In his review for USA Today, Steve Jones noted that "Mario has a mature-for-his-age voice that sets him apart from the pack, even though he sticks with themes that don't make him seem older than he is [...] Radio-friendly grooves such as "Just a Friend" should get him immediate attention, but the soulful ballad "Never" suggests he's only scratching the surface of what he has to offer."
The critic, Steve Jones from USA Today, commended Mario's unique vocal tone as a distinguishing characteristic, even though his music tends to focus on themes that don't make him seem more mature than he is. He also appreciated the catchy, radio-friendly nature of songs like "Just a Friend" and noted that the emotional ballad "Never" indicates he has yet to reach his full potential.