Super Mario Sunshine Review: Terrible yet terrific

Brighton Nelson

Apr 1, 2026 • 5 min read

Ever since I played this game as a youngin' at the dentist's office, I've been putting it off, as I genuinely thought it was a horrible game as a kid. It's been my least favorite Mario game for years... but how did it hold up as an adult? How did it hold up when I got past the first few levels and reached some of the more acclaimed sections? That's what I, Brighton Nelson of RPG Ranked, will explore today. I hope you enjoy this article, and let's get into it!

Quality of Life - 2

This game has got some serious issues, many of which likely stem from its rushed production cycle. From completely buggy areas to stupid levels with obtuse level design, this game has serious issues. I'm not talking about difficult platforming challenges: those were awesome! I'm talking about things like the terrible Pianta throwing, the excessive journey to the lily-pad game, the lack of blue Coin cataloging in the menu, the terrible boat controls, the janky camera... This game is an absolute mess, and nothing about how I felt the first time I picked it up has changed in that regard.

Art & Graphics - 8.5

It's wild that Super Mario Sunshine looks this good all these years later. I mean, it was over a decade since this game's release until we got another Mario game that balanced clean graphics with artistic integrity this well. From the UI to the enemy designs to the beautiful beach locales, there's nothing artistically disappointing about this game! It may not quite be a 10/10 artistic masterpiece, but it still looks fantastic.

Level Design - 7

Part of me wants to give this game's level design a 10/10 for its impeccable vibes and cohesive sunshine aesthetic. Yet, the bad is often rivaled by incredibly frustrating design choices that make all the levels incoherent or frustrating. Since the game organizes missions oddly, it feels like every level is disappointingly sectioned off. Additionally, the levels occasionally have some grating areas where you lose too much progress for the slightest mistakes. I enjoy difficulty, but this game lacks rewarding level design and is simply frustrating.

Music - 6.5

There are some cute, catchy themes in this game, yet I honestly don't feel like there are any songs outside of the couple of Delfino songs that really stood out to me. All of the music captures the right vibes and brings the game to life, but they aren't quite the earworms I've come to expect from the Mario series. While vibes are great, the best VGM soundtracks have staying power for me even outside the game, and quite simply, I can't help but feel this category deserves a rather low score.

Combat - 5

This game's combat is at least better than some Mario titles, I'll give it that. The spray nozzle and the ability to hover do add a bit to how boss battles and enemy fights play out. It's not much, but it's something. The main reason I even give this a suitable 5 is due to the magnificent boss fights, with awesome standouts like the goopy manta-ray and the rollercoaster Bowser fight. On the one hand, this has some of the best Mario fights; on the other hand, Mario combat (usually) sucks.

Story - 4

Super Mario Sunshine - Final Boss + Ending

For a Mario game and for a platformer, this is a solid story! While it can't compete with practically any RPG, the story here has a cute, voice-acted charm and an ending that has resonated with many games for a long time. This is one of the best Mario stories due to its couple of twists and some emotional elements. Yet, it still doesn't break out of the mediocrity of typical Mario platformer fare.

Controls - 9

Sure, this game has some super janky camera controls, notably at Pinna Park. Sure, the boat and lily-pad controls are embarrassing. However, the jank don't matter because controlling Mario in this game is magical. With all the various FLUUD moves and how they work with Mario's, just running around, diving, flipping, and all that are phenomenal. Literally just running around Delfino Plaza and doing who knows what is one of the best experiences in this game, just because the controls are so fun.

Platforming - 8.5

As I stated earlier, there are many frustrating elements to this game. However, I can't deny that this game has some of the most memorable platforming challenges of the series. With unique, FLUUD-less challenges that really test your platforming prowess, and sections of levels that require actual thought and reflexes to bridge gaps effectively, the platforming here is truly far more memorable than any experience in, say, Super Mario Galaxy.

Theming - 8.5

I love the sunny vibes and variety of beach locales in this game! While I do prefer the Mario games with many unique worlds, there's a joy in this game that comes only from the cohesiveness of its beach themes and from the deep dive and expansion into one idea. If you especially love beaches and sunny vibes, I'm sure you'll adore this game and the experience it offers.

The Verdict

Fun Factor - 4
Overall Score - 64%
Letter Rating - B-

While Super Mario Sunshine thrives on its magnificent moveset and memorable vibe, its flawed level design and lack of rewarding level design can often leave it feeling like a chore rather than a fantastic 3D platformer. It's one of those games where you'll play an hour and say it's a 10/10 platformer, and the next, you'll want to throw yourself into an active volcano because it's so terrible.

Check out my other Mario reviews below!