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4) Noki Bay, Episode 6 – The Shell’s Secret (Super Mario Sunshine)
From Super Mario Bros. 2 onward, Nintendo has consistently done its best to insert safety nets to help players make tricky jumps. Peach could float, Mario got a raccoon tail, then a cape, and in Super Mario Sunshine, Mario got FLUDD. The talking water pump allowed Mario to hover in place (among other nifty abilities), which was a big help when the occasional inconvenient platform managed to sneak its way under the plumber’s feet. Except in the secret stages, where Mario’s new pal was unceremoniously ripped from his back and the plumber was tossed into the most difficult tests of platforming skills in the game. The Shell’s Secret is perhaps the most challenging gauntlet of spinning platforms, beams, and heart-pounding jumps in the entire game. Noki Bay’s secret level is demanding, but like every other challenge in a Super Mario game, it’s fair. Players swore and broke controllers, but in the end, there was nothing better than showing the game that they were tops with or without FLUDD to ease things along.
Having only recently started Super Mario Galaxy 2, I don’t know how you can choose. Every level in this game feels so brilliant and original and purely entertaining… it’s literally a joy to play.
:)