Shigeru Miyamoto "Regrets" Making the Lowest-Rated 3D Mario Game on Metacritic

Super Mario Sunshine is now available on Nintendo Switch 2, making the beloved GameCube title easier to enjoy than ever. However, the Mario franchise creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, has admitted that he "regrets" certain aspects of the game's design.

One of the best features of the Switch 2 is its library of GameCube games, which are available to those with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. Super Mario Sunshine has now joined the console's library of GameCube titles, but the controversial title has its share of critics, including Miyamoto himself.

Miyamoto Has Criticisms of Super Mario Sunshine

In 2002, Miyamoto talked about Super Mario Sunshine with Nintendo Dream, a Japanese Nintendo-themed magazine. In the interview, he said that he wanted Super Mario Sunshine to be a game that "all audiences can enjoy," even grandparents and little kids. Mario games are meant for everyone, Miyamoto said.

"However," he said, "I think Mario Sunshine turned out to be difficult for an average user. It's something I very much regret. I want someone who hasn't played a game in 10+ years to play our game, but I think such a person wouldn't know what's going on in Mario Sunshine."

Miyamoto went on to explain his philosophy behind the Mario franchise. "Mario is supposed to be an easy-to-understand game. Even if it's confusing at first, after playing for a day, you should be able to understand what today's games are all about."

Many reviewers seemed to agree with Miyamoto's comments, with critics complaining about the high difficulty of some of the game's missions. Despite these claims, it has a Metacritic score of 92, but due to the franchise's incredible track record, this makes it the lowest 3D Mario game on consoles, with only handheld titles like Super Mario 3D Land sitting below it.

Super Mario Sunshine is one of the most popular 3D Mario games to date. Its control scheme can get a bit tricky (especially for a grandparent), but the game itself is enjoyable to most Mario fans. Now that the title is officially part of Switch 2's GameCube library, it's the perfect time to revisit this controversial classic.

Nintendo Switch 2's GameCube Library Has 10 Games to Date

Now that Super Mario Sunshine is officially part of the Switch 2's GameCube library, there are 10 games available to players. These titles are:

• Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure
• Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
• F-Zero GX
• Luigi's Mansion
• Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
• Soulcalibur II
• Super Mario Strikers
• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
• Wario World
• Super Mario Sunshine

With a total of 651 games released for the GameCube, there are still plenty of classic titles that have yet to make their way to Nintendo Switch Online, though many games are unlikely to be rereleased on the Switch 2 due to rights and licensing issues. Despite its mixed reviews, Super Mario Sunshine is a favorite of many fans, and the Switch 2 is the perfect place to experience it.

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