24 Years Later, Nintendo's Most Divisive Mario Game Is a Miracle on Switch 2
Super Mario Sunshine was beloved at launch but grew to become one of the most divisive Mario games ever. Here's why it's worth playing in 2026.
In 2002, Super Mario Sunshine was released to rave reviews, becoming one of the third-best-selling GameCube games of all time. The game introduced the FLUDD, a water-squirting backpack that served as both a traversal tool and a replacement for standard power-ups. Despite its acclaim, Sunshine is now viewed as one of Nintendo's most divisive games due to its camera controls and a handful of subpar levels.
Despite these shortcomings, Sunshine captures the spirit of the entire Mario series by introducing inventive ideas and an experimental level design. The tropical island setting of Sunshine unifies every location, creating a cohesive and thematically-linked experience that feels like a summer vacation. The game's willingness to get weird with the Mario formula makes for a creatively unpredictable game that continually surprises and delights players on every playthrough.
Despite its flaws, Sunshine remains a personal favorite and a testament to Nintendo's willingness to reinvent its beloved franchises during the GameCube era.
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