In this series of articles we'll write about one or more Mario game per day, each representing a different year as part of our Super Mario 30th Anniversary celebrations.
It was a bold move from Nintendo to launch the GameCube in 2001 without a Mario game. The tables were turned so that Mario's link to the launch was through new series Luigi's Mansion, putting the green half of the Mario Bros. in his first starring role. Super Mario Sunshine arrived the following year in 2002, six years after Super Mario 64 showed the world how 3D platformers should be done. No pressure then. Gamers eagerly waited to see what Shigeru Miyamoto had cooked up for this long awaited follow-up in the Mario series.
The game starts with Mario packing his blue dungarees to jet off to the sun-kissed tropical Isle Delfino for a well-earned vacation with Princess Peach and some Toads. Of course the relaxation doesn't last long as a Mario imposter steals the coveted Shine Sprites and covers the island in toxic slime.
Thankfully Mario is joined by a robotic backpack named FLUDD (Flash Liquidizing Ultra Dousing Device) so he can clean up the slimy mess and reach new areas. Using different nozzles Mario can even use FLUDD as a jetpack which helps with tricky platforming sections and to reach higher ground. Yoshi even shows up in the game for Mario to ride on.
While Super Mario Sunshine was received positively by critics of its day, it wasn't without some annoying quirks. Compared to the sublime Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy which would follow on the Wii all those years later, Sunshine does lack a bit of polish, as if it were rushed to market. The in-game camera struggles at times, the game story and voice-over work isn't the best and on the whole the game arguably doesn't do anything to shake up the 3D platformer genre in the sense that Mario 64 did.
That's not to say that Sunshine isn't a whole heap of fun. Exploring the island of Delfino at a leisurely pace is a delight and the abstract secret stages where Mario is stripped of his FLUDD hovering abilities are pure platforming joy. The game has definitely left fond memories with a number of our readers, as well as our very own Andrew Karklins who wrote warmly of his Sunshine memories recently.
Sunshine's legacy lives on with the tropical locations of Delfino represented in the Mario Kart series from Double Dash to the present day. In a sense Sunshine has been consigned to a mere footnote in Nintendo's rich history, but we still love to bask in its warmth from time to time.
We'll leave you with an impressive speed-run from 2013's Summer Games Done Quick. Shine GET!
Comments 44
Pachinko and Poison River.
Loved this game, especially Noki Bay.
Wish they had a suit or something that fir better into the Mario universe than FLUDD though.
I don't care if it isn't a good game by the majority of fans, I still consider it an amazing game in my book. It was fun to explore those areas, FLUDD was somewhat innovating to use (honestly, without it, I would then agree that the game didn't do anything new to shake up the 3D formula), and I personally find the VA-ing to be entertaining, if not good. (I've seen worse VA, but this isn't bad to me).
The Shine Sprite T-shirt you get for beating the game will forever be etched into memory as one of the best secrets of all time in my book. I sure would love to see that return in a future Mario game, one of these days...
Best Mario game and best 3D Mario game ever.
I never really got into Sunshine, one of my least favorite Mario games out there.
I just couldn't enjoy it. I try it again once in a while but it never fails to put me off with its clunky controls. It still feels this game was made half a decade too early. If it had had motion controls, I would probably have greatly enjoyed the water spouting mechanic. This should have been part of the New Play Control series but somehow never was. If it had been, I might have liked it after all. Now it feels like a distraction from the platforming and the exploration of the wonderfully detailed levels.
The cut scenes and story really killed this game for me. Completely campy like the later Sonic Adventure titles.
I might be kicked out of the internet for good for saying this, but I honestly didn't enjoy Sunshine all that much. I feel like there was an awesome game trying to peek through, but it never properly got there with all the problems the gane had, with its awful camera and (in my opinion) seriously clunky physics. It just didn't feel like something worthy of all the praise it got, even with its great visulas for the time.
I'm surprised your mario sunshine article was so short and lacking. This was the one I was looking forward to the most. SMS is easily the greatest 3d plaform adventure game ever made and my personal favourite mario game. Sunshine is so fluid and perfect in every way. Haters can hate, but that doesn't change the quality. The highest quality adventure platformer on the market.
I'd love to see this released in HD or at a minimum on the eshop.
Does anybody recommend Sunshine?
Yes, everyone does.
@Takerkaneanite6 I would definitely recommend it. Some would argue that it's the worst 3D Mario, but being the worst 3D Mario is still an amazing game. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The levels are more open and spread out like Mario 64, which I preferred over the linear style of Mario Galaxy. It was probably my favorite GameCube game.
The one 3D Mario platformer I've yet to try. This should get the proper HD treatmeat a la The Wind Waker.
Sunshine = life
@Rensch I agree and disagree. I actually loved everything about this game EXCEPT the coin hunting parts. To me this game was far superior to 64 and the Galaxy games.
However, I do agree with the motion control thoughts (mostly after falling in love with how Splatoon controls) I'd LOVE to see a Sunshine HD remake when the gamepad tilt controls of Splatoon are integrated.
(It just so happens that I was playing this as recent as yesterday as my son randomly wanted to play it and since he's 3 that meas he does the easy stuff and I do everything else)
@Takerkaneanite6 I do
Loved this game....my 2nd favorite 3D Mario. I like it more than both Galaxy games, but not as much as SM64.
Looks awful to me so I never tried it. Collecting GC games for awesome playing on the Wii but not this. Maybe one day. Just doesn't seem appealing.
I love FLUDD, the graphics, and the level design. Above all the controls are possibly my favorite of any 3D platformer.
The game isn't perfect but the good far outweighs the bad.
GameCube had at least 50 great games but I'd rank this right near the top.
Its a good game, but overall the level design is lacking. This game could really use a sequel/remake/remaster.
@lateral_centro I know that feel bro.
I can barely remember this game as my older brother and dad used to play it when I was small but I do remember the music and the fun they had!
This is the worst Mario game ever, when it comes to platformers. The controls are off, it has water everywhere and collecting 100 coins is a chore, for the coins are sparse in this game. And the blue coins... Hoo boy. Tried playing it twice, and quit both times.
Never again.
Best 3d Mario Game hands down.
I never got to play this one. I've been hoping for either a HD remake or a VC entry.
Oh yeah, NintendoLife, I saw your headline under the headline: 'tripping on sunshine' I see what you did there...
i credit nintendo for taking chances on one of there biggest ips and taking a chance with this. It is very good. Probably one of the most challenging mario games. I really hope it gets released on eshop or remastered at some point. Maybe even a modern direct sequel?
Love it. waiting for the HD remake it deserves.
No idea why people are ripping on Sunshine's camera, I thought it was one of the best cameras ever. It's freely controllable and you can see pretty much everywhere with it. Much better than 64's, which only works in increments, Galaxy's, which is only 4 directional, and 3D Land's which is fixed.
Anyway, Sunshine is one of the best Marios of all time, it's really fun, quirky, and open.
This and Luigi's Mansion are my favorite Mario games. I don't know if you would count Luigi's Mansion as a "Mario" game, though. Anyway, my family got this game close to the release date. I've played this game so many times and even have beaten it 100% a couple times (I'm not going to lie, I used the hintbook! Some of the Blue Coins are in locations you would never think of on your own), it's that awesome to me. I really enjoyed the F.L.U.D.D. mechanic. My favorite part of Sunshine is Sirena Beach, episode 1. I hate the boss fight, but I remember when I was a lot younger, around 5 years old, I would select this episode, clean up all of the goo, and then quit. I still find cleaning up the goo fun. Sunshine brings back so many memories for me, and definitely deserves a sequel! (That was a hint, Nintendo!)
Why have we not had a HD remake of this?!!
I actually enjoyed this game a lot more than 3D World. And I enjoyed 3D World a lot.
Also, I like to picture Mario cleaning up with Fludd after each Splatoon match. XD
oh man, this is by far my favourite Mario game. So many fond memories and so many lost lives on those damn platforming levels. Amazing.
I haven't played this game, but I really want to. I remember when it first came out and the kids everywhere were talking about it along with Melee. After playing 64 and Galaxy, I feel incomplete not having at least tried this.
@Alexface Agreed! I would grab a HD copy of this inmediately... specially now that my brother has our GC and all our games.
For me, 64 wasn't that impressive because I didn't play it right when it came out, but Sunshine, was amazing.. I spent hours exploring and finding Blue Coins. I think that this one will always be the best 3D Mario game for me, as it has a very special place in my childhood.
Dang this makes me want an HD remake. I personally love the game (with the exception of one obscure level with a lily pad and a long "river").
One of my favorite games.
It is a very good game, but boy that camera...
And strangely the parts with no FLUDD are the best ones.
This is a great game indeed, some very challenging levels too- added some nice ideas and at the time I remember being blown away by how the water looked!
Idk what game everybody else was playin but i enjoyed mario sunshine alot i didn't have camera issues or glitches. I think sunshine improved a lot compared to mario 64 but thats just me!
My favourite Mario platformer
@lateral_centro never got the poison river one. After finally getting Yoshi all the way to the Island on the boats, I dropped down the tube. Never could get every coin but finally made it to the end alive. Took the exit pipe like an idiot.
Pachinko I did once after an insane amount of tries. You can access the Pachinko machine with either the hover or rocket nozzles. Hover is much more useful.
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