Super Mario Sunshine

A Great Game With Some Serious Imperfections?

Introduction

Let me ask you a question. Do you have that one game that just makes you happy? A game that fills you with such fond memories of days gone by? Where you’d get home from school, sling your backpack on the couch, grab the controller, and just let all the day's struggles melt away? For me, one game instantly comes to mind. Super Mario Sunshine. A game that, for many, stands tall as the epitome of a classic, nostalgic title. A game that seeks to build upon the foundation set by Super Mario 64. And right now, I’m in the mood for some good ole fashion nostalgia. But as I played, questions began burning in the back of my mind, with one standing above them all. Is it as good as I remember or is an overall great game marred by some serious imperfections?

Story

Super Mario Sunshine kicks off with a unique twist. Mario and his friends, excluding a certain green-capped brother, embark on a much-needed vacation to the tropical Isle Delfino. However, their arrival is far from peaceful, as they are immediately embroiled in a mysterious incident that sets the stage for a thrilling adventure.

Once you’re set loose, it’s time to search for an answer to the current situation. How do we clear this mysterious goop off the runway? As you navigate around for a solution to your current predicament; you are introduced to your new companion, the Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device, or FLUDD. Following a brief tutorial on the controls for FLUDD, you are set free and ready to take on your gooey adversary. However, once you vanquish your monstrous foe and obtain the first of many Shine Sprites, Mario is immediately arrested and charged with vandalizing the island along with being the reason for the Shine Sprites disappearance from the Shine Gate. Why? Because of his vague resemblance to the perpetrator, of course! Now, you may be wondering. Didn't we touch down on the runway AND clean up the mess there? Is the only evidence a sketch of the alleged criminal? Did Mario get sentenced for a crime with NO chance to defend himself? Yes. Yes he did. Mario is sent to prison for the night. However, he is given the opportunity to clear his name by cleaning up the entirety of Isle Delfino and returning the missing Shine Sprites.

Questionable legal systems aside, it is refreshing to see Mario and Co. travel to a world outside the Mushroom Kingdom. Bringing in several new characters and even introducing a new villain in Shadow Mario, who looks a lot more horrifying than I remember. Having this new guy creates a little bit of mystery maybe? Intrigue? Who is this guy? What’s his story? Why does he look like Mario? Later on, Peach is kidnapped by Shadow Mario and you face down the admittedly pretty goofy Mecha Bowser. A fight which, for the record, is my favorite out of the entire game. Once he’s defeated, we get the answer to all those questions. Shadow Mario is revealed to be…Bowser Jr.!? That’s right! Bowser Jr. making his debut appearance.

So, at this point, I’m still having a blast. I’m blowing through levels, kicking butt and taking names, until finally enter Corona Mountain. Here we must platform, boat, and rocket nozzle our way to the finish line where we face off against…Bowser.

I’ll be blunt. It’s disappointing. The battle is pretty easy and not really creative. Just use the rocket nozzle to fly high, then ground pound on the marked spots. That’s not really gets me. Bowser has not been in the game up to this point. Just Shadow Mario and later Bowser Jr. So, seeing him just appear at the end here just feels out of place. Course, we do get a pretty wholesome ending scene with him and his son which just feels nice. But story isn’t why anyone plays a Mario game, is it? No, people play Mario games because they mix great presentation and fun gameplay. Speaking of…

Presentation

Super Mario Sunshine is a great looking game despite being just over two decades old. The game comprises eight worlds to explore, with Delfino Plaza acting as the hub world, similar to how Peach's Castle functioned as the hub world for Super Mario 64. The main difference is that the world here feels much larger and more alive than its predecessor. Just being able to look across the water at Delfino Plaza and see Ricco Harbor or see the large palm tree from Pianta Village poking just above the mountainside does a lot towards making this feel more like a world versus a series of levels connected through portals.

Even over 20 years later, Super Mario Sunshine is still a stunning game.

The music in Super Mario Sunshine is simply fantastic. From the high-energy workplace sound of Ricco Harbor to the soothing tones of Noki Bay, each track is extremely memorable and contributes to the game's tropical atmosphere. The game probably contains some of my favorite tracks out of the mainline Mario Series and maybe some of the most memorable out of the Mario Franchise as a whole. These musical compositions enhance the gameplay and transport the players to the vibrant world of Isle Delfino.

Gameplay

Gameplay-wise, Super Mario Sunshine is a great game marred by some imperfections. The game is comprised of seven levels to explore (excluding Delphino Plaza and Corona Mountain). These being:

· Bianco Hills

· Gelato Beach

· Pianta Village

· Noki Bay

· Ricco Harbor

· Sirena Beach

· Pianna Park

Each level is connected to Delfino Plaza by an M-shaped graffiti that acts similarly to the paintings in Super Mario 64. Each level contains Shines to collect, some secret Shines, and blue coins. The blue coins in Super Mario Sunshine act as collectibles and currency that can be traded for Shine Sprite, with ten coins equal to one shine. The number of collectibles does well in providing enough compelling content to encourage players to explore levels for these secrets while also not being too overwhelming.

Mission variety is a highlight with each world providing a diverse number of Shines to collect. These Shines range from intense boss battles to secret levels that test your platforming prowess by taking away FLUDD forcing you to take on challenges by yourself. This diversity ensures that players remain engaged and serving to keep the game from getting repetitive. The result is a richly textured gameplay experience that combines classic Mario elements with innovative new mechanics, making every moment in Super Mario Sunshine a memorable adventure.

Mario Sunshine brings with it many fun new mechanics, including Mario's new companion, FLUDD, who joins him on this journey. He is a pleasant addition to accompany the plucky plumber on this adventure, and it provides more versatility and mobility to his move set.

Mario and FLUDD. A match made in heaven.

This can be seen through the various nozzles that FLUDD can equip, such as the default squirt and hover nozzles, the rocket nozzle, which allows Mario to reach great heights, and the Turbo nozzle, which lets the plumber zip around at high speeds. Each nozzle provides the player with different methods for accomplishing their goal.

Along with the introduction of this new face? We see another familiar one. Yoshi! To unlock Yoshi, players must complete episode four of Pinna Park. Once this is completed, we return to Delfino Plaza to find Shadow Mario holding a Yoshi Egg. Defeat him and the egg is yours! To hatch the egg, just bring whatever fruit Yoshi wants, indicated by the small image of the egg.

How I feel about Yoshi is difficult, to say the least. I am happy he's included. Many of the missions he's used in are fun, just like the rest. These missions also add more variety to the overall level structure and design.

Aside from this, however, he feels unimportant. Yoshi maintains many of his signature abilities, such as being able to eat enemies and the flutter jump, providing a little extra airtime and height off of a normal jump. Yoshi also gains a new ability to squirt juice from his mouth, acting similarly to FLUDD's squirt nozzle. Despite this, he feels like a worse version of Mario himself. Compared to the flutter jump, the hover nozzle lasts slightly longer and is more controllable. When it comes down to it, Mario himself is just better. It's to the point that Yoshi really feels unnecessary. Yoshi is only needed during specific missions or when getting to certain areas. He feels more like a gimmick than something that really serves to elevate the experience.

Difficulty

In terms of difficulty, Mario Sunshine is not a difficult game. As I played, I found myself constantly wondering why I struggled so much with the game as a kid. Even the secret levels that I remember struggling on when I was younger were no challenge.

Of course, there were exceptions. The pachinko level was nothing short of infuriating. The bad physics and controls in this stage, in particular, made Mario feel like he was determined to go anywhere and everywhere except where he needed to go. The Lily Pad Ride, also in Delfino Plaza, is an absolute abomination of game design. Getting to it requires getting Yoshi to the island by boat, taking upwards of ten minutes to reach the island. Then once you are in the level, you must navigate on a lily pad to collect 8 red coins. Sounds simple until you realize that there is no way to get back to try again immediately. And that pipe at the end? It sends you back to Delfino Plaza, forcing you to get Yoshi and ride ALL the way back just for another attempt.

So, no. The game is not difficult for the most part. Challenging? Sure. Some parts, however, feel downright unfair due to bad mechanics and physics.

Verdict

Super Mario Sunshine is a fantastic game. Its tropical atmosphere, combined with enjoyable levels and bright, colorful graphics, makes for an overall wonderful experience, though it is marred by a few imperfections. Despite these flaws, such as occasional camera issues and some unfairly difficult segments that may frustrate players, the game shines brightly in its creativity and charm. The addition of FLUDD provides a unique experience and offers the players more options in how they approach levels. Ultimately, Super Mario Sunshine stands as a unique entry in the Mario franchise. While it does continue to show its age and contains many frustrating sections, it remains a beloved adventure for fans, old and new. Maybe someday, we'll get to see a return to these ideas presented here and touchdown once again on the wonderful Isle Delfino.