Nintendo opted to create something new and unique, and they certainly succeeded with Super Mario Sunshine.
After many years of Goomba stomping and Koopa thrashing, Mario finally gets to enjoy a much needed vacation. Along with Princess Toadstool and Toadsworth, Mario sets out to the beautiful Isle Delfino for a tropical getaway. However, upon landing on the island they are met with a strange dilemma. The entire island has been polluted and covered in graffiti. The source of the trouble is a mysterious being that has a strange resemblance to the famed plumber. Because of this, Mario is instantly being called out as the culprit and is sentenced to clean up the entire island before he can leave. To help with his sentence is a powerful water pack they equip him with called F.L.U.D.D. So it's up to Mario to stop the clone and clean up the island.
The structure of Super Mario Sunshine is very much similar to it's predecessor Super Mario 64. You will be exploring around a hub world looking for new worlds to explore and collecting Shine Sprites (the Power Stars for this game). To access new levels you will need to collect a certain number of Shine Sprites, which can be obtained through a variety of missions and can even be found in hidden locations within the hubworld. There are 120 Shine Sprites in total to collect, but only around 70 are needed to complete the game.
The game is similar in structure to Super Mario 64, but the gameplay style has a new twist. You will still be doing plenty of Mario-styled platforming, but each of the game's missions revolve around the concept of water. You will be using F.L.U.D.D. in some form or another, either to clean up sludge or use it solve water-based puzzles. Not only that, but many of the missions have a heavier emphasis on vertical level designs, which offers some of the most creative platforming segments in the game (plus it gives you an excellent view of the stage). But even with the added water elements the gameplay has a familiar Super Mario 64 vibe going for it, since some of the missions are similar, such as racing someone, collecting red coins, defeating a boss, or simply get from point A to Point B to get the Shine Sprite. At certain points a cutscene activates, which shows the doppelganger Mario stealing Mario's F.L.U.D.D. pack. You are then taken to a giant space full of moving blocks and platforms that you need to traverse to reach youu precious water pack. These areas help add a touch of nostalgia, providing players with familiar, fun, and often challenging level designs. Some of these areas can incorporate F.L.U.D.D. for you to use as well.
Mario controls just as well in this game as he did in 1996. Movement is silky smooth, which makes the platforming all the more satsfying. Almost all of his moves from Super Mario 64 are in this game and it is a breeze to pull these moves off. Controlling F.L.U.D.D. is also simple and easy to use.
F.L.U.D.D. has a variety of functions for Mario to use. When you start out you use him as a a water cannon and a hover pack, but as you progress you can collect a couple of nozzle add-ons. The Rocket Nozzle allows you to soar high in the air to reach higher areas much more quickly and easily. The Turbo Nozzle lets Mario sprint at high speeds with a rushing jet of water, either to ram into certain obstacles or to run across water (which is awesome). You will use up water with each function, so be sure to keep an eye out for areas you can refill. As solid as the gameplay is, it unfortunately comes with a generally frustrating camera that will often not give to clear of a view of the action or get stuck behind walls, which is especially cumbersome during sections where you will be climbing along gates.
For the first time since Super Mario World, Mario is reunited with the lovable dinosaur Yoshi. When controlling Yoshi you will be going around eating different kinds of fruit and squirt fruit juice that can be used to solve some puzzles. Unfortunately, unlike in Super Mario World you can't take him into other worlds and he is very underused. You only use him a handful of times throughout the entire game. It would have been great to have more missions that can incorporate Yoshi's skills in some way.
Graphically this is a very beautiful platformer. The game has a distinct tropical vibe with an exceptionally vibrant color pallet. The worlds are excellently designed and the thanks to the more vertical levels it shows off an impressive draw distance. The music sticks to the feel of the game by providing very upbeat, tropical tunes that still show off the Mario vibe. For the first time in the series the game also includes voice acting. Needless to say the voice acting is rather bad and simply don't suit many of the characters.
PROS:
-A really bright and smooth looking game with an impressive color pallet
-Nicely creative missions
-Excellent controls
-F.L.U.D.D. is a unique and fun gameplay mechanic
-Catchy soundtrack
CONS:
-Bad voice acting
-Yoshi is underplayed
-The camera can be a hassle at times
Aside from some minor setbacks, Mario fans alike will find plenty of things to like in here and it is a much welcomed addition to the series.