Super Mario Sunshine may not have achieved the same level of universal acclaim as Super Mario 64 and Galaxy, but it’s distinctive gameplay has cultivated a loyal fanbase. Even after more than twenty years, no other Mario title has matched the challenge and intricacy presented by Sunshine’s F.L.U.D.D. mechanics. However, fans can now look forward to an ideal sequel. As the world eagerly anticipates a sequel to Super Mario Odyssey, the Mario community has taken it upon themselves to fill the gap left by Nintendo. A standout project among these is Super Mario Eclipse, an ambitious successor to Super Mario Sunshine, which has just undergone a significant update.
The Super Mario Eclipse team has unveiled the release of version 1.1 through a trailer on YouTube, featuring Mario, Luigi, and Ill Piantissimo as they run and jump through a variety of custom levels and altered environments.
This update aims to enhance the original content, offering numerous quality of life improvements, visual enhancements, and a general increase in polish. Super Mario Eclipse serves as a fan-created expansion for Super Mario Sunshine, introducing 120 additional shines, new playable characters, an enhanced move set, hand-animated cutscenes, and much more.
To enjoy this expansion, you’ll need a ripped version of Super Mario Sunshine, but this shouldn’t pose a significant challenge for most fans of the original game (apologies to those playing Super Mario 3D All-Stars).
We’ve always preferred the more expansive 3D Mario games, and we was thrilled to see Nintendo revisit this concept with the grand scale of Super Mario Odyssey.
However, Odyssey often doesn’t demand a deep understanding of it’s intriguing movement mechanics, allowing players to create their own challenges while maintaining straightforward primary gameplay goals. Having the opportunity to experience more of Sunshine is an excellent alternative, as Eclipse offers numerous genuine challenges.
Nintendo is familiar with the Eclipse strategy, having revisited titles like Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 3D World to introduce new content years later through Super Mario 64 DS and Bowser’s Fury.
However, it appears improbable that Sunshine will receive a similar treatment, particularly with a more straightforward sequel to Super Mario Odyssey expected to be next in the pipeline. Given the captivating nature of the Super Mario Eclipse mod, an official release from Nintendo seems unnecessary.
It is to be hoped that the team responsible for the Super Mario Sunshine project will persist in either enhancing it or developing new Mario titles in the future, as they have undeniably demonstrated their skill in this area.