Super Mario Galaxy versus Super Mario Sunshine
by Candace Savino 
{ Nov 24th 2007 at 7:00PM }
This video is making its way around the internets, showing some of the similarities between Super Mario Galaxy and the GameCube's Super Mario Sunshine. We really never realized how similar the two were, but that doesn't mean there aren't a lot of differences as well.
Where do you think Galaxy separates itself most from Sunshine? Is it the gameplay, perhaps the music, or something else? Or do you think that they're just too alike for their own good?
Where do you think Galaxy separates itself most from Sunshine? Is it the gameplay, perhaps the music, or something else? Or do you think that they're just too alike for their own good?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Garu @ Nov 24th 2007 7:23PM
Generally it seems that people are very critical about Super Mario Sunshine, but it's not a bad game by any means. The big difference between Sunshine and Galaxy to me is that, like Super Mario 64, Galaxy is ground breaking. Clearly Galaxy is adding elements we have not seen before. Sunshine didn't really do that. It's not all that different than Super Mario 64, just not as good. And considering that Sunshine was on the GameCube, which was a new system, people expected to see a leap forward over SM64. And I agree that there wasn't a leap forward, and the game is not as good as SM64. But it's still a good game. Had this game come out on the N64 it would have had a higher level of appreciation. But that's just my take on it.
mobilesworking @ Nov 24th 2007 7:50PM
If this is meant as criticism it's weak sauce indeed.
Wushupants @ Nov 24th 2007 8:18PM
I think the look and feel that both Sunshine and Galaxy sport deviate in certain ways from what SM64 established in '96. But from a design point of view, I'd rather have Nintendo stick to the evolution of Mario platformers' design than completely rebuild it or revert to anything less.
Fortyseven @ Nov 24th 2007 8:21PM
I think a lot of the things that were similar between the two are simply design choices that *worked*, and didn't need to be changed up. Sunshine didn't do much for me, but Galaxy has been quite a bit enjoyable so far. There's a fine line between the two of them, and it apparently makes the difference between polite applause and critical acclaim.
It's a lousy comparison anyway: you're playing a 3D Mario game. Go back and compare SMB1, SMB3, and Super Mario World. There's a LOT of stuff that's the same, but few would argue that fact was a black mark on either of the sequels. The same applies here.
troy @ Nov 24th 2007 8:40PM
Agreed fortyseven. I have never played 'Sunshine,' but it looks cooler than everyone made it sound from those vids.
Abscissa @ Nov 24th 2007 8:44PM
Meh. The 3D Marios are all very good games, but they're all inferior to the real series: SMB 1, 2 (the real one, not "Doki Doki Panic"), 3, World and (arguably, since it's only available on a portable) New Mario. I would have liked Galaxy FAR better if it were a true Mario game like New Mario instead of another one in the 3D spinoff series.
Marrvia @ Nov 24th 2007 9:33PM
Wait a minute, just because it's not a 2d platformer, that means it's not a "true" Mario game? What kind of stupid nonsense is that? 3d isn't a "spinoff", it's the evolution of the series, just like pretty much every game franchise tried to do, after playstation 1 first hit.
Abscissa @ Nov 25th 2007 12:05AM
By calling it an "evolution" of the series, you've just illustrated my point that it's clearly NOT THE SAME THING. And as far as which is better, I prefer the 2D ones, so sue me.
B1gC72 @ Nov 25th 2007 12:26AM
dude, please. how can you be that naive to say that just because these new Mario games arent 2D then they are not "true" Mario games. your probably one of those people that would say that the 1972 Dolphins could beat the 2007 Patriots. things change and get better over time and the Pats would make the 72 Dolphins look like a peewee team because players nowadays are bigger, stronger, and faster.
now im not saying i dont respect the old games but you cant write off the new ones as "spinoffs" just because they dont follow the old school formula. Super Princess Peach is a spinoff, Wario Ware is a spinoff, Luigi's Mansion is a spinoff, Super Mario 64, Sunshine, and Galaxy are not. that thinking is the exact reason we have so many sequals today because people dont think outside the box and make change. open your mind man cause your cutting yourself short.
Matt @ Nov 25th 2007 12:51AM
No way, only the first 8-bit games are true Mario games, that 16-bit Super Mario World is just a spin-off series. Kidding :) The 3D games are obviously not the exact same gameplay as the earlier 2D ones, but I think it's a really good evolution -- a continuation, not a spin-off.
I'm also a fan of Sunshine, though I know it was a bit of a departure from tried and true Mario mechanics. Then again, having Mario punch Goombas in the face in Mario 64 was a bit different from earlier games, so I'm fine with the mechanics changing here and there. At least his spin attack in Galaxy seems more fun and not as violent :)
Mark @ Nov 26th 2007 10:39AM
So as technology progresses, Mario is to stay in 2D? Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy, are all continuations of the Super Mario series.
Abscissa @ Nov 26th 2007 4:18PM
"but you cant write off the new ones"
"So as technology progresses, Mario is to stay in 2D?"
When I wrote my original post, I knew there would be a bunch of you illiterate morons showing up who would be entirely unable to comprehend this simple bit:
"The 3D Marios are all very good games"
So where did I "write off" the 3D ones? I didn't. Where in the world did I ever say "Mario should stay in 2D"? I clearly didn't. Don't be idiots - learn how to read, people.
In order to prevent yourselves from being "written off" as complete loons, you will eventually need to learn that there is a very, very significant difference between someone saying "x is a spinoff" and saying "x is bad". Likewise, it would also serve you well to learn the difference between "I like y better than x" and "I dislike x".
Marrvia @ Nov 26th 2007 6:03PM
I don't anyone says that you said that the 3d Mario games aren't any good. That's not even the point. You say that a "True Mario game" is defined by being 2d platformer. Who the hell made up that rule? That's your rule. Just because 2d is the way it started, doesn't mean things can't change and evolve. I think a "true" new Mario game is the next major new Mario platformer on Nintendo's newest major home console. 2d and 3d has nothing to do with anything. I'm sure Shigeru Miyamoto and anyone with half a brain would tell you the same thing. You try to say that 3d Mario games are basically spin-offs but that is not the case. A spin-off is a game like Super Mario Kart and Paper Mario.
Abscissa @ Nov 26th 2007 10:24PM
*Slaps forehead* Here we go again...
@Marrvia:
I never said it couldn't change or evolve.
The 2D marios and the 3D marios have fundamentally different gameplay. Cry all you want about it being an "evolution", the plain fact is that they are different in a way that is more significant than the differences between two 2D marios or two 3D marios. You yourself admit to them being different simply by referring to the 3D ones as an evolution of the series.
Would you rather I called them the "classic" series vs. the "modern" series, or "core" vs. "offshoot", instead of "real" vs. "spinoff"? If so then congrats: you've reduced yourself to splitting semantic hairs.
But at least do it consistently.
What I'm hearing people saying is:
"Paper Mario is different, therefore it's a spinoff."
"Wario Land is different, therefore it's a spinoff."
"The 3D Marios are different, but it's not a spinoff just because I'm insisting on using words like 'evolved' instead of 'different' while conveniently ignoring the fact that 'evolution' inherently implies that there's been a significant difference."
Marrvia @ Nov 27th 2007 12:45AM
I don't want to attack you, but wow, seriously dude, you are a moron. It's like arguing with a five year old. No one agrees with you. You think you're smarter than everyone, yet you have the logic of a person with 2 brain cells in their head.
All you had to say to not sound retard and get your point across is "I like the 3d Mario games, but I'm a way bigger fan of the 2d ones, I wish they go back to making more 2d Mario games." It you make moronic statements about "true" Mario games.
How about this? If the game has Mario is it as the main character, it's a true Mario game. Now please shut the fuck up.
Abscissa @ Nov 27th 2007 2:16AM
"I don't want to attack you, but..."
Mmmm hmmm, sure... At least when I used insults I wasn't delusional about the fact that I was doing so.
"All you had to say..."
That is what I said, but instead of noticing that, you insisted on fixating over the details of how it was worded. Don't act like it's my problem if you couldn't see the forest...
And if you're going to throw the old "You think you're so smart, I'm smarter" tantrum, fine, I'll play along: How does your superior intellect figure that four dissenters constitutes "No one agrees with you"? Is logic a "majority rules" sort of thing?
Besides, do you really expect me to change my mind about anything I've said here when you're the one who's already thrown in the debate towel by reducing your argument to nothing more than "I'm right because I think you sound like a five-year-old with two brain cells." In any world where that's supposed to be a convincing argument, then yea, I'll be a total loon. (Sure, I'm tossing my share of insults as well, but I haven't been reduced to using them entirely in lieu of presenting actual points.)
"Now please shut the fuck up."
I see, well that obviously makes you right and a better person.
Dan @ Nov 24th 2007 8:45PM
Uhhh... how about the wii-mote?
I don't get the comparison. I'm sure you can find lots of similarities to Mario 64 too. Even the 2D Marios were a strong influence.
Am I supposed to be shocked by putting Halo 3 beside Halo 1 and finding out they're basically the same game?
Matt @ Nov 24th 2007 9:34PM
Yea this video was kind of a stretch. So, you can "interact with THINGS in the environment" Both games allow you to...um...jump.
They both had movind/shifting platforms and surfaces.
You could swim in both.
Wow. Talk about a list of things you can do in ANY platformer/adventure game/etc.?
The parallels they tried to draw weren't cohesive--thee enemy design I'll give you, but that's the point--it's the Mario universe, so of course you're going to see themes. (Referring to the Pirhana Plant boss)
Look, if I really wanted to I could draw parallels between this and Metal Gear Solid. You play as a main character with facial hair. Both games allow you to shoot, as well as use close combat fighting. (Mario can spin) There are objectives. There are enemies.
Come on, aside from the fact that they both take place in the Mario universe (not intended to refer to Galaxy, just in the sense that the enemies and other aspects of the game are reminescent)
So please, spare me this type of nonsense (whoever made the video, not NintendoWiiFanboy.com, I love you guys, haha) and give me something real.
raindog @ Nov 24th 2007 9:52PM
This comparison is garbage, but I gotta say, at 18 stars Galaxy hasn't supplanted Sunshine as my favorite game of all time yet. I'm sure there are breathtaking levels I haven't come across yet, but so far nothing compares to the sheer scale and cohesion of Bianco Hills, Noki Bay etc. Even the hub world seems lonely, though I guess it's supposed to with 2/3 of it in darkness.
Fortyseven @ Nov 25th 2007 2:00AM
I'm finding as I hit about 45 stars that there's some real moments where I was going "WOOHOO!! YEAH!" when I'd finally get to a star. Some REALLY challenging hair-pulling stuff, especially once you hit the green star-based galaxies.
raindog @ Nov 25th 2007 11:20AM
Challenge is great and all... it was pretty rewarding to get the star in the "Sweet Sweet Galaxy" after dying 20 or 30 times. I'm just not getting as big a sense of wonder or scale yet, and since games are escapism for me, those are frankly more important.
I also spent upwards of 100 hours at Sunshine without getting anywhere near all the stars. After 8 hours at this game, I'm almost 20% of the way through it. That worries me a little.
patrick @ Nov 24th 2007 11:14PM
sunshine (and mario 64) were better in the fact that it was hard to find the stars, and you had to actually try and find out what to do.
in most levels in galaxy you pretty much just follow a path to get the star.
sunshine was basically the exact same level every time, a place with sand and water, and you use the same, fun at first but later very repetitive, water hose.
but galaxy has so much variety in each level, every level seems in some way different, and you can get quite a few suits, which i like a lot better than lame powerups for the jetpack.
Drahken @ Nov 24th 2007 11:24PM
I agree with most of the stuff being said about the comparison being weak and Sunshine being better than people give it credit for. So I'll just throw this extra opinion in. I really like the music in Sunshine. Galaxy has good music too, but Sunshine's music is really catchy to me. I especially love Delphino Square's theme. I would just jump around the Square like a monkey or zip around with the rocket pack just listening to that. That's another thing. Galaxy, for all it's excellence, doesn't really have an area that's just plain fun to jump and fly around in. Bob-omb Battlefield is still famous for it's "cruise around pointlessly" factor. Galaxy doesn't really have that.
Metayoshi @ Nov 25th 2007 12:07AM
I completely agree with you when you say Galaxy really has no place to just have fun and jump around. Many of the levels, though great in design, are linear, save for a fork here and there. Mario 64 had Bob-omb Battlefield and many other levels to play around in, and Sunshine's Delfino Plaza was even fun to just hop around in. Galaxy really has no place like that for me. I still believe it's as great a game as all the critics have said it to be, but there's many ares in the game where you just can't go backwards or explore too much.
Oh, and I also loved Sunshine's music, but I don't think you can compare the two. Galaxy takes place in space and Sunshine takes place in the tropics. Galaxy's themes were all epic while Sunshine's gave the whole Summer Vacation feel. I believe Koji Kondo did a perfect job for both games, as he's been doing for every Mario game.
Haohmaru @ Nov 24th 2007 11:28PM
For what it's worth, I actually enjoyed Super Mario Sunshine, too. I can't say it's in my personal Top Ten, but it wasn't some horrible P.O.S. game.
Calvin @ Nov 25th 2007 12:05AM
I loved both games, there's some aspects I like better, and god honest there both tied in my mind. For some reason I loved Sunshine while everyone else hated it.
sam @ Nov 25th 2007 12:17AM
Sunshine is trash 75% of the stars are stupid annoying minigames. Spring Mario on Galaxy is the most irritating thing to control and I hate it.
Jeremy @ Nov 25th 2007 12:17AM
I do give credit to Sunshine. It was a fun game that did take Mario in a new direction. The thing I see though is that you can't compare one Mario game with the next. If you had two games that were the same through and through then gaming would be crap. Each new Mario game has brought on a new form of game play to the series. I honestly think that Galaxy is one of the better Mario games so far for the simple fact that it adds a new edge not only to the series but to gaming (the great use of Gravity). I would love to see Galaxies gravity engine used again in the series because to me that is what set this games from others.
vidGuy @ Nov 25th 2007 12:27AM
Bout the only similarity between the two is Mario himself. SMG is a lot different than Sunshine, IMO, and a lot better.
SMG is like Sunshine and Mario 64 the same way Twilight Princess is like OoT - both are built up versions and revolutions of the original ideas, and both are better games for it.
Tom @ Nov 25th 2007 1:39AM
Just remake Mario 64 with Galaxy's graphics and I'll be happy. Add more levels, more paintings, make the castle bigger, add a large Mushroom Kingdom around the castle with things to do, Toads to talk to, etc. Add a "fireball mario" block and a "jetpack mario" block and make them available in the new levels.
samfish @ Nov 25th 2007 3:14AM
"Things to do" and "talking to people" is what ruined Sunshine for me. I would hate if they did that in the next Mario game. It was SO tedious. Sunshine felt more like Zelda than Mario in some ways. And I love Zelda, but keep it away from my Mario games!
That said, Sunshine isn't the horrible game certain people would have you believe it is, but as a Mario game, it's just not that good, if you ask me. It just felt like a generic (but good, compared to most of the competition) platformer. I felt like once I was able to just except the game on it's merits, rather than expect a 'Mario game', it became a lot more enjoyable...although still tedious, in some respects.
My only real complaint with Galaxy is that it's to linear. I liked how in Sunshine and 64 you could complete any objective for the level, but in Galaxy, with a few exceptions, you basically have to do what you came for in the level.
Also, as stated above, I miss the lack of a 'playground' world where you can just dick around and have fun.
Tom @ Nov 25th 2007 4:41AM
"My only real complaint with Galaxy is that it's too linear. "
Well, MY only real complaint with Galaxy is that sometimes the controls completely suck ass. Just try running in a straight line when on one of those really small orbs. Can't be done. Also, I'll be in the middle of trying the squash a Goomba or something and the automatic camera will rotate and disorient me, so I'll end up landing to the left or right of the Goomba, and it takes away one of only 3 hit points. Boooo! I'm 30 stars in and I still can't get used to the stupid gameplay mechanics. An over-the-shoulder camera would've been better, such that you never find yourself standing upside down. So, it's an ok game, but it's nowhere near my favorite game and it's not something I would go back to time after time like I do with Mario 64.
Orenthol Jones @ Nov 25th 2007 4:38AM
Really, the only major problem with Mario Sunshine was a flat out lack of variety. The entire game was practically one level extended through the entire game, with the only sign of variety given to you in the form of those puzzle bonus mission.. things.. But those aren't exactly varied either.
Tropical. Building in A tropical place. Those puzzle mission things located in tropical places. Tropical Overworld - Basically the entire theme of Mario Sunshine.. and it's downfall.
raindog @ Nov 25th 2007 12:03PM
If having everything "tropical" doesn't allow for variety, how on earth does 20 years of "mushroom kingdom" over and over?
What turned me on to Super Mario Sunshine was that it WASN'T the same old Mario game. It's too bad we still had to get a lava level, but everything else was new. We had a resort town, an industrial zone, a village in the hills with an enormous windmill, an amusement park, some cliffs, a haunted hotel which at least didn't feature cliched organ music and living stone walls, and a village suspended in midair with a bunch of platforms underneath it. There was no dumb snow level, or, as you might have expected in a tropical Mario game, a jungle level. Instead of an aerial level, you had levels that incorporated height and flight organically. It reminded me of early Sonic games as much as it did Mario, but with more originality than either.
And then there were the psychedelic minigame levels, some of which it seems Galaxy is based on. I've still never beaten the pachinko or the acid river. Oh yeah, and you had Yoshi, though I'd like to have seen more of him.
Unless I come across something that really stuns me, Galaxy isn't going to be able to touch that.
gevenstaines @ Nov 25th 2007 1:53PM
I love both SMG and SMS. the downfall of SMG is lack of camera control, lack of need for exploration to achieve stars, and the nauseating cuteness factor. the downfall of SMS is too much dialogue, and peach nagging. both have good soundtracks, and decent gameplay. SMG is a bit easy, and rather light on platforming. though, neither game featured platforming as intense as rainbow ride or tick tock clock.
my favorite levels between the two games are definitely from SMS: you had to reach a special doorway, then navigate through an abstract set of rotating platforms floating in space to reach the star. i would love a mario game with no characters, dialogue, or cutscenes, just 120 stages of abstract and difficult platforming!
neither game surpasses the original 3d mario game in gameplay, level design, or music, but now i've accepted that no 3d mario game probably ever will. also, i hope given the success of the last 2d mario game, we will see more for the wii and ds.
LilCo187 @ Nov 25th 2007 5:30PM
WHY ISN'T MISCHIEF MAKERS ON THE VIRTUAL CONSOLE?!?!?!
LilCo187 @ Nov 25th 2007 5:33PM
raindog, you make good points. I think thats exactly why I always had a great liking for Majora's Mask over OoT. The only thing that held it back was the damn 3 Day System and the lack of any explanation of how to slow it down in the beginning....
LilCo187 @ Nov 25th 2007 5:35PM
Sorry for the triple post, but was this knock of Galaxy being to linear?? It does'nt get any linear than a 2-D Mario game. Run right. Run left. Just because its 3-D doesn't mean it automatically needs to be some sort of Sand Box affair. Goodness....
Jean B @ Nov 25th 2007 6:58PM
Galaxy's structure is exactly like Twilight Princess. There's so many similarities in gameplay and level changes to Zelda, from the remote moves to that new female character as the "ringleader". I love both games, but I hope they don't use the same structure in future headlining character games.
Kev @ Nov 26th 2007 12:04AM
Usually when Gametrailers does these kind of comparisons, it's to compare graphics. I doubt they're trying to compare Sunshine vs. Galaxy gameplay. Here's the video description:
"Does the Wii really outmuscle the GameCube? We put it to the test."
MK @ Nov 26th 2007 4:28AM
Yeah it's about the graphics ... and guess what? ,,,, it looks the same, SURPRISE you just bought a $300 gamecube
ArashiUzumaki @ Nov 26th 2007 7:11AM
.. with a motion sensitive controller..
when did gamecube ever have one of those? hm.
there's some really nice looking stuff in galaxy, so you're talking crap simply put.
it's a nice game, and i like how epic it can be at times.
Abscissa @ Nov 26th 2007 4:33PM
Since when is the Wii $300?
russtophiles @ Nov 26th 2007 3:07PM
I felt Sunshine was disappointing for a few reasons, but mostly because of the repetitive feel and the fact that it felt like 'more moves, different world, now you can ride Yoshi' and that was all they tried to do. While Galaxy seems that way on the surface... the crazy planet walking and the consistency of it's use (it's not a first in games, the Ratchet and Clank games have done similar although much less involved implementation of the concept) and the way it creates crazy and incredibly tight, interesting level designs that designed to utterly utilize your moves in an almost rhythmic regularity, it really shows that they had a true focus when designing Galaxy.
Galaxy isn't as challenging as previous Mario titles recently, but most people will tell you it's every bit as fun. I've only just completed the main game and have yet to touch on the far flung galaxies and challenges that remain, but I can say that it's definitely a better balance of difficulty. There's just enough challenge to make you feel like you're accomplishing something while also making as little room for frustration as possible. I'm of the school of thought that the main game should provide a moderate challenge and allow you to enjoy the experience and take it all in, while the end game should be where the tough challenges lie, it's a good compromise especially considering the Wii's expanded demographic.
I also couldn't help but admire how utterly difficult it probably was to get the game's mechanics, such as the changing gravity zones, to work and control smoothly and as naturally as possible. Many games can't get walking in regular gravity right, let alone switching it up, to the sides, and all over the place!
tmetler @ Nov 26th 2007 10:03PM
That video does not do galaxy justice at all. The biggest graphical enhancements in galaxy was the lighting and water. The lighting gave everything a beautiful textured glowy sheen that can't be seen in such a small screen. Some of the geometry of the levels felt a bit boxy, but part were just amazing looking, like the first fight against king caliente.
Kaizoku Risu @ Nov 27th 2007 12:17AM
One big thing for me that separates Galaxy from Sunshine: The fact that they brought back the long jump. I loved the long jump in 64 and I was disappointed when it was missing from Sunshine. When I found out they brought it back for Galaxy I was ecstatic! Just little things like that about the gameplay are what make Galaxy better in my opinion. Plus the fact that Galaxy has so much variety in the levels just like in 64 instead of just Delfino Island. The variety is what keeps it interesting and exciting. I still liked Sunshine though :)