What you need to know
A fan-made Super Mario Sunshine PC port based on an existing decompilation offers ultrawide support, 60 FPS, modern controls, online co-op, and optional 4K textures. It requires a copy of the game and remains in development, with some bugs and glitches.
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When it comes to playing retro console games on PC, emulation has been the go-to method for decades. Over the past year, especially with the rise of AI-assisted coding, this has slowly shifted toward recompilation projects for specific titles. This differs from emulation as it requires decompiling a classic game’s codebase and then recompiling it with a modern language like C++ so it can run natively on PC, either Windows or Linux.
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Because the code is different, recompilation projects don’t infringe on copyright because the code isn’t the same and is more like a port. And with that, all art, music, and other copyrighted assets are omitted, with copies or backups of the original game required to play them. This year we’ve seen the recompilations arrive thick and fast, with the latest being the sequel to the seminal Super Mario 64 – Super Mario Sunshine for the Nintendo GameCube.
TekRantGaming’s Super Mario Sunshine PC port is based on an existing decompilation that uses AI-assisted code to create things like settings menus, graphics options, and more. The port supports rendering the game at a resolution 8X higher than the original (5120 x 4224), upscaled cinematics, anti-aliasing support, and 4K textures players can install and switch between.
- Read more: Iconic N64 shooter GoldenEye 007 is getting a native PC port
- Read more: Super Smash Bros Melee PC port is on the way as GameCube classic gets decompiled
How does Super Mario Sunshine’s native PC recompilation differ from playing the GameCube game through emulation?
Emulation runs the GameCube game on a PC, while Super Mario Sunshine’s recompilation uses decompiled game code rebuilt to run natively on Windows or Linux. The port adds PC-specific options such as ultrawide rendering, 60 FPS gameplay, modern camera controls, and controller support. It still requires a copy of the original game for its assets, and the developer says the port remains in development with some bugs and glitches.
Which known bugs in TekRantGaming’s Super Mario Sunshine PC port can affect gameplay or progression?
No specific bugs affecting gameplay or progression are identified. The developer says the port is still “very much in development” because the decompilation it uses is incomplete, so bugs and glitches remain.
How many players can join Super Mario Sunshine’s online co-op, and does it support remote play?
The Super Mario Sunshine PC port supports online co-op, but the number of players who can join is not specified. Remote play is not mentioned as a separate feature.
Can Super Mario Sunshine’s PC port combine 32:9 ultrawide rendering, 4K textures, and 60 FPS without performance issues?
The Super Mario Sunshine PC port supports 32:9 ultrawide rendering, installable 4K textures, and 60 FPS gameplay. The story does not confirm that all three work together without performance issues, and the developer says the port still has some bugs and glitches.
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As a recompilation, it can tap into PC-specific features, including 32:9 ultrawide rendering, modern camera controls, online co-op, fast 60 FPS gameplay, and support for modern Xbox and PlayStation controllers. It requires a copy of Super Mario Sunshine to run, but you just need to point the installer to where it’s located, and you’re good to go. The developer notes that the port is still “very much in development” because the decompilation it’s based on isn’t complete, so there are some bugs and glitches present.
