Super Mario Sunshine was released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2002 and became an instant hit with Mario Fans around the world. Sunshine gave players a few upgrades and twists on the gameplay introduced in Super Mario 64, and something new and unheard of for a Mario game at that time– an actual plot.

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Mario is taking a vacation with Peach and several other friends on the tropical Isle of Delfino, when he is framed for crimes he, of course, didn't commit. Mario sets out to right the wrongs done to him and clean up the mess left behind on 7 separate worlds by the actual perpetrator. These worlds are all great, but not all are created equal.

7 Bianco Hills

Super Mario Sunshine

Starting this list is Bianco Hills, the introductory world of the game. Due to being the first level, it does not go as in-depth in world-building as some of the later ones do, but that is not to say it also does not have its high points. The spectacular visuals show just how far Nintendo has come with its graphics since Super Mario 64.

Both of the secret courses found in this world are a blast to play through, and the "Red Coins of the Windmill Village" shine sprite requires the player to learn some very creative uses of Mario's Moveset, making it a really solid, and fun mission.

6 Gelato Beach

Let's face it, we could all use a little beach time. Gelato Beach is definitely the place to be for any overworked plumber on holiday. It is an extremely pleasant area to explore or just to relax, with its wide openness and focus on some vertical landscapes.

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The secret courses are once again excellent, but the real highlight of this world has to be the majestic Sand Bird. The build-up it has with realigning the mirrors and fighting a Wiggler boss in earlier missions gives the world somewhat of an overarching story, and that's before we actually get to the bird itself. The ability to fly on such an interesting creature, while trying not to fall off yourself, is as breathtaking as it is thrilling and provides a lot of fun.

5 Pianta Village

Super Mario Sunshine

Pianta Village is the final world that players will come to in the game, and while it is not groundbreaking by any means, it is a nice note to end on. The aesthetic of the world is gorgeous, being a village on top of a landmass supported by the bodies of several giant trees, all with a beautiful open sky to look at the whole time.

Pianta Village also has several fun missions, but the best one by far is "The Goopy Inferno." It is here that you have your trusted companion FLUDD taken away for the only time that isn't a secret course. Mario is forced to explore the elaborate underside of the village in order to find and retrieve it.

4 Noki Bay

Super Mario Sunshine

While Sunshine certainly has its flaws, no one will argue that it's not a beautiful game. Noki Bay wins the award for the being most stunning area in the game. The world is made up of several colossal seashells rising out of the ocean with tight ropes running in between them for navigation. All of this makes Noki Bay an almost completely vertically oriented world. Noki Bay is also varied compared to a lot of the others, having you explore mazes hidden within the walls, a giant water-filled bottle, and even an underwater cavern.

3 Ricco Harbor

Super Mario Sunshine

Something Super Mario Sunshine does really well is world theming. Ricco Harbor is one of its strongest examples. It reaches that perfect middle ground of being both horizontally and vertically oriented, all the while using its harbor aesthetic to its advantage.

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Mario will climb metal grates, jump on girders hoisted by cranes, or race on extremely fast multi colored Bloopers. Almost all of the missions are hits too. Finally, the musical theme of this world is wonderful. All of this combines to put Ricco Harbor high on our list.

2 Sirena Beach

Super Mario Sunshine

Continuing this game's amazing ability to theme worlds, we have the wonderful Sirena Beach. While the world does reside on a beach, the vast majority of it actually takes place in the beach's hotel, Hotel Delfino. Having a hotel be a world is an excellent idea, giving you a more "internal" look at Isle Delfino. Before you can even enter the hotel, you have to fight was is probably the game's highlight boss, a giant manta ray made entirely out of paint. From there, Mario will crawl through the hotel's air vents, investigate paranormal activity, maybe criticize the hotel's odd, meme-worthy, design choices or go gambling at a casino.

1 Pinna Park

Super Mario Sunshine

Amusement park areas have always been under-explored in video games as a whole. So having a 3D Mario game incorporate this idea is nothing short of phenomenal. The world begins with a simply grand boss fight, against a robotic version of Bowser, which takes place on the park's roller coaster. That's where the magic of it truly comes in.

Much of Pinna Park has Mario platforming or interacting with the park's various rides to get things accomplished, and much like with Ricco Harbor, it has a great mix of horizontal and vertical design. The world even has a small beach area, giving some nice variety as well. On top of all of this, both segments of this world have excellent music, making it the best world Super Mario Sunshine has to offer.

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