Super Mario Sunshine – 3D All-Stars vs. NSO comparison
Comparing Super Mario Sunshine in 3D All-Stars vs. Nintendo Switch Online
Posted on September 20, 2026 by Ethan in Features, Switch, Switch 2
Super Mario Sunshine was recently released on Nintendo Switch Online for Switch 2, and it’s currently the only legitimate way to play the game on modern consoles – unless you still own a copy of Super Mario 3D All-Stars from before it was delisted. The collection includes Super Mario Sunshine too, of course, but there are several differences between it and the GameCube version playable on Nintendo Switch Online. So today, we’re going over the differences between the two and deciding which one is the better playing experience.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars features
Generally speaking, the first thing you’ll notice if you compare the two versions is that Super Mario 3D All-Stars looks far better than the GameCube release. In it, the game has been adapted to widescreen, whereas on Nintendo Switch Online it’s the same square resolution you’d see in games made before the HD era. Furthermore, the GameCube version of the game has really crusty pre-rendered cutscenes – no doubt because they were intended to be viewed on a CRT – whereas 3D All-Stars has cleaned up the visuals and even re-rendered certain cutscenes, making them look infinitely better. Also, 3D All-Stars has redrawn UI elements in HD, though the standard-definition HUD icons aren’t a big detriment on the Nintendo Switch Online version or anything.
Overall, Super Mario 3D All-Stars’ graphical improvements are significant, and if you have access to the game, it’s definitely worth considering playing Super Mario Sunshine that way. It’s even worth considering playing the original version on a real GameCube, since that’s the only version of the game that supports pushing down the triggers at different sensitivities to change F.L.U.D.D.’s water pressure. But with all that being said, there’s one big reason to go for the Nintendo Switch Online version other than convenience.
Nintendo Switch Online features
So, even though this version of the game has lower-quality visuals than its Super Mario 3D All-Stars counterpart, it may be the best way to play Super Mario Sunshine for those trying it for the first time. That’s because of save states! If you’ve played Super Mario Sunshine numerous times and know your way around the game, the Super Mario 3D All-Stars version might be better for you thanks to its improved visuals. But if you’re trying Sunshine for the first time, you’ll find it’s one of the most unforgiving games in the franchise. Luckily, you can just use save states to record your progress and try tricky jumps and platforming sections over and over again. If you’re someone who doesn’t consider themselves very good at 3D platforming, save states might be the only way you can realistically get through some of the game’s later levels. They get really tough by Mario standards!
If you’re playing the game for the first time and have any plans to 100 percent complete it, here’s one more tip: write down the locations of all the Blue Coins you find. Super Mario Sunshine’s Blue Coin hunt is one of its greatest weaknesses, because many of them are hidden from view in places you’d never think to look without a guide.
Do you prefer the 3D All-Stars version of Super Mario Sunshine for its better visuals, or the Nintendo Switch Online version for its save states and accessibility? Or would you rather stick to the original GameCube version for the trigger sensitivity? Let us know in the comments down below.
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