When Super Mario Sunshine launched on the Nintendo GameCube in July 2002, critics largely met it with overwhelming praise, hailing it as a worthy successor to Super Mario 64. The game’s tropical setting and unique water-squirting FLUDD backpack were notable departures, but many reviewers found the core gameplay to be a natural evolution of its predecessor.
Michael Cooper of Computer and Video Games awarded the game a perfect 10/10, calling it a "historic blinder" and questioning if it surpassed Super Mario 64. He described the experience as "utterly sensational," with "eyes that will pulsate with pleasure and heart will melt with joy," beneath which lay "rock-solid challenges and hardcore gameplay of the highest calibre."
Andrew Reiner of Game Informer, in his 9.75/10 review, echoed the sentiment that while Super Mario Sunshine did not reinvent the wheel, it expertly refined the formula established by Super Mario 64. "Rather than reinventing the wheel, Nintendo developed the long awaited GameCube follow-up under the philosophy ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’" Reiner noted. Tom Bramwell from Eurogamer, giving the game a 9/10, agreed, stating that it "couldn’t hope to shatter boundaries and reshape the genre for a second time, but it could and has managed to provide one of the biggest and most entertaining platform games since its illustrious predecessor."
The game's tropical island setting was a significant point of praise. IGN's Fran Mirabella III described the "Caribbean-themed locales, big and beautiful," as being so well-designed that they "often produced an ear-to-ear smile."
However, some visual elements drew mixed reactions. While the water effects and use of color were frequently lauded, Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot pointed out in his 8/10 review that "a few nasty textures" were present, though he ultimately found most of the game to be "breathtaking," with excellent character models and unrivaled draw distance. He was particularly impressed by the dynamic sludge textures and the interactive effect of spraying water to clean them.
The platforming mechanics themselves received near-universal acclaim. Hector Guzman of GameSpy awarded a five-star review, calling the game "pure, ‘Video Game Crack.’" He highlighted the intricate moveset created around FLUDD, describing a fluid combination of running, spraying, sliding, wall-jumping, and hovering as "the pinnacle of immersive gameplay."
Reviewers also praised the controls, especially in conjunction with the GameCube controller. Star Dingo for GamePro noted how FLUDD's water abilities felt like a natural extension of Mario's moveset, integrated seamlessly with actions like wall jumps and backflips. The GameCube's analog shoulder button was cited as making water cannon control effortless, contributing to "one of the tightest-controlling games you’ll ever play."
Despite the widespread praise, the camera system was a consistent point of criticism. Mirabella noted that "Nintendo has designed a few objectives where the camera is absolutely, frustratingly horrible," often getting caught on walls and requiring constant adjustment. Gerstmann elaborated that much of the game's difficulty stemmed from managing the camera, which was slow to auto-correct and could obscure the player's view.
Presentation elements, particularly the voice acting and FMV sequences, also received criticism. Mirabella found the story and character design to be "poorly executed" and questioned Nintendo's decision to include "poorly done, compressed FMV sequences" if they did not prioritize presentation.
Super Mario Sunshine was also noted for its challenging difficulty by some reviewers. Jonathan Metts of Nintendo World Report described the game as "frickin' hard," but appreciated the challenge it provided, stating, "even when I’m cussing the game out, I can’t help but be thankful for the challenge."
Metts also highlighted the game's exceptional sound design and music, praising both original compositions and remixes of classic themes, including an "a cappella Super Mario Bros. theme" that aided in timing for puzzle levels. The sound effects, especially those related to water, were also commended.
In conclusion, while Super Mario Sunshine may not have been the revolutionary leap some anticipated, its vibrant world, refined mechanics, and tight controls earned it widespread critical acclaim, cementing its place as a beloved entry in the Mario series, despite its notable camera control issues.