Whether you love the game or hate it, you have to admit that Super Mario Sunshine boasts some incredibly unique level designs. The game has nine levels to choose from, including the hub world Delfino Plaza, which are all loaded with tons of shine sprites to discover. Fans of the game regularly argue over their favorite levels and which ones have the worst shine sprites.
Whether you love the design or just the level's sprites, there is a ton to find and do in the game. To help settle the debate, the list below ranks the areas of Mario Sunshine and it takes the shine sprites available in the area into consideration.
Updated February 12th, 2021 by Jessica Thomas: Super Mario Sunshine enjoyed a port to the Nintendo Switch along with Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 64 in the Super Mario 3D All-Star bundle. The game caught many new players off guard with its quirky F.L.U.D.D based gameplay that relies on using water to help Mario overcome levels. Despite being such a creative game, many players still have strong opinions on which levels are the best ones and which ones they would rather avoid in the future. The list below helps to rank every level, including Delfino Plaza, into a neat list that gives a brief overview of each area and how to access it.
9 Delfino Plaza
Delfino Plaza is one of the most interesting Hub worlds in the series and is unlocked after you get your first Shine Sprite. It offers a bustling city with quirky inhabitants and features a unique tropical vibe. There are even small gondolas running through the center of town. There are tons of hidden sun sprites sprinkled around the map, but players may not exactly find them fun.
Several of the game's worst-rated levels, like the lily pad ride and Pachinko machine, are found in Delfino Plaza.
8 Corona Mountain
Last levels and bosses aren't supposed to be easy, but there is a fine line between hard and flat out tedious. Corona Mountain unlocks after beating every instance of Shadow Mario on The Loose. This level has you using the game's wonky water spraying mechanic to help a ship navigate, and Mario has to avoid tons of water in order to make his way to Bowser.
While it's funny to see the king in a hot tub, the boss fight is less fighting and more trying to dodge attacks while dealing with bad camera angles.
7 Pinna Park
Pinna Park is another level with an excellent design premise, to unlock it gather ten Shine Sprites. Unfortunately, it just doesn't have the shine sprites to make it great. Other than the Mecha Bowser fight found in the first shine sprite, there is nothing really here to love. The level is filled with bad platforming and boring quests that would make any gamer want to look the other way.
There is even a segment of gathering red coins, which is hardly themed around the pirate ships that it's named after.
6 Ricco Harbor
Ricco Harbor is the second area of the game and is very basic in design and needs three shine sprite to unlock. Aside from the Blooper related content, Ricco Harbor just falls flat. It's not a particularly hard level, but it's not really a memorable one either. Most of the time, you will just find your self scaling around the basic shipyard.
The level does have the fun Blooper racing but it's a very short shine sprite.
5 Noki Bay
Noki Bay is a "love it or hate it" type of level that needs 20 Shine Sprites to unlock. Unlike the rest of the game, it is more vertically focused and has Mario climbing up cliffs. Depending on the player and how much they like the controls, the shine sprites in this game can be a refreshing break or something they completely avoid.
To best sum it up, the area also houses both the infamous Secret of The Shell level that many players despise and the Eel boss that many love.
4 Bianco Hills
Bianco Hills is the first area in the game and carries a lovable charm with it and will be open from the beginning of the game. The Shine Sprites are a combination of using Mario's platforming abilities and using water-based powers. The boss Petey Pirhana is also one of the most popular fights in the game, especially during his second appearance.
Best of all, there are very few bad Shine Sprites other than the Dirty Lake level.
3 Gelato Beach
Gelato Beach is an interesting level that reminds players of a small beachside escape that needs five Shrine Sprites to unlock. The area will give you a multitude of different shine sprites to conquer, including one that has you battling a giant Wiggler. There is also a fun red coin level based around exploring a coral reef.
On the flip side, though, there is the shocking Sandbird level and the Watermelon Festival, which is one of the hardest shine sprites in the game.
2 Pinata Village
Pinata Village is the eighth main area of the game and is designed around a hot springs village that requires 30 shine sprites to unlock. The level has you doing strange tasks like bathing Chain Chomps and navigating fire goop paths to earn your shine sprites. There is even a unique timed challenge for you to undertake.
If you like the idea of interesting concepts and think Chain Chomps are cute, then this level is for you.
1 Sirena Beach
Sirena Beach starts out with one of the hardest bosses in the game and then ushers you inside of a haunted hotel. This area requires Yoshi and completing episode four of Pinna Park to access. Inside you will have to navigate your way around Boos and sneak your way through the area. Outside of the hotel, you will be tasked with cleaning up the resort's beach.
The unique sunset drowned design of the level brings back fond memories of a tropical paradise for many players.