Who knows when Nintendo will decide to sell it to fans again. Just make sure you grab it before March 31. Considering that we all missed the summer due to stay-at-home life, Super Mario Sunshine is a perfect way to catch some lost rays while you wait for the winter blues to clear up. The platforming challenges are still there for purists, but it’s a game that encourages players to kick up their feet and soak in the scenery. With so many games centered around high-stakes battles and challenges, Sunshine is a literal breath of fresh air. Toss in a truly memorable story featuring a star turn for Bowser Jr and you’ve got a game that sticks with you for more than just its jumping. On top of all that, there’s the game’s tropical score, which might be the best soundtrack in the series. Every level is drenched in warm light, sandy beaches, and calm water that still looks impressive today. Instead, all titles are encrypted with a random title key, which in turn is encrypted with the common key and stored in the ticket. The key is known to all devices, but never used directly. On the Wii he was extracted using the Tweezer Attack. One could wax poetic all day about how the water mechanics successfully mix things up, but the real star of the show is its vibes. The common key is the 'shared secret' that exists on the Wii, the Wii U and the Nintendo DSi. Mario looks down at Delfino Plaza in Super Mario Sunshine. The additional nozzles even rethink the limits of Mario’s movement abilities, creating some of the series most enjoyable mobility techniques. It can be used to clean goo, fill a Piranha Plant’s belly with water, spin slot machines, and more. That’s exactly what happens with the F.L.U.D.D. Nintendo is especially adept at taking one idea and finding several applications for it.

The water powers themselves are a delight too. The levels are open summertime playgrounds, making the game feel like a prototype for some of Super Mario Odyssey’s levels. Another is set on a pier, letting Mario jet ski around on the back of a squid. One level takes Mario to a hotel complete with its own casino.

Rather than dotting environments with little platforming sections, the mechanic allows for some clever level design that thinks outside the box. The gameplay may be non-traditional, but that’s what makes it stand out.

Those complaints are valid, but they wash over some of the game’s unique strengths.

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