Mario 64 is my favourite game of all time along with Ocarina of Time, nothing come close to the surprise of the first time I played it.
With all the games 100% complete at the time: Super Mario 64 > Super Mario Galaxy = Mario Galaxy 2 > Mario 3D Land > Super Mario Sunshine

Sunshine, praying for an HD remake or a direct sequel for wiiU. I don't know why so many people hated it.

3d land its the closer to the 2d ones in terms of gameplay.

SMario 64 followed closely by Sunshine

^ Agree.

Super Mario 64 > Super Mario Sunshine > Super Mario 3D Land > Super Mario Galaxy 2 > Super Mario Galaxy

The thing is that I still loved the shit out of Galaxy 1 though. Goes to show how greatly Nintendo has been able to maintain the series' high quality.

Super Mario Galaxy.
Simply one of the best games ever made. Perfect controls, imaginative level design, gorgeous music and visuals...
It plays like an absolute dream, and hasn't aged at all since it's 2007 release.

For a lot of people the unvaried tropical island setting, the musical style, and the worlds lacking either Mario 64's "something interesting around every corner" or Galaxy 1 &2's tightly constructed obstacle courses.

Super Mario 64.

It gave you an entire world to explore. Sunshine more or less did the same (and would be my number 2 choice) and then it became more about getting from point A to point B like the 2D Mario games.

Galaxy 2