GameTrailers compares Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Sunshine
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Nov 24th 2007 at 3:15PM }
Bad news, friends of the Lumas. After an extra week of reviews, Super Mario Galaxy has slipped to the number two spot on GameRankings, returning a certain ocarina-wielding Hylian to his long-held number one spot.
To commemorate the super-duper astroplumber's brief stint as king of all videogames, GameTrailers has whipped up a graphical comparison between Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Sunshine, the last of the home console Mario games. It's common knowledge that the Wii is just two Gamecubes duct taped together, does this mean Galaxy equals two Sunshines? You tell us.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
dxprog @ Nov 24th 2007 3:20PM
The lighting is definitely much improved over Sunshine as are the textures.
Kent Houseman @ Nov 24th 2007 3:23PM
I own both and thought the graphics seemed a bit closer.
I haven't played sunshine in a long time. Really impressed with what Nintendo did with Galaxy now that I see this.
jovin6 @ Nov 24th 2007 3:24PM
I don't deny that there are improvements, but one definitely doesn't leap out as a next-gen version of the other. In fact, at one point I got confused which was which and had to check the upper right corners to remind myself.
Dormammu @ Nov 24th 2007 3:40PM
I'm surprised the water pack didn't give it away. ;)
Jerk Face @ Nov 24th 2007 4:47PM
I'm definitely a Nintendo fanboy but I'll agree that there isn't THAT much of a difference between the graphics. It seems to me that the Wii's extra capabilities are more in the scale of what they can do, compared to the individual figures and textures themselves. The worlds are bigger and faster and have more in them, but the objects themselves look pretty similar.
ShortFuse @ Nov 24th 2007 3:24PM
This game made me want to play Sunshine again. Galaxy was too easy, except for maybe the last 3 stars I needed to complete 120. I never got all the stars in sunshine. Sunshine was more like Mario64 in the sense that the stages allowed for more exploration.
In Galaxy, it's very linear and the overworld is very limited.
It didn't have that overworld that Mario64 and Sunshine had with secret hidden starts. (Like the rabbit chases in Mario64 and Sunshine's pinball levels).
I think back and compare and realize... I think I ACTUALLY enjoyed Sunshine since it was more challenging. The game mechanics in Galaxy are better (stupid Fludd) but Sunshine was definitely harder.
Mr Khan @ Nov 24th 2007 4:06PM
I feel the opposite, Sunshine was a cakewalk, except for getting those last 9 Blue Coins in Corona Mountain (where you had to navigate that un-steerable boat all over the last island), and the one with the sluice filled with poisoned water and 8 red coins
Galaxy, alternatively, challenges me all over the place, except, ironically, in the fights against Bowser, which are disproportionately easy (like the final battle, much easier than, say, Bouldergeist)
Fernando Rocker @ Nov 24th 2007 4:13PM
How about the purple coins in the Toy galaxy? That was the most difficult to me... like 10 attempts.
ShortFuse @ Nov 24th 2007 5:17PM
100 Purple in the Toy level (great Super Mario Land 2 throughback,btw) was the 120th star I got. I had too much trouble and came back later. When I tried it again, I actually read the sign post that said "Collect 100 out of 150 purple coins." Since I was trying to get the all my first tries, it was a lot easier now that I knew I only have to get 2/3 of them.
But the jetpackless levels in Sunshine were really tricky.
Ryan Smith @ Nov 25th 2007 12:26AM
It's been way to easy so far, I'm at less than 70 stars, I was hoping the difficulty would really pick up, if it doesn't I don't understand all the great reviews. When I'm being challenged in Galaxy it's amazing, but other times I get bored. Just bought Mass Effect, oh my, that game is incredible, I will get back to Galaxy eventually.
James @ Nov 24th 2007 3:25PM
Only 1 Playstation game on the top 10? That's a lolling shame.
Still though, it's only a shard under OoT. Making it the closest to gaming perfection (OoT) as any game is likely to get for a long time.
What a perfect Top 10 that is too!
Jerk Face @ Nov 24th 2007 4:51PM
I think I'm the only person in the world who thinks Ocarina of Time is more like AVERAGErina of Time. Twilight Princess was way better. Hell, I even enjoyed Wind Waker more.
James @ Nov 24th 2007 4:52PM
You thought right.
SGT Grumbles @ Nov 25th 2007 7:10PM
I can't stand OoT, thanks to that god damn Water Temple.
I didn't really enjoy Twilight Princess that much. Probably because I was just playing it to say that I beat it.
Wind Waker on the other hand was amazing. I love everything about that game, and I can never understand why people say OoT is the best in the series.
Fernando Rocker @ Nov 24th 2007 3:28PM
I like Gametrailers a lot, everything, the users comments, the reviews, and all the funny stuff.
But this video doesnt make justice to Mario Galaxy.
The graphics are great, the lighting is very good, but what about the the excellent textures, the reflections (just see the floor in the Magma Octopus stage), an every effect used, the water, the textures in the Queen Bee... the effect when you see through the ice or water planets, the lava an fire... the high polygons characters, just see how detailed is Bowser, or just see the face of princess Rosalina and the pefectly rounded cute Stars.
I mean... its a huge change... so many changes that you cant see in that gametrailers video.
Fernando Rocker @ Nov 24th 2007 3:38PM
Also I forgot: the framerate in Mario Galaxy is at 60fps, and everything looks incredible. And the music is so great.
ShortFuse @ Nov 24th 2007 3:42PM
Sunshine also runs @ 60fps
Fernando Rocker @ Nov 24th 2007 3:50PM
Sunshine runs at 30fps.
ShortFuse @ Nov 24th 2007 3:55PM
My mistake, you're right. 480p isn't always 60fps
Slaziman @ Nov 24th 2007 5:13PM
Well I agree, I just recently got Mario Galaxy and it looks superb. The only thing that really annoys me is the aliasing!
mykie @ Nov 24th 2007 3:33PM
I don't see why Sunshine got such a bad rap.
The graphics were gorgeous, with some of the best water effects seen in a video game (besting even Galaxy), the level designs were good, and the gameplay was varied and fun.
The camera and somewhat awkward control were the only things that really hampered Sunshine, which was otherwise a very good game.
bm @ Nov 24th 2007 3:35PM
The fact just is that Sunshine still looks wonderful to this day (the video doesn't even show the good looking spots). It's an awesome and highly underrated game, unfairly bashed on by whiners.
SJ @ Nov 24th 2007 3:35PM
Sunshine was indeed a great game. And much more challenging than Galaxy, though it was very frustrating at times too.
In the video, Galaxy is running at 30fps, while it actually runs at 60fps. Believe me, it does make a difference.
BananaBoat @ Nov 24th 2007 3:36PM
Let's not start talking about textures, or someone will bring out a comparison video of Galaxy and Crysis (to show you what real next-gen textures look like).
Honestly, Mario Galaxy could have been done on a gamecube. I don't think anyone would doubt that. As for the graphics on Mario himself, I actually prefer him without the constant...mmm...HDR lighting (it looks like anyway) on him at all times in Galaxy.
Having said that, Galaxy is a far superior game. The water gun in Sunshine was a horrible gimmick, and it brought Sunshine down from being one of the better Mario's of it's time.
Fernando Rocker @ Nov 24th 2007 3:40PM
Honestly, I don't think that Mario Galaxy could have been done on the Gamecube.
flameofdoom666 @ Nov 24th 2007 4:00PM
When you consider disc size, it isn't even an option.
It also, the IR pointer couldn't have been replicated on the GameCube and that was one of the highlights of galaxy.
Also, graphically it had to much going on and would have lagged the cube.
Mr Khan @ Nov 24th 2007 4:12PM
Galaxy takes advantage of the Wiis 2x RAM too
Excellent Draw Distance, and larger levels in general, disc size definitely makes it impossible on 1 GC disc, aside from the bump mapping, normal mapping, metal shading, and wild physics
no, it couldn't have been done on GC, although WindWaker showed how much draw distance GC could pull
Fernando Rocker @ Nov 24th 2007 4:16PM
Exactly... you can see the huge draw distance earlier in the game, in the Bee Galaxy, when you are shot to space and then drop to the three.
James @ Nov 24th 2007 4:45PM
Um, Windwakers draw distance was nothing more than 2D graphics. At a certain radius the game loads up 3D models of the islands.
Galaxy actually loads up the full galaxy, they just remove lighting effects and the texture effects from a distance.
On a side note I didn't like Sunshine. Started off fantastic but really dropped off at about 40 stars. Some beautiful levels and some memorable tracks though.
Mr Khan @ Nov 24th 2007 7:07PM
I know they switched to 2D backgrounds at some point, but it was still excellent draw distance
Lijik @ Nov 24th 2007 7:08PM
Considering that a hell of a lot of the graphical effects from the fur to the magma-floor texturing was also used in Jungle Beat, I partially agree with you in the sense that the graphics could have been reproduced on the gamecube.
Monkeydog @ Nov 24th 2007 3:36PM
I really don't even see how one would make a game look better than Sunshine in the first place.
rockintom @ Nov 25th 2007 12:00PM
Artistically? Difficult. Technology? Not so much.
MosquitoControl @ Nov 24th 2007 3:43PM
Sunshine felt like a wide open world at first, but after a few hours I often felt like I was fighting the controls, the camera, and the game itself as I often didn't know where to go (again this was partially due to the camera.)
I've felt none of that with Galaxy. It's much more refined. An excellent auto-cam, tightened controls and better designed levels.
ShortFuse @ Nov 24th 2007 3:45PM
The camera in Galaxy was annoying. If a wall blocked your view, it didn't show Mario's silhouette like in Sunshine. It was SO frustrating at times. I don't know why Nintendo didn't put this in. There's no reason for them to not have in Galaxy. Step backwards, IMO
Fernando Rocker @ Nov 24th 2007 3:47PM
You obviously don't have Mario Galaxy.
ShortFuse @ Nov 24th 2007 3:48PM
Shut up Frocker, because I do. Damn trolls.
Fernando Rocker @ Nov 24th 2007 3:49PM
In Galaxy, if a wall block your view, YOU DO see the silhouette like in Sunshine.
flameofdoom666 @ Nov 24th 2007 4:02PM
You don't see the silhouette instead of Mario? I surely did in the one or two instances the auto-cam wasn't perfect.
Fernando Rocker @ Nov 24th 2007 4:15PM
Exactly... you can see the huge draw distance earlier in the game, in the Bee Galaxy, when you are shot to space and then drop to the three.
James @ Nov 24th 2007 4:48PM
Yea, doesn't own the game. There is a silhouette, and if a bubble surrounds the player (like if you jump off the map screen) then you see the full player model through the background.
Poor trolls.
ShortFuse @ Nov 24th 2007 5:06PM
This replying system is so messed up. My comments are jumping around. Read my comment below. Sometimes you don't get the silhoutte. I have the game. It was faulty memory of mine thinking they got rid of it completely. I beat it 2 weeks ago. The gamecube had the C-Stick which is better camera control.
I really don't like the camera system at times. Sometimes when I need to make a weird jump or something, the camera won't show where I'm going. I try to press the d-pad and move it and it doesn't move, as if saying "I can't do that. There's a wall in the way." I've had that problem a few times and I've had to switch to first person POV and then switch back. The camera was the biggest annoyance I had in the game. I wanted to explore the levels and see what's in every corner but the camera auto adjusted sometimes and I'd had to switch to first person POV because IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I don't know how people can say the camera system is better than Sunshine's.
Esch @ Nov 25th 2007 3:50AM
I totally agree about the camera, actually. It's great to have the auto-cam most of the time, but it definitely does make it difficult to feel immersed in the worlds; you just aren't allowed to see everything, making it feel like you're on "rails" occasionally. I first noticed this in Sweet Sweet Galaxy, when I was trying to see what the mushroom guy was saying right before getting the star -- I ended up having to run around the perimeter of the cake to get a look at him.
Anyway, just my two cents, but I agree with ShortFuse. If they had just made the camera always changeable, and perhaps have Mario actually turn to view things outside of his view when you go into first-person mode, it'd be perfect. Without it, it's still really fun and playable, of course...just a niggling issue.
Vlad @ Nov 24th 2007 3:50PM
I don't think the current generation playing Super Mario Galaxy are old enough to remember Super Mario Sunshine :D
Fatass of Kickassness @ Nov 24th 2007 6:10PM
Thats weird, I just beat Galaxy the other day and yet I can remember Donkey Kong in its true arcade form.
ShortFuse @ Nov 24th 2007 3:51PM
Yes, but silhouette is there but not like Sunshine. Sunshine always had it, there are moments in Galaxy when it DOESN'T come out unless the camera is DIRECLY behind you. If you're blocked by a part of the planet's surface you won't get it.
ShortFuse @ Nov 24th 2007 3:52PM
^ this was supposed to be a reply two comments up
Fernando Rocker @ Nov 24th 2007 3:55PM
I have the 121 Stars (I can prove it with the WiFi optoion) and never have a poblem because of the camera... maybe you suck playing Super Mario Galaxy.
ShortFuse @ Nov 24th 2007 3:59PM
I don't give a damn how many stars you claim to have.
I sometimes had problems with the camera. I still got the 120 stars. Just because it's Nintendo, Frocker, doesn't mean it's perfect. The camera could have been tweaked a bit better but the Lakuta based camera should have been replaced the Zelda Style where it doesn't care about clipping through objects. The camera is treated as a physical object and sometimes won't go THROUGH walls.
Anticrawl @ Nov 24th 2007 6:38PM
Nah ShortFuse, you're an idiot. Clearly you don't have the game or Miyamoto raped you to get so huffy over something that doesn't even exist. Way to troll man, atleast bring up a real issue with the game rather than make shit up.
I'm gonna go play Mass Effect now, then maybe some Uncharted now that I've got over a 100 stars in Galaxy.
Why can't we all just love gaming together? What's with all this civil war?