I kinda treat it as one since it exists to follow up on Mania on top of piggybacking off Mania's gameplay minus the elemental shields. It's a spiritual sequel in my eyes at least. It also has elements from Sonic Origins, but that's an Updated Re-release.
Edited by TheLivingDrawing on May 10th 2024 at 2:45:01 PM
Once Upon A Time.
Mario Sunshine literally started as Super Mario 64 2 before being moved to the Game Cube. Of course I'm going to compare it to Mania, but Superstars not only pales in comparison to Mania, but is generally just a very mediocre game on its own merits.
Edited by TheLivingDrawing on May 10th 2024 at 6:53:43 AM
Once Upon A Time.![]()
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While Sunshine was a follow-up to 64, it is unrelated to the project that was conceived as Super Mario 64 2, having only begun development after both that project and Super Mario 128 were scrapped.
Liekwise, AFAIK there was never a point in Sunshine's development where was wasn't conceived for the Gamecube. It's why there's all the dolphin references (it's a Gamecube Development Gag).
Edited by KnownUnknown on May 10th 2024 at 9:02:28 AM
I think Origins removing lives was good enough since lives are only there to artificially make the game harder. And on the topic of the games being really hard for people just playing them, I remember taking ExoParadigmGamer's reviews on classic Sonic to heart and took from them, among other things, the games had poor difficulty balancing. Aside from Special Stages (where most of his complaints are valid) the games are only really that hard because you have limited lives and no saves in the Genesis versions of Sonic 1 and 2. I also took that Sonic 1 was better, which when playing as an adult, Sonic 2 is better in every way.
I think Stars is a fun enough time. The levels have some fun gimmicks, the playable character moves are distinct, and for the most part, the bosses aren't too bad. They have patterns and can't fully be cheesed without powers, I think that's fine. I'd rather that than the instant wins most classic bosses are.
I mean, ideally the balance would be somewhere in the middle, but most classic Sonic bosses are really unmemorable.
I got stuck on the Casino Night zone boss for a while cause it was hard to hit him from below and i wasn't good at pinball.
Most of the memorable bosses are the ones you get stuck on. XD
Edited by lalalei2001 on May 12th 2024 at 8:47:21 AM
The Protomen enhanced my life.

We're talking about Arzest here. I'm kinda grasping at straws.
Once Upon A Time.