Nintendo’s 3D follow-up to Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine immediately stands out due to its tropical vacation themes, and the fact that Mario is now wearing a backpack named FLUDD that squirts water. Most critics agree that Super Mario Sunshine, despite its unique environment and aesthetic, is not an innovation. The most noticeable distinction between Super Mario Sunshine and its Mario predecessors is, as mentioned, its tropical island setting and vacation-y themes. Games Super Mario Sunshine Review box by Jeff Gerstmann (2026) Back-of-the-box quote: "...this really is the only new Mario game out there." This was also a sticking point for Gerstmann:“Needless to say, you spend most of your time in Super Mario Sunshine controlling Mario.