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Super Mario Sunshine is a 3-D platforming video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube. It was released in Japan on July 19, 2002, in North America on August 25, 2002, and in Europe on October 4, 2002. It is the first original traditional Mario platformer since Super Mario 64, six years earlier. It will be succeeded by Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii. There is a message behind Mario on the box art that seems to read, "Mario has more moves than ever and you'll have to master them all to sprinkle water in the sunshine."
Story Mario sets out for the prestigious tropical retreat Isle Delfino, for a well-deserved vacation with Princess Peach, Toadsworth, and other many colored Toads. Upon arrival, Mario finds that the once-pristine island has been vandalized with graffiti and toxic goop. As a result of this pollution, sun-shaped "creatures" called Shine Sprites, the island's sources of power, have dispersed, and the island is covered in a perpetual shadow. Even worse, the culprit seen spreading the graffiti is disguised as Mario (he is later referred to as "Shadow Mario"); thus, Mario is promptly arrested as he steps off the plane. Shadow Mario is identified as a blue, paintlike version of Mario with red eyes and a large paintbrush he uses to paint graffiti, including his double-arch-like tilted "M" symbol (similar to the McDonald's one) with a vertical dash above each hump of the "M". Mario is put on trial, found guilty, and ordered to clean up the mess and return the Shine Sprites. To help with the cleaning, Mario finds FLUDD, a powerful water cannon toted like a backpack ("FLUDD" stands for "Flash Liquidizing Ultra Dousing Device"). Mario sets out on his adventure, promising to clear his name and locate the real criminal while restoring tranquility and order to Isle Delfino. Gameplay Super Mario Sunshine is the first game where Mario extensively uses an accessory (FLUDD) to complete his mission. The pair work together as team, not unlike the teamwork in the Nintendo 64 title Banjo-Kazooie, which featured a partnership between the characters Banjo and Kazooie. When Mario first acquires FLUDD, he can spray and hover in the air using its nozzles. Two other nozzles can be unlocked later in the game to extend FLUDD's functionality - the Rocket Nozzle which propels Mario high into the air, and the Turbo Nozzle which lets Mario sprint superfast on land and water, as well as break down wooden doors. The game contains a number of independent levels, which can be reached from Delfino Plaza (the hub or overworld). Gameplay is based around collecting Shine Sprites by completing various tasks in the levels and overworld. At first, each level features one task (called an "episode") which may be completed to acquire a Shine Sprite. The player is then returned to Delfino Plaza and a new task is unlocked on the level they just played. Each level consists of up to eight of these tasks, which may be played again at will once they are completed. Once the player has collected enough Shines in total, a new level is available at Delfino Plaza, either by the acquisition of a new ability or some plot-related event. Shines (as they are called in the Japanese version) are also available by collecting blue coins. Ten of these coins may be traded for one Shine in the overworld. Gameplay proceeds in this fashion until all of the Shadow Mario–related missions are completed, which unlocks the level containing the final boss. As the total number of Shines available at any given point is greater than the number of Shines needed to unlock the next level, the player may choose which tasks he/she wishes to attempt. In homage to Super Mario World, Mario can also ride Yoshi in this game. Yoshi can be used to eat certain insects and birds to produce yellow or blue coins or Shine Sprites. Yoshi can also eat fruit and squirt the juice of that fruit. This juice can be used to dissolve orange Generators acting as obstacles as well as to briefly transform enemies into platforms for Mario to step on. The color of the Yoshi and the effect of its juice depend on the type of fruit last eaten. Yoshi will disappear if he touches a deep body of water or if Mario dismounts him while in water. While Mario is riding Yoshi, a woodblock will accompany the background music as in Super Mario World. Setting The game takes place on the beautiful tropical resort of Isle Delfino which is mainly inhabited by the Piantas. Not based on any particular area of the world, the names of the island and the different areas of the island seem to be Italian in origin and the architecture is Mediterranean in style, though with their grass skirts, the Piantas would seem to have a somewhat Hawaiian appearance. Isle Delfino is in the shape of a dolphin, as an homage to the GameCube's original project name, Dolphin. Further, "delfino" is Italian for "dolphin". Mario begins the game after his plane lands on the airstrip. He aquires FLUDD and obtains the first Shine Sprite. A cutscene occurs in which he stands trial and is imprisoned. The player resumes control when Mario is instructed to go about cleaning the island. Mario is not monitored closely, and thus is free to roam about Isle Delfino. He must collect Shinesprites, the island's main power source. The more you obtain, the lighter the island gets. Levels There are 7 standard levels in Super Mario Sunshine, as well as the lead up to the final boss, Corona Mountain. The name of each level contains an Italian word (in parenthesis), continuing with the theme first appearing in the island's name. You only need to beat the first 7 episodes in the 7 different levels to go to Corona Mountain. There are 120 Shine Sprites. Bianco Hills The first level of Super Mario Sunshine, Bianco (white) Hills contains a small windmill village and a giant windmill surrounded by a lake. Mario battles Petey Pirahna and his re-incarnation atop the windmill and also meets Shadow Mario for the first time within a level. Ricco Harbor Ricco (rich) Harbor is a bay sitting on the side of a cliff that has been plagued by dirty water and octopuses. Mario must battle a giant Glooper Blooper twice, as well as surf atop some colourful bloopers and climb along some narrow pathways to a cage hanging from the sky in order to find the Shine Sprites. Gelato Beach Gelato (ice-cream) beach, Mario's next destination, is a pristine beach located next to some steep hills. Mario seeks to get rid of the giant caterpillar Wiggler, as well as race Il Piantissimo and dive in a coral reef for red coins. Mario then joins in the local celebration of the watermelon festival, and hopes to bring home the largest melon to win the prize. This is one of the levels where graffiti is not found, although red 'M' can still be found here. Pinna Park Next up, Mario travels to a whacky amusement park called Pinna (Meaning fin, flipper, or perhaps pineapple. Also, Mario Pinna was an Italian Biplane fighter in WW2) Park, where he is set to help fix the ferris wheel and ride the roller coaster, give a bit of life back to some wilted flowers and ride pirate ships, all while avoiding electrically charged Koopas and Monty Moles shooting Bullet Bills from beach cannons. He also meets up with Shadow Mario, a.k.a. Bowser Jr. This is the second level where graffiti is not found, although red 'M' can still be found here. Sirena Beach Sirena (mermaid) Beach is the location of a hotel and casino that needs Mario's help. Besides being surrounded by electric manta rays, the hotel and casino itself is home to a myriad of Boos (some larger than others) and many secrets that will have Mario accommodated for days. Noki Bay Noki (a type of pasta) Bay is a beautiful bay that is overshadowed by a sheer cliff-face. Mario is set to help the locals clean up the water, as well as discover some secrets on the face of the cliff and have a swimming rematch with Il Piantissimo. He also gets a 'swimsuit' for some of the stages here. This is one of the levels where only 1 'Secret' stage is found. Pianta Village Pianta (Plant) village is Mario's final destination before Corona Mountain. Mario must rescue the mayor of the town without the aid of FLUDD and help to discipline some unruly chain chomps. A climbing rematch with Il Piantissimo is also in store. After saving the town, Mario is free to join in the Fluff Festival, but he better make sure he doesn't hang on to the fluff for too long! This is the second stage where only one 'Secret' stage is found. Corona Mountain Corona (crown) Mountain is the lead up to the final battle, Corona Mountain sees Mario travelling by foot and boat above a river of deadly magma. He then blasts up into the clouds above to meet Bowser and Bowser Jr. (on a war ship thingy)hot-tubbing together in a tub with green water, along with Princess Peach floating on a giant rubber duck. Bosses Some of the major enemies in the game are: Piantas Piantas come in male and female forms and a variety of bright colors. They wear leaf skirts (regardless of their gender) and have little palm trees on their heads instead of hair (to protect them from the sun). Their appearance is comparable to the Pokémon Bellossom. Their ancestoral home on Isle Delfino is Pianta Village, but they have spread to almost every area of the island. Delfino Plaza features a 'Grand Pianta' statue, presumably some type of monument. Judging from the phrase spoken by an older male pianta in Pianta Village (Episode 8), they tend to have a long lifespan. In addition to Super Mario Sunshine, Piantas have appeared in . In that game, there was sort of a "Pianta mafia" led by in the city of Rogueport. The Piantas in the game wore suit jackets along with the obligatory skirts and spoke with stereotypical Italian-American accents. Piantas have also appeared as audience members in other games such as Mario Power Tennis, Super Mario Strikers, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, and Mario Kart DS, but finally made a playable appearance in Mario Superstar Baseball - although only male Piantas are playable (the playable Nokis are female). Reception Super Mario Sunshine was generally well received by game reviewers. The British Nintendo Official Magazine gave it 10/10, NGC Magazine awarded the game 96%, IGN gave the game 9.4/10, praising the addition of the water backpack for improving the gameplay. Gamespy also gave the game 9.4/10, praising the "wide variety of moves and the beautifully constructed environments". GameSpot gave the game 8.0/10, criticizing the various additions including the water backpack and Yoshi as mere gimmicks. It also found fault in the camera system and cited that the game seemed somewhat unpolished and rushed. GameCritics.com criticised the game for featuring "little of the gameplay innovation that the Mario series is so famous for" in addition to the "lack of variety in the environmental design". Although the game was well recieved when released, it was backlashed badly and is now regarded as a disappointment by some. Being the follow up to the groundbreaking Super Mario 64, many fans and critics expected more. Some players were put off by the departures the game took from the series (a single island setting, without the multiple worlds typical of earlier games, for example), deeming it too gimmicky. Prototype A prototype version of the game has not yet been found, but, by using a Action Replay, a test level called "Isle Delfino" can be accessed. Music and Voice cast Koji Kondo and Shinobu Tanaka produced the music for the game. See also | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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