Super Mario Sunshine
2002
Audio: English · Subtitles: Japanese, English
- platform
- adventure
- action
- sandbox
- single player
The story
Super Mario Sunshine is a Mario action-adventure 3D platformer. It follows Super Mario 64, and is the second 3D Mario platformer. Gameplay features a combination of action and puzzle solving, with numerous stages and multiple episodes to each stage, and plenty of hidden secrets and surprises. This game introduced many recurring characters and bosses in the Mario series, including Toadsworth, Bowser Jr., Petey Piranha, Gooper Blooper, Piantas, Nokis, Shadow Mario, and F.L.U.D.D. Super Mario Sunshine pays homage to Mario's Italian heritage and upbringing, with many of the locations in the game having Italian names and sometimes referencing Italian culture.
What it’s like
Bright, sun-drenched Mediterranean color throughout: turquoise lagoons, terracotta rooftops, whitewashed walls and lush tropical greenery under a hot, cloudless sky. The camera trails Mario closely through open, lively worlds, with a bouncy, hand-animated charm and cartoon exaggeration in every splash and squash. Grimy black goop coats the streets and gives the otherwise cheerful scenery a playful, grubby edge. The soundtrack is breezy and whimsical, full of steel-drum-flavored tunes, plinking marimba and chirpy effects that make the whole thing feel like a sunny holiday. The vibe is carefree and warm, with a light, mischievous energy and an easy sense of exploration, the kind of game that suits a lazy summer afternoon or a relaxed evening with a controller. Pacing is brisk, with short, self-contained missions that reward curiosity and patience with hidden secrets, and the tone stays upbeat and good-humored. Intensity is very low: enemies are cartoonish and defeated with a spray of water or a stomp, with no gore, no real violence and no fear beyond the odd tense jump. It suits families, younger players and anyone who wants a gentle, colorful platformer that rewards poking around at their own pace.
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