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This is how Super Mario Sunshine would look in Unreal Engine 4

super mario sunshine unreal 4 delfino1
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Every gaming franchise has a black sheep — an experimental entry in the series that, regardless of its overall quality, may not fit into the overall legacy of the franchise. Super Mario Sunshine, the GameCube platformer where Mario wears a water gun backpack and cleans a city covered in toxic sludge, has a small, but loyal fanbase that keeps it from being forgotten. One member of that fanbase, Redditor Sp00kens, is taking steps to ensure that at least a little part of the game upscales to the current generation by re-creating the game’s Delfino Plaza section in Unreal Engine 4.sunshinewater

Sp00kens shared two photos from his creation on Reddit Thursday, an overhead shot of the fully modeled plaza and a ground-level image of the level’s waterfront, with waves crashing against a pier. According to TechRadar, the core of what’s been built so far may be based on another adaptation, the Delfino Plaza level from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Though it is still a work in progress, anyone who’s played the game will definitely recognize the locale, which served as the hub world in Sunshine.

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“Next thing on my list to do is to add water to the map, then I will fix shading, then texture and add music,” Sp00kens said.

Recreating game art in Unreal Engine 4 has become an increasingly popular form of fan art. Players have made levels from World of Warcraft, Goldeneye, and even the bridge from Star Trek Voyager. Every so often, a fan project does lead to something playable, such as Resident Evil 2: Reborn, a fan remake of Resident Evil 2 with improved visuals and modernized gameplay mechanics.

Though Sp00kens initially intended to have the level up and running in a day, it now seems it will be at least a week before the level is ready to download.

Mike Epstein
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Michael is a New York-based tech and culture reporter, and a graduate of Northwestwern University’s Medill School of…
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