I like this game a lot. In a way I hate fludd, in a way I appreciate the gameplay it opened up. PRetty wishwashy eh, but I am 'conflicted' lol...

Quickest and fastest mario, and I like belly hopping to cover ground fast. Really polished the wall jumps and reverse momentum flip, wish it had long jump. I LOVE the camera, I remember reviewers complained it was not auto but I like the freedom of a c-stick Sunshine or Windwaker camera.. Obvioulsy Galaxy ran the other way, interesting contrast.

Story is horrible, of course....

But the main thing that strikes me, playing again, is the Mario Accopella levels with no Fludd. I love them. They are so free and random, some of the purest platforiming in 3-d Mario, period. Kind of seems like a bridge between the bright crisp blocks of Mario 64 to the spheres of Galaxy. Would have been very interesting to see an entire game built like that, but as it is provides a nice contrast to the 'literal' (for a Mario game) world of Delfino Island.

Great summer games, this and Sports Resort have that in common...

What are your opinions of Mario Sunshine?

I enjoyed the game quite a bit, but the it was a bit too...pastel for me. Too bright, the colors too vivid somehow. The water pack was nice, and the tropical theme was cool, but I swear it doesn't fell like a REAL mario game to me. Does that make sense? I agree that the parts with Mario by himself were the best part though. I played it to death when it first came out, but I wouldn't touch it again.

I initially didn't like it, and even sold it, because it wasn't traditional enuf. After selling it, I looked for a traditional Mario game and stumbled across Paper Mario TYD. I eventually bo't SMS again, and am loving it. Really, SMS bro't the Mario series back to its roots with actual stages rather than worlds like in SM64. Galaxy improved upon that.

It's a great GameCube game, but not a fantastic Mario game.

Love this game. It was a bright, colorful, platformer with tons of exploration. Sure it was different than other Mario games, but how is that bad? This is hate problem with gamers, they cry out for something different but hate it when the develoeprs actually do. I loved this game, not as much as 64 or Galaxy, but loved it nonetheless.

The simple joy of running around a completed world exploring every nook and cranny of Bianca Hills and that amusement park......ah.

I dislike this game, it is the only Mario platformer I dislike. Mario felt vey restricted with the FLUDD on his back!
Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galalxy are MUCH superior games.

I liked it a lot! I don't get why people hated the FLUDD. Maybe it's because I liked the tropical setting or the amusement park.

@Iz: It's because it plays really different. Same with Luigi's Mansion. Or Zelda II. Or Mario Bros 2 USA. These games aren't bad, they just try different things.

Tropical setttings was one of the best parts IMO

I played it through and got every shine so I must've liked it. I agree that the story was stupid though. How could Peach unknowingly be BJ's mother??

great game i really liked it

Well, it's not like Luigi has his own series. Come to think of it, why doesn't he have his own games?

Great game, loved fludd, loved the secret levels. I just wish there was more than seven worlds to explore and that the final level didn't feel so rushed.

I'd loved that game so much and spent a lot of time completing it fully (blue coins n' all), twice. Nothing pleased me more than squirting a little water ahead of Mario, then sliding on your belly, wahoooo! Or messing about on the rooftop's of Delfino. And those retro stages were some of the best designed stars ever, that massive sandblock one was amazing. sighs and I loved chasing this lil fella...

Don't know how many hours I lost playing keepy up with those spiky fruit things. Joygasm!

@mrmicawber: Dya mind fixing that typo, it's bugging me.

I just wish Yoshi wouldn't die when you get in water. That got annoying very quickly especially for the sidequest to get to the pipe on that small island outside Delfino Plaza