Can Super Mario Sunshine be 2 player?

As a passionate Nintendo gamer and content creator, one question I see asked a lot is whether Super Mario Sunshine supports any form of co-op or multiplayer. So let‘s definitively settle this – no, Super Mario Sunshine on Nintendo Switch and originally on Gamecube is exclusively single player.

Super Mario Sunshine‘s Place in Mario History

First, some background. Super Mario Sunshine was first released in 2002 for the Nintendo Gamecube. Coming off the immense success of predecessor Super Mario 64, expectations were sky-high for Sunshine. And while it reviewed very well at the time (more on that later), I don‘t think it quite achieved the same iconic long-lasting status of Mario 64 or other Mario classics.

In terms of sales, the Gamecube is actually Nintendo‘s second worst selling home console ever, beating only the short-lived Wii U. Approximately 21.74 million Gamecube units were sold worldwide according to VGChartz. Now those are certainly decent numbers, but it was far outpaced by Sony‘s mammoth-selling PlayStation 2 that dominated that console generation.

Fast forward to 2020 and the release of Super Mario 3D All-Stars on Nintendo Switch – a special collection containing enhanced ports of Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy. This was a great way for younger gamers to experience Sunshine for the first time and for veterans to revisit the tropical shores of Isle Delfino coated in messy goop!

*3D All-Stars sales numbers as of Dec 2021

So while we don‘t have exact sales data for Sunshine on Nintendo Switch, the fact 3D All-Stars has sold over 37 million copies bodes well for Sunshine reaching a much wider audience now!

Review Scores: Highly Rated Mario Entry But Not Quite An All-Time Great

In terms of critical reception at release, Super Mario Sunshine scored very well across the board:

• Metacritic: 92/100
• IGN: 9.5/10
• GameSpot: 8.5/10

However most Mario fans and critics agree it didn‘t have quite the same groundbreaking impact and influence as the Mario games that preceded it and followed it:

• Super Mario Bros – pioneered side scrolling platformers
• Super Mario World – perfected 2D platforming on SNES
• Super Mario 64 – made first leap to 3D level design
• Super Mario Galaxy – critically hailed gravity platforming

While an excellent game in its own right, Sunshine just didn‘t advance the 3D platforming formula as meaningfully as expected.

Sunshine‘s Single Player Focus

Now onto the biggest question – can you play 2 player on Super Mario Sunshine? Well, Sunshine focuses entirely on a single player experience where you take control of Mario exploring Isle Delfino with his water-squirting backpack FLUDD.

There are no multiplayer options, co-op modes, or second player character like Mario Galaxy or New Super Mario Bros that followed it. And that choice of pure single player platforming has its pros and cons:

Pros

• Uninterrupted world building and story focus on Mario‘s adventure
• Gameplay completely centered around using FLUDD‘s water mechanics

Cons

• Can feel restrictive not having second player to assist
• Ramps up the difficulty as all hazards must be overcome by the solo player

And for newcomers especially, Sunshine presents a hefty challenge even for seasoned Mario vets like myself! So having a second player to help out certainly could have alleviated some of that difficulty. But clearly the developers chose to keep the experience purely focused on controlling Mario.

Hope for Eventual Mods or Sequels?

So is there any hope down the road for potentially hacking in multiplayer support through PC mods or via an official Mario Sunshine sequel? Well I‘m happy to report that while nothing formally exists yet, many fans including myself would absolutely love and support Sunshine 2 someday featuring co-op modes!

I know I‘d be first in line to play joyfully through levels with my girlfriend controlling Mario while I assist with Luigi, Yoshi, or other characters. Similar vibes to Super Mario Odyssey‘s two player co-op but soaked with Sunshine‘s bright, summery aesthetic would be amazing!

For now though, we‘ll have to wait and rally behind Nintendo to make it happen eventually!

Best Mario Games With 2+ Multiplayer on Nintendo Switch

Okay, back to current games you can buy now with multiplayer right out of the box! Here are the top Super Mario series games playable with friends and family on Nintendo Switch hardware with 2-4 player co-op support:

I highly recommend all the above for family friendly, energetic local and online couch play sessions – just beware of blue shells and friendship-ruining minigame betrayals!

Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions around Super Mario Sunshine or Nintendo Switch multiplayer! And please Nintendo, Mario Sunshine 2 with 4 player co-op someday would make this Mario fan‘s dreams come true!