Pollution and Paradise don't mix - Tagline
Super Mario Sunshine is the latest platformer console title in the Mario series. It was released in the U.S. in August 2002, nine months after the release of the GameCube. It is the first game on the Nintendo GameCube to exclusively feature Mario, though he appeared in Luigi's Mansion and Super Smash Bros. Melee. Super Mario Sunshine is one of the first GameCube games to become a Player's Choice title.
Story
When Mario sets out for the prestigious tropical retreat Isle Delfino, he expects a well-deserved first-class vacation. However, upon arrival, Mario finds that the once-pristine island has been vandalized with graffiti. As a result of this pollution, the island's source of power, the Shine Sprites, have dispersed and the island is covered in a perpetual shadow. Even worse, the culprit seen spreading the graffiti is disguised as Mario, and Mario is promptly arrested as soon as his plane lands. He is put on trial and found guilty, and is ordered to clean up the mess and find the Shine Sprites. To help with the cleaning, Mario is given FLUDD — a powerful water cannon toted like a backpack. Mario sets out on his adventure vowing to clear his name and locate the real criminal while restoring tranquility and order to Isle Delfino.
The game includes a number of levels, with Delfino Plaza acting as the overworld. The Mario look-alike is referred to as "Shadow Mario", and it is later revealed that Shadow Mario is in fact Bowser Junior, son of Bowser.
Super Mario Sunshine is the first game where Mario extensively uses an accessory to complete his mission. FLUDD features spray and hovering capabilities when it is first acquired; other nozzles can be unlocked to extend FLUDD's functionality, such as the Rocket Nozzle which propels Mario high into the air, and the Turbo Nozzle that lets Mario sprint on land and water, as well as break down wooden doors.
In homage to Super Mario World, Mario can also ride Yoshi in this game. Yoshi can be used to eat certain insects to produce yellow or blue coins. Yoshi can also eat fruit and squirt the juice of that fruit. This juice can be used to dissolve certain kinds of goop acting as obstacles, as well as briefly transform enemies into platforms for Mario to step on.
Koji Kondo and Shinobu Tanaka produced the music for this game.
Locations
Delfino Airstrip is the small local airport where Princess Peach and Mario land in their airplane to start their vacation on Isle Delfino. The story also begins here, as this is where players are introduced to the concept of cleaning up the game's areas, as well as the introduction to the plot.
Delfino Plaza is the main city on Isle Delfino, and appears to function as the capital city of the island, as this is where Mario is put on trial for his crimes. The city is of debatable national origin, as everyone there speaks English, but all of the street signs are clearly in Italian. The town is where Mario can access all other areas of the game, and the story is also advanced here. Princess Peach is kidnapped from here, and all of her Toad assisstants remain here as well. Later in the story, the city is horribly flooded as a result of malfeasance on the part of Bowser.
Bianco Hills is a small village the northwest of Delfino Plaza, and seems to function as a suburb. The small village is famed for its windmills, and also contains a lake and a large central windmill. The town is beseiged by various evils during Mario's adventures there, including two devastating attacks by Piranha Plants.
Ricco Harbor is an industrial area just off to the west of Delfino Plaza, and is a major shipping port. At any given time, several ships are in the harbor. A farmer's market is also found here, and the harbor is attacked by giant squid on several occasions.
Gelato Beach is a peaceful, eternally sunny beach in the middle of a large bay. Along with Pinna Park, it is the only course in the game which does not require the cleaning up of goo, but rather the completing of challenges. In the middle of the beach, there is an enormous tower devoted to capturing sunlight and using it to warm the egg of a giant bird.
Pinna Park is actually on a separate island, but is very close to Isle Delfino and is separated from it by a small strait. There are actually two parts to Pinna Island, its small beach and the amusement park which takes up the rest of the island. The park must close when it is attacked by cannon-wielding Monty Moles, and is completely disrupted when attacked by a gigantic mechanized Bowser robot. Due to the polution on the rest of the island, the park is suffering from a lack of visitors.
Sirena Beach is another beach located on the far side of the bay from Delfino Plaza. There is a world-class hotel there, as well as a spectacular beach. According to the game, it is a favorite retreat for couples. The hotel is somewhat disrupted when attacked by large, manta ray-like ghosts.
Noki Bay is on the far side of the island, and is home to the Nokis, one of two races that live Isle Delfino. The first time Mario visits, the water is found to be horribly polluted and is dangerous to touch. The source of the pollution is found to be a gigantic underwater eel with gingivitis.
Pianta Village is the ancestral home of the Piantas, the other of the two races who live on Isle Delfino. The most prominent feature of the world is that the entire village is built on a massive tree that extends its branches over a canyon that is apparently endlessly deep.
Corona Mountain is a large volcano in the middle of the island, and is where Mario must fight Bowser.
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