I love the way all the instruments sound like boat horns and whistles.

[huttj509]

For the island, I like how the guy at the start says "please don't muck up our nice clean water," and at least until post-sand bird, shadow mario obliges. Paint is not a mechanic there.

As to the loss of lives...Ouch.

If you can spare another save file, it might be viable to use 2 (I assume there's a 'copy save' option). Align both files between posts, play on 1, saving, and the other's at the start of the session in case of glitches.

[LaZodiac]

For the island, I like how the guy at the start says "please don't muck up our nice clean water," and at least until post-sand bird, shadow mario obliges. Paint is not a mechanic there.

As to the loss of lives...Ouch.

If you can spare another save file, it might be viable to use 2 (I assume there's a 'copy save' option). Align both files between posts, play on 1, saving, and the other's at the start of the session in case of glitches.

I'm doing that method as well. I just wanted to make doubly sure that everything went smoothly. Tragically, my attempts to make it better made it worse in some degree.

Also yeah that's one of the weirdest things about Gelato Beach, and we'll likely end up talking more about it later but...there is no actual shine based problems that really involve paint here. It's just a chill as heck beach.

[Coidzor]

I really, really hate those ducks.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

I happen to notice that you have been explicitly avoiding blue coins so far, even going so far as to dodge them when they happen your way...

And now for that painful part... the death toll

Bianco Hills acapella secret 1: 1
Bianco Hills acapella secret 2: 5
Bianco Hills acapella secret time trial 1: 0 ^,^
Bianco Hills acapella secret time trial 2: 3 death 1 time out
Harbor Town acapella secret 1: 13 >.<
Gelato Beach acapella secret 1: 1
Gelato Beach The Sand Bird (That #$^*! Bird): 9 (without success so far)

TOTAL: 33 deaths

[LaZodiac]

I happen to notice that you have been explicitly avoiding blue coins so far, even going so far as to dodge them when they happen your way...

And now for that painful part... the death toll

Gelato Beach acapella secret 1: 1
Gelato Beach The Sand Bird (That #$^*! Bird): 9 (without success so far)

TOTAL: 33 deaths

Since Blue Coins are...quite frustrating in this game, for lack of a better term, I'm going to do them all in one shot. I've gotten pretty good at avoiding them actually, so thanks for noticing :smalltongue:

I'll be honest, knowing how many times I die to the Sand Bird next video...I'm okay with the amount of deaths I've had on it. I may of died a lot to the horrid Sand Bird, but it's not in the triple digits like I suspected.

[Lord Raziere]

Ah yes, I remember playing this game, got about at least 70 sprites in it I believe? been a while.

but really? looking at this, you seem better than I was at playing this, I tended to take things slower while you seem to just easily take the fastest way possible while not thinking anything of it. I don't even remember how I got through the Acapella zones, only that I did.

I mean, I didn't even know you could do those rope tricks with FLUDD, or that water slide trick you always do in Delfino plaza.

as for the newest level that involves the glowing column around the symbol in the plaza....I think that takes you to.....I don't remember but you have to look into the sun to go there, and its either to go to this jungle village deep in the isle or that coral bay place that is painful to go through on any of the missions....can't remember which....

ah yes, the sand bird, the acapella-that-isn't. I don't know how I got past it...but I did. beware of when it does a slow barrel roll X_X you have to be on its neck or tail to survive.

and......thats why I always choose SAVE AND CONTINUE not CONTINUE. those few seconds of saving are vital!

[LaZodiac]

Ah yes, I remember playing this game, got about at least 70 sprites in it I believe? been a while.

but really? looking at this, you seem better than I was at playing this, I tended to take things slower while you seem to just easily take the fastest way possible while not thinking anything of it. I don't even remember how I got through the Acapella zones, only that I did.

I mean, I didn't even know you could do those rope tricks with FLUDD, or that water slide trick you always do in Delfino plaza.

as for the newest level that involves the glowing column around the symbol in the plaza....I think that takes you to.....I don't remember but you have to look into the sun to go there, and its either to go to this jungle village deep in the isle or that coral bay place that is painful to go through on any of the missions....can't remember which....

ah yes, the sand bird, the acapella-that-isn't. I don't know how I got past it...but I did. beware of when it does a slow barrel roll X_X you have to be on its neck or tail to survive.

and......thats why I always choose SAVE AND CONTINUE not CONTINUE. those few seconds of saving are vital!

Glad you're enjoying watching, and thanks. I'll be honest a lot of this skill you say I have might be part muscle memory because I played this game so much as a kid. For the Acapella Zones it takes a bit to remind myself of how to get through it, and my dying a lot gives me quite a bit of practice :smallcool:

I feel like most of those tricks are in the instruction book, but I forget.

Yup, one of those options are correct, and we'll be seeing which one...laaaaater :smallamused:

My lack of saving has owned me so hard that I am now saving after every shine I collect. Once bitten twice shy.

[Fralex]

Hey, we must be getting pretty close to the first Il Piantissimo race, right? That guy was such a little weirdo.

[Teddy]

It's time or the hell vacation to begin in earnest.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [5] Ice Cream Pain (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDdyt_zeTbc)

Video Length: 25:20


Shines: Ricco Harbor 6, 7. Gelato Beach 1, 2, 3.

Hmm, wouldn't it have been easier to go far back and find and angle of approach which lead directly in between the boats instead of circling around just right by them...?

The camera angle looks like it's really awkward in that Shadow Mario hunt...

Wait, was that pianta on fire?

Huh, this secret didn't even have a shadowy door...

Heh, at first I didn't see the shine, so I thought the camera zoomed in on the 1-Up mushroom... http://i.imgur.com/rcxULF7.png

I think "crumble" is a good word for those sand blocks. Or "disintegrate".

Spray, bounce, spray, bounce. Also, this was the closest you've come to running out of water ever!

Loooong shine fly...

Oh, the cataquacks go to sleep? That's cute. http://i.imgur.com/jLvmsd9.png

Hmm, so it's enough for Wiggler to run into the obstacle...

Ooo, sand bird is pretty... http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

Well, at least it doesn't crumble...


But worst of all, worst of worst of all...I get punished for my hubris. You may of noticed I don't save during the videos. It's a fail safe to ensure I don't mess up the video footage and end up having to redo the entire game due to overzealous saving.

Ahh, that explains why you weren't saving...

[LaZodiac]

Hmm, wouldn't it have been easier to go far back and find and angle of approach which lead directly in between the boats instead of circling around just right by them...?

The camera angle looks like it's really awkward in that Shadow Mario hunt...

Wait, was that pianta on fire?

I think "crumble" is a good word for those sand blocks. Or "disintegrate".

Oh, the cataquacks go to sleep? That's cute. http://i.imgur.com/jLvmsd9.png

Ooo, sand bird is pretty... http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

Well, at least it doesn't crumble...

Ahh, that explains why you weren't saving...

Nope, the last red coin you're thinking about is surrounded on all sides by something that is blocking your path from a far distance. You have to either jump over the boats or sneak through the side gap.

I really wish I remembered you could use the C Stick to control the camera more precisely earlier :smallredface:

Yeah that Pianta's on fire. He'll live.

Right! Crumble! I was blanking on that word.

Yeah the Cataquacks go to sleep and make a weird sorta sound when they do it. It is pretty cute.

The Sand Bird certainly looks pretty but...it's kind of agonizing. Also I'd actually be okay if it crumbled because then it wouldn't have to do it's turn mid flight, as that would be FAR too difficult. Basically I'd take the crumbling that you have to manage over the actual turning.

And...yes, that's why I wasn't saving. LESSON LEARNED.

[LaZodiac]

It's time...to embrace Sand Bird.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [6] Watermelon Beach Party (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ0BekcwVz0)

Video Length: 25:07


Shines: Gelato Beach 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8

This episode begins with us tackling the Sand Bird once more. I basically said all I have to say about it last time, but I'll add something here. The biggest thing to keep in mind with this, and really any Acapella Zone like stage, is to keep calm. Just chill out. I realize it's tough to do and tense and stuff, trust me I know. But if you keep on being panicked a bunch, you're not going to win this any time soon. So yeah, I do eventually beat the Sand Bird, after hanging out on a cloud. Since the Sand Bird's actual movement along it's route is faster then it's regular pattern, you don't have to worry about remounting the bird while it's in a turn. It's rough, but I was able to do it. Woohoo!

After that, it's honestly just smooth sailing from here on out. The rest of the Shine's aren't that bad and some are actually outright fun. First up, a race with Il Piantissimo! This dude in a Pianta costume claims to be the fastest runner, and thus we must race him. Overall this is really simple, especially if you know some of the more advanced movement techniques. The time limit is a touch tight if you're not careful, but it should be no sweat if you've made it this far. Also if you fail, you DO lose a life. So be careful of that. The shame is enough to kill him, but only if you talk to Il Piantissimo to confirm you lost (thus why I'm not sure who or what actually kills you).

Next, Red Coins of the Coral Reef. This is pretty simple, just going around swimming in and near the coral reef near the smoothie shack to get Red Coins. The only real trouble here is that the swimming controls are just bad. A makes you go faster and also up, B makes you go faster and also down, but there is no button to go faster and FORWARD. This makes chasing some of the moving Red Coins somewhat...difficult, lets say. At any rate, once I've got the coins it's time for the next Shine. Oops I left in one of the scenes I said I'd cut out oops!

As always and ever, Shine 7 is Shadow Mario. This is honestly one of the more difficult ones since I don't know his pattern that well and there is a lot of clutter in the way to break line of sight. That makes it pretty difficult! That's...about it though. I kinda wish Shadow Mario was more of a fight, with him using his paint brush to attack us in some way.

Finally, we get an honestly pretty fun Shine. The Watermelon Festival! For reasons that I don't quite understand, this Pianta has a Shine and refuses to give it up until he can feed it the best watermelon smoothie ever! Way to slowly kill your own island, dude. Pushing the Watermelons around is kind of tricky since they're so huge, especially the correct Watermelon. However, I've actually got this one down pretty easily! The problem is, of course, dealing with the Cataquacks and getting it across the bridge. I uh...have some fun fighting with the Cataquacks that I hope you guys enjoy. But yeah, once we've smashed that watermelon into goo atop his shack, the Shine is ours and we're done with the Gelato Beach episodes. We've still got the Secret Shines and stuff to do, but I think that'll be later. For now...it's time we headed to Pina Park and maybe finished things.

------

Time or a language lesson!

Il Piantissimo means "The Very Pianta" or more accurately "The Very Tree". It's just a name he took for himself that shows he's very into being a Pianta. I also like how it sort of sounds like Phantom, because he's mechanically a "ghost" that you have to race to the end, symbolic of a certain time. I think it's cute.

[Teddy]

It's time...to embrace Sand Bird.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [6] Watermelon Beach Party (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ0BekcwVz0)

Video Length: 25:07


Shines: Gelato Beach 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8

Woo, Sand Bird completed! http://i.imgur.com/haudcUB.png

Slamming your head into a wall is not a good way to blow off steam, Mario. You might want to talk that over with your therapist. http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

Il Piantissimo creepes me out somehow. I'm not sure if it is the pianta costume, but it's certainly not helping...

Mario just halved your record time, Piantissimo, and your esteem only grows "a little"?

Heh, just as you hold up that Shine, a cute green bird flies by just perfectly to snatch it up. http://i.imgur.com/ZRHtTJs.png

That swimming looks really awkward...

The red coin floats into the rock? That's evil!

Huh, for the first time, the camera isn't getting stuck behind objects, but instead it starts clipping through the terrain. I'm not quite sure which one I prefer...

I like the complete ennui the piantas show toward Shadow Mario running around them in loops. http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

Hmm, the music gets more intense the closer you get to him. That's useful...

Yeah, you should definitely have followed the music there...

Yeah, I think you should have some sweat to rub off your brow after that chase, Mario.

A watermelon which doesn't survive contact with water? You know, if it's that rotten, I'm not sure the Shines will really appreciate it... http://i.imgur.com/3VDrLoW.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

How did that watermelon get down into that little hole? It didn't even touch the blades! http://i.imgur.com/kavzNLd.png

Uhh, Mario, I don't think it's entirely safe standing there...

[LaZodiac]

Woo, Sand Bird completed! http://i.imgur.com/haudcUB.png

Il Piantissimo creepes me out somehow. I'm not sure if it is the pianta costume, but it's certainly not helping...

Mario just halved your record time, Piantissimo, and your esteem only grows "a little"?

That swimming looks really awkward...

The red coin floats into the rock? That's evil!

Huh, for the first time, the camera isn't getting stuck behind objects, but instead it starts clipping through the terrain. I'm not quite sure which one I prefer...

I like the complete ennui the piantas show toward Shadow Mario running around them in loops. http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

Hmm, the music gets more intense the closer you get to him. That's useful...

Yeah, you should definitely have followed the music there...

Yeah, I think you should have some sweat to rub off your brow after that chase, Mario.

A watermelon which doesn't survive contact with water? You know, if it's that rotten, I'm not sure the Shines will really appreciate it... http://i.imgur.com/3VDrLoW.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

How did that watermelon get down into that little hole? It didn't even touch the blades! http://i.imgur.com/kavzNLd.png

Uhh, Mario, I don't think it's entirely safe standing there...

Yup! I'm actually quite happy with the results of my Sand Bird adventure. It was rough and painful but I did it!

Yeah, I can see why Il Piantissimo could freak someone out. I'll be sure to go over some neato concept art and stuff with him later. Ever wonder what he looks like under the mask?

The swimming controls for this game are PRETTY bad which is baffling and weird given it takes place on a tropical island. You'd think swimming would be more of a thing in this. Also yeah some of the Red Coins go into the terrain. If you're unlucky it gets STUCK there and that's fun.

I'd love to follow the music but it's a little hard to parse where exactly it's coming from sometimes.

These are some fragile ass water melons *chucks it off a cliff twice and it's perfectly fine* very fragile indeed.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

It's time...to embrace Sand Bird.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [6] Watermelon Beach Party (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ0BekcwVz0)

Video Length: 25:07


Shines: Gelato Beach 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8

This episode begins with us tackling the Sand Bird once more. I basically said all I have to say about it last time, but I'll add something here. The biggest thing to keep in mind with this, and really any Acapella Zone like stage, is to keep calm. Just chill out. I realize it's tough to do and tense and stuff, trust me I know. But if you keep on being panicked a bunch, you're not going to win this any time soon. So yeah, I do eventually beat the Sand Bird, after hanging out on a cloud. Since the Sand Bird's actual movement along it's route is faster then it's regular pattern, you don't have to worry about remounting the bird while it's in a turn. It's rough, but I was able to do it. Woohoo!

After that, it's honestly just smooth sailing from here on out. The rest of the Shine's aren't that bad and some are actually outright fun. First up, a race with Il Piantissimo! This dude in a Pianta costume claims to be the fastest runner, and thus we must race him. Overall this is really simple, especially if you know some of the more advanced movement techniques. The time limit is a touch tight if you're not careful, but it should be no sweat if you've made it this far. Also if you fail, you DO lose a life. So be careful of that. The shame is enough to kill him, but only if you talk to Il Piantissimo to confirm you lost (thus why I'm not sure who or what actually kills you).

Next, Red Coins of the Coral Reef. This is pretty simple, just going around swimming in and near the coral reef near the smoothie shack to get Red Coins. The only real trouble here is that the swimming controls are just bad. A makes you go faster and also up, B makes you go faster and also down, but there is no button to go faster and FORWARD. This makes chasing some of the moving Red Coins somewhat...difficult, lets say. At any rate, once I've got the coins it's time for the next Shine. Oops I left in one of the scenes I said I'd cut out oops!

As always and ever, Shine 7 is Shadow Mario. This is honestly one of the more difficult ones since I don't know his pattern that well and there is a lot of clutter in the way to break line of sight. That makes it pretty difficult! That's...about it though. I kinda wish Shadow Mario was more of a fight, with him using his paint brush to attack us in some way.

Finally, we get an honestly pretty fun Shine. The Watermelon Festival! For reasons that I don't quite understand, this Pianta has a Shine and refuses to give it up until he can feed it the best watermelon smoothie ever! Way to slowly kill your own island, dude. Pushing the Watermelons around is kind of tricky since they're so huge, especially the correct Watermelon. However, I've actually got this one down pretty easily! The problem is, of course, dealing with the Cataquacks and getting it across the bridge. I uh...have some fun fighting with the Cataquacks that I hope you guys enjoy. But yeah, once we've smashed that watermelon into goo atop his shack, the Shine is ours and we're done with the Gelato Beach episodes. We've still got the Secret Shines and stuff to do, but I think that'll be later. For now...it's time we headed to Pina Park and maybe finished things.

------

Time or a language lesson!

Il Piantissimo means "The Very Pianta" or more accurately "The Very Tree". It's just a name he took for himself that shows he's very into being a Pianta. I also like how it sort of sounds like Phantom, because he's mechanically a "ghost" that you have to race to the end, symbolic of a certain time. I think it's cute.
Yes, you were, in fact, owned by that catafalq.

DEATH COUNT!

Gelato Beach: Sand Bird (again): 2

TOTAL: 35

[Qwertystop]

Can't you spray underwater to go fast without going up or down?

[LaZodiac]

Beach, not Island, but that aside woo!

Also yes, I have been thoroughly trod upon by that Cataquack. Hope you guys enjoyed that, that area is kind of cursed for me, it seems.

And no Qwerty, you cannot spray while in water to go up and down. That's somewhere else, which gets it's own mechanics.

[Qwertystop]

Beach, not Island, but that aside woo!

Also yes, I have been thoroughly trod upon by that Cataquack. Hope you guys enjoyed that, that area is kind of cursed for me, it seems.

And no Qwerty, you cannot spray while in water to go up and down. That's somewhere else, which gets it's own mechanics.

Wasn't saying to go up or down. To go faster, like you have done several times with the Hover Nozzle at the water surface.

[Lord Raziere]

It's time...to embrace Sand Bird.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [6] Watermelon Beach Party (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ0BekcwVz0)

Video Length: 25:07


Yes! Sand Bird is passed! Joy to the world!

and yeah, I didn't get the watermelon one finished for a long time. Mostly because I don't do things zone-by-zone like you do, I just hopped around doing whatever shine I could manage in whatever one I felt liked doing that day then switch over to another zone and try another one...

speaking of which, that was some real bad luck with that cataquack there. you were almost juggled into oblivion.

[LaZodiac]

Wasn't saying to go up or down. To go faster, like you have done several times with the Hover Nozzle at the water surface.

Ah, right. Nope, sorry, no can do. It works on the surface, but not underwater. It's actually somewhat fascinating but, the water is not actually a large cube you swim in in this game. All the water is is a thin layer that changes Mario's physics when he goes under it from above it. Later on I'll show what happens if you end up under water without going through the water layer. It's neat!


Yes! Sand Bird is passed! Joy to the world!

and yeah, I didn't get the watermelon one finished for a long time. Mostly because I don't do things zone-by-zone like you do, I just hopped around doing whatever shine I could manage in whatever one I felt liked doing that day then switch over to another zone and try another one...

speaking of which, that was some real bad luck with that cataquack there. you were almost juggled into oblivion.

And I never had to do it again*

I'll admit, doing the Shine's in any order is probably a better way to do it since it lets you experience the game more immediately instead of sticking around for three some episodes in the same place. But I felt like doing it in order.

Something about that area involves me getting combo'd by things a lot. I edited a video you guys won't see for...lets say awhile, that has something like that.

*except for the blue coins

[Coidzor]

And I thought the swimming segments in Mario 64 were kind of boring. Oy, that was a bit of a snooze fest, broken up by the aggravation of the sound just from losing your first tick or two of air. Should have gone with something minor that built up a sense of urgency as the air depleted or something. :V Silly game devs.

Ah, now I remember why I hate those damned ducks, too. The juggling. Oh dear lord the juggling. Poor solar dish, but at least it's done its job and hatched that there Sand Bird monstrosity. Which may or may not have just always been like that or be one of the many side projects of Kamek's dastardliness.

Also, I love how Mario just stands on top of the actively blending blender roof to grab that shine. Silly Mario, no sense of self-preservation.


Time or a language lesson!

Il Piantissimo means "The Very Pianta" or more accurately "The Very Tree". It's just a name he took for himself that shows he's very into being a Pianta. I also like how it sort of sounds like Phantom, because he's mechanically a "ghost" that you have to race to the end, symbolic of a certain time. I think it's cute.

The Tree-est! Treeiest? Very Most Tree?

The weirdest thing is seeing another human(?) in a Mario game who isn't one of the Mario Bros or a princess.

[LaZodiac]

It's-a time for more Mario!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [7] Shadows (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne3jPldeiho)

Video Length: 25:41

Shines: Gelato Beach Secret Shine 1, 2, and the 100 Coin Shine. Pinna Park 1, 2, and 3.

Starting us off today, we're going to clean up Gelato Beach. First up, the Secret Shines! Now as I'm sure you all noticed, there is only one Acapella Zone in this stage. I said previously that all the Secret Shines are hidden in the Acapella Zone "Secret" stages. Well, what do we do here? In this case, somewhere in the world, there is a way to get a hidden shine. In some worlds this is as simple as "complete a task" like completing a race in under a certain strict timelimit. In some cases, as it is with Gelato Beach, there is just a hidden Shine image somewhere in any of the episodes that you have to spray to reveal the Shine. This is kind of agonizing because how the hell are you supposed to figure this out except by accident? At any rate, we get it and then have some fun doing a Red Coin time trial. I say fun because aaanything is better then the Sand Bird.

After that, it's 100 Coin time. The problem with this level is that there just isn't very many coins IN the stage. Some of the longest chains of coins also lead to a Blue Coin so...you can imagine I had to do some resetting because yeah oops picked up a Blue Coin OOPS. Another big problem is that the coins that drop from the Cataquacks take a HELLA quick time to despawn. It's actually kind of awful how quickly they despawn. You can also get into situations where coins will phase through walls and become uncollectable, making this needlessly hard. Finally, the main way you even GET coins in this stage is by smashing Watermelons, and by taking smaller Watermelons to the juice shack. However that has a problem of the dude just throwing the coins out willy nilly, making it hard for you to even COLLECT them! So overall getting 100 coins here kinda sucks. But hey, did it. I also show off the places you can see from Gelato Beach and as a reminder again this is a super cool feature.

With that out of the way...y'all remember we got a plot going on right? Peach was kidnapped and taken to Pinna Island! We must rescue her! So we load ourselves into the cannon and fire ourselves off to Pinna Park! In hot pursuit of Shadow Mario, we chase him to a large fountain. But out of the fountain rises...a gigantic Mecha Bowser! This is actually a somewhat challenging quasi-boss fight. He doesn't do much damage, his most dangerous attack being setting you on fire which he can only do when your pre-set roller coaster route gets close to him. But his Bullet Bills are constant and, as I mention in video, kind of impossible to actually deal with effectively. You will inevitably be blindsided by three or four of these guys. You can also only attack Mecha-Bowser at certain points, due to the somewhat strict aiming and also needing to collect Bottle Rockets along the pre-set path.

Once we defeat Mecha-Bowser, Shadow Mario reveals his true form...AN IRASCIBLE YOUNG TEEN! Bowser Jr, the son of Bowser, with a magical paint brush that was just sort of given to him by Professor E. Gadd, the creator of FLUDD and also a vacuum that lets you suck up ghosts! It seems his goal this entire time was to make Mario look bad, SO MARIO WOULD BE SENT TO PRISON, which is a HILARIOUS plan. It almost worked too except the Mafia run Delfino government actually worked against him. But why do all this? Because...Peach is his Mama! Dun dun duuuun!

This event is obviously quite a shake up, and look I get it this is Mario who actually cares about the lore and stuff, I care about Zelda since it does seem to be serious but this it isn't. But I still think it's worth talking about. I have more to say on this later, but I just want you to keep in mind Peach never actually denies this, and her response is more of a chill confused wonderment, as if she's trying to remember if it is true or not. Regardless of it being true or not, Peach's response to it is amazing.

That being said, we get a Shine and Junior flies off with Peach in a giant floating Bowser Balloon head, going off to Corona Mountain. Looks like we've still got some traveling to do.

Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, lets try out some of the park attractions! Well...that's what I'd say, but an angry Monty Mole has taken over a cannon and is tormenting the beach front property! The doors to Pinna Park as closed, and we've gotta blow up the mole! In doing so, dodging his attacks and throwing his Bob-ombs back at him, we unlock a Secret to discover. Inside we have...probably my favorite Acapella Zone? I know that's a weird thing to say but basically I just kinda like THIS obstacle. It's fun and tense and I get it. Vanishing blocks that actually have a sort of warning sign before vanishing, yo!

With that done we can actually, finally, enter the park for real. We've gotta collect some Red Coins on the swinging boat ride and this is actually kind of easy and fun. The music also rules and is great. I even get to show off a few fancy tricks here and there. All in all, quite fun! This amusement park actually is quite amusing and fun and it's a far cry from Gelato Beach's kind of agonizing beach fun. But that's all I've got for today and...hehe, I think you guys'll like what happens next here. Until then!

------

Time for some lessons! I uh...made a slight error here. I think?

Pinna: Pinna can mean Fin in Italian, but it can also be seen as a sort of play on piña which is Spanish for Pineapple. So yeah, this is Pineapple Park, and quite cool.

Corona: This one is easy it's crown in Italian. Fitting for a volcano!

Noki: I'm bringing this up because I just realized it recently and it's super great. Noki is derived from Gnocchi, the pasta. Specifically, Gnocchi is the seashell pasta. Thus, we now have a full understand of why the Noki are what they are. Hella rad!

[Lord Raziere]

It's-a time for more Mario!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [7] Shadows (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne3jPldeiho)


Yay.

The Secret Shines: 0_0 I didn't even know about the one hidden in the sand pit. you are right, that one is sneaky. and five seconds left, WHEW!

and yay, Pina Park time! and yeah.....the fact that Peach is just standing there kind of confused instead of denying it is.....strange. in ways you never want to think about.

oh the Beach cannon secret.....I remember this one. I don't think I was as good as to do it one go....or maybe I'm thinking of a later secret with the same background.

[LaZodiac]

Yay.

The Secret Shines: 0_0 I didn't even know about the one hidden in the sand pit. you are right, that one is sneaky. and five seconds left, WHEW!

and yay, Pina Park time! and yeah.....the fact that Peach is just standing there kind of confused instead of denying it is.....strange. in ways you never want to think about.

oh the Beach cannon secret.....I remember this one. I don't think I was as good as to do it one go....or maybe I'm thinking of a later secret with the same background.

I cut things waaay to close on these Red Coin trials sometimes my goodness. Also yeah, I'm genuinely curious if anyone ever found that Secret Shine without a guide or something telling them.

Pinna Park is a really good level except for maybe two Episodes and the fact that it opens with questions I don't think we ever wanted to consider being asked. I mean we know that when he's not being a big bad kidnapper dude Bowser's kind of chill as hell and actually good friends with them, so I mean...it's weird.

There are very few times I'll complete a Secret in one go, and this is one of em! I think everyone's decent at at least one of these though.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

I just... I have no words... that is... I mean...

WTF?

Either Bowser told a whopper to his kid, which is distinctly possible, or... well... I guess now we know why he kept kidnapping her. Yanno, this was kind of a dirty schoolkid rumor thing starting back from SMB3, wondering where all those kids came from...

And yes, you do have some slick moves. Occasionally.

And now for your less-than slick moves: The Death Toll!

Gelato Beach Acapella Redoux: 1
Pinna Park Beach Cannon Secret: 0 ^.^

TOTAL: 36

(I promise I've got something cool in mind for the death toll once I get a chance to)

[LaZodiac]

I just... I have no words... that is... I mean...

WTF?

Either Bowser told a whopper to his kid, which is distinctly possible, or... well... I guess now we know why he kept kidnapping her. Yanno, this was kind of a dirty schoolkid rumor thing starting back from SMB3, wondering where all those kids came from...

And yes, you do have some slick moves. Occasionally.

And now for your less-than slick moves: The Death Toll!

Gelato Beach Acapella Redoux: 1
Pinna Park Beach Cannon Secret: 0 ^.^

TOTAL: 36

(I promise I've got something cool in mind for the death toll once I get a chance to)

Oh god right it occurs to me that you and some other people don't actually know what's coming up here. Oh jeez that's gonna be fun to see the reaction to. We'll talk more about the questions that didn't need to be asked later.

Thanks, I try to be a little stylish. Sometimes. And don't worry about it, the death toll enough is pretty cool (though dang if I'm not curious to see what you have in mind :smallamused:).

[DataNinja]

We'll talk more about the questions that didn't need to be asked later.

:smalleek: Or... we could not. Sadly, I know too many answers for my own good. :smalltongue:

[Lord Raziere]

Oh! I remember what Zodi is talking about. yeah....THAT might be coming soon, yeah, pretty fun, you'll soon see why. your going to be in for a ride but I doubt it'll be hard to swallow. :smallbiggrin:

[ShneekeyTheLost]

And don't worry about it, the death toll enough is pretty cool (though dang if I'm not curious to see what you have in mind :smallamused:).

Let us simply say I am getting acquainted with the TABLE code. And not doing a particularly good job at it at the moment. Column-spanning seems to be an impossibility at present, which is exceedingly unfortunate.

[Seerow]

Let us simply say I am getting acquainted with the TABLE code. And not doing a particularly good job at it at the moment. Column-spanning seems to be an impossibility at present, which is exceedingly unfortunate.

I'm pretty sure it's doable, I seem to remember making it work with one of my old homebrew things. I'll see if I can find it or re-figure it out for you.




Also hi! Mostly lurking, I just caught up on the last week or two of videos today. Unfortunately the Bowser Jr. revalation got spoiled for me by watching a few too many Game Theory videos on youtube, so it wasn't a surprise, but it was nice to see it in context.


I am curious though, why are we skipping the blue coins until later? Is it just so you don't forget which ones you've already picked up when you go to do a clean sweep? Why not do a full sweep of blue coins when you complete a level? Also why did we abandon level 2 early? You mentioned prerequisites, what prerequisites force you to need to move on? I'm enjoying the gameplay, but I'm a little confused at the decisions, because they seem to be being made from the perspective of "I know this is what I need to do", but as someone who never played... I'm having a hard time following the why of it.


Edit: Yep, to make colspan what you need to do is put it inside a td or th tag. So {th="colspan: 3"} would make the table head go across 3 columns. See a sample of it working here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?336953-Fighting-with-Style-(Revamped-New-Feats))

[LaZodiac]

Game Theory

I am curious though, why are we skipping the blue coins until later? Is it just so you don't forget which ones you've already picked up when you go to do a clean sweep? Why not do a full sweep of blue coins when you complete a level? Also why did we abandon level 2 early? You mentioned prerequisites, what prerequisites force you to need to move on? I'm enjoying the gameplay, but I'm a little confused at the decisions, because they seem to be being made from the perspective of "I know this is what I need to do", but as someone who never played... I'm having a hard time following the why of it.


Ah, my arch enemy. Anyway, answering your questions!

I'm skipping Blue Coins explicitly and 100% because I want to do them in a clean sweep, to ensure I get them all without forgetting which ones I've gotten. My plan WAS to do them once I finish a level, but then I realized that oh hey right I need a thing to actually GET all the Blue Coins, because at this very moment in time Blue Coins are not all obtainable. We abandoned Ricco Harbor early for the same prerequisite. I don't want to spoil it for people coming into this blind, but suffice to say FRIDAY is when you'll find out. Sorry about it being a bit confusing, and I'll try and elaborate/show the process of "oh that's what you're supposed to do" later as I play. The problem is that these are all very "ingrained" for lack of a better term. I know to do this stuff and it just comes naturally. Like said, I'll show off a bit more clearer the "why" of it in the future!

I'm glad you're enjoying that aside. And also like I said don't worry, that nasty Prerequisite will be discovered in the next video :smallamused:

[DataNinja]

Ah, my arch enemy.

Huzzah. I'm not alone. :smalltongue:

[Seerow]

Alas, as Game Theory is your enemy, Friday is mine. It's like tomorrow, except it's always more than a day away.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

I'm pretty sure it's doable, I seem to remember making it work with one of my old homebrew things. I'll see if I can find it or re-figure it out for you.

Edit: Yep, to make colspan what you need to do is put it inside a td or th tag. So {th="colspan: 3"} would make the table head go across 3 columns. See a sample of it working here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?336953-Fighting-with-Style-(Revamped-New-Feats))

You are a lifesaver, now I will employ these tactics when I am not running on two hours of sleep. Fear the sleep-dep-derp.

[LaZodiac]

Bongo bongo bongo bongo bongo bongo.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [8] Bongo Time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x624v-kGXHc)

Video Length: 24:06

Shines: Pinna Park 4, Ricco Harbor 8, and Bianco Hill's 30 Blue Coins

This time on Super Mario Sunshine, we're finally going to be doing some well deserved clean up. But first, we must see about unlocking that final little prerequisite I keep talking about. Going to Pinna Park, we find that the beach has been infested with...giant Yoshi eggs! They're making the sunflowers sick and that's sad, so lets mournfully smash these evil Yoshis! Only, after spraying them with water, we see that they are actually koopas! Specifically they are Snooze-A-Koopa! These nasty guys are ruining Yoshi's reputation. In order to smash them we need to make sure they land on sand so they get stuck, then ground pound into them like they try to do with us. Simple Shine to get really, but this is the trigger for an event that theoretically could of happened a lot earlier.

Back in Delfino Plaza, now that we've beaten 4-4 Shadow Mario appears! In his nasty hands he holds a genuine Yoshi egg! Smashing him unlocks Yoshi in EVERY stage, as long as the episode you go to has a Yoshi egg in it. Yoshi's work a little different from normal Mario games. He's got a time limit as shown by his juice meter, which he can expend to fire juice at things like Mario's FLUDD. He also can't swim, for some reason tropical flavored Yoshi's melt in water. Don't worry though they just go back to their protective egg, they're fine. They can also eat things, and have a kind of wickedly long tongue that homes in on enemies. It's kinda neat! Finally, as with all games ever to feature Yoshi, while riding your trusty steed a rad as hell bongo back beat players with the music. I'll do my best to show this off in every stage he exists in.

But yes, with Yoshi in tow, we can now do a bunch of stuff we couldn't before. So lets return to Ricco Harbor episode 8 to have a delicious fruit based adventure! In this stage, we've gotta feed Yoshi the right Fruit so we can use his special juice properties (the fact that he can turn enemies into platforms with it) to get to the highest sea platform in the area, which has a cube on it. Blocking the turn-grate to get into the cube where the Shine is is a weird wobbly yellow goo that only Yoshi's juice can destroy. Thus why we've gotta get our platformin' on with the good ole dragon horse. The problem is that this episode's Yoshi is picky, and only wants a Durian. Durians are the most "physics" fruit in this game, in that you cannot pick them up, you've gotta kick em around and hope physics is kind to you. After getting the fruit it should be simple (it's not because I'm still getting used to controlling Yoshi again).

A primer on Yoshi platforms. Purple platforms move "forward" for a given definition of the term forward (I don't actually know what tells the game which way to go). Pink platforms go up. Orange platforms go....nowhere. I'll show them off later.

Anyway, now that we have unlocked the Yoshi Egg, it's time for the game to start throwing a bunch of Shadow Mario events at us! First, if you've got 25 Shines and the Yoshi Egg, Shadow Mario appears with the Turbo Nozzle! If you've got 30 Shines and the Yoshi Egg, he appears with the Rocket Nozzle. With those now unlocked in every stage and the hub we can now do a lot of cool things, but not yet. Because we've got something slightly more important to take care of.

The important thing to take care of is to finally see about getting those Blue Coins. Now, as you may of noticed, I've been avoiding Blue Coins. The reason I do this is so I can collect them all in one fell swoop, since some Blue Coins ONLY appear in certain Episodes, thus making collecting "the final one coin" kind of hard if you doooon't know what you're doing. Another reason why I waited until I got Yoshi to do this is because some coins can ONLY be obtained by Yoshi. Eating Blue Butterflies or Bee's, for instance. You've gotta do all that as Yoshi to get the Blue Coins. So yeah, the rest of the video is a montage of me getting all the sweet blue coinage for Bianco Hills, finally putting an end to our time in the lovely starting zone of this game.

I hope you guys enjoyed, because next time...more clean up!

------

Minor correction on my part. Durian's are not technically illegal in Airports. I've heard and read conflicting reports, but basically they're still a pretty illegal fruit because they just stink s god damn much.

[Seerow]

ITS A BIRD

ITS A PLANE

NO ITS A YOSHI!



No seriously, I was really surprised here. I didn't know that Yoshi made an appearance in this game at all, or if he did show up I figured it'd be a minor easter egg like in Mario 64. Rideable Yoshi with unique platforming mechanics is pretty awesome. I just would never have guessed that was what we were wsome aiting on, I was expecting some unlockable nozzle that was necessary.

Yay Yoshi!


edit: also, holy hell there's about 5x more blue coins in a single stage than I expected. When I saw your post say you were up to 30 blue coins, I expected that to mean you cleared out every level available, not just Bianco Hills.

[LaZodiac]

ITS A BIRD

ITS A PLANE

NO ITS A YOSHI!



No seriously, I was really surprised here. I didn't know that Yoshi made an appearance in this game at all, or if he did show up I figured it'd be a minor easter egg like in Mario 64. Rideable Yoshi with unique platforming mechanics is pretty awesome. I just would never have guessed that was what we were wsome aiting on, I was expecting some unlockable nozzle that was necessary.

Yay Yoshi!


edit: also, holy hell there's about 5x more blue coins in a single stage than I expected. When I saw your post say you were up to 30 blue coins, I expected that to mean you cleared out every level available, not just Bianco Hills.

And this is why I kept it a secret :smallwink:

Also yeah guess what guys, there are 30 blue coins in eeevery world! By the time we're done we'll have 240 Blue Coins. That's 24 Shines. Welcome to Blue Coins!

[Lord Raziere]

Bongo bongo bongo bongo bongo bongo.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [8] Bongo Time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x624v-kGXHc)


I knew it! Yooooshi!

0_0 I didn't know you could spin jump with Yoshi!

I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD EAT BIRDS WITH YOSHI! :smalleek:

also I notice something: you don't use the sewers that are all around here. I guess its your fanciness, but I always just used the sewers to walk around under in because they're just reliable like that to get everywhere. that and there are some blue coins you can get only underground.

as for the "secret" to get to the top of shine gate early hm....I don't remember it exactly, it MIGHT be finding the right ledge in the back, jumping really high then using the hover module....but yeah, THATs where the jungle village pipe is....while the pipe near the plaza leads to the eternal sunset hotel.

and yeah Durians.....trollface soccerballs in fruit form. how I dislike them.

as for the Blue Coins, I didn't know about a vast majority of them. I was never that much of a completionist.

[Coidzor]

After that, it's 100 Coin time. The problem with this level is that there just isn't very many coins IN the stage. Some of the longest chains of coins also lead to a Blue Coin so...you can imagine I had to do some resetting because yeah oops picked up a Blue Coin OOPS. Another big problem is that the coins that drop from the Cataquacks take a HELLA quick time to despawn. It's actually kind of awful how quickly they despawn. You can also get into situations where coins will phase through walls and become uncollectable, making this needlessly hard. Finally, the main way you even GET coins in this stage is by smashing Watermelons, and by taking smaller Watermelons to the juice shack. However that has a problem of the dude just throwing the coins out willy nilly, making it hard for you to even COLLECT them! So overall getting 100 coins here kinda sucks. But hey, did it. I also show off the places you can see from Gelato Beach and as a reminder again this is a super cool feature.

Quite. Poor game design in the extreme on those fronts.


With that out of the way...y'all remember we got a plot going on right? Peach was kidnapped and taken to Pinna Island! We must rescue her! So we load ourselves into the cannon and fire ourselves off to Pinna Park!

Woo, first level not accessed through mystical magical graffiti!


In hot pursuit of Shadow Mario, we chase him to a large fountain. But out of the fountain rises...a gigantic Mecha Bowser!

Because why bother continuing the charade when they've been this obvious about being Koopa-affiliated?


Once we defeat Mecha-Bowser, Shadow Mario reveals his true form...AN IRASCIBLE YOUNG TEEN!

Wait, he's a teenager? Huh.


Bowser Jr, the son of Bowser, with a magical paint brush that was just sort of given to him by Professor E. Gadd, the creator of FLUDD and also a vacuum that lets you suck up ghosts!

Wait, it wasn't even stolen? Man, I hate that guy even more now. XD


It seems his goal this entire time was to make Mario look bad, SO MARIO WOULD BE SENT TO PRISON, which is a HILARIOUS plan. It almost worked too except the Mafia run Delfino government actually worked against him. But why do all this? Because...Peach is his Mama! Dun dun duuuun!

Ahh, the line that made a thousand shippers feel vindication and churn out even more rule 34.


This event is obviously quite a shake up, and look I get it this is Mario who actually cares about the lore and stuff, I care about Zelda since it does seem to be serious but this it isn't. But I still think it's worth talking about. I have more to say on this later, but I just want you to keep in mind Peach never actually denies this, and her response is more of a chill confused wonderment, as if she's trying to remember if it is true or not. Regardless of it being true or not, Peach's response to it is amazing.

So ditzy, yeah.

Also, FLUDD. So unenthusiastic about that "oh no, not again." line.


That being said, we get a Shine and Junior flies off with Peach in a giant floating Bowser Balloon head, going off to Corona Mountain. Looks like we've still got some traveling to do.

Oh dear, Beer Mountain. And this was supposed to be a kid's game! :smallamused:


Also, kind of amusing that the Monty Mole tanked more Bob-ombs than the Mecha Bowser could take bottle rockets. XD


Corona: This one is easy it's crown in Italian. Fitting for a volcano!

Also a brand of beer.


Noki: I'm bringing this up because I just realized it recently and it's super great. Noki is derived from Gnocchi, the pasta. Specifically, Gnocchi is the seashell pasta. Thus, we now have a full understand of why the Noki are what they are. Hella rad!

Stuffed seashell pasta. Usually full of potato, cheese, or pumpkin in my experience, and all have been delightful.

[HalfTangible]

Also, it's the island dolphin's eye.

Cornea~!

...

Yes i know it's not corona shut up it's a pun and I like it. :smalltongue:

[Coidzor]

Also, it's the island dolphin's eye.

Cornea~!

...

Yes i know it's not corona shut up it's a pun and I like it. :smalltongue:

At least it's not covered in foxes, giving the Deflinans Corneria.

[Durkoala]

It's-a time for more Mario!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [7] Shadows (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne3jPldeiho)

Video Length: 25:41

Shines: Gelato Beach Secret Shine 1, 2, and the 100 Coin Shine. Pinna Park 1, 2, and 3.

Starting us off today, we're going to clean up Gelato Beach. First up, the Secret Shines! Now as I'm sure you all noticed, there is only one Acapella Zone in this stage. I said previously that all the Secret Shines are hidden in the Acapella Zone "Secret" stages. Well, what do we do here? In this case, somewhere in the world, there is a way to get a hidden shine. In some worlds this is as simple as "complete a task" like completing a race in under a certain strict timelimit. In some cases, as it is with Gelato Beach, there is just a hidden Shine image somewhere in any of the episodes that you have to spray to reveal the Shine. This is kind of agonizing because how the hell are you supposed to figure this out except by accident? At any rate, we get it and then have some fun doing a Red Coin time trial. I say fun because aaanything is better then the Sand Bird.

After that, it's 100 Coin time. The problem with this level is that there just isn't very many coins IN the stage. Some of the longest chains of coins also lead to a Blue Coin so...you can imagine I had to do some resetting because yeah oops picked up a Blue Coin OOPS. Another big problem is that the coins that drop from the Cataquacks take a HELLA quick time to despawn. It's actually kind of awful how quickly they despawn. You can also get into situations where coins will phase through walls and become uncollectable, making this needlessly hard. Finally, the main way you even GET coins in this stage is by smashing Watermelons, and by taking smaller Watermelons to the juice shack. However that has a problem of the dude just throwing the coins out willy nilly, making it hard for you to even COLLECT them! So overall getting 100 coins here kinda sucks. But hey, did it. I also show off the places you can see from Gelato Beach and as a reminder again this is a super cool feature.

With that out of the way...y'all remember we got a plot going on right? Peach was kidnapped and taken to Pinna Island! We must rescue her! So we load ourselves into the cannon and fire ourselves off to Pinna Park! In hot pursuit of Shadow Mario, we chase him to a large fountain. But out of the fountain rises...a gigantic Mecha Bowser! This is actually a somewhat challenging quasi-boss fight. He doesn't do much damage, his most dangerous attack being setting you on fire which he can only do when your pre-set roller coaster route gets close to him. But his Bullet Bills are constant and, as I mention in video, kind of impossible to actually deal with effectively. You will inevitably be blindsided by three or four of these guys. You can also only attack Mecha-Bowser at certain points, due to the somewhat strict aiming and also needing to collect Bottle Rockets along the pre-set path.

Once we defeat Mecha-Bowser, Shadow Mario reveals his true form...AN IRASCIBLE YOUNG TEEN! Bowser Jr, the son of Bowser, with a magical paint brush that was just sort of given to him by Professor E. Gadd, the creator of FLUDD and also a vacuum that lets you suck up ghosts! It seems his goal this entire time was to make Mario look bad, SO MARIO WOULD BE SENT TO PRISON, which is a HILARIOUS plan. It almost worked too except the Mafia run Delfino government actually worked against him. But why do all this? Because...Peach is his Mama! Dun dun duuuun!

This event is obviously quite a shake up, and look I get it this is Mario who actually cares about the lore and stuff, I care about Zelda since it does seem to be serious but this it isn't. But I still think it's worth talking about. I have more to say on this later, but I just want you to keep in mind Peach never actually denies this, and her response is more of a chill confused wonderment, as if she's trying to remember if it is true or not. Regardless of it being true or not, Peach's response to it is amazing.

That being said, we get a Shine and Junior flies off with Peach in a giant floating Bowser Balloon head, going off to Corona Mountain. Looks like we've still got some traveling to do.

Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, lets try out some of the park attractions! Well...that's what I'd say, but an angry Monty Mole has taken over a cannon and is tormenting the beach front property! The doors to Pinna Park as closed, and we've gotta blow up the mole! In doing so, dodging his attacks and throwing his Bob-ombs back at him, we unlock a Secret to discover. Inside we have...probably my favorite Acapella Zone? I know that's a weird thing to say but basically I just kinda like THIS obstacle. It's fun and tense and I get it. Vanishing blocks that actually have a sort of warning sign before vanishing, yo!

With that done we can actually, finally, enter the park for real. We've gotta collect some Red Coins on the swinging boat ride and this is actually kind of easy and fun. The music also rules and is great. I even get to show off a few fancy tricks here and there. All in all, quite fun! This amusement park actually is quite amusing and fun and it's a far cry from Gelato Beach's kind of agonizing beach fun. But that's all I've got for today and...hehe, I think you guys'll like what happens next here. Until then!

------

Time for some lessons! I uh...made a slight error here. I think?

Pinna: Pinna can mean Fin in Italian, but it can also be seen as a sort of play on piña which is Spanish for Pineapple. So yeah, this is Pineapple Park, and quite cool.

Corona: This one is easy it's crown in Italian. Fitting for a volcano!

Noki: I'm bringing this up because I just realized it recently and it's super great. Noki is derived from Gnocchi, the pasta. Specifically, Gnocchi is the seashell pasta. Thus, we now have a full understand of why the Noki are what they are. Hella rad!

Of all the wierdness in the Mario universe, I think that a giant bird made of blocks of sand that don't dissolve is one of the weirdest. Also it looks hard as nails, so it's a good thing you only have to go back once more...:smallwink:

Although, since I just mentioned sand, the gelato beach Acapella zone doesn't look too bad. When I first saw it, I thought that the sand wouldn't come back once it vanished, but that turned out to not be the case: you can pretty much hang around the last area and wait for the blocks to respawn instead of being trapped if you get it wrong.

I also like Gelato beach in general, with the many stange sand plants, the twangy cataquacks (heh) and the wiggler boss, which is actually a pretty cool idea for what's normally just a tough minion, especially how it uses the normal stage as its battleground. I am curious as to whether cataquacks appear elsewhere in the Mario series? I don't remember them appearing at all.

Bowser Jr is odd. Firstly, he's a lot more innocent than he seems in later games, and also younger. To me, he feels more like a 7-10 year old rather than a teen, with his fixation on his mother figure and his belief that he's the hero in this drama. Like I mentioned earlier, it feels a shame that he's now basically... Bowser Jr, unlike the rest of the Koopalings with their personality and quirks they brought to being the Koopa heirs. I wish they were still the other kids of Bowser...

This is something that often irritates me about the main Mario series. Despite having the story hooks, characters and ability to have a decent story, they keep squashing the characters as flat as possible and stifling any attempt to build a continuity. Here, it's Peach who suffers: This is a perfect opportunity to see what the Princess does when the koopas come a-knocking, and we've seen that she can be a resourceful woman even when locked up, managing to persuade people to smuggle items to Mario while being stranded in enemy territory... and instead she just stands around and screams for Mario. This is the supposed leader of a country, a veteran kidnapee and a woman who has several times shown that she's willing to take to the front lines and be effective when she does so. Is it too much to ask for her to at least be completely blasé about the whole thing, politely introduce herself to Shadow Mario, recommend a few jail designers for cheap, secure, comfortable prisons, give a cheery wave to Mario as she leaves?



So, having had a good whinge, Yoshi time! I love Yoshis, even if these ones are a bit odd. Go figure that the tropical Yoshis are allergic to both water and fruit. (http://brawlinthefamily.keenspot.com/2011/09/01/360-yoshi-ranch/) Still, even if it's unorthodox, the goo-spraying and colour-changing mechanics both look interesting, and I even like the feeding specific fruit to wake up each yoshi idea, although the fruit machine looks like is a really tedious idea, even for those of us watching.

The Blue coins also look like a really boring and frustrating idea in practice, but it reminds me too much of some of my first games for me to actively dislike having to search everywhere. I do like the colour filter you've put to give the gameplay a slight old-timey feel; I didn't realise how many episodes have gone past since Peach was kidnapped, let alone since the game started.

Keep up the good work! I'm enjoying this alot, even if my posting has slipped a bit recently. I'm guessing that tomorrow we'll see what happens when you go to the boathouse with some blue coins?

[LaZodiac]

I also like Gelato beach in general, with the many stange sand plants, the twangy cataquacks (heh) and the wiggler boss, which is actually a pretty cool idea for what's normally just a tough minion, especially how it uses the normal stage as its battleground. I am curious as to whether cataquacks appear elsewhere in the Mario series? I don't remember them appearing at all.

This is something that often irritates me about the main Mario series. Despite having the story hooks, characters and ability to have a decent story, they keep squashing the characters as flat as possible and stifling any attempt to build a continuity. Here, it's Peach who suffers: This is a perfect opportunity to see what the Princess does when the koopas come a-knocking, and we've seen that she can be a resourceful woman even when locked up, managing to persuade people to smuggle items to Mario while being stranded in enemy territory... and instead she just stands around and screams for Mario. This is the supposed leader of a country, a veteran kidnapee and a woman who has several times shown that she's willing to take to the front lines and be effective when she does so. Is it too much to ask for her to at least be completely blasé about the whole thing, politely introduce herself to Shadow Mario, recommend a few jail designers for cheap, secure, comfortable prisons, give a cheery wave to Mario as she leaves?

The Blue coins also look like a really boring and frustrating idea in practice, but it reminds me too much of some of my first games for me to actively dislike having to search everywhere. I do like the colour filter you've put to give the gameplay a slight old-timey feel; I didn't realise how many episodes have gone past since Peach was kidnapped, let alone since the game started.

Keep up the good work! I'm enjoying this alot, even if my posting has slipped a bit recently. I'm guessing that tomorrow we'll see what happens when you go to the boathouse with some blue coins?

Cataquacks show up in newer games that are post Sunshine, but yeah this is the first time they show up!

Hey man, Peach is on vacation. She'll actually put up a fight when she's got to, this is HER time...even if it is being slightly interrupted.

Not that I don't mind the praise but I'll be damned if I know what you're talking about with the colour filter thing you've mentioned!

Naw, I'm actually going to wait until we get all 240 Blue Coins to actually get the Shines from the Tanooki people. I find it'll be funnier that way :smallamused:

[Coidzor]

Bongo bongo bongo bongo bongo bongo.

King of the bongos. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJMLJVha5sw)


This time on Super Mario Sunshine, we're finally going to be doing some well deserved clean up. But first, we must see about unlocking that final little prerequisite I keep talking about. Going to Pinna Park, we find that the beach has been infested with...giant Yoshi eggs! They're making the sunflowers sick and that's sad, so lets mournfully smash these evil Yoshis! Only, after spraying them with water, we see that they are actually koopas! Specifically they are Snooze-A-Koopa! These nasty guys are ruining Yoshi's reputation. In order to smash them we need to make sure they land on sand so they get stuck, then ground pound into them like they try to do with us. Simple Shine to get really, but this is the trigger for an event that theoretically could of happened a lot earlier.

Is it just me or do the quadrepedal koopas look even more weird when they're contrasted with Bowser Junior, who is actually the first Koopa we see in the game? I mean, it makes a little bit of sense, since they're the scrawlings of a demented child instead of actual koopas, but it's still a strange juxtaposition, even when you remember that back in the beginning Bowser King Koopa was a bipedal mandragonturtle and the regular ones were just turtles.


Back in Delfino Plaza, now that we've beaten 4-4 Shadow Mario appears! In his nasty hands he holds a genuine Yoshi egg! Smashing him unlocks Yoshi in EVERY stage, as long as the episode you go to has a Yoshi egg in it. Yoshi's work a little different from normal Mario games. He's got a time limit as shown by his juice meter, which he can expend to fire juice at things like Mario's FLUDD. He also can't swim, for some reason tropical flavored Yoshi's melt in water. Don't worry though they just go back to their protective egg, they're fine. They can also eat things, and have a kind of wickedly long tongue that homes in on enemies. It's kinda neat! Finally, as with all games ever to feature Yoshi, while riding your trusty steed a rad as hell bongo back beat players with the music. I'll do my best to show this off in every stage he exists in.

Interesting that Bowser Jr. thought that a Yoshi would *let* him ride it, I must admit, given the natural animosity between Bowsers, especially young ones, and Yoshis. Especially since despite being paint-based abominations they're still friendly towards Mario.

Though I suppose it just goes to show, not *all* paint-based abominations are evil.


But yes, with Yoshi in tow, we can now do a bunch of stuff we couldn't before. So lets return to Ricco Harbor episode 8 to have a delicious fruit based adventure! In this stage, we've gotta feed Yoshi the right Fruit so we can use his special juice properties (the fact that he can turn enemies into platforms with it) to get to the highest sea platform in the area, which has a cube on it. Blocking the turn-grate to get into the cube where the Shine is is a weird wobbly yellow goo that only Yoshi's juice can destroy. Thus why we've gotta get our platformin' on with the good ole dragon horse. The problem is that this episode's Yoshi is picky, and only wants a Durian. Durians are the most "physics" fruit in this game, in that you cannot pick them up, you've gotta kick em around and hope physics is kind to you. After getting the fruit it should be simple (it's not because I'm still getting used to controlling Yoshi again).

Physics Fruit, AKA, practice for Super Mario Strikers. :smallamused:

I wonder just what those goo platofrms blocking the way are supposed to be, though. Some kind of... water-resistant thing that is dissolved by a mixture of paint and fruit acids/sugars... hmm... :smallconfused:


A primer on Yoshi platforms. Purple platforms move "forward" for a given definition of the term forward (I don't actually know what tells the game which way to go). Pink platforms go up. Orange platforms go....nowhere. I'll show them off later.

No green or blue platforms, eh? That's a shame.


Anyway, now that we have unlocked the Yoshi Egg, it's time for the game to start throwing a bunch of Shadow Mario events at us! First, if you've got 25 Shines and the Yoshi Egg, Shadow Mario appears with the Turbo Nozzle! If you've got 30 Shines and the Yoshi Egg, he appears with the Rocket Nozzle. With those now unlocked in every stage and the hub we can now do a lot of cool things, but not yet. Because we've got something slightly more important to take care of.

Woo, progress quests! :D Also, back to back to back Bowser Junior Events. And partial explanation for why he's still bothering to keep up the Shadow Mario charade. I almost wish that Shadow Mario was something he had created separate from himself instead of just a suit he's wearing.

Not sure how he was planning on using the Turbo Nozzle without a FLUDD, tho. Maybe there's some kind of evil FLUDD that we'll face in some kind of mirror match towards the end of the game. But probably not.

Also, hooray for the turbo nozzle, the thing what finally lets Zodis dos the quicks swimmings whiles ins the waterses. :smallbiggrin:

That was kind wiggy how you had to go up and let him hit you in order to get him to start having hit detection and move again. XD


The important thing to take care of is to finally see about getting those Blue Coins. Now, as you may of noticed, I've been avoiding Blue Coins. The reason I do this is so I can collect them all in one fell swoop, since some Blue Coins ONLY appear in certain Episodes, thus making collecting "the final one coin" kind of hard if you doooon't know what you're doing. Another reason why I waited until I got Yoshi to do this is because some coins can ONLY be obtained by Yoshi. Eating Blue Butterflies or Bee's, for instance. You've gotta do all that as Yoshi to get the Blue Coins. So yeah, the rest of the video is a montage of me getting all the sweet blue coinage for Bianco Hills, finally putting an end to our time in the lovely starting zone of this game.

Ahh, blue coins. The essential currency of Neo-Happy-Happyists in the world of Mario. :smallbiggrin: I'm onto you, Tanooks...

Interesting how X marks the spot on the OTHER side of the wall. But then I guess if M with two accent marks marks the spot on THAT side of the wall, it stands to reason X would have to be sommat else. Those Os seem pretty treacherous, what with teleporting away and threatening to have the blue coins despawn before you can nab them. :smalleek: Or maybe there were just two Os linked to one another in slightly disparate locations.

And judging from your performance while questing for Blue Coins, it seems like Yoshi will be quite useful for future 100 Coin missions. :smallbiggrin:


Minor correction on my part. Durian's are not technically illegal in Airports. I've heard and read conflicting reports, but basically they're still a pretty illegal fruit because they just stink s god damn much.

Hooray for non-illegal but still restricted-ish stink fruit!

Not half bad in popsicles, either, but in that form because they don't have much scent they mostly smell like musty vanillla, IME.

[LaZodiac]

Ca-ching it's Sunshine time. The ca-ching is coins cause this is a coin-y episode.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [9] Coinscoinscoins (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0ZnpAcOc9Q)

Video Length: 26:45

Shines: Ricco Harbor Secret 1 and 2, the 100 Coin Shine. Pinna Park 5. 30 Blue Coins from Ricco Harbor AND Gelato Beach.

Hello and welcome back. Now that we've finally gotten Episode 8 of Ricco Harbor done, it's time to do the secrets! I've been quasi putting them off until I did Episode 8 just kinda...because for no real reason other then I'm a weirdo! Anyway, moving on.

Starting us off, since as you may of noticed there is only one Secret Episode in Ricco Harbor, we've gotta do something special. In this case, we've got to beat the Blooper Race in 40 seconds or less. This is why I took a slower path in my original go through of this Episode, to avoid winning the 40 second Shine. Hey, it's happened before! The second Secret is of course a Red Coin Trial in the Ricco Tower secret. This one isn't too bad, though it illustrates an issue I sort of have with the camera. It's hard to both control the camera with the C-Stick AND use the Hover Nozzle AND use the control stick to move all at the same time, and with the camera automoving to always try to be behind you while hovering, it leads to a big ole mess and you die of shame and sadness. And also falling into pits but mostly the first two. That aside I was able to get this done fairly easily.

After that is the 100 Coin Shine. This is kind of a tricky one since most of the enemies that can provide coins can also fall to their death without giving you anything! This sucks. It also sucks because according to everything I've read the Blooper's are able to give you three coins...but they've never done that for me. They offer no other ideas on what to do to GET 3 coins per Blooper, though. If I had gone in on Episode 8 I could of eaten some butterflies and birds with Yoshi to get some extra coins, but I think that would of reduced how many enemies were around, making it harder in that way too. Point is, Shine get, though I cut it pretty close!

Next, we've got a pretty interesting Shine, especially since it happened the same time I complained about the camera! Shine 5 of Pinna Park! This Shine is actually kind of cool because there is a way to just invalidate the entire challenge through the use of a perfectly reasonable bit of platforming that isn't a glitch or anything. In honour of fairness I do show off both methods, and you can see just how easy the "best" way is compared to the correct way. I do feel bad because the correct way has a lot of interesting platforming gimicks you don't see anywhere else in the game, which could of been kinda neat. But they're only ever used here, in this area where the camera is really really bad about clipping and stuff. This entire Shine honestly feels like it was thrown in as filler and not properly playtested, because a proper way to do this would be to have the "back of the ferris wheel" be it's own area, to avoid camera shinanigans like you see in this video.

Finally...we've got a montage of 60 Blue Coins to get through. Hope you guys enjoy that if you opt to sit around and see it. Lotta weird puzzles to do to get these coins sometime, ESPECIALLY in Gelato Beach, which is honestly kind of crappy Blue Coin wise.

Anyway, I'll see you guys next time for VIDEO 10, which is impressive only to me because it's sort of like a milestone I guess.

[Coidzor]

Woo, secrets and coins!


Starting us off, since as you may of noticed there is only one Secret Episode in Ricco Harbor, we've gotta do something special. In this case, we've got to beat the Blooper Race in 40 seconds or less. This is why I took a slower path in my original go through of this Episode, to avoid winning the 40 second Shine. Hey, it's happened before! The second Secret is of course a Red Coin Trial in the Ricco Tower secret. This one isn't too bad, though it illustrates an issue I sort of have with the camera. It's hard to both control the camera with the C-Stick AND use the Hover Nozzle AND use the control stick to move all at the same time, and with the camera automoving to always try to be behind you while hovering, it leads to a big ole mess and you die of shame and sadness. And also falling into pits but mostly the first two. That aside I was able to get this done fairly easily.

Annoying camera is annoying. Insufficient number of hands is insufficient. Though at least it's not like the N64 controller where it was obvious that someone had grown a third arm in R&D. :smallamused:

And, hey, only one death to show off the cameratude is fairly good. :)


After that is the 100 Coin Shine. This is kind of a tricky one since most of the enemies that can provide coins can also fall to their death without giving you anything! This sucks. It also sucks because according to everything I've read the Blooper's are able to give you three coins...but they've never done that for me. They offer no other ideas on what to do to GET 3 coins per Blooper, though.

Maybe it's something to do with nozzles, since jumping on them is pretty fatal instead of some kind of jump jump ground pound combo being a possibility? Or I don't suppose there's a way to get them to respawn without losing your coins or going to somewhere that you'd have to exit the level and re-enter it in order to return to the bloopers?


If I had gone in on Episode 8 I could of eaten some butterflies and birds with Yoshi to get some extra coins, but I think that would of reduced how many enemies were around, making it harder in that way too. Point is, Shine get, though I cut it pretty close!

I was wondering about that. I wonder if most of the Yoshis are later in the worlds when there's less enemies due to having cleaned them up more for this reason more often than not.


Next, we've got a pretty interesting Shine, especially since it happened the same time I complained about the camera! Shine 5 of Pinna Park! This Shine is actually kind of cool because there is a way to just invalidate the entire challenge through the use of a perfectly reasonable bit of platforming that isn't a glitch or anything. In honour of fairness I do show off both methods, and you can see just how easy the "best" way is compared to the correct way. I do feel bad because the correct way has a lot of interesting platforming gimicks you don't see anywhere else in the game, which could of been kinda neat. But they're only ever used here, in this area where the camera is really really bad about clipping and stuff. This entire Shine honestly feels like it was thrown in as filler and not properly playtested, because a proper way to do this would be to have the "back of the ferris wheel" be it's own area, to avoid camera shinanigans like you see in this video.

Woo, multiple choice challenges and letting those platforming skills pay off. :smallbiggrin:

And, of course, electro derp koopas. Why couldn't it be Electro Gypsy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wX8AbBWc08) Koopas!? :smallsigh: And one of them fell asleep on the control*cough*grate*cough*panel, leaving the ferris wheel stuck on.

I suppose they used up all the excitement on Mecha Bowser, can't have Bowser Juniah deciding to make a ferris wheel come alive and attack you with its captive occupants as some kind of terrifying LAND OCTOPUS.

Gotta wonder though, what happened to Bower's payroll that Juniah's having to steal shine sprites in order to power/create subbosses. Since he's obviously behind Juniah's antics instead of this all just happening while Bowser is out seeing to his own affairs and plotting the next regularly scheduled kidnapping of Peach, which was probably for right *after* her vacation, hence the surprise this time.

I do like the effect of having to then ride the ferris wheel after slowing it back down to its proper pace, though.

Shame about the neat grates only being used here in an area with bad camera issues, too.

That doubleteam of electro koops is pretty annoying. Too bad the ones on the walls are immune to water sniping.

Seeing that block-breaking action to get the 1-Up makes me more aware of how there generally is very little block-breaking in this game. I don't know how they could've put it in well with the engine and all, but I do kinda miss it, now that I'm reminded of it.


Finally...we've got a montage of 60 Blue Coins to get through. Hope you guys enjoy that if you opt to sit around and see it. Lotta weird puzzles to do to get these coins sometime, ESPECIALLY in Gelato Beach, which is honestly kind of crappy Blue Coin wise.

Blue, blue. Blue, blue.


Anyway, I'll see you guys next time for VIDEO 10, which is impressive only to me because it's sort of like a milestone I guess.

10th video after starting up the patreon, right?

[LaZodiac]

Maybe it's something to do with nozzles, since jumping on them is pretty fatal instead of some kind of jump jump ground pound combo being a possibility? Or I don't suppose there's a way to get them to respawn without losing your coins or going to somewhere that you'd have to exit the level and re-enter it in order to return to the bloopers?

I was wondering about that. I wonder if most of the Yoshis are later in the worlds when there's less enemies due to having cleaned them up more for this reason more often than not.

10th video after starting up the patreon, right?

Nope, enemies doooon't respawn in this game, which is quite odd. Even Mario 64 had respawning enemies, though if the coin faded you couldn't get it again. I'd of prefered a "if the coin fades it respawns with the coin" personally. All squirting at the Bloopers does is stun them, and stomping them while stunned gets one coin still.

That's a good theory, smart thinking.

Yup! Also essentially how much money in dollars I'm getting in donations from my wonderful Patreon backers. Love you guys!

That said I'm going to be working every Saturday in December so sorry if I end up behind video wise. I'm sure it'll be fine, just pointing it out just in case.

[Lord Raziere]

0_o

I couldn't even begin to guess where all those blue coins would be before this video. that some of them seem to be obtainable via ticking off bees just makes it worse >_>

as for the ferris wheel: yeeeeaaaahhh.....I took the long way to get to that shine....I didn't know of the short way and even if I did, I'd dismiss it as not doable because of how fast it spins if I didn't see Zodi do it with my own eyes.

[LaZodiac]

0_o

I couldn't even begin to guess where all those blue coins would be before this video. that some of them seem to be obtainable via ticking off bees just makes it worse >_>

as for the ferris wheel: yeeeeaaaahhh.....I took the long way to get to that shine....I didn't know of the short way and even if I did, I'd dismiss it as not doable because of how fast it spins if I didn't see Zodi do it with my own eyes.

Oh right I forgot this is the episode where I get horribly owned by bees.

Trust me the first time I saw it was when one of the worst people I've ever seen play a video game did it and I just stood their in utter shock and awe. I know the feeling.

[Coidzor]

Oh right I forgot this is the episode where I get horribly owned by bees.

Trust me the first time I saw it was when one of the worst people I've ever seen play a video game did it and I just stood their in utter shock and awe. I know the feeling.

Still not as bad as the cataquack combo you got in that area. Or whatever the Red Ones That Go Faster are called.

Still, nice to see that Yosh can DESTROY THEM. :smallfurious: :smallbiggrin:

[ShneekeyTheLost]

I'll save comments for when I'm not dead on my feet. For now, The Death Toll!

Rico Tower Acapella Secret Redoux: 1
Blue Coin Madness: Sand Bird (again): 1

TOTAL: 38

[LaZodiac]

I'll save comments for when I'm not dead on my feet. For now, The Death Toll!

Rico Tower Acapella Secret Redoux: 1
Blue Coin Madness: Sand Bird (again): 1

TOTAL: 38

Ouch, good luck. Being dead kinda sucks, so feel better soon.

I do find it funny that our lovely death counter is dead tired though, if you don't mind the unintentional humour :smallamused:

[Durkoala]

The Blooper information is interesting. If yo udo acccidently "earn" the bonus shine, do you have to beat the race in over 40 seconds to win the first shine or do you get them both at once.

You may have refused to speed up the grate hell, but I took full advantage of youtube playback speed options.:smalltongue: It's a shame the camera's so bad as that looks like a great little area, if one that seems a bit like it should be cleared in the post-plot section. Plenty of interesting mechanics and a test for platforming in close quarters, but it looks tough as nails. Then again, I'm not too good at platformers...

So, blue coins! I'll talk about the the filter effect later as I'm really tired now, but I didn't see it this time. Some of those coins are in really devious places and I'm amazed you can find them all. Little me would have had hours of fun/frustrated coin hunting if he'd had this game to play.

Because I'm tired, I can't remember what the 'episode #' titles mean. Are they just the stages you find the coins in?

[LaZodiac]

The Blooper information is interesting. If yo udo acccidently "earn" the bonus shine, do you have to beat the race in over 40 seconds to win the first shine or do you get them both at once.

You may have refused to speed up the grate hell, but I took full advantage of youtube playback speed options.:smalltongue: It's a shame the camera's so bad as that looks like a great little area, if one that seems a bit like it should be cleared in the post-plot section. Plenty of interesting mechanics and a test for platforming in close quarters, but it looks tough as nails. Then again, I'm not too good at platformers...

So, blue coins! I'll talk about the the filter effect later as I'm really tired now, but I didn't see it this time. Some of those coins are in really devious places and I'm amazed you can find them all. Little me would have had hours of fun/frustrated coin hunting if he'd had this game to play.

Because I'm tired, I can't remember what the 'episode #' titles mean. Are they just the stages you find the coins in?

If you beat the Blooper race under 40 seconds, you always get the secret shine. So yes, you have to actively WIN LESS. It's kind of great actually.

Perfectly okay to speed through that section I'm genuinely surprised if anyone watches it oh my god. I was going to have it be picture in picture but it ended up being too long to fit with the rest of the footage anyway.

Yeah when you're less tired tell me what you mean because I've put no filters on anything. My guess is that you got tricked by the Sunglasses I wore in Bianco Hills or something. Anyway, the Episode # when gettig Blue Coins is what the Episode is that I got that Blue Coin is. My intent is to show getting them the earliest possible. Some coins can ONLY be found in certain episodes though. Basically, if you go to where that coin is on that Episode, it'll be there.

NOTE: Due to things I'll be working a Lunch shift tomorrow, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and this Friday is a full day of work. So uh...sorry if I miss a video guys. Forgive meeeeeeeeeeeee

[Teddy]

Also a brand of beer.

Also the bitey end of teeth.


Of all the wierdness in the Mario universe, I think that a giant bird made of blocks of sand that don't dissolve is one of the weirdest. Also it looks hard as nails, so it's a good thing you only have to go back once more...:smallwink:

Maybe it's made of sandstone. http://i.imgur.com/ZRHtTJs.png


This is something that often irritates me about the main Mario series. Despite having the story hooks, characters and ability to have a decent story, they keep squashing the characters as flat as possible and stifling any attempt to build a continuity. Here, it's Peach who suffers: This is a perfect opportunity to see what the Princess does when the koopas come a-knocking, and we've seen that she can be a resourceful woman even when locked up, managing to persuade people to smuggle items to Mario while being stranded in enemy territory... and instead she just stands around and screams for Mario. This is the supposed leader of a country, a veteran kidnapee and a woman who has several times shown that she's willing to take to the front lines and be effective when she does so. Is it too much to ask for her to at least be completely blasé about the whole thing, politely introduce herself to Shadow Mario, recommend a few jail designers for cheap, secure, comfortable prisons, give a cheery wave to Mario as she leaves?

Well, she's on a vacation anyway, and Mario always pulls through, so why not lean back and pretend to be a damsel in distress while watching him blunder his way through the levels while Bowser Jr. probably throws tantrums like a kid in a multiplayer shooter. http://i.imgur.com/ZRHtTJs.png


Next, we've got a pretty interesting Shine, especially since it happened the same time I complained about the camera! Shine 5 of Pinna Park! This Shine is actually kind of cool because there is a way to just invalidate the entire challenge through the use of a perfectly reasonable bit of platforming that isn't a glitch or anything. In honour of fairness I do show off both methods, and you can see just how easy the "best" way is compared to the correct way. I do feel bad because the correct way has a lot of interesting platforming gimicks you don't see anywhere else in the game, which could of been kinda neat. But they're only ever used here, in this area where the camera is really really bad about clipping and stuff. This entire Shine honestly feels like it was thrown in as filler and not properly playtested, because a proper way to do this would be to have the "back of the ferris wheel" be it's own area, to avoid camera shinanigans like you see in this video./QUOTE]

To be honest, I'd consider jumping straight through a rampaging ferris wheel to be a little too unbelievable to be considered entirely legit. I have a theory that playtesting complained so much about the platforming that they made the wheel incorporeal as a dirty quick fix. The best way to solve this would probably have been to lock the camera into watching you from the water side throughout the full course, but either they failed to finish and debug it out before the release date, or it lead to some frustrating angles which they didn't have time to tweak...

[QUOTE=LaZodiac;20120265]Perfectly okay to speed through that section I'm genuinely surprised if anyone watches it oh my god. I was going to have it be picture in picture but it ended up being too long to fit with the rest of the footage anyway.

I've watched everything at native speed...

Also, I would kind of have hated if you did that. It's hard enough to read the episode names and your comments on the episode names at the same time, imagine having to replay the entire video in order to not be distracted from catching any content.

[LaZodiac]

I've got work today so lets make this quick.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [10] Coaster Crush (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7-7y4zY29E)

Video Length: 23:31

Shines: Pinna Park 6, 7, 8, Secret 1 and 2, and 100 Coin Shine.

First up, a delicious Yoshi secret. We've gotta get a randomly selected fruit to Yoshi, then feed him a lemon or pineapple to make him orange so he can fit into the merry go round. This somehow unlocks an Acapella Zone to go into. Neat! This one involves blocks with Yoshi egg patterns, and I really think it speaks for itself. Not much to say, just a nice and good platforming challenge.

Next up, Shadow Mario. Shadow Mariooooooooo. Yeah there really isn't anything to say about this at this point and we've got like...three more of these to do. I like Sunshine, I really do, but some of it's design elements are kinda weird.

Finally, in regards to actual Episodes this time, we have...the Balloons. This is only one of my least favorite Episodes, if only because I'm not super good at aiming the bottle rockets! Our goal here is to shoot all the Bower Jr Balloons with bottle rockets before we finish three laps of the Roller Coaster, and this is actually pretty challenging in some places. You've gotta contend with the somewhat bad aiming controls, and the constant moving of the Roller Coaster itself. The thing that annoys me the most though is just how if you fail...you just get dead, outright. You die, and it looks really clunky and bad, and it boots you from the whole level. This wouldn't be super bad except that Pinna Park has you go through what is basically a buffering zone of "the beach" every time you die and it sucks. I really wish you didn't get booted from the level every time you fail this.

After that we've got the two Secret Shines and the 100 Coin Shine. There isn't much to say about these other then "Wow Zodi be less bad at FLUDD please" and my 100 Coin strategies. Basically the thing about the 100 Coin Shine here is that, there are a couple different ways to get it. While most stages have a sort of set in stone thing, this one has the general "just go through the level normally" thing, the thing I did which is "know that there are 100 coins just laying on the beach underground waiting to be sprayed up" and the third option of "grind bullet bills for five hours". I'm glad I did the second of those three options, but it's kind of cool the options exist?

But yeah that's the Sunshine video for today. Hope you guys enjoyed, next time we'll be going to one of my favorite/least favorite areas in the game. Sunshine is weird like that.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

This episode has the current record for most number of deaths per episode, a total of 15. While each individual section did not come close to your total for the bird, added up together, this is your most painful episode so far.

Also, fun fact! When I do the death count, I have a notepad up and every time you die, I hit the \. Every fifth one is instead a /. That way I can keep an accurate tally and count them up quickly at the end. Came in quite useful today!

Expect to see a running total of every instance and deaths appear Soonish as a spoiler in each Death Toll post. For now...

The Death Toll
Pinna Park Acapella 1 6
Pinna Park: Roller Coaster 1
Pinna Park: Red Coins 1 2[
Pinna Park: Red Coins 2 6
TOTAL: 53

[Lord Raziere]

I've got work today so lets make this quick.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [10] Coaster Crush (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7-7y4zY29E)



oh yeah, I remember the Yoshi secret....mostly because I think it wasn't all that hard for me. as far as secret's go, the Yoshi-go-round is relatively sedate.

don't remember how well I did on the balloons though.

as for the next area....let me guess. its the seashell bay isn't it? I know your pain, its aesthetics are creative, there are hints of ancient ruins all throughout, you get to go underwater for extended periods of time.....oh and lets not forget the poisonous water in some episodes of the area, the constant climbing across and up precarious cliffs, that if you fall from makes you splash INTO the poisonous water and you have to start all over again even if you get out in time, and the fact that underwater controls don't get any better, and if I remember correctly for the boss, you have to constantly collect coins just to keep breathing or something while fighting him underwater....

[LaZodiac]

This episode has the current record for most number of deaths per episode, a total of 15. While each individual section did not come close to your total for the bird, added up together, this is your most painful episode so far.

Also, fun fact! When I do the death count, I have a notepad up and every time you die, I hit the \. Every fifth one is instead a /. That way I can keep an accurate tally and count them up quickly at the end. Came in quite useful today!

Expect to see a running total of every instance and deaths appear Soonish as a spoiler in each Death Toll post. For now...

The Death Toll
Pinna Park Acapella 1 6
Pinna Park: Roller Coaster 1
Pinna Park: Red Coins 1 2[
Pinna Park: Red Coins 2 6
TOTAL: 53


Hahaha, nice. The Sand Bird has killed me as many times as this entire video. I like it.

Also that's a pretty cool table thingo. I like it!


oh yeah, I remember the Yoshi secret....mostly because I think it wasn't all that hard for me. as far as secret's go, the Yoshi-go-round is relatively sedate.

don't remember how well I did on the balloons though.

as for the next area....let me guess. its the seashell bay isn't it? I know your pain, its aesthetics are creative, there are hints of ancient ruins all throughout, you get to go underwater for extended periods of time.....oh and lets not forget the poisonous water in some episodes of the area, the constant climbing across and up precarious cliffs, that if you fall from makes you splash INTO the poisonous water and you have to start all over again even if you get out in time, and the fact that underwater controls don't get any better, and if I remember correctly for the boss, you have to constantly collect coins just to keep breathing or something while fighting him underwater....

I don't super care because it's Mario whatever and not even one of the RPGs so I don't really mind spoilers, but do keep that in mind. As for what's next...you'll see :smallamused:

Also yeah I really just shouldn't of died those times I did this one is easy aaaah Zodi why.

[Qwertystop]

Watching this, I started missing the Long Jump from Mario Galaxy.

[Teddy]

I've got work today so lets make this quick.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [10] Coaster Crush (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7-7y4zY29E)

Video Length: 23:31

I like pineapple too, even if it makes my mouth corners itch. http://i.imgur.com/jLvmsd9.png

Mario is lucky, the pineapple... not so much.

Okay, that "Secret" into was really not very descriptive about where to go...

Good thing the park enterance allows a second intro cutscene...

Can you control what fruit the Yoshi wants by carrying it when you enter that level, or...? http://i.imgur.com/kavzNLd.png

Okay, just dumb luck, then...

The "jump, headbump" death just felt so Zodi somehow... http://i.imgur.com/rcxULF7.pnghttp://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

I like how the watermelon stem is frozen into the ice block. http://i.imgur.com/rcxULF7.png

Yeah, I don't really like when stories reveal the villian halfway through, and then continue like we don't know what we just saw. It kills the mystery pretty efficiently...

Huh, so tree-bonking makes you immune to electric shells while you still sit down?

How many Marios does it take to walk through a amusement park enterance? http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

Doublekillpop

Sometimes the rocket aim seems completely arbitrary... http://i.imgur.com/naZauqK.png

Well, the balloons are back, so it's not entirely unjustified, just mostly...

So many coins on the beach! Looks like pretty casual fun compared to the other coin grinds... http://i.imgur.com/haudcUB.png

Hover nozzle instantly turns the disappearance pattern into madness... http://i.imgur.com/rcxULF7.png

Speaking of nothing, I just now noticed that I like the background on this acapella zone...

But... but... You had no troubles bouncing those bouncy-stairs without FLUDD!

Two red coins on the early map, and all the remaining six on the very end is evil. You couldn't even see them from afar!

Heh, ice and watermelon was a peculiar red herring...

[Durkoala]

If you beat the Blooper race under 40 seconds, you always get the secret shine. So yes, you have to actively WIN LESS. It's kind of great actually.

Perfectly okay to speed through that section I'm genuinely surprised if anyone watches it oh my god. I was going to have it be picture in picture but it ended up being too long to fit with the rest of the footage anyway.

Yeah when you're less tired tell me what you mean because I've put no filters on anything. My guess is that you got tricked by the Sunglasses I wore in Bianco Hills or something. Anyway, the Episode # when gettig Blue Coins is what the Episode is that I got that Blue Coin is. My intent is to show getting them the earliest possible. Some coins can ONLY be found in certain episodes though. Basically, if you go to where that coin is on that Episode, it'll be there.

NOTE: Due to things I'll be working a Lunch shift tomorrow, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and this Friday is a full day of work. So uh...sorry if I miss a video guys. Forgive meeeeeeeeeeeee

As it turns out, I was confused by the sunglasses: I thought they were just a cosmetic item and didn't notice that they actually made the screen darker, but did notice it when you cut for some reason. I thought it was a filter you'd added to make the footage look aged. It did look pretty nice, though; Maybe you should wear the sunglasses for all the blue coin montages?



Maybe it's made of sandstone. http://i.imgur.com/ZRHtTJs.png
That's a possiblity.


Well, she's on a vacation anyway, and Mario always pulls through, so why not lean back and pretend to be a damsel in distress while watching him blunder his way through the levels while Bowser Jr. probably throws tantrums like a kid in a multiplayer shooter. http://i.imgur.com/ZRHtTJs.png
[/QUOTE]

I just want to see the life of a professional kidnapee.:smallfrown: I love the way that the rpg spinoffs make it so that Peach being kidnapped is how just how diplomatic relations generally happen and I want to see it more. Even Super Mario Bros 3 had Peach making fun of the whole routine.


------

So, the actual video was great. I loved the yoshi puzzle, the actual acapella zone, the line 'you can ground pound to land more precisely... I precisely landed in this pit', the sweet recovery wall-jump when you fell down (is that how it's meant to be done? I can't remember the layout very well).

Regarding your thoughts on Shadow Mario/Junior, I was thinking pretty much the same thing. A lot of this game looks like the developers came up with some good ideas, then said 'yeah, that'll do' and plastered them all over the place without much variation or polishing. It doesn't look like the Shadow Mario sections are ever going to do something different than just chasing him, although I'm not ruling out the possibility that Junior will get a boss battle somewhere. If I wanted to be really cynical, I'd say that a lot of the ideas came from the earlier Mario 3D titles and were just recycled for this, but despite its flaws, this game has charmed me and the use of Fludd looks like it incorporates into the platforming pretty well.

Regardless of your feelings on the rollercoaster stage, it looked you you handled it pretty well once you'd warmed up. I didn't realise you could kill multiple balloons with one rocket until you burst that row of four.:smallredface:

I don't have much to say about the coin collecting other than yoshi is cute and so are the sunflowers. And that it sounds really strange when you play it at half speed to try to see what it looks like normally. Apparently, the framerate is really bad and the sound is stuttery.:smalltongue:

Anyway, apologies for the fanboy moments, but I really did like this video. It even got a like out of me!

[Coidzor]

I really liked how laughably easy that one 100 coin challenge was. :biggrin:

[LaZodiac]

Still got work so gotta go fast.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [11] Phantamanta (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAwQwCv1rRA)

Video Length: 25:27

Shines: Sirena Beach 1, 2, and 3. Pinna Park 30 Blue Coins.

First off, I correct a mistake I did with the last few videos. I didn't show you guys all the cool stuff you can see from the levels. So I do so! It's pretty neat and I like how this game does that. Anyway, time for the real episode to begin.

Remember that pineapple we ate in that big red pipe with Yoshi? Well, that's our next level! Jumping into the pipe brings us to Sirena Beach, the second beach side level in this game! However, this one is a lot prettier then Gelato. Look at this beautiful sunset view! It's quite impressive to me, I must admit. But onwards, to our goal. The place has been covered with electrofied goop, and after asking the owner of the Hotel what's up, we get attacked by the monstrous boss known as the Phantamanta! This is a really fun boss, since when it hits you you get sent flying. It's also really hectic because as you damage it, it splits into smaller versions of itself. You can hide under the huts to stay safe, but you'll have a hard time hurting it if you do that. Once most of it's bodies are removed it gets angry and starts homing in on you. Not to difficult, but actually kind of fun. Shine get.

After that we've got our first Secret Episode. I've noticed a lot of Episode 2's in this game are Secrets. Huh. Anyway, for this one we actually get to go into the Hotel! We've gotta get up to the top of the totem pole in the lobby, but the stairways are blocked off by fire gates. Thankfully the Pink Boos that swarm the area can be turned into platforms! The regular Boos just get annoyed when sprayed, but you can stomp em into coins if you need to be done with them. The secret this time is quite an interesting platform challenge, involving Soarin' Stu jumps over pits, a rotating gear, and a pyramid of tricky sandblocks at the end. One of my most embarrassing deaths happen here! But aside from that, nothing too challenging.

Next up is kind of a tedious Episode! Up on the third floor there is a Shine Sprite just kinda chilling in the pool. It's closed for cleaning, and we're not allowed in unless we have proper swimwear anyway. The only way to get through is to go through the ventilation shafts, which are still swarming with ghosts. But there are Sleepy Boos up there that we can't deal with. So we need a Yoshi to get through. Well, the Yoshi in the lobby needs a pineapple, but there aren't any Pineapples at the fruit bar! Thus begins our grand quest to find an pineapple. There are two places TO find a Pineapple in this stage, one of which will be shown off laaaater while the other one is where I've just always gone. There's a lot of tricky platforming and even some light puzzles to get through. Once we get Yoshi all we've gotta do is get back into the ventilation shaft and then find the right exit down into the third floor. Shine GET, yo.

After that we've got me showing off the Swipin' Stus because I think they're neat, and then some Blue Coins. Blue coins for days yo! With that, we've completely cleared 4 of the levels in the game! We're now basically officially half way done now. I hope you guys enjoyed :smallamused:

[Teddy]

Still got work so gotta go fast.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [10] Phantamanta (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAwQwCv1rRA)

Video Length: 25:27

Shines: Sirena Beach 1, 2, and 3. Pinna Park 30 Blue Coins.

Hum, hum, shine in the tower, humhum~

Phantamanta - unholy fusion of a ghost manta ray and a snail.. http://i.imgur.com/rcxULF7.png

Wow, it really splits into an anthill's worth of minis...

The hotel feels almost a bit too ominously ancient ruin-ly to me. Like you'd suddenly expect a huge, round boulder to suddenly roll out the entrance...

To be honest, I'm not particulary fond of the soundtrack in this level...

What could he possibly be tricking you about? So far it seems to me he's actually needed the help he's asked for... http://i.imgur.com/ZRHtTJs.png

Mystery labyrinthing looks kinda fun... http://i.imgur.com/haudcUB.png

Hey, mister hotel staff, Yoshi's are nothing if not proper swimwear. They even dissolve in the oceanohwait... http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

Hahaha, that nose and moustache! http://i.imgur.com/haudcUB.png

Those sunflowers seem to like it when you lick them. http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png

Wait, did that ferris wheel throw you off your Yoshi, or did you just jump off at a convenient place?

[LaZodiac]

Hum, hum, shine in the tower, humhum~

Phantamanta - unholy fusion of a ghost manta ray and a snail.. http://i.imgur.com/rcxULF7.png

Wow, it really splits into an anthill's worth of minis...

The hotel feels almost a bit too ominously ancient ruin-ly to me. Like you'd suddenly expect a huge, round boulder to suddenly roll out the entrance...

What could he possibly be tricking you about? So far it seems to me he's actually needed the help he's asked for... http://i.imgur.com/ZRHtTJs.png

Mystery labyrinthing looks kinda fun... http://i.imgur.com/haudcUB.png

Wait, did that ferris wheel throw you off your Yoshi, or did you just jump off at a convenient place?

One day Teddy, one day :smallwink:

Yeah, Phantamanta is kind of a silly design, but it's also pretty cool! Also yeah the hotel does have a sort of ancient ruin vibe to it. It's pretty neat art direction wise.

You'll see what I mean trick wise. Something feels off about the guy though.

I'll admit the mysterious hotel maze is actually kind of neat, if not for Yoshi's time limit and the fact that I know where to go. There's other rooms to explore that I just don't because I know not to go to them.

I just jumped off at the right place. Yoshi jumping is in this game too! Sorta!

[Qwertystop]

Phantamanta looks fun. The bit where it goes over the tops of the huts is odd, though - it doesn't do that for the trees, and if you're in the air it lights you up but still doesn't hurt you unless you're on the ground. And the slime trail could have been done better - it would be nice if it was left by the back edge instead of the center, and I can't imagine it would be too difficult to do that.

[Lord Raziere]

Still got work so gotta go fast.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [10] Phantamanta (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAwQwCv1rRA)

Video Length: 25:27


Oh, the hotel, we're doing that, huh, I actually like this level because in some ways its....how to say....slower, more sedate than the others.

oh yeah, I remember this boss. it can be tricky....but I don't remember how I beat it. but I think I did it stupidly and like, fought them on the hotel square?

yes. yes it is an acapella hell.

AHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA. OMG, THATS HOW YOU FIRST DIE!? thats just embarrassing. I don't think even I was that fail. :smallbiggrin:

and the third episode......ah that took me a long time to figure out how to do all that for some reason. Hotel Delfino is fun, but puzzling.

and blue coins, whatever.....

[LaZodiac]

Oh, the hotel, we're doing that, huh, I actually like this level because in some ways its....how to say....slower, more sedate than the others.

oh yeah, I remember this boss. it can be tricky....but I don't remember how I beat it. but I think I did it stupidly and like, fought them on the hotel square?

yes. yes it is an acapella hell.

AHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA. OMG, THATS HOW YOU FIRST DIE!? thats just embarrassing. I don't think even I was that fail. :smallbiggrin:

and the third episode......ah that took me a long time to figure out how to do all that for some reason. Hotel Delfino is fun, but puzzling.

and blue coins, whatever.....

That's reasonable. Also I've been informed that I'm bad and wrong and that the beach is not the place where you should fight him. The person telling me that knows all the crazy speedrunning stuff though so I imagine he's just taking the piss as it where.

Look I swear I'm good at video games but sometimes I screw up. I'm glad someone enjoyed it though :smallamused:

Trust me, that's what I feel about the blue coins every day. Gotta get em though.

[DataNinja]

But wait! There's something more important here! MARIO DISCOVERED THE SECRET OF TIME TRAVEL!

How else would it be sunset there, yet midday everywhere else? :smalltongue:

[Qwertystop]

But wait! There's something more important here! MARIO DISCOVERED THE SECRET OF TIME TRAVEL!

How else would it be sunset there, yet midday everywhere else? :smalltongue:

Pipe travel is slower than magic-graffiti travel or cannon travel. Takes a few hours to get there, a few to get back, and then Mario goes to bed for the night.

[DataNinja]

Pipe travel is slower than magic-graffiti travel or cannon travel. Takes a few hours to get there, a few to get back, and then Mario goes to bed for the night.

But... it's a magic Paint-Pipe travel...

BLACK MAGIC.

[Lord Raziere]

Pipe travel is slower than magic-graffiti travel or cannon travel. Takes a few hours to get there, a few to get back, and then Mario goes to bed for the night.

as someone who has played this game before: your wrong. there is a zone in this game where some chapters are night and some are day and they switch between the two. and its accessed through the only other pipe.

your trying to argue for logic in a mario game, there is no logic here, there are just things. that happen.

[DataNinja]

your trying to argue for logic in a mario game, there is no logic here, there are just things. that happen.

No... no logic? :smalleek:

But I need to know how a fat Italian plumber can manage to easily jump higher than his own height. And smash bricks with his head (Must be the hat... right?). And... *Fails SAN Check*

TOO BAD!

[ShneekeyTheLost]

That hotel has a certain tune (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJdxTpq1nKM) running through my head for some reason. Just remember, Gozer does not live in your fridge, it's just a Boo messing with you.

I think that is the first acapella zone which actually has mobs in it. As though the camera angles and obstacles weren't enough. Reminds me of those dudes from Link To The Past. You know the ones I'm thinkin' of. Usually hang around pits. Bounces around. Bounces you back when you hit 'em. Yea, them.

The Death Toll
Pinna Park Acapella 1 6
Pinna Park Roller Coaster 1
Pinna Park Red Coins 1 2[
Pinna Park Red Coins 2 6
Sirena Beach Hotel Acapella 1 7
TOTAL: 60

[Coidzor]

Still got work so gotta go fast.

From Zodiario to Zodionic? On dear. :smalleek:


Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [10] Phantamanta (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAwQwCv1rRA)

Oh mai, misnumberification! :smalltongue:


First off, I correct a mistake I did with the last few videos. I didn't show you guys all the cool stuff you can see from the levels. So I do so! It's pretty neat and I like how this game does that. Anyway, time for the real episode to begin.

Wahoo! :smallbiggrin:


Remember that pineapple we ate in that big red pipe with Yoshi? Well, that's our next level! Jumping into the pipe brings us to Sirena Beach, the second beach side level in this game! However, this one is a lot prettier then Gelato. Look at this beautiful sunset view! It's quite impressive to me, I must admit. But onwards, to our goal. The place has been covered with electrofied goop, and after asking the owner of the Hotel what's up, we get attacked by the monstrous boss known as the Phantamanta! This is a really fun boss, since when it hits you you get sent flying. It's also really hectic because as you damage it, it splits into smaller versions of itself. You can hide under the huts to stay safe, but you'll have a hard time hurting it if you do that. Once most of it's bodies are removed it gets angry and starts homing in on you. Not to difficult, but actually kind of fun. Shine get.

Sirena also sounds like serene! Which is exactly what most of us want from a beach when we're not wanting something like beach volleyball.

Electrofied goop? Bowsah Juniah must've let all of his pent up beach despoiling urges from not really messing Gelato overflow on this beach instead.

For being a hotel, there certainly are a lot of island natives on vacation here when it's supposed to be an international resort.

I suppose they used up their creativity on the two species inhabiting the island, though, and didn't want to have a whole bunch of toad tourists being all boring all over the place. Or maybe I've just forgotten how all the tourists buggered off but Princess Peach's crew didn't get the memo.

Oh, thank goodness, I was worried the electro goop might just electrocute you if you sprayed it with water directly when you said there was something up about it. I'm still waiting for some goop that has to be dealt with indirectly like that or it causes damage or knock back or something.

Ooo, and the fight is a good first opportunity to show off and prove useful those more advanced FLUDD techniques! :smallbiggrin:

The bit where the boss is basically a shadow and can't go into areas that are already shadowed (like the little hut) is a pretty neat tidbit, too.


After that we've got our first Secret Episode. I've noticed a lot of Episode 2's in this game are Secrets. Huh. Anyway, for this one we actually get to go into the Hotel! We've gotta get up to the top of the totem pole in the lobby, but the stairways are blocked off by fire gates. Thankfully the Pink Boos that swarm the area can be turned into platforms! The regular Boos just get annoyed when sprayed, but you can stomp em into coins if you need to be done with them. The secret this time is quite an interesting platform challenge, involving Soarin' Stu jumps over pits, a rotating gear, and a pyramid of tricky sandblocks at the end. One of my most embarrassing deaths happen here! But aside from that, nothing too challenging.

Oh mai. Pink Boos in a hotel. Good thing they're all fakes or Mario brought his ghost-stomping boots! XD

I like how they keep their eyes while platformitized. Also how you got PREDATOR'D by the tell-tale shimmer. :smalltongue:

As for the gaping maw of the Boo totem pole topper... Remind me not to play the Tomb of Horrors with you. :smallamused:

Hoo. Scary is right about those Soarin' Stu jumps. I was certain you'd messed up that last jump from the perspective.


Next up is kind of a tedious Episode! Up on the third floor there is a Shine Sprite just kinda chilling in the pool. It's closed for cleaning, and we're not allowed in unless we have proper swimwear anyway. The only way to get through is to go through the ventilation shafts, which are still swarming with ghosts. But there are Sleepy Boos up there that we can't deal with. So we need a Yoshi to get through. Well, the Yoshi in the lobby needs a pineapple, but there aren't any Pineapples at the fruit bar! Thus begins our grand quest to find an pineapple. There are two places TO find a Pineapple in this stage, one of which will be shown off laaaater while the other one is where I've just always gone. There's a lot of tricky platforming and even some light puzzles to get through. Once we get Yoshi all we've gotta do is get back into the ventilation shaft and then find the right exit down into the third floor. Shine GET, yo.

Bowsah Juniah went really intricate on this one, I gotta hand it to him. Would not have expected him to have the patience for this roundaboutness. That maze seems very painful, unless you memorized *where it is in relation to the hotel below.


After that we've got me showing off the Swipin' Stus because I think they're neat, and then some Blue Coins. Blue coins for days yo! With that, we've completely cleared 4 of the levels in the game! We're now basically officially half way done now. I hope you guys enjoyed :smallamused:

Woo, Stu-stu, Blue, Blue!

[Durkoala]

First off, I really like the Phantamanta idea. It's so huge and menacing, cutting off the area with its slime. When you attack it, it splits, then splits again, and again, and again... then it goes berserk when you manage to kill it enough. The terror factor is slightly lessened by the fact it goes downlike a chump, though.:smallcool: It is a bit strange how quickly it shows up though: most of the other bosses had to be looked for but here you talk to the NPC in the middle of the map and you're suddenly in the intoductory cutscene.

I also like the Acapella hells and what devious designs the dastardly devs deign to donate to the delaying of this dynamic drive. The topless pyramid is a standout example; oh whoops there's no floor here at all. The general 2D Mario-inspired level is also something I really like.

While it may be boring to play through, I like watching the hotel level, partly because the enclosed space is a very different environment to the usual areas in this game, partly because I like seeing all the strange ways to get from room to room, partly because you're riding a dinosaur inside a hotel, and partly due to the reactions from the guests: while they're a bit upset about their roooms being invaded, they don't seem perturbed by the fact that you just rode a paint-spewing dinosaur through the wall/floor/ceiling/lavatory while wearing a talking fire extinguisher. Also dinosaurs are always proper swimwear.

I was amused... until I saw your treatment of poor Yoshi in the blue coin hunt. The RSPCY will be hearing of this!
http://i39.tinypic.com/2hs430j.jpg



Hey, mister hotel staff, Yoshi's are nothing if not proper swimwear. They even dissolve in the oceanohwait... http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png
It is the customer's duty to check that their dinosaur is insoluble.:smallwink:



Those sunflowers seem to like it when you lick them. http://i.imgur.com/FZ6yI9l.png This sounds like the ideal place for a really dirty joke... but I'm too busy 'aww'-ing at the absolutely adorable sunflowers.


Wait, did that ferris wheel throw you off your Yoshi, or did you just jump off at a convenient place?
http://i39.tinypic.com/2hs430j.jpg

[LaZodiac]

Aah, relaxing from no work. Time for some cute Sunshine.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [12] Mystery Mermaid Hotel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TldbSJS5T4)

Video Length: 26:01

Shines: Sirena Beach 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

Hello and welcome back. We're blowing through a lot of Sirena today, so lets get going! First up, we're going to the Hotel Delfino casino to find a Secret. This area has two main roulettes we've gotta win to unlock the third little game we have to win that will unlock us a pipe that leads down to the Acapella Zone proper. Lotta busy work just to get there, but it's not too difficult. One roulette has the individual tumblers move one at a time, making it quite easy to get the triple 7s. The other one is basically just a "spray it until you get lucky" result. For doing that we then get...a very large and finicky tile puzzle! We must shoot water at the titles to make them turn over to make a Shine Sprite design, but this is easier said then done. It's veeery finicky and rough. After we finally smash our way through it, we get a kind of neat Acapella Zone, filled with large cubes. You've gotta be careful here otherwise you're gonna get crushed! That aside it's not that difficult.

Next up is another boss! And another visit to the casino. This time all we can do is ground pound the suspicious purple button, and all it does is start the fight with...King Boo! This ghostly monarch is quite an interesting boss fight. He's completely immune to all forms of attacks, and all spraying him does is make him lick his face, spinning a slot machine in the process. His attacks are caused by that slot machine, but this is also how you get him. If he hits all the fruits, he spews out a bunch of fruits, your only ammo against him. Throw a chili pepper at his tongue to make him start freaking out, then bop him with any other kind of fruit to damage him. Do this three times and you're done! This isn't the best boss in the world, and it's a speedrunner's worst nightmare, but hey it's another Shine in our pocket, and not another Glooper Blooper.

Third up today is Scrubbing Sirena Beach. This mission KILLED me as a kid, and I think it's easy to see why. You've gotta clean the beach off in 3 minutes, or get DEAD. The problem here being, you must clean of 95% of all the goop on the beach, and there is a LOT of goop on this beach oh my god. It's also electrofied, so don't touch it as that will hurt and also take up precious time. My only solace here is that European and Japanese versions of the game require you to clean 99% of the goop. That's just awful. I told you the hotel owner was suspicious, what with his withholding this shine from us and also making this a timed mission despite there being no reason for it to be one at all.

After that we have...another Shadow Marioooo fight. Thankfully this one has the at least somewhat unique gimic of "the boo's are pretending to be Shadow Mario" though even then it's still not that good since they don't have the paintbrush, don't move, and don't play the leitmotif. Shadow Mario is such a wasted opportunity.

Finally, we've gotta burn through the hotel and get 8 red coins. On a time limit for some reason. As ever, if the time limit goes out we die. I have nooo idea why the time limit is here at all. The path we take to get the coins is basically identical to the path we take back in Mysterious Hotel Delfino, with some sliiight deviations from my run because oops I went about it slightly wrong due to Yoshi and thus forgot about the open door where the Noki kids are that lead up into the ventilation shaft.

Anyway, that's all for Sirena Beach Episode wise. Monday we'll tackle the 100 coins, the Blue Coins, the Secret Shines, and also touch on the next area. Hope you all enjoyed!

[Qwertystop]

Great fakeout in the acapella. I was nearly expecting you to jump for the Shine, miss, and fall off somehow.

I've done it in Galaxy...

[Lord Raziere]

Aah, relaxing from no work. Time for some cute Sunshine.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [12] Mystery Mermaid Hotel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TldbSJS5T4)

Video Length: 26:01


Ok then, time for more sunshine nostalgia then.

oh that cube was evil. I think I did this acapella zone....wonder how I got passed all this. its strange, I feel general nostalgia but I can never remember exactly how I got through the acapella's. probably losing lots of lives.

see, I remember doing the king boo fight, so I must've gotten through that acapella somehow. and yes I can see why speedrunners hate it: things determined by chance make the length of defeating the boss completely random instead of the person's skill, I know I hate it when I have to constantly kill the same enemy over and over again for a completely random low chance drop instead of it being a test of my skill.

I think the problem with the hotel in general is that its layout is so static, like all the other zones, you have things that change up the structure for the mission you want, but since these are all the same rooms and all the same ways to get through them, there is no variance for how to get around and make things more interesting, so while its more chill in atmosphere, its also less dynamic in how its platforming works.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

So, I'll be putting the Death Toll in spoilers since I will be expanding it to include your entire run.


The Death Toll
Pinna Park Acapella 1 6
Pinna Park Roller Coaster 1
Pinna Park Red Coins 1 2[
Pinna Park Red Coins 2 6
Sirena Beach Hotel Acapella 1 7
Sierena Beach Casino Acapella 1 4
Sierena Beach Hotel Red Coin Run 2
TOTAL: 66

[LaZodiac]

So, I'll be putting the Death Toll in spoilers since I will be expanding it to include your entire run.


The Death Toll
Pinna Park Acapella 1 6
Pinna Park Roller Coaster 1
Pinna Park Red Coins 1 2[
Pinna Park Red Coins 2 6
Sirena Beach Hotel Acapella 1 7
Sierena Beach Casino Acapella 1 4
TOTAL: 64



Awesome! My death count is currently the number of bits my first "real" console ran. I hope only to keep this number (I will not).

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Awesome! My death count is currently the number of bits my first "real" console ran. I hope only to keep this number (I will not).

Wait, what's that?

*off-screen muttering*

The ruling is being contested. Upon reviewing the footage, the referees have made a correction. The two deaths in the red coin hunt were not taken into consideration.

Count now stands at 66. Repeat the down.

[LaZodiac]

Delay caused technically by the forum being down! It's Sunshine time!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [13] Beaches, Bays, and Merfolk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSow1KCc4yM)

Video Length: 25:39

Shines: Sirena Beach Secret 1 and 2, 100 Coins and 30 Blue Coins. Noki Bay Shine 1 and 2.

Starting us off, we've got those lovely Acapella Zone revisits! Thankfully they put all the Red Coins for the first zone AFTER the walljump part, which makes sense honestly. There isn't really much to talk about that isn't self evident in video. I guess I should mention that yeah, Watermelon Cubes cannot be busted through from below, and Bricks can't be ground pounded through from above. Doesn't make much sense but there you go. The other Acapella Zone is a lot less troublesome since one of it's biggest problems is the crushing cubes. With Fludd, I'm never in any real danage of being smushed to death, so it's all good!

As for the 100 Coin Shine...well...this one is a bit trickier. Sirena Beach has veeery few coins in it, unsurprisingly given that there is a Casino. You'd think it best to do the coin grinding in said Casino portion, but you're wrong. It's way to slow and tedious. Instead we've gotta scour the beach and hotel for coins, spraying inconspicious nooks and cranies for coins. Also, feeding ghosts to Yoshi and hoping a Blue Coin doesn't pop out. This one is a little tricky to get with all these Blue Coins floating about.

After fully clearing out Sirena Beach, it's time to move to our next destination. Be sure to wear sunglasses because we're gonna stare right at the sun and then somehow get teleported to Noki Bay! This place is nestled in a cove on the island and is actually quite a beautiful little area...if not for all the pollution in the water! The old Noki Sage asks us to help by killing a Monty Mole, and I don't see why that wouldn't help. Some pretty good platforming challenges in this Episode, and in this level in general actually, bringing in that "the goop hides platforms/objects" mechanic that hasn't actually been used in forever as well. I like it. The fight witht he Monty Mole goes well, and we've released the Waterfall!

Unfortunately, in Episode 2, we learn that didn't solve the pollution problem. We've got more to do. Another boss is in this area, and the Noki Sage tells us that an ancient Noki King's tomb was built into these walls, and you can spray the panals on the walls to make things happen. This is pretty cool, and makes me think we'll be facing a cool and neat boss! After doing some platforming it's just Glooper Blooper.

After that we round up Sirena Beach's Blue Coins, badabing badaboom we're done, see you next time where we have more fun down by the bay.

[Lord Raziere]

Delay caused technically by the forum being down! It's Sunshine time!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [13] Beaches, Bays, and Merfolk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSow1KCc4yM)

Video Length: 25:39


Ok then, lets see.....

wow, the first Acapella red coin course here is EVIL. I don't think I'd be brave enough to do that.

Second Acapella red coin: less evil, but no less hard.

and finally to NOKI BAY! This is the one I was talking about. Hope your good at this one, cause if you aren't, we will all be in painful times. and yeah, these cliffs and the poisonous water.....just watch as you fail one jump or something and go plummeting down into purple liquid that then gradually kills you at one life point per second. and thats of course, only the beginning of the Bays many dangers.....

[Coidzor]

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [12] Mystery Mermaid Hotel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TldbSJS5T4)

Hello and welcome back. We're blowing through a lot of Sirena today, so lets get going! First up, we're going to the Hotel Delfino casino to find a Secret. This area has two main roulettes we've gotta win to unlock the third little game we have to win that will unlock us a pipe that leads down to the Acapella Zone proper. Lotta busy work just to get there, but it's not too difficult. One roulette has the individual tumblers move one at a time, making it quite easy to get the triple 7s. The other one is basically just a "spray it until you get lucky" result. For doing that we then get...a very large and finicky tile puzzle! We must shoot water at the titles to make them turn over to make a Shine Sprite design, but this is easier said then done. It's veeery finicky and rough. After we finally smash our way through it, we get a kind of neat Acapella Zone, filled with large cubes. You've gotta be careful here otherwise you're gonna get crushed! That aside it's not that difficult.

Woo, gambling! Also, I think this is the most you've talked to any NPCs, both in total throughout the game and in any one location/level/world.

Good thing that you didn't have to exit and re-enter the world to deal with that slot machine glitch.

Boo on tile puzzles, though. At least you're not doing a sliding tile puzzle with FLUDD, though. That'd be some real ragequitting material right there.

Cube capella zone, even.


Next up is another boss! And another visit to the casino. This time all we can do is ground pound the suspicious purple button, and all it does is start the fight with...King Boo! This ghostly monarch is quite an interesting boss fight. He's completely immune to all forms of attacks, and all spraying him does is make him lick his face, spinning a slot machine in the process. His attacks are caused by that slot machine, but this is also how you get him. If he hits all the fruits, he spews out a bunch of fruits, your only ammo against him. Throw a chili pepper at his tongue to make him start freaking out, then bop him with any other kind of fruit to damage him. Do this three times and you're done! This isn't the best boss in the world, and it's a speedrunner's worst nightmare, but hey it's another Shine in our pocket, and not another Glooper Blooper.

THE KINGIEST OF BOOS! :smallbiggrin:

Down below though? I hope he's in the wine cellar, otherwise Mario's gonna have to get down into the pipes like he hasn't since his days when he actually was a plumber.

Also, wait a minute. That on the logo of the hotel is a Dolphin, it's not a mermaid at all! :smalleek: J'accuse!

Oh dear, he's shut down the gambling? How evil!

Also, hey, you can throw water barrels to get a discrete amount of water in a place without it leaving a stream behind it! An ability like that would've really come in handy with the slots/tile puzzle.

...Kinda sad you didn't get to play roulette where Mario was the ball now for some reason... :smallconfused:

Ghosts makin' them spoopy sounds in the basement, oh mai. 3spoopy5Marios

Oh, hey, the roulette wheel does serve a purpose. AS A BATTLEGROUND. Mario, do you think gambling can bloom, even on the battlefield?

Hmm. So apparently feeding King Boo one of his Boo subjects is *not* how you go about fighting this guy and he gives you the rejection/failure/bad sound.

And you get fruit and he Bulimias all over you. But somehow despite having eaten the chili pepper in the first place, you can use it against him here. Wiggy.

Then you defeat him by hucking a pineapple at his noggin-body. Oh, the noblest of Boos, how you have fallen to be defeated by fruit. Fruit that you'd already eaten.

Eating disorders are a harsh mistress.

OH GOD HE SUMMONS DUCK DEMONS! The horror. The unmitigated horror. Also, I knew he was depraved, but this is just EVIL.

Thank goodness they can't boot you out of the boss battle so you have to start all over again. :smallsigh:

That weird thing that shows up towards the end of the fight looks almost like a very, very teeny-tiny blenderizing unit at first.

And you killed him with the stinkiest, spikiest fruit. Heh. :smallamused:


Third up today is Scrubbing Sirena Beach. This mission KILLED me as a kid, and I think it's easy to see why. You've gotta clean the beach off in 3 minutes, or get DEAD. The problem here being, you must clean of 95% of all the goop on the beach, and there is a LOT of goop on this beach oh my god. It's also electrofied, so don't touch it as that will hurt and also take up precious time. My only solace here is that European and Japanese versions of the game require you to clean 99% of the goop. That's just awful. I told you the hotel owner was suspicious, what with his withholding this shine from us and also making this a timed mission despite there being no reason for it to be one at all.

Heh. Weird they didn't just go the full monty and require 100%, really.

That's a pretty brutal, senseless mission, ayep.

Oh dear, hand cramps! :smallfrown:

It really would have been a bit better if there were less shines that idjit plant-tree-ogre-people-substitutes were holding hostage and more times where you were freeing them or something like that. Unless they wanted to make them even more unsympathetic.


After that we have...another Shadow Marioooo fight. Thankfully this one has the at least somewhat unique gimic of "the boo's are pretending to be Shadow Mario" though even then it's still not that good since they don't have the paintbrush, don't move, and don't play the leitmotif. Shadow Mario is such a wasted opportunity.

You have to wonder why they even bothered, really. Nice idea, but... yeesh.

Well, credit where credit is due at least, the hotel manager dude can tell that Shadow Mario just "looks" like Mario.


Finally, we've gotta burn through the hotel and get 8 red coins. On a time limit for some reason. As ever, if the time limit goes out we die. I have nooo idea why the time limit is here at all. The path we take to get the coins is basically identical to the path we take back in Mysterious Hotel Delfino, with some sliiight deviations from my run because oops I went about it slightly wrong due to Yoshi and thus forgot about the open door where the Noki kids are that lead up into the ventilation shaft.

If only you could burn down the hotel. :V


Anyway, that's all for Sirena Beach Episode wise. Monday we'll tackle the 100 coins, the Blue Coins, the Secret Shines, and also touch on the next area. Hope you all enjoyed!

Next post I'll finish catching up then. Probably. :V

Also, BOAT BONK! :smallbiggrin:


Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [13] Beaches, Bays, and Merfolk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSow1KCc4yM)

Starting us off, we've got those lovely Acapella Zone revisits! Thankfully they put all the Red Coins for the first zone AFTER the walljump part, which makes sense honestly. There isn't really much to talk about that isn't self evident in video. I guess I should mention that yeah, Watermelon Cubes cannot be busted through from below, and Bricks can't be ground pounded through from above. Doesn't make much sense but there you go. The other Acapella Zone is a lot less troublesome since one of it's biggest problems is the crushing cubes.

Oh dear. Accurate jump heights! One of Zodis critical weaknesses. :smalleek: Also one of the areas where the game itself seems to be a bit tricky. Curses!

Interesting limitation on using the watermelons and bricks as obstacles, that would definitely be one way to shape what sort of path is available.

Don't worry, Zodi. Someday your groundpound will come.

Hooray for the hover nozzle thwarting them crushing cubes. Speaking of crushing cubes, that reminds me, thwomps would be fitting at some point. I wonder if they're all on vacation, though...

Hooray for the Physics Cube. The evil twin of the companion cube.


With Fludd, I'm never in any real danage of being smushed to death, so it's all good!

danage, eh? :smalltongue: Is that like damage danger?


As for the 100 Coin Shine...well...this one is a bit trickier. Sirena Beach has veeery few coins in it, unsurprisingly given that there is a Casino. You'd think it best to do the coin grinding in said Casino portion, but you're wrong. It's way to slow and tedious. Instead we've gotta scour the beach and hotel for coins, spraying inconspicious nooks and cranies for coins. Also, feeding ghosts to Yoshi and hoping a Blue Coin doesn't pop out. This one is a little tricky to get with all these Blue Coins floating about.

Ah, my mistake, then. So many blue coins get in your way in this world, that's true. It almost seems like it'd be easier to do Blue Coins and then 100 coin challenge.

Also, pretty impressive getting 3/4 of the way done before having to break down and SUMMON THE YOSH. I thought for sure the ghost maze would account for more coins or access to more coins. Getting you up to 101 without even leaving it is pretty good though.

Poor Yosh, having to be left behind instead of coming to get the Shine with Mario~ :smallfrown:


After fully clearing out Sirena Beach, it's time to move to our next destination. Be sure to wear sunglasses because we're gonna stare right at the sun and then somehow get teleported to Noki Bay! This place is nestled in a cove on the island and is actually quite a beautiful little area...if not for all the pollution in the water! The old Noki Sage asks us to help by killing a Monty Mole, and I don't see why that wouldn't help. Some pretty good platforming challenges in this Episode, and in this level in general actually, bringing in that "the goop hides platforms/objects" mechanic that hasn't actually been used in forever as well. I like it. The fight witht he Monty Mole goes well, and we've released the Waterfall!

Well, you know what they say about staring at the sun (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cMIcHJdAqA). All kinds of destruction in your eyes and all that jazz.

Videogames are very weird (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2q7KIOGaMw). ...Blue, Blue.

Oh mai, physics jugs and actually using that whole paint hiding objects stuff. They're just bringing the mechanics right from the start with this world/level.

I rather liked how the skull and crossbones got messed up so it just became a squiddly octopus monster with two tentacles.

WATAH FAAAAAAAAALL!


Unfortunately, in Episode 2, we learn that didn't solve the pollution problem. We've got more to do. Another boss is in this area, and the Noki Sage tells us that an ancient Noki King's tomb was built into these walls, and you can spray the panals on the walls to make things happen. This is pretty cool, and makes me think we'll be facing a cool and neat boss! After doing some platforming it's just Glooper Blooper.

Course not, that'd be too easy. Gotta stretch it out to the full Shine allotment, no? :smallamused:

Toooooomb raiding Mario time. Although *why* a Shine would've been either stored with a dead Noki or would go there to hide on its own is kind of perplexing.

I guess Koopas are opportunistic like kobolds when it comes to dungeons sometimes? Oh gods. Koopa-kobolds, with all of the worst qualities of both. :smalleek: *shudder* I feel dirty for having thought of that now.

...Glooper Blooper, I am disappoint. I mean, sure, he's downgraded to being a miniboss now and all, but, c'mon. C'mon...

Least you got to see the dead king's favorite shell, I guess.


After that we round up Sirena Beach's Blue Coins, badabing badaboom we're done, see you next time where we have more fun down by the bay.

Hooray!

[LaZodiac]

Live from my Aunt's house since I'm house sitting, it's more Sunshine!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [14] Down by the Bay (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRY8f0PrTBM)

Video Length: 27:47

Shines: Noke Bay 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

Oh boy, we've got...quite an interesting bunch of stuff to get through today. Starting off, back in Noki Bay we're informed that whatever is causing the pollution is under water. Since Mario is NOT a fish, we're given the appropriate diving equipment, a bubble hat. With this on our air meter will drop quite slowly, which is quite useful. The Noki Sage wants us to practice in his jar first, and to practice we'll be hunting 8 Red Coins. This shouldn't be to difficult. Emphasis on shouldn't. The controls are honestly just bad. It's impossible to turn tight circles, you're SUPPOSED to be able to move forward using the control stick but it doesn't work at all, you can go up using the hover nozzle but for some reason it also moves you forward a little bit as well. There is no way to just "go down" either, other then waiting. Adding to this, some of the Red Coins are pretty bothersome to get, not least of all being the set piece Coin they want you to get after going up a big current. It's pretty difficult to hit that coin accurately, and you can't really get it from any other direction. Overall this Episode is just blaaah and the swimming especially.

So of course next Episode they make you fight a boss with it. Say hello to Eeley Mouth, an eel that is upset about her teeth being painted with goo and thus tries to eat you by spinning at you and creating a large vortex of sucking! She also throws out toxic bubbles that can be popped for air though these aren't her fault it's just her bad teeth. You've gotta use the hover nozzle to clean her teeth, and all the problems with the swimming controls I mentioned apply here. It's just...really clunky and bad. To cap it off FLUDD reminds us all to take care of our teeth. Uh...thanks.

After that is another Acapella Zone, and this one is...an APPRECIABLE spike in difficulty if I must say. After climbing our way up the various ropes, we find ourselves in a fairly lengthy platforming challenge area. Hell, the first area requires us to wall jump to get out of! For some people this might be something they've yet to do somehow, so it's pretty tricky. We've got rotating platforms, the requirement of doing full on 3D triangle jumps as opposed to just 2D, and even rolling logs that are slightly faster then regular ones. But all that aside, we're able to complete this without much hassle. With that, we've only got one more true Acapella Zone to, ahem, look forward to.

Finally we have another Shadow Mario fight. I have nothing to say here that hasn't been said already, except for the reveal that oh hey look he can heal if you let him linger for too long, or move too far away. That's also how his health bar works, he has a slow regeneration. It's neat mechanically but overall we've fought him like what, 5 times before this and it's still exactly the same? Come on.

Well, that's it for today. Hope you all enjoyed, I'll see you guys next time, when we'll finally step into my favorite level in the game. For some reason.

[Qwertystop]

Hm. That was a really impressive acapella level. Wish they'd brought that one into Galaxy, instead of the one they did.

[DataNinja]

Hm. That was a really impressive acapella level. Wish they'd brought that one into Galaxy, instead of the one they did.

Yeah. Although, before this playthrough, I had no idea where it was from. After, when I went back to Galaxy recently, I was going "ohhhhhhhh...."

Thanks Zodi. :smallbiggrin:

[LaZodiac]

Yeah. Although, before this playthrough, I had no idea where it was from. After, when I went back to Galaxy recently, I was going "ohhhhhhhh...."

Thanks Zodi. :smallbiggrin:

You're welcome! Though I'm blanking on what Acapella Zone was used in one of the Galaxy games. I don't remember Galaxy at aaaall.

[Qwertystop]

You're welcome! Though I'm blanking on what Acapella Zone was used in one of the Galaxy games. I don't remember Galaxy at aaaall.

I can't remember if it was Galaxy 1 or 2, but it was the one with all the spinny square logs.

[DataNinja]

Galaxy 2: Twisty Trials Galaxy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P25wXR7xL6c).

[Coidzor]

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [14] Down by the Bay (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRY8f0PrTBM)

Oh boy, we've got...quite an interesting bunch of stuff to get through today. Starting off, back in Noki Bay we're informed that whatever is causing the pollution is under water. Since Mario is NOT a fish, we're given the appropriate diving equipment, a bubble hat. With this on our air meter will drop quite slowly, which is quite useful. The Noki Sage wants us to practice in his jar first, and to practice we'll be hunting 8 Red Coins. This shouldn't be to difficult. Emphasis on shouldn't. The controls are honestly just bad. It's impossible to turn tight circles, you're SUPPOSED to be able to move forward using the control stick but it doesn't work at all, you can go up using the hover nozzle but for some reason it also moves you forward a little bit as well. There is no way to just "go down" either, other then waiting. Adding to this, some of the Red Coins are pretty bothersome to get, not least of all being the set piece Coin they want you to get after going up a big current. It's pretty difficult to hit that coin accurately, and you can't really get it from any other direction. Overall this Episode is just blaaah and the swimming especially.

The perspective just getting that first, highest red coin looked really unpleasant to deal with. And this is the practice level. Oy.

When the challenge is only present due to the controls and camera being bad. :smallfrown:

Really gotta wonder what else the Noki Sage uses this magical bottle that he can stick people in for, though. Is it basically Noki Timeout or something darker?

Oh, and there's a little ruined sand castle. And cheep cheeps. Which raises the question, did the Noki Sage just have Cheep Cheeps in there or did Bower Juniah vandalize this place too?

Or maybe the rent is just too damn high so all of the Noki live in their own pocket dimensions and his student was working on laying the foundations on his own pocket dimension palace for him?

That was... a strange arch. Both in terms of placement and purpose and the fact that you could get stuck in it for no apparent reason.


So of course next Episode they make you fight a boss with it. Say hello to Eeley Mouth, an eel that is upset about her teeth being painted with goo and thus tries to eat you by spinning at you and creating a large vortex of sucking! She also throws out toxic bubbles that can be popped for air though these aren't her fault it's just her bad teeth. You've gotta use the hover nozzle to clean her teeth, and all the problems with the swimming controls I mentioned apply here. It's just...really clunky and bad. To cap it off FLUDD reminds us all to take care of our teeth. Uh...thanks.

Well, to be fair, most women don't like their teeth being painted with goo, so that reaction of flipping out is entirely expected, really. :smallamused:

*reads episode title* It was only a matter of time before the good Doctor Mario turned his hand to dentistry, I suppose. ... *Imagines a Dr. McNinja/Mario crossover where Luigi is actually one of Mario's clones that didn't rejoin the collective due to an error during the cloning process* ... Oh dear...

And you have to go all the way up there just to SWAN DIVE into the newest boss battle of Mario's life. The man your plumber could plumb like indeed.

Wuff, who turned out all the lights? I know it's Noki Atlantis and at floor of the bay, but this is still a bay. Huh. The Eely-Mouthed monster has 4 eyes. That's different. But I guess crucial to help you see what on earth you're doing.

Man, I can't even tell how you're supposed to see the ones aside from the four big chompers before you've accidentally hit them.

Kind of weird how it spits out a golden tooth and then a shine sprite appears out of nowhere. Like it'd almost make sense if the shine sprite had been turned into the tooth...


After that is another Acapella Zone, and this one is...an APPRECIABLE spike in difficulty if I must say. After climbing our way up the various ropes, we find ourselves in a fairly lengthy platforming challenge area. Hell, the first area requires us to wall jump to get out of! For some people this might be something they've yet to do somehow, so it's pretty tricky. We've got rotating platforms, the requirement of doing full on 3D triangle jumps as opposed to just 2D, and even rolling logs that are slightly faster then regular ones. But all that aside, we're able to complete this without much hassle. With that, we've only got one more true Acapella Zone to, ahem, look forward to.

DIFFICULTY SPIIIIIIKE Though I do like how The Plantiest was so easy he didn't merit a mention in the text portion of this update. XD

Secret shell house~~~

Noki Sage. Number 1 contender for most sympathetic resident of Isle Delfino.

*squints at the spiral steps* Y'know, I think the Noki might've been more hardcore than I initially gave them credit for. I think they ripped apart some giant clams and slammed their halves into the rock and/or coral to make those staircases judging from the mother of pearl texture on the walking surfaces.

That's brutal. And both pretty and tacky at the same time. XD

Looks like you've got to be thinking with spring jumping in order to get through this, instead of spring jumping on the tight ropes just being a short cut like in earlier world-levels or episodes. So that's nice to see that incorporated as something that goes from neat trick to discover to integral skill.

Ouch about almost dying to the electro-urchins. Good job bonking on your way into the zone, though. :smalltongue:

Heh, I'd forgotten about the crayon trains moving in the background. :smallbiggrin: That is a nice touch.

Kind of funny how you tried to cheese the jump there and the game punished you with the camera messing up. If only it wasn't so routine for the camera to do that, though, it'd be more of an effective bit of the game snarking back at you.

Good thing those trick platforms are mostly only tricks for the MIND GAMES that they play! :smallbiggrin:

Ooo, catty-corner wall jumps plus spinny jumps, that is nice and tricky.

LOG MASTAH!

Oh man, that was so great, the tower you climb by just side jumping and letting it spin to catch you. XD That's a nice little touch for an ego boost after the earlier nail-biting jumps.

Good job, and only the one Zodario death, too.


Finally we have another Shadow Mario fight. I have nothing to say here that hasn't been said already, except for the reveal that oh hey look he can heal if you let him linger for too long, or move too far away. That's also how his health bar works, he has a slow regeneration. It's neat mechanically but overall we've fought him like what, 5 times before this and it's still exactly the same? Come on.

So, he's always been able to self-recover? Or he's gained this ability WITH THE HELP OF KYOJI!?


Well, that's it for today. Hope you all enjoyed, I'll see you guys next time, when we'll finally step into my favorite level in the game. For some reason.

Ooo, favorite level you say? That'll be excitement!

[Lord Raziere]

Live from my Aunt's house since I'm house sitting, it's more Sunshine!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [14] Down by the Bay (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRY8f0PrTBM)


.......I remember going through this bottle yes....but again, not sure how I did it. but I'm pretty sure I didn't use the hover thing that much.

and thats the fish boss I was talking about.....it took me so long to beat that fish......

.....man I always feel a little stupid, because I don't think I ever beaten Piantissimo that fast.

0_0 oh right, its THIS acapella.....did I beat this one? I can't remember.... probably didn't....

aAHAHA! oh that one death was just fail.....

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Been kinda busy this past week. So, without further ado... THE DEATH TOLL!



The Death Toll
Pinna Park Acapella 1 6
Pinna Park Roller Coaster 1
Pinna Park Red Coins 1 2[
Pinna Park Red Coins 2 6
Sirena Beach Hotel Acapella 1 7
Sierena Beach Casino Acapella 1 4
Sierena Beach Hotel Red Coin Run 2
Sierena Beach Hotel Acapella 2 2
Sierena Beach Casino Acapella 2 3
Noki Bay Shell Acapella 1 1
TOTAL: 72

[Coidzor]

So it seems like Noki Bay is Zodi's best world-level so far.

[LaZodiac]

Back home from housesitting and already miss the cat. Time for more Sunshine!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [15] Fish Plus Dog (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIPRhDM8cxk)

Video Length: 23:53

Shines: Noki Bay 8, Secret Shine 1 and 2, 100 Coins and 30 Blue Coins. Pianta Village 1 and 2.

Starting us off today, we head off into one of the worst Shines in the game! I've said this a little too often this playthrough I think. But this time is quite legitimate and true, because oh my god it's the Red Coin Fish. So, remember all those problems I have with the swimming controls? The inability to turn in any sort of immediate sense, the difficulty of "go forward", the basic problem of not really having a good sense of depth? Imagine all of that, but also you're trying to get the eight Red Coins of this moving swarm of fish shaped coins, but also said Coin Fish occasionally and randomly splits into it's component parts and flings itself across the entire sea floor, and continues to move along it's programmed path while in this split up shape, until eventually reforming back into a fish also at random. Also you have a somewhat light time limit since this is all underwater. No, thankfully for everyone, I somehow managed to get all the coins really quickly, but I want you all to imagine that I didn't. Imagine I got all the coins except for one Red Coin, and then had to spend like ten minutes trying to find that coin, and then it just flutters away into the sea as the one single coin decides it's time to break formation. It is nigh impossible. Then we're faced with the existential crisis of "having to wait five hours to fall down because there is no way to go down in these swimming segments".

Moving on it's time to get the Secret Shines and the 100 Coin Shine. First secret is easy, just spray on a gold bird. We've seen this before and it's actually kind of neat, especially if you've learned that other birds hold things in them. It's not out of the realm of possibility to realize "hey the bird is gold maybe it has a shine in it" after all. The second Secret Shine is of course an Acapella Zone, and honestly aside from my futzing around, this one isn't too hard. They don't even do the really mean bull**** thing I figured they might. So that's all good. For the 100 Coin Shine...well, the interesting thing about this is that there are at least 100 coins in the underwater city portion ALONE so I could just go there, but what's the fun in that? It's best to try and get as many coins as you can just in case, though. The only other thing I really have to say is, hey look I added in unused Noki Bay music I hope you guys enjoy that.

Now onto my favorite level in the game despite after looking at it closely having some of the most frustrating shines. Such is life. Welcome to Pianta Village, home of the Tree Oni! Our first Shine involves this lady who's pets are overheating from...well the heat, and thus need us to help cool them down. Also her pets are baby Chain Chomps. Called Chain Chomplets, they leave a large trail of lava goop behind the as they rampage through the village, and it's up to us to spray em and then, by carefully and not in any dangerous way grabbing their tail and pinballing them into the hotspring. Don't worry it's okay I'm not doing anything bad! I...I hope. This is a fun Shine to me, not least of all because Fludd gives an oddly places "genuine life advice" thing, which is...silly. I love Chain Chomps, they're my favorite enemy in the Mario series and they're just super cute and great and seeing these adorable puppies is just crazy. I like this Shine.

After that we have the hardest Il Piantissimo race in the game! Remember that difficulty is relative, though for what it's worth this race is actually kind of tough? I remember failing it as a kid, is what I mean. Mostly from the tree climb at the end of it. After beating this manly man in a race, we're rewarded with another Shine, and we never have to talk to this guy again. Nice.

Finally, Noki Bay Blue Coins. Taking a moment to specifically talk about these because oh jeez most of them are hidden away in nooks in the wall that are hidden or invisible or hard to see and definitely hard to get to and waaaah why is this? I'm not a super big fan of getting the Blue Coins here. Also, this little hunt for Blue Coins has some subtle foreshadowing of a real, true hell. But that's for later. See you guys next time!

------

Hey it's time for more learning! Not about italian/spanish though. This time it's about...dun dun duuuu, Japanese!

Chain Chomps in Japan are known as Wanwan. A deep sort of rough bark bark sound, the onomatopoeia of how dogs bark in Japan. What are the Chain Chomplets called? Well, they're called Kyankyan, which is also the onomatopoeia of dogs barking, but the kind of bark you'd expect from a smaller dog. I just find this super cute, especially since if you say those names, it even sounds like dogs barking. Okay enough gushing about cute wrecking ball puppies, you can leave now.

[Lord Raziere]

Back home from housesitting and already miss the cat. Time for more Sunshine!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [15] Fish Plus Dog (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIPRhDM8cxk)


yeah, I don't think I ever got pass the red coin fish one or got to it. but that is evil.

.....I never noticed that unused track thing before.

and now for....PIANTA VILLAGE. and yeah, this is a good level, especially for the one episode that well.....you'll see. its also memorable for the fact that it has night episodes and day episodes.

[LaZodiac]

yeah, I don't think I ever got pass the red coin fish one or got to it. but that is evil.

.....I never noticed that unused track thing before.

and now for....PIANTA VILLAGE. and yeah, this is a good level, especially for the one episode that well.....you'll see. its also memorable for the fact that it has night episodes and day episodes.

Well I mean it's an unused track, noticing it is kind of hard since you have to know it exists :smallwink:

It makes sense though. Yoshi's gonna have a hard time doing anything in Noki Bay what with the...everything. Poor Yoshi.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Only one death this episode. Not your least painful episode, since you have had zero-death episodes, but still pretty impressive for that acapella zone.

This is, however, your least painful acapella zone, at a total of only two deaths.



The Death Toll
Pinna Park Acapella 1 6
Pinna Park Roller Coaster 1
Pinna Park Red Coins 1 2[
Pinna Park Red Coins 2 6
Sirena Beach Hotel Acapella 1 7
Sierena Beach Casino Acapella 1 4
Sierena Beach Hotel Red Coin Run 2
Sierena Beach Hotel Acapella 2 2
Sierena Beach Casino Acapella 2 3
Noki Bay Shell Acapella 1 1
Noki Bay Acapella Redoux 1
TOTAL: 73

[LaZodiac]

Only one death this episode. Not your least painful episode, since you have had zero-death episodes, but still pretty impressive for that acapella zone.

This is, however, your least painful acapella zone, at a total of only two deaths.



The Death Toll
Pinna Park Acapella 1 6
Pinna Park Roller Coaster 1
Pinna Park Red Coins 1 2[
Pinna Park Red Coins 2 6
Sirena Beach Hotel Acapella 1 7
Sierena Beach Casino Acapella 1 4
Sierena Beach Hotel Red Coin Run 2
Sierena Beach Hotel Acapella 2 2
Sierena Beach Casino Acapella 2 3
Noki Bay Shell Acapella 1 1
Noki Bay Acapella Redoux 1
TOTAL: 73



...wow, it occurs to me that, unless I avoid death in the next Acapella I go to, I've died at least once in EVERY Acapella Zone. Huh.

See this is why I'm so thankful for this death counter you've got going on. It's really fascinating to look at! Though I'm pretty sure I died only once in the very first Acapella Zone. It has been awhile...

[LaZodiac]

It's time for more Sunshine yo!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [16] Never Trust A Tree Oni (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEBp01BnUxE)

Video Length: 24:40

Shines: Pianta Village 3, 4, 5, 6,and 7.

We begin with one of the more...iconic Episodes of this Shine. The Goopy Inferno. It seems Shadow Mario isn't too keen on us doing as we please, and he's stolen FLUDD right from under us! We've gotta find a way to traverse a horrific field of lava to get to FLUDD so we can save the Mayor of this fine mafia village. There are a few ways one can approach this, and the way I've done so is the "fast but sort of correct" method, where one goes on the Grates below the village to get to where they need to go, but only for as long as actually needed. Their are two other methods, one involving all the Grates, and one involving none of the Grates. Suffice to say this is an interesting Episode, even if it is kind of suuuper dangerous.

Next up, it turns out that Pianta lady has another pet! This time it's an actual Chain Chomp! It's HUGE, and has the occasional scar on...and yet somehow feels less dangerous then the puppies? Either way this one is kind of tough, since you've gotta drag him to the hot-spring. When he reheats back up you've gotta pound his stake into the ground to keep him from moving otherwise he'll just shuffle away. It's a fun game of back and forth, and reminds me of dealing with actual dogs. Once he cools off for good he becomes a nice shade of gold and we get a Shine. Yay!

After that we have...the last Acapella Zone. And what a finale it is, my friends. We've gotta navigate underneath the village with Yoshi to get to a mushroom with some Yoshi Goo on it, and the mushroom platforming is a liiittle tricky. I die a few times, and that kinda sucks. But finally, we do get inside, and we're faced with the hardest, most frustrating challenge yet. The Chucksters. These guys throw you based on what direction you're facing as you talk to them, and as I explain in video it's sort of like a cone AOE going from Mario's feet. This is a really hard, frustrating stage because some of the Chucksters are just straight up "well you didn't know this guy would throw you like this so now you die" based difficulty, while some that are moving and you need to time their position correctly and SOMETIMES they stop in place but other times they DON'T so you talk to them at the slightly wrong angle and Mario turns to face them head on as he does, and that causes you to get thrown slightly off course and into your death. It's quite frustrating! It also makes it worse because not one single death in this Acapella Zone will be YOUR fault, because of these god damn Chucksters. This is probably the worst Acapella Zone in the game, purely based on the fact that nothing about it is good and reasonable. We finally get the Shine, but only after many pointless deaths. I can't wait to do the Red Coin mission here!

Next up for this quiet little village of tree oni mafia monsters, it turns out the majority of the inhabitants have been covered in the flaming lava goop! That's bad, so we've gotta save em. But for some reason it's also timed, and while I kind of get that since "oh it's timed for how long it'll take until they die" it still feels weird because as far as we've seen the Pianta aren't actually hurt by the goop. My main complaints though is that, for the entire game up till this point, the music for the timed sections has been a specific song that gets faster as time runs out, eventually going into a "tick tock tick tock" thing once you reach 10 seconds. However, that's not a sound effect, that's ACTUALLY part of the song! So without that music that's not involved in this Episode, and it leads to me aaaalmost dying due to Time Out because I just didn't realize my time was running that low. I think this is a very poor game design decision.

Finally, we have the erstwhile and eternal Shadow Mario. But this time it's...an actual fight! The only location to refill water is far enough away that he'll heal if you go there, and Shadow Mario actually leaves a trail of lava goop behind him and throws out lava goop M signs! The only thing missing is him doing a sprinkler of lava goo when he spin jumps, like how we do when we do a spin jump and spray water. I wish ANY of the Shadow Mario fights before this had even a fraction of the actual thought put into this fight, because this is the only Shadow Mario chase that actually seems like a fight. We dunk on Shadow Mario and get the Shine, but then something happens...

With Shadow Mario beaten in all 7 stages, he floods Delfino Plaza! Our only recourse is to go into one of the few accessible levels, one of which is the newly opened Corona Mountain. This is the final level of the game, so we could go and beat it right now if we wanted. But I've gotta shoot for 100% clear. We do take a step inside Corona Moutain to unflood the place and get a taste of how...scary the Mountain looks, though. It's an intimidating sight to be sure. But it'll be for later.

Hope you guys enjoyed. Next time we'll be finishing up Pianta Village.

[Lord Raziere]

It's time for more Sunshine yo!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [16] Never Trust A Tree Oni (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEBp01BnUxE)

Video Length: 24:40


Okay! ooooh, this'll be the one with THAT episode....YUP THE GOOPY INFERNO!!!! otherwise known as the ACAPELLA EPISODE! the entire zone, an acapella level, all the world a thing you cannot touch, with only plain Mario to do things with. the one I've been waiting for all this time. I beat it, but took the real way.....you seemed to have shortened it, again. ARGH. the real thorny issue is that I tried my own "short way" by coming up through the spring and trying to splash water in the direction of FLUDD so that I can jump to it, but never succeeded.....

HA! I like that you seemed to take more time with an episode that was supposed to be easier.

and then there is the real acapella thing here....I think I actually beat this one. I'M A CHUCKSTER! I wonder what these piantas all think of being in a strange dimension chucking people around.....you think the acapella place mindwashes them?

[LaZodiac]

Okay! ooooh, this'll be the one with THAT episode....YUP THE GOOPY INFERNO!!!! otherwise known as the ACAPELLA EPISODE! the entire zone, an acapella level, all the world a thing you cannot touch, with only plain Mario to do things with. the one I've been waiting for all this time. I beat it, but took the real way.....you seemed to have shortened it, again. ARGH. the real thorny issue is that I tried my own "short way" by coming up through the spring and trying to splash water in the direction of FLUDD so that I can jump to it, but never succeeded.....

HA! I like that you seemed to take more time with an episode that was supposed to be easier.

and then there is the real acapella thing here....I think I actually beat this one. I'M A CHUCKSTER! I wonder what these piantas all think of being in a strange dimension chucking people around.....you think the acapella place mindwashes them?

You CAN do it by splashing water from the natural spring, but it's tough and you need to do a Spin Jump specifically to get across the rest of the lava.

Yeah, I actually put some degree of practice into the Goopy Inferno since it's super hard and long and tedious, but less so with the other Shines. Oops!

Naw, I think this Acapella Zone is just where all the weirdos hang out. This is their chuckster club house, and sometimes they leave to go to other places (thus why you can find Chucksters in other locations).

[Seerow]

I don't know why you hate the chucksters so much. I take that back. I know exactly why YOU hate them, but through that whole section of the video I was laughing hysterically. Mario getting thrown to his death by chucksters for completely asinine reasons was hilarious to watch, I could have sat through a two hour episode of nothing but death by chuckster and been pretty happy.



Also death mountain, is that you?!

[LaZodiac]

I don't know why you hate the chucksters so much. I take that back. I know exactly why YOU hate them, but through that whole section of the video I was laughing hysterically. Mario getting thrown to his death by chucksters for completely asinine reasons was hilarious to watch, I could have sat through a two hour episode of nothing but death by chuckster and been pretty happy.

Also death mountain, is that you?!

Luckily for me at least, I don't have two hours of footage of me getting thrown to my death. Maybe if I was playing this blind, but I can't erase my mind so you'll have to settle for the majority of the video being I'M A CHUCKSTER!

You...have no idea how right you are about the DEATH part. Shneekey's gonna have his work cut out for him, I think.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

I will grant, you are in fact the Lava Queen.

Also, this acapella zone is the second most painful mission you have ever gone on. The Sand Bird is the most painful. I am including the two deaths you encountered on the way to the actual acapella zone in my count for the zone, since you were in route and technically given that place as your destination. I think this is the first time you've ever died while en route to an acapella zone.



The Death Toll
Pinna Park Acapella 1 6
Pinna Park Roller Coaster 1
Pinna Park Red Coins 1 2[
Pinna Park Red Coins 2 6
Sirena Beach Hotel Acapella 1 7
Sierena Beach Casino Acapella 1 4
Sierena Beach Hotel Red Coin Run 2
Sierena Beach Hotel Acapella 2 2
Sierena Beach Casino Acapella 2 3
Noki Bay Shell Acapella 1 1
Noki Bay Acapella Redoux 1
Pianta Village Underside Acapella 1 8
TOTAL: 81

[LaZodiac]

Rising from the depths of catering hell, a Sunshine video appears!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [17] Treetop Tussle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mn3raLStcs)

Shines: Pianta Village 8, Secret Shines 1 and 2, 100 Coin Shine and the 30 Blue Coins. ALL LEVELS CLEAR.

Today marks the time when we are finally done with levels. Today, we clear Pianta Village. Starting off is Episode 8. the Fluff Festival. This one is an 8 Red Coin mission, but with the added gimmick of little dandilion puffs known as Fluffs floating around that can be used as flying, mid air poles to grab onto. They...really don't actually do much except for the end? Well, ignoring the one really good moment that happens this episode that I imagine to be hyped up a bunch maybe :smallamused:. Anyway, Red Coins! Nothing much to say.

Now for the Secret Shines! The first one is simple; climb to the top of the purple tree and spray water at the sun. This is the last Secret Shine that is actually hidden and not in like an Acapella Zone, and I think it's...kind of dumb? Like with the one in Gelato Beach, how again are you supposed to find this? Anyway, moving on to CHUCKSTER HELL we find that oh because FLUDD is so awesome, the Red Coin challenge here isn't even all that bad. Lucky me, I thought it'd require being thrown to that platform opposite of the Shine Sprite but I guess not!

Next is the 100 Coin Shine, and wow this level is really strict for coins. I think I baaarely got it. I just about collected every single solitary coin in the level, and ended up passing by three Blue Coins in the attempt. So lets just get to the Blue Coins, where I have to mention a SLIGHT PROBLEM this game has. Mostly in that, they clearly ran out of ideas as they were finishing this game. Consider that one of the Blue Coins, which is hidden inside an M mark graffiti, is on the underside of the village. A place where the light does not shine, and it is impossible to see it unless you are directly next to it and in first person mode and specifically looking for it. It's...kind of awful and bad. Then also consider that 9 Blue Coins are hidden within people in one Episode, which is the timed rescue mission of those Piantas. This isn't SUPER bad, but it's still kind of lazy seeming? But I digress.

With that all said and done...we're finished with Pianta Village, and levels in general. Next time, we're gonna get all those pesky Shines you may or may not of seen strewn throughout the hub world of Delfino Plaza!

[Lord Raziere]

Rising from the depths of catering hell, a Sunshine video appears!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [17] Treetop Tussle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mn3raLStcs)


yeah, I never finished that last episode, and I don't ever got most of the secret shines.

and yeah, Acapella zones....they're really evil

yep, all the zones are done....but not all the shines are gotten of course....

yeah, I have little to say as this nears it end, I guess.

[Qwertystop]

Hah. Paint, shaped like a shine, on the floor - which is possibly the only time in the game that you aren't supposed to spray the painted symbol, but instead try to put out the sun?

[Seerow]

Hah. Paint, shaped like a shine, on the floor - which is possibly the only time in the game that you aren't supposed to spray the painted symbol, but instead try to put out the sun?

Yeah I thought that was weird too. I caught the symbol, but never would have guessed trying to squirt the sun. And then later a blue coin for trying to squirt the moon from a specific place? Just seems weird.

But yay, levels all done! We're in the home stretch I guess? I dunno, for all I know this is just marking the end of the tutorial levels, but it feels like we're ramping up for the end. Can't wait to see all of the things I've missed in Delfino Plaza.

[lurkmeister]

...one seventeen-video binge later...

Man, this playthrough is just all kinds of nostalgic.

Fun facts: Neither me nor my brother figured out how to get to Sirena Beach until we'd had it for at least a year. I mean, in retrospect, it shoulda been kinda obvious, but still...

"Pinna" (two N's) in Italian actually means "fin" or "flipper". Which makes sense, since Pinna Park is on Delfino's...flipper. It's the same kind of difference as between penne and pene. One is the name of a pasta, the other a certain anatomical member. :smallwink:

I have no idea why, but I don't, in fact, remember having to climb the tree in Pianta Village. I could've sworn I remembered getting a Sprite from cleaning up the fiery goop, though. C'est la vie.

Saving the best for last, eh? Oh my gawd, I think the worst a capella zone platform hells were the bonus ones you accessed from Delfino Plaza. I think I also made a game of finding out how many coins are in the Plaza once, too, and found out there are like 200+.

I never did think to find out how many blue coins are in each level. Turns out they're 30 -- good to know, if I ever have the game and a system to play it on again.

I remember Sunshine having an unusually high learning curve for a Mario game, what with the Fludd mechanics, but once you mastered them, going back to traditional Mario mechanics felt like a bit of a versatility nerf.

Also, can't believe that game was a GameCube launch title. It also occurs to me that that was Windwaker's system -- sort of a sunny tropical theme? (Then again, that was also the title for Metroid Prime. Man, outside of the Nintendo releases, GameCube games kinda sucked balls. Baten Kaitos was pretty fun, though.)

Can't wait to see what fresh bit of nostalgia the next installment triggers!

[LaZodiac]

...one seventeen-video binge later...

Man, this playthrough is just all kinds of nostalgic.

Fun facts: Neither me nor my brother figured out how to get to Sirena Beach until we'd had it for at least a year. I mean, in retrospect, it shoulda been kinda obvious, but still...

"Pinna" (two N's) in Italian actually means "fin" or "flipper". Which makes sense, since Pinna Park is on Delfino's...flipper. It's the same kind of difference as between penne and pene. One is the name of a pasta, the other a certain anatomical member. :smallwink:

I have no idea why, but I don't, in fact, remember having to climb the tree in Pianta Village. I could've sworn I remembered getting a Sprite from cleaning up the fiery goop, though. C'est la vie.

Saving the best for last, eh? Oh my gawd, I think the worst a capella zone platform hells were the bonus ones you accessed from Delfino Plaza. I think I also made a game of finding out how many coins are in the Plaza once, too, and found out there are like 200+.

I never did think to find out how many blue coins are in each level. Turns out they're 30 -- good to know, if I ever have the game and a system to play it on again.

I remember Sunshine having an unusually high learning curve for a Mario game, what with the Fludd mechanics, but once you mastered them, going back to traditional Mario mechanics felt like a bit of a versatility nerf.

Also, can't believe that game was a GameCube launch title. It also occurs to me that that was Windwaker's system -- sort of a sunny tropical theme? (Then again, that was also the title for Metroid Prime. Man, outside of the Nintendo releases, GameCube games kinda sucked balls. Baten Kaitos was pretty fun, though.)

Can't wait to see what fresh bit of nostalgia the next installment triggers!

I'm glad you enjoyed! You picked a good time to archive binge this since we're almost done :smallamused:.

Yeah, thanks for the supplementary lesson there. The fun thing is that all the level names area type of food, so both translations work!

You are not the only one who thought there was a Shine for cleaning everything. I've got a friend who thought there had to be at least one.

You're right about the learning curve. As much as I brag about my ridiculously awesome Mario skills, look up any speedrunner's run of this and you'll see some crazy ass stuff going on!

Yeah, as launch titles go this is quite a good one. It and Wind Waker did have a sort of tropical theme, yeah. It had some poor third party support but then it also had RE4 which is only better on the Wii. Also oh man you're one of the only other people I know of that know about Baten Kaitos!

Speaking of nostalgia and Acapella Hell, the next video is going to be quite an interesting thing. Yes, there WILL be a video tomorrow, I'mma wake up early for that.

[LaZodiac]

You open your stocking and what's that, another Sunshine video!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [18] Who Runs Mafia Town? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3MeBwQMeK4)

Video Length: 27:14

Shines: Delfino Plaza 1 through 15, 100 Coins, and Delfino Airstrip 2.

Today, we're gonna clear out the Shines in Delfino Plaza. All of these are obtainable before now, with the least of them requiring a specific nozzle or trusty steed to get but that's pretty self evident just by looking at it. So lets get going shall we?

In Delfino Plaza there are quite a few Shines just kinda laying about. One is on the beach, hidden by a Shine image. Another is behind some doors you need Turbo to get through. Three are hidden within the two bells and the Shine Gate Shine figure thingy, all of which need to be cleaned up to get. One's hiding in a block ontop of the Lighthouse. Two more are being held by a dude who just wants to people smash boxes. One involves paying the kindest, most accurate oni in the world to throw us to it (which he does so quite easily). Finally, now that the Flood is over, the boat back to the Airstrip is working. Pay ten coins and you'll be brought back to the Airstrip so you can do a Turbo nozzle fueled Red Coin mission! This one is super easy and actually kind of fun and also makes it feel weird that the Turbo nozzle isn't used much. And of course, while doing all of that and technically exploiting the fact that getting a Shine in the Plaza just resets the PLAZA and not YOU, we get enough coins to get the 100 Coin Shine!

Of course, that's not all. There are also hidden areas that will lead us to Secret Courses, not quite Acapella Zones because they don't have the right music but still just as frustrating. Starting us off is the Woodblock Slide Secret, which is simple if you know how to actually beat it. You've got one jump so you best save it for the end! After that is Pachinko Secret, involving a fairly difficult Pachinko based Red Coin challenge that I make harder by forgetting you ca go in with the hover nozzle! Don't be me people! Then we have the Waterslide Secret, which is quite easy but it's also one of the very very few times the Turbo Nozzle is used for anything so I'm alright by it. It's also one of my favorites because it's just kinda cool and stylish looking. After that we've got the Tall Grass Secret. A large little sandbox for us to explore and get Red Coins in. They're all fairly hidden well...though because one is inside a pokey it's technically possible to glitch and crash the game here if you go in with 99 coins.

Finally, we have the Lily Pad Secret. This one is agonizing, not least of which because of what you have to do to GET to it. It involves a lot of pointless, annoying waiting with Yoshi and it's suuuper awful and bad. Especially since if you game over in this, the hardest and most frustrating of all the Secrets and Acapella Hells, you have to do it ALL OVER AGAIN! It's rough as hell. As for the Secret Course itself...welcome to true hell! You must ride a slowly degrading lilypad down a stream of INSTANT DEATH WATER and collect 8 Red Coins while doing so. The currant is such that you cannot back track and even if you could the lilypad is melting and will die before you can reach the end. It is possible to climb on the sides but it's veeery finnicky and one small error leads to an endless death of pain and suffering. This is a very hard, frustrating Secret...but it's finally done. With this Shine, we now have every Shine except those gotten for getting Blue Coins...and the final one.

I'll see you guys Monday for the Blue Coins.

[DataNinja]

Yeesh... some of those looked like they could be trouble if you don't know what you're doing (and then the lily pad one :smalltongue:). Like, imagine running out of water on the tall grass one before putting out the oni red coin/advice Pianta. :smalleek:

[Lord Raziere]

oh yeah, them Delfino secret places are the worst. especially Pachinko and lilypad. never finished them. the rest of the shines are relatively easy. though I never even encountered the tall grass one.

I mean man, they just hide shines in places where you never think to look and I doubt you could ever find- I mean, the ones hidden in the sand alone....

[LaZodiac]

It begiiiiiins!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [19] A Lovely Shade of Blue (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMFBRl3AQq0)

Video Length: 23:06

20 Blue Coins of the Plaza, 10 from Corona Mountain, and we finally buy all 24 Shines from the Tanooki.

Well folks, this is it. We're gonna get the last of the Blue Coins. There are 20 scattered around Delfino Plaza, and 10 inside of Corona Mountain. We're going to be getting every single one. The ones in the Plaza aren't that bad, the worst being the fruit collecting side quests because they're kiiind of boring, with the worst of THAT being the Durian one since it's actually kind of challenging. It's alright though. The main bulk o this update is getting through Corona Mountain, though, so lets talk a bit about that. Because we're actually going to be going through it today.

Corona Mountain is a relatively small, straight level with a very clear and concise goal. Get to the end of it. There are two sections to get through, and annoyingly there is no checkpoint system in this game so if you die during any of it, it's back to the start with you. Lets go over the obstacles for the first section. The lava you see is not the lava goop Bowser Jr made, but Actual Lava. Touch it and you'll just die outright. The platforms you've gotta traverse, there are two "Types". There are spike platforms, that occasionally shoot up spikes that will kill you instantly. The other type of platform is the fire platform, which can be put out with water, but doooes come back eventually if I recall. If the fire touches you, you die instantly. So that's the first half of our level, nothing but instant death traps and platforming. It feels very 2D Mario, but in a sort of bad way? Lets move on to the next section.

The next section involves the Mudboat. I touched on this a little bit in Noki Bay, where the Mudboat makes an innocent (and perfectly missable) appearance, but I'll go more indepth into it now. The Mudboat is piloted by your FLUDD's squirts. But it's EXCEEDINGLY finicky. Spray behind you to go forward, but if you're even slightly off to the side it'll cause you to take a wild turn. Spray forward in an attempt to slow yourself down and you will...sort of, and if you're off by another fraction it'll cause the boat to turn in the direction you're spraying for some reasoooon??? If you spray out from the middle of the boat, you can soooort of do a standing turn, but only sort of. Additionally, you can if you desire turn the boat fully around and have the back be the front, and this is actually somewhat surprisingly more controllable, but also slower and also completely subject to you just randomly not spraying juuust correctly enough for the game. If you touch any of the many obstacles you need to get through with the Mudboat, it immediately sinks and you die because of lava. If you somehow manage to survive, the Mudboat does unsink where you left it, so...good on that I guess? However, there is one thing that makes all of this finicky garbage much, much worse.

Nine of the ten Blue Coins in this stage are right at the end of the Mudboat section, and require you to use the Mudboat to get them. Welcome to my special hell.

After painstakingly collecting those shiny pieces of blue, we can finally, finally go to the Tanooki shop to buy the last Shines in the game. A somewhat funny scene is that, once you have all 240 Blue Coins, the Tanooki's dialogue hangs a little bit on the 2, before going on to say "24 Shines" and I think that's just kinda funny. But yeah, we cash in our coins and finally, we have all 119 Shines. Only a single one remains, up in Corona Mountain. After getting through the absolute hell of Corona Mountain once more, it's time for the final battle. But that'll be for Friday, friends.

[Lord Raziere]

It begiiiiiins!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [19] A Lovely Shade of Blue (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMFBRl3AQq0)


kay, blue coins time. you'll be a blue coin 240-aire!

and wow, those are a lot of deaths, Corona Mountain is why I never finished this game. and nice stylish way to get that last blue coin!

and I honestly like that even the game is like "dude, you seriously got all the 240 blue coins in one go without spending them once!?"

however now Mario is blue coin broke. but considering how much Mario gathers coins to spend on a daily basis fighting enemies and platforming, I doubt he very much cares.

[Amidus Drexel]

Corona Mountain is a relatively small, straight level with a very clear and concise goal. Get to the end of it. There are two sections to get through, and annoyingly there is no checkpoint system in this game so if you die during any of it, it's back to the start with you. Lets go over the obstacles for the first section. The lava you see is not the lava goop Bowser Jr made, but Actual Lava. Touch it and you'll just die outright. The platforms you've gotta traverse, there are two "Types". There are spike platforms, that occasionally shoot up spikes that will kill you instantly. The other type of platform is the fire platform, which can be put out with water, but doooes come back eventually if I recall. If the fire touches you, you die instantly. So that's the first half of our level, nothing but instant death traps and platforming. It feels very 2D Mario, but in a sort of bad way? Lets move on to the next section.

The next section involves the Mudboat.

There aren't any obvious checkpoints, but there are several places that you'll return to if you manage to die - but not if you get a game over (which is fairly easy if you're bad at the game, like I am). Also, the spikes and the fire platforms are exactly instant death - they kill you very quickly, but if you get lucky with your timing it's possible to still have a few dots of life after getting hit.

Mudboooooooooooooooooat :smallcool:

[LaZodiac]

There aren't any obvious checkpoints, but there are several places that you'll return to if you manage to die - but not if you get a game over (which is fairly easy if you're bad at the game, like I am). Also, the spikes and the fire platforms are exactly instant death - they kill you very quickly, but if you get lucky with your timing it's possible to still have a few dots of life after getting hit.

Mudboooooooooooooooooat :smallcool:

You are actually 100% incorrect. You have to restart the whole area if you die. Unless you care to point out where dying is safe =p?

[lurkmeister]

Hah, as I recall the only way to control that mudboat is VERY SLOWLY. I vaguely remember deciding to just sacrifice lives for most of those final coins.

I'm trying to remember which Sprites I never got. The toxic lilypad, for sure. Hmm which other ones?

Man I miss this game.

[Qwertystop]

I feel like for some of those places, you might have been able to Hover instead of restarting. For example, couldn't you have hovered from the end platform to a coin and back?

[LaZodiac]

I feel like for some of those places, you might have been able to Hover instead of restarting. For example, couldn't you have hovered from the end platform to a coin and back?

If you hover OUT to the coin, you will not have enough time to get back. You've got to spin jump over to the coin, and then hover back. I'm not really confident in doing this! I hate the Mudboat but I'm more confident in my boat driving.

[Seerow]

So Mudboat is the first part of the game that has actually made me unhappy with the overall design.

Yes, there have been other frustrating gameplay quirks, but almost all of them have been part of Shines that I assume are optional to some degree or another (as a non-player it's really hard for me to tell what is mandatory to complete the game, but I've been working on the assumption that you need to get some percentage of shines from each level to unlock the next. So if one shine is buggy or annoying, you can just work on a different one instead), but this mechanic right is mandatory any way that you try to slice it. In order to beat the game you must pass through Mudboat, and Mudboat just doesn't work.

On a straight mechanical level, the handling of Mudboat is awful. From a gameplay level, the controls are completely unintuitive (squirt to the right to turn right. What? That probably would have killed me a dozen times by itself). On a thematic level, the game is supposed to be about cleaning up an island and platforming as Mario with a water powered jetpack, so here we are riding around on a boat made out of mud through a lake of fire? It doesn't fit at all.

I was really excited about Corona Mountain coming in because I saw the fire/lava death traps and what looked like it was going to be a real test of platforming capability using the Fludd. Instead that section lasted all of 30 seconds, and was the easy "let's fast forward through this" part of the level, with Mudboat taking most of the time (though to be fair, in terms of actual physical distance they were probably equal. I guess I was just hoping for a much longer platforming gauntlet).

Like the problem with the mudboat isn't the difficulty. There have been parts of the game that caused more deaths, I'm nearly certain of that, it's that it didn't look like it was fun to play. It certainly wasn't fun to watch. And it was completely out of synch with the entire rest of the game. Yes we had a few shines earlier that used similar mechanics, but they were always weird out-of-the-way things. Having that right here at the very end, the last challenge you need to beat before getting to the final boss? I really hate it. Like if I was the one playing the game I'd call it a game ruining experience. As a spectator, it really just made me feel sorry for Zodi and really annoyed at the developers.

[LaZodiac]

So Mudboat is the first part of the game that has actually made me unhappy with the overall design.

Yes, there have been other frustrating gameplay quirks, but almost all of them have been part of Shines that I assume are optional to some degree or another (as a non-player it's really hard for me to tell what is mandatory to complete the game, but I've been working on the assumption that you need to get some percentage of shines from each level to unlock the next. So if one shine is buggy or annoying, you can just work on a different one instead), but this mechanic right is mandatory any way that you try to slice it. In order to beat the game you must pass through Mudboat, and Mudboat just doesn't work.

On a straight mechanical level, the handling of Mudboat is awful. From a gameplay level, the controls are completely unintuitive (squirt to the right to turn right. What? That probably would have killed me a dozen times by itself). On a thematic level, the game is supposed to be about cleaning up an island and platforming as Mario with a water powered jetpack, so here we are riding around on a boat made out of mud through a lake of fire? It doesn't fit at all.

I was really excited about Corona Mountain coming in because I saw the fire/lava death traps and what looked like it was going to be a real test of platforming capability using the Fludd. Instead that section lasted all of 30 seconds, and was the easy "let's fast forward through this" part of the level, with Mudboat taking most of the time (though to be fair, in terms of actual physical distance they were probably equal. I guess I was just hoping for a much longer platforming gauntlet).

Like the problem with the mudboat isn't the difficulty. There have been parts of the game that caused more deaths, I'm nearly certain of that, it's that it didn't look like it was fun to play. It certainly wasn't fun to watch. And it was completely out of synch with the entire rest of the game. Yes we had a few shines earlier that used similar mechanics, but they were always weird out-of-the-way things. Having that right here at the very end, the last challenge you need to beat before getting to the final boss? I really hate it. Like if I was the one playing the game I'd call it a game ruining experience. As a spectator, it really just made me feel sorry for Zodi and really annoyed at the developers.

The way it works is that you HAVE to beat every wold's 7th Episode (the Shadow Mario one) to beat the game. You you have to clear basically all the game to beat the game. The Sandbird, most of the swimming nonsense, you've gotta do all of it.

Though you are right, of all the problems this game has, the Mudboat is the worst. I for one cannot wait to see what my death count on this thing is because it felt like a lot.

[lurkmeister]

I feel like for some of those places, you might have been able to Hover instead of restarting. For example, couldn't you have hovered from the end platform to a coin and back?
Or you could, you know, just kill yourself for the coin. :smallwink: IIRC that's how I handled them. I definitely did not want to use Mudboat more than I had to, especially since once you had the steering timing on it nailed it became rote.

Still Mudboat was annoying enough that I definitely did not go beat Bowser as often as I could, because of how frustrating a part of the course it was.

This is making me want to find an LP of Super Mario 64. My favorite game ever (this has as much to do with sheer nostalgia as actual gameplay reasons).

[LaZodiac]

This is making me want to find an LP of Super Mario 64. My favorite game ever (this has as much to do with sheer nostalgia as actual gameplay reasons).

Well there are ways of making ME play that game, you know :smallamused:

[Durkoala]

OK, I'm skipping my thoughts on the intervening episodes (I think they've all been good, though) so I can actually write things about this, but I have to ask something. What the heck is drank?


It begiiiiiins!

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [19] A Lovely Shade of Blue (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMFBRl3AQq0)

Video Length: 23:06

20 Blue Coins of the Plaza, 10 from Corona Mountain, and we finally buy all 24 Shines from the Tanooki.

Well folks, this is it. We're gonna get the last of the Blue Coins. There are 20 scattered around Delfino Plaza, and 10 inside of Corona Mountain. We're going to be getting every single one. The ones in the Plaza aren't that bad, the worst being the fruit collecting side quests because they're kiiind of boring, with the worst of THAT being the Durian one since it's actually kind of challenging. It's alright though. The main bulk o this update is getting through Corona Mountain, though, so lets talk a bit about that. Because we're actually going to be going through it today.

Corona Mountain is a relatively small, straight level with a very clear and concise goal. Get to the end of it. There are two sections to get through, and annoyingly there is no checkpoint system in this game so if you die during any of it, it's back to the start with you. Lets go over the obstacles for the first section. The lava you see is not the lava goop Bowser Jr made, but Actual Lava. Touch it and you'll just die outright. The platforms you've gotta traverse, there are two "Types". There are spike platforms, that occasionally shoot up spikes that will kill you instantly. The other type of platform is the fire platform, which can be put out with water, but doooes come back eventually if I recall. If the fire touches you, you die instantly. So that's the first half of our level, nothing but instant death traps and platforming. It feels very 2D Mario, but in a sort of bad way? Lets move on to the next section.

The next section involves the Mudboat. I touched on this a little bit in Noki Bay, where the Mudboat makes an innocent (and perfectly missable) appearance, but I'll go more indepth into it now. The Mudboat is piloted by your FLUDD's squirts. But it's EXCEEDINGLY finicky. Spray behind you to go forward, but if you're even slightly off to the side it'll cause you to take a wild turn. Spray forward in an attempt to slow yourself down and you will...sort of, and if you're off by another fraction it'll cause the boat to turn in the direction you're spraying for some reasoooon??? If you spray out from the middle of the boat, you can soooort of do a standing turn, but only sort of. Additionally, you can if you desire turn the boat fully around and have the back be the front, and this is actually somewhat surprisingly more controllable, but also slower and also completely subject to you just randomly not spraying juuust correctly enough for the game. If you touch any of the many obstacles you need to get through with the Mudboat, it immediately sinks and you die because of lava. If you somehow manage to survive, the Mudboat does unsink where you left it, so...good on that I guess? However, there is one thing that makes all of this finicky garbage much, much worse.

Nine of the ten Blue Coins in this stage are right at the end of the Mudboat section, and require you to use the Mudboat to get them. Welcome to my special hell.

After painstakingly collecting those shiny pieces of blue, we can finally, finally go to the Tanooki shop to buy the last Shines in the game. A somewhat funny scene is that, once you have all 240 Blue Coins, the Tanooki's dialogue hangs a little bit on the 2, before going on to say "24 Shines" and I think that's just kinda funny. But yeah, we cash in our coins and finally, we have all 119 Shines. Only a single one remains, up in Corona Mountain. After getting through the absolute hell of Corona Mountain once more, it's time for the final battle. But that'll be for Friday, friends.

As hellish as this was, I liked the little details present in it. For instance, the durian lady has her baskets placed like goals for you to kick the fruit into, because thats the only way to transport durian. Also, you can see that there was once a road through corona, but it's eroded away or been torn up to leave the deathcourse of fire. Also, the metal bands and spikes in the deathcourse design are rather familar, as is the music...

The mudboat is just awful; somebody with no eyes could probably see how badly done those controls are. That whole segment was extremely tense and kept me on the edge of my seat, so well done for doing it... Well, you almost did it twice, but chose to go after the coins, and did it once, but didn't go after the coins, so let's say you did it one and a half times.:smalltongue:

Is there a reason you didn't go next to a coin, jump out and hover to it, then backpedal? That looks like it should have been possible.:smallconfused: Unless you were just too stressed to think outside the mudbox...

Tanookie's 'um...' moment was great. I'd almost say it made collecting all the coins worth it, but that Corona mountain course... nothing is worth that.

Anyway, on to the final Boss for the new year! Happy boss battle!
I hope it's not some fat guy in the bath.:smallwink:

[LaZodiac]

OK, I'm skipping my thoughts on the intervening episodes (I think they've all been good, though) so I can actually write things about this, but I have to ask something. What the heck is drank?

As hellish as this was, I liked the little details present in it. For instance, the durian lady has her baskets placed like goals for you to kick the fruit into, because thats the only way to transport durian. Also, you can see that there was once a road through corona, but it's eroded away or been torn up to leave the deathcourse of fire. Also, the metal bands and spikes in the deathcourse design are rather familar, as is the music...

The mudboat is just awful; somebody with no eyes could probably see how badly done those controls are. That whole segment was extremely tense and kept me on the edge of my seat, so well done for doing it... Well, you almost did it twice, but chose to go after the coins, and did it once, but didn't go after the coins, so let's say you did it one and a half times.:smalltongue:

Is there a reason you didn't go next to a coin, jump out and hover to it, then backpedal? That looks like it should have been possible.:smallconfused: Unless you were just too stressed to think outside the mudbox...

Tanookie's 'um...' moment was great. I'd almost say it made collecting all the coins worth it, but that Corona mountain course... nothing is worth that.

Anyway, on to the final Boss for the new year! Happy boss battle!
I hope it's not some fat guy in the bath.:smallwink:

It's a reference to a Dave Chappelle joke, found here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UayQTu2kH-U). Warning NSFW obviously it's Dave Chappelle.

Yeah, I'll give Sunshine this. There's a lot of good, actually good design to it if you look at the art and world construction. The levels are all designed with intention and little details. The durian basket, the little bits of personality in Corona, it's all over the game. If only the mechanical aspect of the game was as good.

I explained why I did what I did with the coins and the hovering and stuff but I'll say it again. If you hover over to the coin, you will not have enough hover left to get back to the platform. You have to spin jump to the coin, the hover back. That's way to intense for me, I'll stick with what is technically a safer option.

Yeah, hard to believe next video is the last one. It's been a ride, and I hope you all enjoyed it.

[Durkoala]

It's a reference to a Dave Chappelle joke, found here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UayQTu2kH-U). Warning NSFW obviously it's Dave Chappelle.

I explained why I did what I did with the coins and the hovering and stuff but I'll say it again. If you hover over to the coin, you will not have enough hover left to get back to the platform. You have to spin jump to the coin, the hover back. That's way to intense for me, I'll stick with what is technically a safer option.

Yeah, hard to believe next video is the last one. It's been a ride, and I hope you all enjoyed it.

Never heard of Chappelle, but I'll give that a watch. Also technically all media is not allowed where I work, so I think he's going to fit right in.

With the coins and hovering, I meant why didn't you hover to the coins from the boat instead of guiding the boat right to them?

[Amidus Drexel]

You are actually 100% incorrect. You have to restart the whole area if you die. Unless you care to point out where dying is safe =p?

Clearly my memory isn't the best. :smallredface: I am, however, very sure that (at least one of) the fire and spikes aren't instant death, as I definitely remember making it to the boat with only one or two dots of life left a couple of times. (that said, I was pretty sure there were checkpoints SOMEWHERE in the level and look how that turned out :smallamused:)

[LaZodiac]

Never heard of Chappelle, but I'll give that a watch. Also technically all media is not allowed where I work, so I think he's going to fit right in.

With the coins and hovering, I meant why didn't you hover to the coins from the boat instead of guiding the boat right to them?

Oh in that case it's because I was just too scared. The mudboat makes things really damn tense.

EDIT: @Amidus: I can say you are right on that, and you guys may or may not get to see something like that in the next video, but much like the lava goop it's ESSENTIALLY instant kill, in that while it is technically survivable, 9 times out of 10 you won't.

[LaZodiac]

Wow, I can't believe it's taken me a year to finish this.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [20] [FINALE] Vacation Time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNLwrhjLxmI)

Video Length: 11:43

Shines: Corona Mountain 1, the last one.

Here we are folks, the finale. Rocketing up into the clouds, we finally make our way up to the final confrontation with big ole Bowser himself. We're greeted by an...extremely awkward sounding voice that doesn't work at all, and yes actually fits really well? It's weird, but this is basically kind of how I'd expect Bowser TO sound. Anyway, after a pretty funny moment of Bowser and Junior asking Peach to get into the hot tub with them (complete with looking at the burnt up Shine Sprite in the pool) Mario appears and the fight begins! We've interrupted his vacation so now we've gotta pay!

I'd just like to take a moment before going into the mechanical details of the fight to say that, story wise, this fight is hilarious. Mario and Peach are going on vacation, only to run into Bowser's son because Bowser and Junior are ALSO on vacation. It's like a wacky sitcom movie. Two neighbors who have a heated rivalry happen to go on vacation to the same place and of course run into each other, and chaos ensues from it. Just since it's Mario and Bowser, chaos in this case means trying to get Mario sent to prison and destroying an island with magical graffiti painted up by a tech brush invented by a scientist with a weird ghost and paint focus to his work. I love video games sometimes.

Now, as to the fight itself...it's bad? Like, I mean, don't get me wrong it looks neat, and it has interesting mechanics, it's just bad, kind of? You've spent the entire game learning how to hover nozzle and how to combat enemies with FLUDD's spray, so the final boss is...Rocket Nozzle on the five corners of his hot tub to do a Rocket Pound to smash it, and the Spray Nozzle is basically useless in the fight. It just feels really weird a final boss, I guess, in that it tests a mechanic you've used all of once, on an optional Shine Sprite. Your main threat is Junior, his little pool toy shoots out a TON of Bullet Bills. Blue ones have pick ups in them, usually a life or some water. That being said you have more then enough water to destroy all five points. Bowser for his credit shoots fire breath at you, leading his shots after the first hot tub spoke is smashed, and sometimes he'll splash some of the hot tub goo at you. That's about as far as he'll go to actually attack you though, dude IS on vacation after all. To be perfectly honest the biggest threat here is Mario hugging onto walls you don't want him to when trying to recover after smashing a hot tub spoke.

With all five destroyed, the hot tub is flipped and we all fall down into the sky! Mario, FLUDD, Bowser and his son, they all fall and luckily land in soft nurturing sand or water. Peach, since she is the best, gently floats down with her umbrella. Down on that island with the coconut lady is where Mario and Peach land, and props to actually using a place you can go in game for this it's actually pretty cool. Less cool is FLUDD, who appears to have uh...died. But not really this is Mario, Toadsworth and his buddies fix her later. But still jeez what a thing to do game, come on!

Moving on from this scene, we get...what I imagine is and or should be a fairly interesting scene for those of you who care. Bowser and Junior are on their destroyed hot tub, floating in the open seas. Bowser says he has something to say about Peach...and Junior interrupts him by saying he knows Peach isn't his real mom. Bowser's reaction to this is not to say "you knew...?" or something like that, his reaction is to LOOK SURPRISED, AND THEN RELIEVED. Maybe I'm just reading too much into things, but Bowser's response makes it seem like he's accepting what Junior said instead of telling the actual truth. So we never actually get confirmation from EITHER PARTY that Peach isn't his Mom. I think that, in the grand scheme of things, she's obviously not, but the game does VERY LITTLE to actually say she isn't. Peach doesn't seem all that perturbed by the information, and Bowser seems relieved that Junior believes she's not his real mom. It's kinda messed up. Anyway Junior says he wants to fight Mario again and Bowser seems genuinely happy about this so that's sweet.

Cutting over to Sirena Beach, our heroes reunite with the saved FLUDD, and our vacation can begin in earnest! Thus the credits roll, and over them we get cute little pictures of their vacation, from the various levels of the game. Complete with an obligatory lady hot spring scene! Nothing is shown and it's a Mario game so I wouldn't really want that anyway but still, it's funny how they at least nod their head toward it. As the credits finish we get a nice picture of the residents of Isle Delfino and Mario's group wishing us a happy vacation, and to be honest I kinda need it. If we didn't get every Shine we'd instead get a picture of Il Piantissimo finding the magic brush...which goes nowhere, sadly.

One final thing must be done, however. With all 120 Shines in our collecton, we can return to that man who gives us sunglasses. In reward for brightening up the island, we get...some rad vacation wear! We get a blue shirt with sun sprite patterns on it in addition to the glasses! I'll admit it's not the best reward, but it's cute. So yeah, that's the end of Super Mario Sunshine. Look below for my thoughts on the game as a whole~.

------

Thus concludes Super Mario Sunshine, one of the games that proved to Nintendo how a rushed game is bad forever, while a delayed game can be improved until it's good. And this game WAS rushed, very clearly. Not all of it works, some of it is really boring and lazy in it's design, and it has some problems with the physics engine. But that all being said, and ignoring the mudboat, this game is still actually good and fun! It's just also not great. I think it says a lot about this game that we had so much fun with it and yet still we can agree it's probably the worst mainline Mario game ever made. And hey, it tried something different and cool, and at least it looks really good. Now I'm gonna write a few of my thoughts on the mechanics of this game, though I'm also quite curious about what you guys think about the game.

I think it's a problem that you have to beat every single level up to Episode 7 to beat the game, because at that point you may as well clear Episode 8 as well. I know some people didn't even know about the Episode 8 shines until later, so making it Episode 7 was kind of a bad design decisions. I'd of made it Episode 4, so that you only HAVE to complete HALF of each level. That'd feel a bit more fair, I think.

Another problem this game had was introducing things that didn't need to be introduced. The blooper racing and the mudboat for instance, remove those and give us a Turbo nozzle challenge. The Turbo nozzle gets ONE use in the ENTIRE game, which is a shame because it's really fun! The Rocket Nozzle is less fun to use but it also gets the same treatment, except for the fact that it's required to beat the final boss!

Speaking of bosses, this game has an...interesting way of handling them. We fought Petey Piranha twice, Glooper Blooper THREE TIMES, and the rest only show up the one time, but Sirena Beach has TWO bosses. It feels really strange, but at the very least these bosses (ignoring maybe King Boo and definitely Eely Mouth) required you to use your hover and spray nozzles, which the game forces you to learn. The final boss changes things up, and I'd honestly argue that's for the worse in this case.

The Acapella Zones are...mixed. I know some people love them and wish the game was mostly this but programmed better. I know some people who despise it completely. For me, I basically like them, but their flaws are evident. Mario's jumping without the FLUDD just doesn't feel right, and some of the Acapella Zones are just bad. But when you do get that perfect run and get from one end to the other without dying, it feels super awesome. So yeah. Mixed bag!

I have nothing to say about the Blue Coins that I imagine would be new to you guys. I put in the times needed to skip my collecting them for a reason. They're kind of boring and never fun to actually get, ESPECIALLY for Corona Mountain, which feels lazy and annoying. The Blue Coins as a whole seem kinda lazy, since they're just an alternate collectible that tells you to go explore the level more, I guess. I'd probably tolerate it more if every Blue Coin was obtainable on every Episode of each level, but they're not which just causes more headaches then I'd prefer from my game.

Yoshi is...severely underused and executed weirdly, but I like it? It's cute but also suuuper weird. If we're being honest everything Super Mario Sunshine does except for FLUDD is done in the Mario Galaxy games better, so I look at Yoshi here and think "yeah this is a proof of concept that Yoshi can work in 3D, lets try and do it better next game" and that's kind of sad since Yoshi is my trusty steed. At least he's still cute.

And that's it, I'm out of thoughts to write on Super Mario Sunshine. It was wonderful to play it again, and I'd like to give a few shout outs. Big thanks to all of you for voting for Sunshine to be done, extra thanks to The Wombat of Doom for suggesting it. Huge thanks go to my backers over on Patreon, you guys rule. And most of all, thank you for watching. With Sunshine done I've completed my first text commentary LP video series thing, and I hope to see you all for the next one. I'm taking a week break, so on January 8th we'll begin with our next game, continuing on with my retrospective of the Zelda series with...The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap! See you guys next time.

[Lord Raziere]

Wow, I can't believe it's taken me a year to finish this.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [20] [FINALE] Vacation Time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNLwrhjLxmI)

whelp, thats the end of that. Poor Fludd, even if she lives, she never shows up again, much like many of Mario's companions.

and this was the worst of the mainline Mario titles....?

huh. never knew that, but then again, I've only played Super Mario Galaxy, and the Paper Mario games.

oh well, nice to see you play this and be a little nostalgic. and interesting to see how different people can play the same game in different ways, because a lot of what you did was try to fancy it up or do it in some fast shortcut way, while I mostly was cautious and tried to do things without risk, which led to me doing everything the long way.

and yeah. the scenes of Peach and Bowser are....interesting. lets just leave it at that.

[LaZodiac]

whelp, thats the end of that. Poor Fludd, even if she lives, she never shows up again, much like many of Mario's companions.

and this was the worst of the mainline Mario titles....?

huh. never knew that, but then again, I've only played Super Mario Galaxy, and the Paper Mario games.

oh well, nice to see you play this and be a little nostalgic. and interesting to see how different people can play the same game in different ways, because a lot of what you did was try to fancy it up or do it in some fast shortcut way, while I mostly was cautious and tried to do things without risk, which led to me doing everything the long way.

and yeah. the scenes of Peach and Bowser are....interesting. lets just leave it at that.

I'm glad you enjoyed, and I hope to see you around for the next game!

Also yeah Super Mario Sunshine is probably the worst Mario game, which says a lot more about the other Mario games then it says about Sunshine specifically.

[Lord Raziere]

I'm glad you enjoyed, and I hope to see you around for the next game!

Also yeah Super Mario Sunshine is probably the worst Mario game, which says a lot more about the other Mario games then it says about Sunshine specifically.

well I don't know about next game- I'm not really a Zelda fan. I've tried Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Wind Waker- never finished any of them, and only on Wind-Waker did I ever get far. much like how I didn't get very far in Golden Sun: The Lost Age. the puzzles were too complicated for me to figure out and I didn't know where to go. either that, or I'm just not that interested in that level of puzzle-solving.

but I guess I could see you around, if only to see someone actually good at it do it.

[Qwertystop]

Worst of the Mario 3D-platformers, at least. Sticker Star might be in competition for worst-overall, or one of the sports ones.

[Seerow]

Wow, I can't believe it's taken me a year to finish this.


Wait has it been a whole year? I thought it was only a couple months. Or is this a new years joke?



Anyway, thoughts on the Final Boss:
I actually like it. I agree it's really weird that Fludd is only used for Rocket Jumping here, and I would have liked to see the fight changing with each platform you rocket pound, forcing you to use more mechanics. That said, the fight did manage to kill you once (even if it was through weird physics) which I think is a first among boss fights in the game. So I can't complain it's too easy, just not particularly interesting or satisfying. It's especially annoying you never get to directly confront Jr, since Daddy is there at the end.

On the final scene, it would have been nice to see a short cutscene with the Mafia Court apologizing for their treatment of you and admitting Mario's a good guy after all as a reward for 100% clear, instead of the weird picture at the end. But at least we get a pretty neat shirt and shades, I can live with that.


As for your general thoughts on the game, I agree with pretty much all of what you said. I do think the Rocket Pack was used slightly more than you indicated, I know it got used a lot on the blue coin hunts, and I'm pretty sure you used it on more than 1 hidden shine in the overworld. But yes it would be nice to see it get more use in the main game propper, an there was a lot of room for awesome high speed platforming challenges using it that just never materialized.

If I were designing Mario Sunshine today, few changes I would make:
-The alternate nozzles start out as temporary upgrades, but there's an unlock to make them permanent. More challenges arise that require switching between the nozzles. Especially the bosses, but potentially replace the Shines that have awkward unique mechanics with shines that utilize these existing mechanics better.

-Most of the Shines, including Shadow Mario, are obtainable in any order. Only Shines that require a very obvious shift in terrain to work are restricted to being done in order. Shadow Mario is hidden in different places each stage doing his thing until you find him and chase him down.

-On a similar note, Shadow Mario should change a bit more as you get to later stages. Mario is getting upgrades from his Fludd, but Shadow Mario's painbrush seems to have no combat value at all. It'd be nice to see that paintbrush accomplishing more interesting effects as the game progresses.

-Instead of requiring Shadow Mario defeated on each level, just make it a general number of shines to unlock later stages, including the final stage. It's been years, but isn't that how Mario 64 worked? You needed X number of stars to get through certain doors to where later stages were? Seems like a mechanic that worked just fine, it's not like the Shadow Mario narrative was so strong that missing a couple of fights is going to break things. Just make sure the player hits the cutscene in the amusement park with baby bowser before they unlock the final stage, and you're good.

[LaZodiac]

Wait has it been a whole year? I thought it was only a couple months. Or is this a new years joke?

Anyway, thoughts on the Final Boss:
I actually like it. I agree it's really weird that Fludd is only used for Rocket Jumping here, and I would have liked to see the fight changing with each platform you rocket pound, forcing you to use more mechanics. That said, the fight did manage to kill you once (even if it was through weird physics) which I think is a first among boss fights in the game. So I can't complain it's too easy, just not particularly interesting or satisfying. It's especially annoying you never get to directly confront Jr, since Daddy is there at the end.

On the final scene, it would have been nice to see a short cutscene with the Mafia Court apologizing for their treatment of you and admitting Mario's a good guy after all as a reward for 100% clear, instead of the weird picture at the end. But at least we get a pretty neat shirt and shades, I can live with that.

As for your general thoughts on the game, I agree with pretty much all of what you said. I do think the Rocket Pack was used slightly more than you indicated, I know it got used a lot on the blue coin hunts, and I'm pretty sure you used it on more than 1 hidden shine in the overworld. But yes it would be nice to see it get more use in the main game propper, an there was a lot of room for awesome high speed platforming challenges using it that just never materialized.

If I were designing Mario Sunshine today, few changes I would make:
-The alternate nozzles start out as temporary upgrades, but there's an unlock to make them permanent. More challenges arise that require switching between the nozzles. Especially the bosses, but potentially replace the Shines that have awkward unique mechanics with shines that utilize these existing mechanics better.

-Most of the Shines, including Shadow Mario, are obtainable in any order. Only Shines that require a very obvious shift in terrain to work are restricted to being done in order. Shadow Mario is hidden in different places each stage doing his thing until you find him and chase him down.

-On a similar note, Shadow Mario should change a bit more as you get to later stages. Mario is getting upgrades from his Fludd, but Shadow Mario's painbrush seems to have no combat value at all. It'd be nice to see that paintbrush accomplishing more interesting effects as the game progresses.

-Instead of requiring Shadow Mario defeated on each level, just make it a general number of shines to unlock later stages, including the final stage. It's been years, but isn't that how Mario 64 worked? You needed X number of stars to get through certain doors to where later stages were? Seems like a mechanic that worked just fine, it's not like the Shadow Mario narrative was so strong that missing a couple of fights is going to break things. Just make sure the player hits the cutscene in the amusement park with baby bowser before they unlock the final stage, and you're good.

Yes it's a New Year's joke :smallwink:

Yeah, it's kind of frustrating that we never actually FIGHT Bowser Jr ever, he just runs to Daddy for help. Double with the fact that like you said, the Pianta's never actually apologize for being huge dumb jerks, this game doesn't really seem to have any closure, I guess?

Making it so that you have all available Nozzle types at once would be amazing it would make this game so much more fun and give them more incentive to play around with the level design.

Yeah, Mario 64 just needed you to collect a certain amount of Shines, I believe it was 75 out of 120, but since you could do them in basically any order it made doing it a lot more fun. With Sunshine you need to get SOME shines to open up levels, or to unlock Yoshi to get him to open up Sirena Beach, but you also have to do every Shine in order basically, and required to complete every level almost completely just to proceed to end game.

[DataNinja]

I just want to start off by saying that I followed this avidly, and thanks for brightening up my Mondays and Fridays. This is actually the first LP that I've ever watched, and it was really enjoyable.

The boss battle just seemed...inconsistent with the rest of the game. But, at least it answers the question of where Bowser vacations. I can easily imagine the oni mafia accepting bribes to turn the other way while he remodels Corona Mountain. :smalltongue:

One thing that I wish they'd have done for 100% is remove all of the "Wanted" posters. I'd thought that they'd done that on first glance, but sadly, I was mistaken.

All, in all, I'd just like to say thanks for showing off this game in an entertaining way, because I can't seem to find it anywhere...

[LaZodiac]

I just want to start off by saying that I followed this avidly, and thanks for brightening up my Mondays and Fridays. This is actually the first LP that I've ever watched, and it was really enjoyable.

The boss battle just seemed...inconsistent with the rest of the game. But, at least it answers the question of where Bowser vacations. I can easily imagine the oni mafia accepting bribes to turn the other way while he remodels Corona Mountain. :smalltongue:

One thing that I wish they'd have done for 100% is remove all of the "Wanted" posters. I'd thought that they'd done that on first glance, but sadly, I was mistaken.

All, in all, I'd just like to say thanks for showing off this game in an entertaining way, because I can't seem to find it anywhere...

Yeah, removing the posters would of been a nice touch too. Guess they're just lazy.

That being said I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'm actually kinda surprised in this day and age to be anyone's first LP type thing, but thanks that means a lot. I hope to see you with the next game :smallamused:.

[Coidzor]

Like the problem with the mudboat isn't the difficulty. There have been parts of the game that caused more deaths, I'm nearly certain of that, it's that it didn't look like it was fun to play. It certainly wasn't fun to watch. And it was completely out of synch with the entire rest of the game. Yes we had a few shines earlier that used similar mechanics, but they were always weird out-of-the-way things. Having that right here at the very end, the last challenge you need to beat before getting to the final boss? I really hate it. Like if I was the one playing the game I'd call it a game ruining experience. As a spectator, it really just made me feel sorry for Zodi and really annoyed at the developers.

That sums up my feelings perfectly and more eloquently than I would ever have bothered.

Just. Terrible.


Worst of the Mario 3D-platformers, at least. Sticker Star might be in competition for worst-overall, or one of the sports ones.

Were any of the Mario sports games all that bad? I'd say that probably the weakest of the Mario Parties would be worse than them unless there's one with glaring flaws I'm forgetting.


-Instead of requiring Shadow Mario defeated on each level, just make it a general number of shines to unlock later stages, including the final stage. It's been years, but isn't that how Mario 64 worked? You needed X number of stars to get through certain doors to where later stages were? Seems like a mechanic that worked just fine, it's not like the Shadow Mario narrative was so strong that missing a couple of fights is going to break things. Just make sure the player hits the cutscene in the amusement park with baby bowser before they unlock the final stage, and you're good.

Instead of making it so that Shadow Mario fights were missable parts of each world, I'd make the Shadow Mario fights mark the transition that opens up each new portion of the game after you get so many Shines, as the Piantas are increasingly convinced that there's something fishy going on up until they learn the truth and Mario's name is cleared.

And then either have Shadow Mario be a separate creation controlled by Bowser Junior that Mario defeats and imprisons or destroys or have unmasking Shadow Mario as Bowser Junior actually cause something to proc with the Piantas and lead up to fighting Bowser Junior as himself prior to then chasing him down when he runs to daddy with his tail between his legs.

[Cuthalion]

Congratulations! :smallsmile: Well done.


mudboat is sad that nobody like mudboat; it isn't mudboat's fault

[ShneekeyTheLost]

My apologies for delay in getting this out. Holidays and familial obligations and all that jazz. So, without further ado:

And final death-toll count!

I'm splitting Corona Mountain into Intro (the platforms prior to mudboat) and Mudboat. Just to show how painful Mudboat is. Which, by the way, bested even Sand Bird in number of deaths. I'm also counting the two deaths due to lava just prior to the blue coin hunt for Pianta Village in with Blue Coins since that was the next goal to be achieved.


The Death Toll
Pinna Park Acapella 1 6
Pinna Park Roller Coaster 1
Pinna Park Red Coins 1 2[
Pinna Park Red Coins 2 6
Sirena Beach Hotel Acapella 1 7
Sierena Beach Casino Acapella 1 4
Sierena Beach Hotel Red Coin Run 2
Sierena Beach Hotel Acapella 2 2
Sierena Beach Casino Acapella 2 3
Noki Bay Shell Acapella 1 1
Noki Bay Acapella Redoux 1
Pianta Village Underside Acapella 1 8
Pianta Village Red Coin Hunt 2
Pianta VillageChukster Acapella Redoux1
Pianta VillageBlue Coins (lava demo)2
Delfino VillagePachinko Secret5
Delfino VillageLillypad Secret5
Corona MountainIntro4
Corona MountainMudboat12
Corona MountainBowser1
TOTAL: 113


Final Death Toll: 113
Ask not for whom death tolls, for soon it may toll for you.

On the whole, however, you had fewer deaths than shines, so well done!

[LaZodiac]

My apologies for delay in getting this out. Holidays and familial obligations and all that jazz. So, without further ado:

And final death-toll count!

I'm splitting Corona Mountain into Intro (the platforms prior to mudboat) and Mudboat. Just to show how painful Mudboat is. Which, by the way, bested even Sand Bird in number of deaths. I'm also counting the two deaths due to lava just prior to the blue coin hunt for Pianta Village in with Blue Coins since that was the next goal to be achieved.


The Death Toll
Pinna Park Acapella 1 6
Pinna Park Roller Coaster 1
Pinna Park Red Coins 1 2[
Pinna Park Red Coins 2 6
Sirena Beach Hotel Acapella 1 7
Sierena Beach Casino Acapella 1 4
Sierena Beach Hotel Red Coin Run 2
Sierena Beach Hotel Acapella 2 2
Sierena Beach Casino Acapella 2 3
Noki Bay Shell Acapella 1 1
Noki Bay Acapella Redoux 1
Pianta Village Underside Acapella 1 8
Pianta Village Red Coin Hunt 2
Pianta VillageChukster Acapella Redoux1
Pianta VillageBlue Coins (lava demo)2
Delfino VillagePachinko Secret5
Delfino VillageLillypad Secret5
Corona MountainIntro4
Corona MountainMudboat12
Corona MountainBowser1
TOTAL: 113


Final Death Toll: 113
Ask not for whom death tolls, for soon it may toll for you.

On the whole, however, you had fewer deaths than shines, so well done!

No apology needed, I'm genuinely not surprised at all people got distracted by bloody Christmas of all things :smallamused:

Man...16 deaths in Corona Mountain alone. I'm glad it surpassed the Sand Bird, since no place should have more of my deaths then that awful, awful mountain.

113 deaths total...wow. Well, thanks for doing this Shneeky, it was awesome. Hope to see you next thread :smallwink:

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Also, I'd like to share this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVbPnDf3TIw) in celebration of 90%+ of all deaths occurred while this was playing.

[lurkmeister]

Well there are ways of making ME play that game, you know :smallamused:
Haha that was subtle as a brick ...

My kind of subtlety. :belkar:

Can't help you on the Patreon end of things right now, though. *turns out pockets* When my cashflow goes net positive, though, I'd love to help you get even more awesome gear to do LP's.

[LaZodiac]

It begins! I'll see you all there.

Zodi Plays: The Legend of Zelda Minish Cap (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?474436-Zodi-Plays-The-Legend-of-Zelda-The-Minish-Cap-%28living-hat-shouts-at-small-child%29&p=20274431#post20274431)

[Durkoala]

Huff... huff... I'm here! Better late than never, right?


Wow, I can't believe it's taken me a year to finish this.

Zodi Plays: Super Mario Sunshine [20] [FINALE] Vacation Time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNLwrhjLxmI)

Video Length: 11:43

Shines: Corona Mountain 1, the last one.

So, final boss battle! It looks... great actually? Bowser's model is pretty nice, and so are his animations; there's even a cool storm backdrop to the stage. It also looks like it's not very hard to actually do. You've gone over the results of the lazy design already, but I have to comment on the fact that the one nozzle you can use also lets you easily avoid Bowser's attacks. That aside, the music's good and fighting the villain in the bath is certainly an interesting situation.

As everybody else put up their thoughts to improve the final battle, I'd like to join in the fun, although it may be a little off-kilter. What if Junior took on his shadow guise again? To make the platforms pound-able, you'd have to catch Shadow Mario while dodging Bowser's attacks. This would make the squirt nozzle useful and provide a final showdown with the critter that's given you so much trouble over the game. It doesn't patch all the problems in the battle, as Bowser does need some more attacks than fire breath and goop splash, but it's a start.

FLUDD was a great character and item and it makes me sad that she doesn't appear anywhere else. her death scene did come out of nowhere though. She's functioned fine until fighting Bowser then suddenly starts malfunctioning midfight. Would it be too much to put in a line that she's been damaged somehow before we get to the fight? After all, you have to walk through a road of lava to get to Bowser and heat isn't kind to electronics...

This wasn't the best game in the world: there's plenty of creativity, but it is very obvious that at some point they said 'Pack in as many sidequests as possible before the deadline! No resources for sidequests? Add more blue coins and shines wherever!' While it may have been fun, if frustrating, to play, it was definitely fun to watch you.

Onwards, to a game I've actually played!