Hey, does anyone else really like the way Mario’s footsteps echo in Super Mario Sun? No? Just me?
There’s just something very satisfying about them, you know? I remember loving them as a kid, playing on a GameCube in front of a cheesy, square TV in our basement, and not knowing why. Specifically, I liked the way Mario’s footsteps echoed on the pretty white stone paths of Delfino Plaza, although it was also very pleasant when he ran on other terrain, like the wooden blocks of the non-FLUDD levels, or the crunchy sand on one of the many beaches on Delfino Island.
I couldn’t find any videos specifically focused on Mario’s footsteps, but the full playthroughs sure have the cute click-clack of his brown work shoes on the sidewalk in spades. Here, listen and tell me I’m wrong. The video below has a good, long example of many different terrains starting at 7:21 p.m., as he traverses Bianco Hill’s sidewalk, grass, wooden platforms, and finally the toy blocks of a level without FLUDD.
I don’t know what it is, but I can’t think of a game since it has such a beautiful sound just for…running! There are lots of great audio designs in Sun in all areas, however. I love the little mechanical whirring noises that FLUDD makes when it changes modes or goes into “rest” mode. All the different water sounds are awesome. And there’s nothing funnier than talking to a Pianta and saying “Baackabaa maaahumbuh!”
It’s weird to look back and think that Super Mario Sun This was probably my very first encounter with something like ASMR. I occasionally listen to such videos when I want to relax. I particularly like cooking ASMR videos, and especially the Cooking Tree stuffwhich is simply the smoothest and most satisfying cooking channel you can imagine. But to this day there is still something that soothes my soul by making Mario run on the stones of the square. If you’ve had a stressful week, try it yourself?
Have a great weekend full of little Marios stomping around!