Super Mario Sunshine

 GameCube
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1033 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 843 out of 1033
  2. Mixed: 126 out of 1033
  3. Negative: 64 out of 1033
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  1. piscesperiod
    Oct 13, 2020
    8
    Super Mario Sunshine is an ambitious game; Mario controls are much more fluid than it was in Super Mario 64, and as much as I hear valid complaints about the camera system, it still represents an improvement over Super Mario 64. The introduction of Fludd in the franchise was a high-stake gamble, which in my opinion paid off. Mario's movements with Fludd make traversing and exploring areasSuper Mario Sunshine is an ambitious game; Mario controls are much more fluid than it was in Super Mario 64, and as much as I hear valid complaints about the camera system, it still represents an improvement over Super Mario 64. The introduction of Fludd in the franchise was a high-stake gamble, which in my opinion paid off. Mario's movements with Fludd make traversing and exploring areas a lot of fun, it's a fresh and new way of controlling Mario. There's a wide range of different mini-games and platforming challenges, so you always want to keep going to find out what's next.

    On the flip side of the coin, the whole experience feels a bit short with only 7 areas (8 if you count Corona mountain) and 2 overworld hubs. The camera still goes all over the place at certain portions of the game and Mario's controls feel loose at unforgiving, tight sections (especially when platforming without Fludd). If you want to complete the game 100%, expect a lot of camera-driven or loose-controls-driven 'game over'.    … Expand
  2. ZeoN
    Oct 11, 2020
    8
    Apartado positivos:

    - Su apartado artístico está muy trabajado - Introducir una isla ajena al Reino Champiñón y dotarla de tanta personalidad fue muy buena idea - El "ACUAC" es una herramienta muy divertida - Aporta detalles importantes al lore general de la franquicia - Algunos de sus amplios niveles están bien diseñados - Su banda sonora no es la mejor de la franquicia pero es    Apartado positivos:

    - Su apartado artístico está muy trabajado
    - Introducir una isla ajena al Reino Champiñón y dotarla de tanta personalidad fue muy buena idea
    - El "ACUAC" es una herramienta muy divertida
    - Aporta detalles importantes al lore general de la franquicia
    - Algunos de sus amplios niveles están bien diseñados
    - Su banda sonora no es la mejor de la franquicia pero es muy buena

    Apartados negativos:

    - Las físicas del juego están mal implementadas en algunos niveles
    - Sobran elementos aleatorios como que Mario se caiga solo en niveles sin ACUAC
    - Puede llegar a ser frustrante que te introduzcan un nivel sin explicarte que hacer y esto ocurre en varios
    - Faltan jefes en diferentes zonas y varios se repiten
    - La batalla final es un poco decepcionante
    - El juego es demasiado "libre" sin seguir un hilo argumental como en otros Mario 3D. Una sucesión de niveles sin más puede ser un poco aburrido

    No es el mejor Mario de la franquicia, me parece el peor de los que he jugado de momento, pero no deja de ser muy disfrutable y tiene elementos para atraparte a pesar de su caos en los niveles y lo repetitivos que pueden llegar a ser

    Valoración:

    Apartado técnico: 79/100
    Apartado artístico: 97/100
    Jugabilidad: 87/100
    Historia/Lore: 69/100
    Banda sonora: 75/100

    8️⃣1️⃣/1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣

    En las valoraciones tengo en cuenta que es un juego de hace muchos años, si no hubiese sido mucho más duro    … Expand
  3. Icyymike16
    Oct 4, 2020
    10
    I love it not really much to wait Nintendo did Alr right here they change Mario and I see why people dislike the culture change but I think it’s a great idea and Mario really had a fantastic role in this game the story with school involves more you getting friend profiles with Junior which I think is a better idea than the same old kidnapping story Where peach is unexpectedly kidnapped byI love it not really much to wait Nintendo did Alr right here they change Mario and I see why people dislike the culture change but I think it’s a great idea and Mario really had a fantastic role in this game the story with school involves more you getting friend profiles with Junior which I think is a better idea than the same old kidnapping story Where peach is unexpectedly kidnapped by Bowser and Mario just Hass to go save peach instead you have to resolve the situation and it’s way different than any other Mario and it’s a lot better This game has been heavily underrated and I believe it deserves better treatment from Mario fans… Expand
  4. Azuris
    Oct 1, 2020
    7
    I really really tried to like this Game more, but it has to many annoying Points.
    - The inverted Camera is terrible
    - There are so many annoying Stages - In the other Hand it is not as easy to gain Health or Lifes as in Mario 64 - To have to use the Watergun often breaks the Flow of the Game The Music and the Style of the Game have such a great Vibe to it, but the Game has just to    I really really tried to like this Game more, but it has to many annoying Points.
    - The inverted Camera is terrible
    - There are so many annoying Stages
    - In the other Hand it is not as easy to gain Health or Lifes as in Mario 64
    - To have to use the Watergun often breaks the Flow of the Game

    The Music and the Style of the Game have such a great Vibe to it, but the Game has just to many annoying Points.
    Rather play Mario 64 or Galaxy if you want a pure 3D Mario Title.    … Expand
  5. TheBeast11
    Sep 29, 2020
    10
    By far the most underrated Mario of all. However, certainly one of the best. Improved gameplay compared to Super Mario 64, very good soundtrack, matches the warm, tropical climate of the game. It is a little difficult to complete 100%, but it is something fun to do. The addition of Yoshi and its different forms is really cool. That is, one of the best Super Mario games.
  6. DrClutch117
    Sep 25, 2020
    10
    I believe that this is the best Mario star collector. A lot of people have reviewed in some way, but I want to call attention to the atmosphere of the game. This game probably has the most pleasant atmosphere that I have ever come across. It really does feel like a vacation.
  7. Nerocz1
    Sep 25, 2020
    6
    Iam not the smartest, not the most patient gamer in the world, but I find really hard to love this game. I just never know what to do. And no, i don´t need arrows and pointers in games, I loved Zelda games, but to me Super Mario Sunshine was just going in cirles forever until i luckily found what to do. That made in bored in about 3 hours. I do see what people like about this game, but itIam not the smartest, not the most patient gamer in the world, but I find really hard to love this game. I just never know what to do. And no, i don´t need arrows and pointers in games, I loved Zelda games, but to me Super Mario Sunshine was just going in cirles forever until i luckily found what to do. That made in bored in about 3 hours. I do see what people like about this game, but it is not for me.… Expand
  8. OmegaChase1002
    Sep 18, 2020
    7
    It's insanely fun, but it has 2 really, REALLY major flaws.

    1. The game has a set list of Shines to collect to make any real progress. - In Super Mario 64, it did not matter which Stars you got, what order you got them in, or how you got them. All that mattered was you were able to collect enough Stars to open that next door. And because Sunshine is a direct sequel to Super Mario 64,    It's insanely fun, but it has 2 really, REALLY major flaws.

    1. The game has a set list of Shines to collect to make any real progress.

    - In Super Mario 64, it did not matter which Stars you got, what order you got them in, or how you got them. All that mattered was you were able to collect enough Stars to open that next door. And because Sunshine is a direct sequel to Super Mario 64, every first-time player is going to instantly assume that the same rules apply here. But this isn't true. You have to do episodes 1 to 7 in every stage to unlock the final level, nothing more and nothing less. So of course every first-time player is going to waste tons of time collecting all the other side-level Shine Sprites and wondering why they're suddenly not making progress anymore. If you play the game a second time with this information in mind, of course you're gonna have fun. But that first run, you're gonna waste a lot of time and get really bored.

    2. None of the side-missions are any fun.

    - The pachinko table is bugged, the poison river lilly pad never goes where you want it to, moving that giant watermelon is stupidly tedious, some of the Shine Sprites are insanely cryptic, getting all the Blue Coins is an unlikeable chore, etc. So on top of wasting time and wondering why you aren't making progress, you're getting frustrated while you do it too.

    If the game simply TOLD the player something like "look sport, ya can't play this the same way ya played 64" at the beginning, then these wouldn't even be issues. Even though I now enjoy this game and can play it correctly, that still doesn't change the fact that these two little problems soured a LOT of people's first-time experiences.    … Expand
  9. neojotic
    Aug 26, 2020
    7
    Mario Sunshine was not your standard Mario release - No, it did not see launch day and in fact for the first time ever the green hat overshadowed the red one. In this game itself Mario borrows it's innovation from Luigi (thanks to Professor E Gadd and his inventions). However, putting Gamecube politics aside, this was a step in the right direction for the series and a step above MarioMario Sunshine was not your standard Mario release - No, it did not see launch day and in fact for the first time ever the green hat overshadowed the red one. In this game itself Mario borrows it's innovation from Luigi (thanks to Professor E Gadd and his inventions). However, putting Gamecube politics aside, this was a step in the right direction for the series and a step above Mario 64... but not by much.

    Pros:
    -Nintendo takes a risk by introducing Fludd, moving towards a more original story and changing scenery away from traditional Mario levels
    -Utilizies Gamecube hardware for great graphics and sound for that time.
    -Fun story that's light and doesn't take away from the gameplay.

    Cons:
    -Controls and camera angles can add to the difficulty and hinder the experience of the game. Fludd isn't as smooth as the Poltergeist.
    -One of the least traditional Mario games. Hardcore fans may find the innovation to take away from the Mario and experience they know and love.
    -Mario Sunshine can fail to captivate some gamers after the first few hours. It has been criticizing for not providing enough incentive for the gamer to reach the end.

    I wasn't huge on Mario 64 and I was definitely open-minded and excited for this game. I do think that this is a good game but it's nothing more or less. It's a must have for any Gamecube or Nintendo collector but for a gamer there's more reward from Luigi's Mansion or Sonic Adventure 1+2 as there was more reward from the Rare games on 64 than Mario 64. This was just standard.    … Expand
  10. Zethor
    Aug 17, 2020
    7
    Super Mario Sunshine's beautiful soundtrack and art bring together a wonderful world, controlled through the most technical, tightest controls the platforming genre has ever seen. The game's 50 required missions are mostly solid, and serve as a strong experience from beginning to end, making this game a joy to replay again and again.

    However, these required missions do not make up the    Super Mario Sunshine's beautiful soundtrack and art bring together a wonderful world, controlled through the most technical, tightest controls the platforming genre has ever seen. The game's 50 required missions are mostly solid, and serve as a strong experience from beginning to end, making this game a joy to replay again and again.

    However, these required missions do not make up the majority of the game's content, with 70 of the game's shine sprites only describable as padding, with most of them sitting at a much lower standard of quality that does not incentivize 100% completion, neither through the quality of the missions themselves nor the paltry reward one obtains for doing so. As long as one is aware not to bother with these optional missions, then Super Mario Sunshine stands as one of the strongest entries in the series, but if one is not then the quality of the game drops drastically. Since these optional missions are still a part of the experience, however, I have rated the game as a whole, not just the required part.    … Expand
  11. Gerbityblah
    Aug 2, 2020
    7
    Very high highs, very, very low lows.

    The game isn't perfect, but It's fun when it wants to be. The game has pretty tight controls, a bit too how to say- heavy? But that's why F.L.O.O.D. is here, to make Mario control better. The game when it's at its best when it is interpreting the formula of 64, so a fun 3D platformer at its heart. The problems start to come in when F.L.O.O.D. is    Very high highs, very, very low lows.

    The game isn't perfect, but It's fun when it wants to be.
    The game has pretty tight controls, a bit too how to say- heavy? But that's why F.L.O.O.D. is here, to make Mario control better. The game when it's at its best when it is interpreting the formula of 64, so a fun 3D platformer at its heart. The problems start to come in when F.L.O.O.D. is taken away from Mario, the lack of it puts a light on how bad Mario feels here. This among many, many ridiculous, un-fun gimmicks the game throws at you makes the game a Mario game that I wouldn't introduce to someone as their first Mario game personally. The game is also stupid to 100% so don't do that (Who the hell decided to add Blue Coins?) but nonetheless the game is fine, I'd just have difficulty suggesting it to someone over Super Mario 64 or Super Mario Galaxy.

    7/10 Games not bad, but it's a third-rate Mario.    … Expand
  12. davidESP9
    Jul 28, 2020
    10
    Un juego en 3D de Mario que cada vez me gusta mas,una jugabilidad impecable con acuac una especie de propulsor que sirve para echar agua y con este aparato debemos limpiar toda la isla delfino para conseguir todos los soles y devolver la luz a la isla.Una variedad de niveles increible pese a que el juego entero se desarrolla con una tematica veraniega.Desde un hotel hasta un puerto conUn juego en 3D de Mario que cada vez me gusta mas,una jugabilidad impecable con acuac una especie de propulsor que sirve para echar agua y con este aparato debemos limpiar toda la isla delfino para conseguir todos los soles y devolver la luz a la isla.Una variedad de niveles increible pese a que el juego entero se desarrolla con una tematica veraniega.Desde un hotel hasta un puerto con barcos,por no hablar de los niveles secretos en los que debemos utilizar nuestras habilidades plataformas para completarlos.Una joyita.… Expand
  13. Alex684
    Jul 20, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Super Mario Sunshine is my favorite game of all time so I’m a little bias but it is my favorite game for a reason with its amazing platforming and its fludd mechanic. Also another reason why this is so great is the collectibles while the blue coins are hard to find it is still enjoyable to find them and get all the sunshine’s, but even though I love fludd one of my favorite part of the game is the secret areas where you have to put your platforming skill to the test. Lastly another reason why is game is great is the graphics with the beautiful sites full of color areas and this games still look good to this day. But even thought the games graphics are still good a remaster of this game would make it so much better.… Expand
  14. Frobird
    Jul 18, 2020
    10
    Such a cheerful game, the platforming is all fun and novel but I keep coming back for the bright and fleshed out world.
  15. Denvers
    Jul 5, 2020
    7
    Super Mario Sunshine is filled with so much character and an actually somewhat interesting plot, especially for a Mario game. The game has aged fine, but doesn't feel particular smooth to play. I felt like there wasn't enough to keep my attention even though it's a well polished experience. Overall, it's not a bad game, but it's pretty mediocre for a 3d Mario.

    Final Verdict : 7 (Good)
  16. BM30
    Jun 30, 2020
    9
    Super Mario Sunshine is a really great game! The story is a interesting concept (Also Mario going to jail is hilarious) and I love the new setting because Mario games usually lack in themes of location. The gameplay is so amazing and I love the use of F.L.U.D.D and the controls really improves from SM64.
  17. Chuck_Buskee
    Jun 28, 2020
    10
    Amazing game 10/10 Logan ur a great man hahahaha
  18. Sniperviper3210
    Jun 24, 2020
    10
    Super Mario Sunshine to me is a classic game for the Nintendo Gamecube. It was one of my favourite video games to play when I was younger, and was amazing when I played it again later in life. Coming back and hearing that nostalgic music and seeing those dancing piantas was an amazing feeling. Traveling to each different area feels great with their own themes. The visuals are nice andSuper Mario Sunshine to me is a classic game for the Nintendo Gamecube. It was one of my favourite video games to play when I was younger, and was amazing when I played it again later in life. Coming back and hearing that nostalgic music and seeing those dancing piantas was an amazing feeling. Traveling to each different area feels great with their own themes. The visuals are nice and collecting the shine sprites were very satisfying. Using FLUDD is always fun and helps in almost everything you do, besides the secret courses on the first go because you don't have it. I think Super Mario Sunshine is a great game and deserves to be played/tried by all Mario lovers out there.… Expand
  19. B-Bog
    Jun 20, 2020
    6
    I was inspired by dunkey's recent review to dig up this game, that I thought of as a classic up until now. Back when it came out, I was 12 years old and totally enthralled with the tropical setting and the advancements in theming, atmosphere, 3D graphics and platforming from SM 64.

    Playing it now, sadly, I have to say it doesn't really hold up that well (neither does SM64 IMO).    I was inspired by dunkey's recent review to dig up this game, that I thought of as a classic up until now. Back when it came out, I was 12 years old and totally enthralled with the tropical setting and the advancements in theming, atmosphere, 3D graphics and platforming from SM 64.

    Playing it now, sadly, I have to say it doesn't really hold up that well (neither does SM64 IMO).

    Controls can be PRETTY clunky, e.g. getting Mario to do a sideways flip. Camera is super-problematic as well, especially in levels where you need to zoom out to stay aware of the action, like the Mario Morgana chases. It does this early-2000s thing where it actually behaves like a physical camera that cannot move past objects in the game world and so gets stuck super-often, which is reeeaaally irritating nowadays.

    In general, I would say that the game starts out great. Scoring early shines isn't that difficult MOST of the time, and opening up new levels, unlocking FLUDD nozzles and Yoshi, moving along what little of a story there is, exploring all the nooks and crannies of Delfino Plaza and getting it to be bathed in sunlight again is really motivating. The tropical setting, as I said, is really cool and Isle Delfino really feels like an inter-connected world with real inhabitants that are super-charming and that you can actually talk to, a stark contrast to the very "video-gamey" SM64 where you've got the typical lava world, ice world etc.

    But as you get to the mid-game of SMS, it very quickly loses steam. There aren't as many levels as in SM64 and you have to complete 7 out of 8 shines in EVERY level to be able to get to the final boss. And let me tell you, not all of these shines are what I would call "inspired". Many are pretty fun, a few are even great (The Mystery of the Hotel comes to mind, possibly the highlight of the game), but many are really dull and repetitive. Piranha Plant and Blooper fights (the exact same ones every time mind you), Red Coins, Morgana Mario chases... There's a ton of content getting recycled over and over again. Some shines, though, are downright INFURIATING, sometimes because of a totally broken physics engine (Pachinko is the worst example here), some because the design of the mission is just a**.

    Take for example, the eighth shine in the harbour level. You have to ride on Yoshi to complete it. To get him out of his egg, you need to feed him a certain fruit. Can you just get it from a stand like in the hub world? Noooo, far too easy! You have to do ground pounds, alternating between two buttons on top of a giant fruit vending machine. You have no choice over what type of fruit comes out. But the kicker is: Should you not get the desired fruit, then you'll have to go down where it came out and remove it, because the next fruit that appears will otherwise bounce off of it, down a ledge and you won't be able to get it to Yoshi. So for every wrong fruit you have to ground pound, jump down, pick up the fruit, throw it away, do a side-ways jump into a wall-jump and hover to get back onto the platform, and then repeat this until the RNG gods decide to have mercy on you and give you the fruit that you actually need. Who in the hell thought that this was going to be fun??? Well then, moving on, you've got the right fruit, you can give it to Yoshi. With his help, you can turn jumping fish into moving platforms (don't ask, I know it doesn't make any sense) which which you can access steel platforms far away from the shore. The thing is, you have to hit the jumping fish on the exact right height, otherwise you won't be able to make the jump to the next steel platform. And you can't fall back down onto the fish platform if you realize you don't have enough height, either, because it immediately STARTS MOVING AWAY. Should you fall into the water, guess what? Yoshi dissolves, you have to find a way back to shore (btw, Mario swims incredibly slowly in a game that is FULL OF WATER) and then you get to REPEAT THE WHOLE PROCESS OVER AGAIN STARTING WITH THE GOD-DAMN FRUIT MACHINE!!? WTF??? That's just straight-up trolling and that shine alone probably takes the rating down one point for me, even if it's optional.

    Then we have the blue coins...I don't think there's much more to say about this topic. There are 240 of them in the game. For every 10, you get a shine, which means that they make up 20% of all the shines you can get. This fact, together with the many repetitive and uninspired mission shines (and quite a lot of muddy textures) makes me think that the game was rushed and they just somehow needed there to be 120 shines, because SM 64 had 120 stars. The absolute worst thing about the Blue Coins, however, is the fact that many of them are mission-specific, which pretty much ensures that you're going to need a guide to be able to complete the game.

    All in all, SMS has plenty of positive qualities, but they cannot distract from its unpolished, repetitive and sometimes infuriating nature.    … Expand
  20. CB186
    Jun 18, 2020
    10
    In MY OPINION, this is far and away the best 3D Mario game. I love difficulty in my Mario games and this one is not too easy but never annoyingly hard. A fantastic world to explore, wonderful music and a creative and unique story makes me love this Mario game even more. There's a reason its my second favourite game of all time.
  21. hpinder0105
    Jun 14, 2020
    1
    Imagine not having a camera. and having poor platforming in a Mario game and instead being forced into playing a water sandbox experiment on the Gamecube
  22. XxAlbertoBuzzxX
    Jun 2, 2020
    9
    Super Mario Sunshine
    ......................................................
  23. mugsy
    May 9, 2020
    8
    Maybe not quite as good as Galaxies or even Mario 64, but still a great game. All this sunny vacation with focus on water was very relaxing
  24. ChesterField
    May 1, 2020
    9
    When i have to say that it is not the best super mario in 3D perspective and still putting a 9/10 on it makes you realize the masterpieces we are talking about. Again, a great game for the GameCube and one of its best games. Fun, imaginative, creative, funny and with a soundtrack to match. An excellent game after all.
  25. Gi_otm
    Apr 12, 2020
    10
    The worlds and their designs are excellent
    And Mario has more moves than all the Mario games (except Odyssey)
    Flood (Jet-back) was an excellent addition
    I hope they will return him with Mario game in the future
    The frankness of the story, once upon a time, is focused (simple)
    They added new cut-scenes and characters
    Frankly, it was a sweet try
  26. Kacak321
    Apr 9, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Great game. A lot of fun! ............................
    .............
    .. ........    … Expand
  27. drlowdon
    Mar 25, 2020
    8
    Jetting of for a holiday on the tropical Isle of Delfino, Mario soon finds himself embroiled in trouble when Shadow Mario vandalizes the island with graffiti and he gets blamed for the mess.

    As the first mainline Mario title since the iconic Mario 64, Sunshine had a lot to live up to and it has often suffered from unfair comparisons. Of course, Sunshine can’t match the innovation of the    Jetting of for a holiday on the tropical Isle of Delfino, Mario soon finds himself embroiled in trouble when Shadow Mario vandalizes the island with graffiti and he gets blamed for the mess.

    As the first mainline Mario title since the iconic Mario 64, Sunshine had a lot to live up to and it has often suffered from unfair comparisons. Of course, Sunshine can’t match the innovation of the series first foray into 3d but it has plenty of new ideas of it’s own, the controls are pretty much perfect and the tropical island setting makes a nice change from the Mushroom Kingdom we’ve become so familiar with. This may often be viewed as the black sheep of the Mario family but it is still a great game in it’s own right.    … Expand
  28. Jjdm11
    Mar 23, 2020
    7
    Super Mario sunshine is proof of what happened when developers get lazy.The control and story are good but everything else is not great especially the level design huge difficulty ups and downs and for the majority of levels it’s a boring open field with good graphics ,good for it’s time .overall the worst 3d mario
  29. Z4C18
    Feb 5, 2020
    8
    This game has a place in my heart, I love the gameplay with F.L.U.D.D, the hub world looks great for a 18 year old game.

    The platforming works really well with an array on moves and collecting the shines is good fun.

    It’s a game that deserves a sequel!
  30. mutemeister
    Dec 28, 2019
    10
    In my opinion the best Mario game. I like the FLUDD system and the setting is great. 10/10
Page:

Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best GameCube Game of 2002
2
#2 Most Discussed GameCube Game of 2002
2
#2 Most Shared GameCube Game of 2002

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 61 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 60 out of 61
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 61
  3. Negative: 0 out of 61
  1. Inside Gamer Online
    76
    The FLUDD system is used throughout the game and can either be why the game is so great or why the game is so mediocre.
    Read full review
  2. GameCritics
    60
    To say that the camera in this game is atrocious is like saying being kicked in the teeth kinda hurts-it gives the person an idea about how bad it is, but it doesn't even begin to describe the agony in detail.
    Read full review
  3. GamePro
    100
    A masterpiece of superior game design, infinite gameplay variety, creativity, and life-and it's got a water cannon…and a damn brilliant one at that.
    Read full review
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