"super mario sunshine" received positive reviews from game reviewers. ign liked the addition of the water backpack for improving the gameplay, and gamespy commented on the "wide variety of moves and the beautifully [made] environments". the game received a perfect score from "nintendo power", who commended the "superb graphics, excellent music, clever layouts, funny cinema scenes and [clever] puzzles". "gamepro" also gave "super mario sunshine" a perfect score, stating that the game was "a masterpiece of superior game design, infinite gameplay variety, creativity, and life." "game informer" said that the game is arguably "the best "mario" game to date." computerandvideogames.com also mentioned the game is "better than super mario 64." the game placed 46th in "official nintendo magazine"'s 100 greatest nintendo games of all time.