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Смотрите другие статьи из рубрики «Консольные классики» в Google.
Mario Sunshine Online 2.0 expands multiplayer with mod support, new modes, custom characters, stages, and smoother Dolphin performance.
A Bigger Vacation on Isle Delfino
Super Mario Sunshine was already built around movement, mischief, and the occasional argument with a camera. Now, a fan-made multiplayer project is turning that sunny holiday into a much busier group trip, with support for up to 10 players online.
Better Super Mario Sunshine Online 2.0 is the latest version of an online multiplayer mod designed to run through the Dolphin emulator on Windows. The project originally arrived as an alternative way to play the GameCube console adventure with friends, but its newest update pushes far beyond simple co-op.
The headline addition is broad mod support. Players can now use the multiplayer framework with projects including Super Mario Eclipse, Super Mario Sunset, Super Mario Tropical Freeze, and Azack’s SMS Randomiser. That’s a substantial shift in ambition. Rather than being tied strictly to one version of Sunshine, the project is becoming a kind of multiplayer umbrella for several fan-made takes on Nintendo’s slippery, sun-drenched platformer.
Version 2.0 Brings More Than a Few Fixes
The first version already offered a convincing reason to revisit Isle Delfino: shared story progression, online exploration, and several multiplayer activities. Version 2.0 arrives with a much longer feature list, though, and it feels less like a routine patch and more like a serious expansion.
The update adds four new game modes:
- Tag
- Geoguessr
- Manhunt
- Speedrun
Each mode gives the familiar stages a different rhythm. Tag should make the open plazas and resort areas feel like playgrounds, while Manhunt sounds better suited to players who enjoy turning a relaxed platforming session into a suspicious chase through tropical scenery. Speedrun support, meanwhile, could expose every sloppy jump and unnecessary wall bounce. Sunshine has a talent for making confidence evaporate near a ledge.
The update also introduces new custom stages, including a dedicated lobby where players can gather before heading into the main action. That small touch matters. A proper meeting space makes the experience feel more like a multiplayer game and less like several separate players being dropped into the same save file.
The Character Roster Gets a Wild Upgrade
The character lineup is another major part of the update, and it takes the expected Mario-family approach before swerving into crossover territory.
Version 2.0 adds Peach, Daisy, Toad, Toadette, Toadsworth, Professor E. Gadd, Amy, and Silver the Hedgehog. Players using Super Mario Eclipse also gain access to Luigi, Piantissimo, and Shadow Mario.
That’s a wonderfully odd mixture. Peach and Daisy fit naturally into Sunshine’s bright holiday atmosphere, while Toadsworth wandering around with a water pack feels almost too appropriate. Then Amy and Silver arrive, reminding everyone that fan projects have never been particularly interested in keeping their guest lists sensible.
The earlier release already showcased characters such as Sonic, Shadow, Mario, and Waluigi, alongside a promise of 15 fully custom characters. The new additions make the roster feel much more expressive, especially for groups who want every player to have a distinct look instead of watching a crowd of identical plumbers slide around the same plaza.
Why Build Another Online Sunshine Mod?
That question hangs over the project because another Super Mario Sunshine online mod already existed. Creating a second version might seem unnecessary at first glance, particularly when the basic idea—put several players into Sunshine together—was already available.
My first reaction was similar: surely the better route would be improving the existing project rather than starting over. After looking at the stated reasons behind this version, though, that impression softened. Better Super Mario Sunshine Online was created out of frustration with slow updates, connection problems, broken features, and a growing backlog of bugs in the older experience.
Daytendo64, the developer behind the project, described the situation plainly:
“To keep the story short, SMSO is terrible about updates,” Daytendo64 stated. “The last update, 2.2, was over two years ago. And to make matters worse, 3.0 had been announced nearly a year ago, and still nothing has come of it. That’s the main issue. Other issues in-game people have had are issues with staying connected, stuff just not working properly, and a ton of bugs… And with updates being as slow as they are, we just all lost hope in it, so that’s why I decided to create my own version of SMSO.”
It’s difficult to argue with the motivation. Multiplayer mods live or die by reliability, and a brilliant feature list doesn’t help much if players can’t stay connected long enough to enjoy it. I can’t personally verify every reported problem or promise that the new project will avoid the same growing pains, but the emphasis on stability and performance in version 2.0 is encouraging.
The Story Mode Is Built for Shared Progress
The most important feature may still be the multiplayer version of Sunshine’s main story. This isn’t merely a free-for-all where everyone runs around collecting whatever they happen to find.
All collectibles—including Shine Sprites and Blue Coins—are synchronized across players. Story progression and plaza states are synced as well, and that synchronization also applies to people who join later. In theory, that should prevent the familiar multiplayer headache where one player gets ahead, another misses a collectible, and everyone spends ten minutes trying to work out whose game state is correct.
That structure gives the campaign a more cooperative feel. One player can investigate a side area while another searches for a blue coin, with the group’s progress remaining connected rather than fragmented. Sunshine’s levels were never tiny, so splitting up can make practical sense. Of course, it also creates opportunities for someone to wander off, trigger an event, and leave the rest of the group wondering what just happened.
That little bit of chaos is probably part of the appeal. Sunshine’s movement system can feel wonderfully fluid when it behaves, and sharing that momentum with friends should make the simple act of crossing a plaza feel more eventful.
Hide-and-Seek Turns the Levels Into Hunting Grounds
The hide-and-seek mode adds a more focused multiplayer challenge. Seekers can be selected by the host or assigned randomly, while a timed grace period gives everyone else a chance to find a hiding spot before the search begins.
The next stage can also be selected randomly, which should keep groups from settling into the same familiar hiding places. That’s a smart inclusion. Sunshine’s worlds have plenty of corners, rooftops, balconies, tunnels, and awkward little spaces that look decorative during a normal playthrough but suddenly become valuable when someone is trying not to be found.
There’s a mild catch, though: hide-and-seek depends heavily on players agreeing to play fairly. Anyone determined to use a movement trick or peek at information they shouldn’t have can spoil the tension quickly. Still, with the right group, the mode could turn the game’s bright vacation setting into a surprisingly effective chase arena.
The Modding Community Keeps Sunshine Moving
The project’s release trailer showed online co-op, hide-and-seek, custom characters, and several of the new modes in action. The presentation makes the update look considerably more polished than a small experimental add-on, although multiplayer projects always deserve a little patience during those first real-world stress tests.
You can watch the earlier project showcase here: https://youtu.be/8XwtDpc97Ko
The release trailer is available here: https://youtu.be/PwWgUwv7wdQ
The full mod and its patch notes are hosted on GameBanana: «Super Mario Sunshine» в сети — еще лучше. Players will need their own legal NTSC-U copy of Super Mario Sunshine video game, along with Dolphin and the required network setup. RadminVPN is recommended, while port forwarding is listed as another option.
That setup is not entirely plug-and-play, and it may be the biggest barrier for casual players. Installing an emulator, preparing the correct game files, configuring a network connection, and coordinating several people is more involved than simply handing someone a second controller. Still, that has always been the bargain with ambitious fan projects: a little setup in exchange for possibilities the original game never offered.
A Promising Second Chance for Multiplayer Sunshine
Better Super Mario Sunshine Online 2.0 has a strong argument for existing. It supports more mods, adds new ways to play, expands the character roster, introduces fresh stages, and aims to address the stability issues that can make online experiments frustrating.
I’m still slightly cautious. A feature list can promise a tropical paradise, but online multiplayer has a habit of revealing the loose floorboards. Even so, the direction is impressive, and the revised impression is clear: this isn’t just another novelty mod that puts several characters in the same level. It is trying to become a flexible multiplayer platform for the wider Sunshine modding scene.
For anyone who has ever wished that Isle Delfino had room for a few more friends, the vacation just got considerably louder.
ЧАСТО ЗАДАВАЕМЫЕ ВОПРОСЫ
- How many players does Better Super Mario Sunshine Online support?
The project supports up to 10 players online, allowing groups to tackle story content, competitive modes, and custom stages together. - What emulator is required?
The mod is designed for the Dolphin emulator on Windows. - Which mods are supported in version 2.0?
Supported projects include Super Mario Eclipse, Super Mario Sunset, Super Mario Tropical Freeze, and Azack’s SMS Randomiser. - What new game modes are included?
Version 2.0 adds Tag, Geoguessr, Manhunt, and Speedrun, alongside the existing co-op story and hide-and-seek options. - Do players need their own copy of Super Mario Sunshine?
Yes. Players are expected to supply their own legal NTSC-U copy of the game, along with the necessary emulator and network configuration.
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