Nintendo fans have reacted to newly released Super Mario Sunshine artwork that appears to omit a long-standing character from the game’s imagery. The change has prompted humorous online mourning and speculation, reflecting the character’s enduring place in the GameCube title’s visual identity rather than evidence of a major change to the game itself.

Fans described the omission in exaggerated terms, including jokes that the character had been “executed”. The discussion centres on promotional art rather than gameplay, with the reaction showing how closely Nintendo’s audience scrutinises even small alterations to classic Mario material.