It seems somewhat thematically appropriate to be writing about the GameCube’s Super Mario Sunshine while the UK is in the midst of a history making heatwave. Right now, the last thing I want to do is talk about Sunshine of any kind, but thankfully Super Mario Sunshine is a much more pleasant experience than being sat on a leather couch, typing out an article in the most sweltering weather ever. If anything, I need a contraption like F.L.U.D.D. to spray water at the back of my head every five minutes to keep me cool.
Ravings of a heatwave riddled writer aside, Super Mario Sunshine has a bit of a mixed representation within the greater Nintendo fanbase. While not quite so divisive as the likes of Marmite, the Matrix sequels or pineapple on pizza, Super Mario Sunshine either seems to be loved or barely tolerated, depending who you ask. It was either the most anticipated part of Super Mario 3D All-Stars, or the “oh, well it’s nice that it’s included” option.
As you’d imagine, I fall squarely in the former camp. Super Mario Sunshine stands out as one of the highlights of Mario’s stellar gaming career, and while that might be nostalgia talking as it was my first real 3D Mario experience, there’s so much to love about Mario’s little vacation jaunt to Isle Delfino. While Nintendo could have easily just made Super Mario 64 again for the GameCube, they went above and beyond to create a platformer unlike any other at the time.
Functionally, Super Mario Sunshine gives you a lot of the same tools you had access to in SM64, and those bonus levels you come across in Sunshine definitely feel like 64 with more polygons. However, Sunshine stands above other platformers with the introduction of the Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device, known simply as F.L.U.D.D. This one gadget completely overhauls the entire game, and it’s simply beautiful to behold.
While its main purpose is to attack certain enemies or remove paint/ink from surfaces with the spray nozzle, it’s the hover nozzle where Sunshine begins to really shine. Holding down the trigger allows Mario to suspend himself in midair for a few seconds with the power of water, which opens the game up completely with regards to platforming. What could have been a simple platformer instantly evolves into one of the most versatile and deep platformers out there.
At a base level, the hover nozzle acts like a brilliant failsafe for inexperienced players to add that extra distance or height on their jumps, or potentially stop them from making a fatal error when jumping off a ledge. More advanced players can use it in conjunction with Mario’s other abilities however, allowing for some absolutely ridiculous platforming tech. Watching speedruns of Sunshine in this day and age is absolutely mindblowing, showcasing how special the core mechanics of Sunshine are. Yeah, there’s other kinds of nozzles too, and while fun, they’re mostly gimmick inclusions. It’s the hover nozzle that’s Sunshine’s crowning glory.
That’s not to say Super Mario Sunshine isn’t flawed. That pachinko level, or the absolute joke that is the “red coins while floating on a leaf” bonus level, are some of the most frustrating ever committed to video games, but there’s ideas and challenges within Super Mario Sunshine that are pretty inventive. For all of the game’s flaws, and there’s a few, it’s hard not to appreciate Sunshine trying to be a bit different. If anything, that’s been Nintendo’s whole M.O. for a long time, so no wonder Sunshine embodies that belief.
As time has passed, Super Mario Sunshine’s legacy has been established with games like A Hat In Time, which feels like a sequel to Sunshine in a lot of ways. More recently, Demon Turf’s core abilities and platforming focus felt heavily reminiscent of Sunshine’s gameplay formula, while offering unique checkpoint mechanics and other gameplay quirks to separate itself from the pack. Even the spin-off game, Neon Splash, mostly features Beach levels, making it feel much more like a Sunshine homage.
It’s a shame that Super Mario 3D All-Stars on the Nintendo Switch was only a limited release deal, as the potential for everyone to discover an original classic for the first time shouldn’t be denied to anyone. Super Mario Sunshine might not be a platformer for everyone, but for those willing to look past the game’s issues, it’s one of the Italian plumber’s best outings.
Now try to get the Delfino Plaza theme out of your head after reading this.
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