Review: Super Mario Sunshine (GameCube) - Not What We Expected, But It Still Shines
Super Mario Sunshine, Nintendo’s GameCube platformer released in 2002, has been added to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack’s GameCube library, bringing the total number of GameCube titles available on the service to 10. The game arrived six years after the original Super Mario 64, with Nintendo taking significant creative risks to follow what was widely considered one of the most influential and greatest games ever made.
Upon its 2002 launch, Sunshine received critical acclaim with high scores from major outlets—including a 9.4 from IGN and 9.75 from Game Informer—and became the third best-selling GameCube game, cementing its status as an immediate classic. However, the game’s reputation has evolved considerably over the past two decades. Today, Sunshine occupies a unique place in Nintendo’s legacy: simultaneously regarded as both overrated and underrated, making it one of the publisher’s most divisive titles. While passionate players continue to defend the game and its experimental design choices, others remain critical of its departure from traditional Mario platforming.
This re-release marks another step in Nintendo’s game preservation efforts, making the historically contentious title accessible to new audiences through the Switch Online subscription service. The game’s journey from instant classic to divisive entry demonstrates how player perception and gaming discourse can significantly shift over time, even for works by industry giants.