<p>The latest selection of screens from Mario Sunshine have caused a fair amount <br /> of confusion at the TVG offices, whilst new gameplay details have emerged such <br /> as Mario diluting the paint and reversible gates; why does a game look worse six months <br /> off after <br /> it`s unveiling?</p> <br /> <p>Mario Sunshine was unveiled at SpaceWorld 2001, Miyamoto presented video <br /> footage of a title that looked similar in concept to Mario 64, yet had numerous <br /> aspects that remained a secret; such as what was that backpack all about.</p> <br /> <div align=center> <br /> <center> <br /> <table border=0 width=38% cellspacing=1> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td width=100% colspan=2 bgcolor=#C0C0C0> <br /> <p align=center><b>Spaceworld 2001 Screens</b></td> <br /> </tr> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td width=50% bgcolor=#CCCCCC> <br /> <p align=center><a href=http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/Mariosunshine/spaceworld1.jpg><img border=0 src=http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/Mariosunshine/spaceworld1thumb.jpg width=130 height=101></a></td> <br /> <td width=50% bgcolor=#CCCCCC> <br /> <p align=center><a href=http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/Mariosunshine/spaceworld2.jpg><img border=0 src=http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/Mariosunshine/spaceworld2thumb.jpg width=130 height=101></a></td> <br /> </tr> <br /> </table> <br /> </center> <br /> </div> <br /> <p align=left>The blackout was recently broken when Miyamoto revealed new <br /> footage at a European Press Event.  Perhaps the most important point was <br /> that the backpack was revealed to be a water-cannon used to dilute paint that <br /> fell from the sky.  Other gameplay touches revealed reversible gates such <br /> as those featured in Mario World and the reappearance of Yoshi as a primary <br /> character.  Worryingly however the latest shots showed a game that looked <br /> worse then those showed six months earlier at SpaceWorld.</p> <br /> <p align=left>Such effects as real-time shadows were missing, the lighting <br /> wasn`t nearly as effective, and the game <br /> suffered from lower texture detail and polygon counts resulting in a game that looked more like Mario <br /> 64 then the Mario Sunshine showed at SpaceWorld.  Just take a look at the <br /> sky textures for a comparison and note the changed interface.  The slick <br /> style from the SpaceWorld demo has been changed to a clumsier and more intrusive <br /> approach, it just doesn`t make any sense... </p> <br /> <div align=center> <br /> <center> <br /> <table border=0 width=56% cellspacing=1> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td width=100% colspan=3 bgcolor=#C0C0C0> <br /> <p align=center><b>European Press Screens</b></td> <br /> </tr> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td width=33% bgcolor=#CCCCCC> <br /> <p align=center><a href=http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/Mariosunshine/mariosunshine_ngc_ss2.jpg><img border=0 src=http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/Mariosunshine/mariosunshine_ngc_ss2thumb.jpg width=130 height=98></a></td> <br /> <td width=33% bgcolor=#CCCCCC> <br /> <p align=center><a href=http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/Mariosunshine/mariosunshine_ngc_ss4.jpg><img border=0 src=http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/Mariosunshine/mariosunshine_ngc_ss4thumb.jpg width=130 height=98></a></td> <br /> <td width=34% bgcolor=#CCCCCC> <br /> <p align=center><a href=http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/Mariosunshine/mariosunshine_ngc_ss5.jpg><img border=0 src=http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/Mariosunshine/mariosunshine_ngc_ss5thumb.jpg width=130 height=98></a></td> <br /> </tr> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td width=33% bgcolor=#CCCCCC> <br /> <p align=center><a href=http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/Mariosunshine/running.jpg><img border=0 src=http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/Mariosunshine/runningthumb.jpg width=130 height=98></a></td> <br /> <td width=33% bgcolor=#CCCCCC> <br /> <p align=center><a href=http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/Mariosunshine/suid.jpg><img border=0 src=http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/Mariosunshine/suidthumb.jpg width=130 height=98></a></td> <br /> <td width=34% bgcolor=#CCCCCC> <br /> <p align=center><a href=http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/Mariosunshine/tightrope.jpg><img border=0 src=http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/Mariosunshine/tightropethumb.jpg width=130 height=98></a></td> <br /> </tr> <br /> </table> <br /> </center> <br /> </div> <br /> <p align=left>So what has Miyamoto been up to, has he gone mad???  It`s well known, that he <br /> wanted to keep both Mario Sunshine and Zelda under close wraps until E3 to stop lazy <br /> developers from poaching his ideas.  Speculating wildly, could these latest screens be from a <br /> build six months before SpaceWorld, rather then six months after??? A mock-up smokescreen to confuse developers and gamers around the world, it wouldn`t be the first time he`s surprised us all!!!</p> <br /> <p align=left>Miyamoto has repeatedly stated that gameplay innovations and not <br /> graphical improvements are what will drive the videogame industry forward, is <br /> this a suggestion of what he means.  Do the <br /> improvements that the next-generation offers in terms of visuals really not matter that much to him and Nintendo, and if so, is <br /> this a dangerous risk to be taking in such a fickle world when the GameCube`s success <br /> depends on both this and Zelda...</p> <br /> <p align=left>Only time will tell, just over two months in fact when we`ll <br /> finally get to see and play it for ourselves at E3.  There`s no denying Mario Sunshine will be one of the best games ever, however don`t be surprised to find out that Miyamoto has been pulling the wool over our eyes all <br /> of this time.</p> <br /> <br /> What do you think, have your say and let us know. The best comments will form an editorial. <br /> <br /> Send them to <a href=mailto:editor_tvg@totalvideogames.com>editor@totalvideogames.com</a>