Super Mario Sunshine

The Gamecube hasn't had much to recommend it since its launch, besides the exemplary Super Monkey Ball and Super Smash Brothers Melee.
Without those two games, all that would sell the Gamecube to me would be Nintendo's reputation for the best games around. 
Super Mario Sunshine is the first evidence that that reputation is still deserved.

The game's premise is frighteningly juvenile. Mario and Princess Peach have decided to go on a holiday to the paradise of Delfino Island.
But when they get there, they find that it's covered in graffiti! Horror of horrors! The residents of Delfino Island claim to have seen Mario
painting the graffiti everywhere, and they sentence him to clean it up as his punishment.
You must do this while trying to find out who actually did it, and clear your name. While this is nursery-school standard enough, the primary colour scheme and high voices mean that you might
as well paint Fisher-Price on the damn console, with its green, red, purple and yellow look. I'm part of the camp that says a game can be enjoyed no matter who it's aimed at, 
but for god's sake, you don't HAVE to make it cute and cartoony. 

The main change from Mario 64, the predecessor, is that Mario has a sentient backpack
that allows him to squirt water at the graffiti to clear it up, with three different modes, allowing Mario to change his assistance depending on the situation. This is almost the only significant change in gameplay.
The game is essentially Mario 64 with a squirty thing. I can't say it's better than its predecessor, but I can't say it's worse either. The backpack is integrated so well into the game that the only time you'll realise you have it is when it
gets taken away from you, in the brilliant platform levels. These levels are collections of abstract routes to the finish, requiring you to use your brain and your skill to get the Shine waiting for you, 
without the assistance of your hover-nozzle. They're by far the best part of the game, pure and unspoilt by fat manatee-creatures that hang around the rest of the levels. (They're the inhabitants of Delfino Island, 
although I wouldn't mind in the slightest if they were chopped up by boat propellors, unlike real manatees.) 

Like most Nintendo titles, it feels polished. In all too many games these days you think the programmers have got tired and given up trying halfway through a level. This doesn't happen here. 
Squirt a bit of water onto the ground next to you and stare at your reflection as the water dries up in the sun. Ride rollercoasters, or avoid lava plumes, in one of the different worlds.
It's all great fun. Riding giant roulette wheels or trying not to fall off swinging pirate boats is tricky, but rewarding when you manage it. The puzzles are ingeniously designed, and flawlessly executed. 
You don't always have to do something a set way, there can often be alternative routes to an objective. And if you have the skill, you can complete anything the first time. This is How It Should Be Done.

What's bad about it? There's a couple of bugs, such as falling through some objects. Luckily, it's rare, but infuriating when it does happen. 
I'm not entirely sure I like the world system, it means there's less variety than in Mario 64. 
And the camera is far less intelligent than in Mario 64, requiring far more manual input. In fact it can be annoying and obtrusive on occasions, but again it's relatively rare.
The faults are basically non-essential quibbles that barely affect the overall experience, not detracting from the gameplay or rewards.

In essence this is what the Gamecube's been needing, a killer game. One that everyone should own. It's challenging and rewarding, and you won't finish it completely for a long time. 
Don't be put off by the cutesy graphics. If you miss this, you're missing out. 

Score: 4.5/5
Released: 4th October 
Format: Nintendo Gamecube 
Price: £34.99