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Super Mario Sunshine
Developer	Nintendo EAD
Publisher	Nintendo
Designer	Shigeru Miyamoto (producer) Takashi Tezuka (producer) Yoshiaki Koizumi (director) Kenta Usui (director)
Series	Mario
Released	JP July 19, 2002 NA August 26, 2002 EU October 4, 2002
Genre	Platformer
Mode(s)	Single-player
Ratings	ESRB: Everyone PEGI: 3+ ELSPA: 3+ OFLC: G
Platform(s)	Nintendo GameCube
Media	1 × GameCube Optical Disc
System requirements	7 memory card blocks

Super Mario Sunshine (スーパーマリオサンシャイン, Sūpā Mario Sanshain^?) is a platform game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube. It was released in Japan on July 19, 2002, in North America on August 26, 2002, and in Europe on October 4, 2002. It is the first 3D Mario platformer since the release of the predecessor, Super Mario 64, six years earlier. Super Mario Sunshine's successor is Super Mario Galaxy, which was released for the Wii in 2007.

The game takes place on the tropical Isle Delfino, where Mario and Princess Peach are taking a vacation. A villain identical to Mario, known as "Shadow Mario", vandalizes the entire island, and Mario gets blamed for the mess. Later on, Mario is ordered to clean up Isle Delfino, while saving Princess Peach from Shadow Mario.

Super Mario Sunshine received generally positive scores by reviewers; Nintendo Power gave the game a perfect score,^[1] and IGN gave it 9.4/10.^[2] The game has sold over 5.5 million copies, and is as of now the second best-selling game for the Nintendo GameCube.^[3] Due to the game's popularity, it was re-released as a Player's Choice title in 2003.^[4]

Contents 1 Gameplay 1.1 Shine Sprites 2 Plot and setting 2.1 Story 3 Development 3.1 Audio 4 Reception 5 References 6 External links

Super Mario Sunshine is the first game where Mario extensively uses an accessory, the FLUDD, to complete his mission. 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 at high speed on land and water, and break down doors.^[5]

Mario can ride Yoshi, who can be used to eat certain insects and birds to produce coins and Shine Sprites. Yoshi can also eat fruit and spit the juice of that fruit. This juice can be used to dissolve orange generators acting as obstacles, and briefly transform enemies into platforms for Mario to step on. The color of Yoshi and the effect of its juice depends on the type of fruit last eaten. Yoshi will disappear if he touches a deep body of water or if he doesn't eat a fruit within a time limit.^[6]

The game contains a number of independent levels, which can be reached from the hub, Delfino Plaza. Gameplay is based on collecting "Shine Sprites" by completing various tasks in the levels. At first, each level features one task which may be completed to acquire a Shine Sprite. The player is then returned to Delfino Plaza and a new task is unlocked in the level they just completed.^[7] Each level consists of up to eight Shine Sprites and these tasks, which may be played again at will once they are completed.^[8] Once the player has collected enough Shine Sprites, a new level is available at Delfino Plaza, either by the acquisition of a new ability or a plot-related event.^[9] Shine Sprites are also available by collecting and trading blue coins.^[10] Gameplay proceeds in this fashion until all of the Shadow Mario-related missions are completed, which unlocks the level containing the final boss.

The game takes place on the tropical resort of Isle Delfino. The island is mainly inhabited by the races Piantas and Nokis.^[11] Isle Delfino (Italian for "dolphin") is in the shape of a dolphin. The island comprises ten available locations, with Delfino Plaza as Isle Delfino's capital and the game's main hub. Since then Isle Delfino has been featured in several Mario-related games such as Mario Kart Double Dash and even as a level in Super Smash Bros Brawl.

Mario sets out for Isle Delfino for a vacation with Princess Peach, her long-time steward Toadsworth, and some other Toads. Upon arrival, Mario finds that the once-pristine island has been vandalized with graffiti and toxic waste. As a result of this pollution, sun-shaped objects called "Shine Sprites", the island's sources of power, have disappeared, and the island is covered in a perpetual shadow. The culprit seen spreading the graffiti is disguised as Mario (referred to as "Shadow Mario"). Mario is promptly arrested as he arrives at the island. He 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 which is toted like a backpack. Mario sets out on an adventure to clear his name and locate the real criminal, while restoring tranquility and order to Isle Delfino.^[12]

After numerous incidents, Mario follows Shadow Mario, who has kidnapped Princess Peach, to an amusement park. There, Mario defeats a huge robot being controlled by Shadow Mario. It is then revealed that Shadow Mario's real identity is Bowser Jr., the son of Bowser.^[13] Bowser Jr. takes off in a hot air balloon with Princess Peach, heading for Corona Mountain where his father is awaiting. After Mario beats Shadow Mario in all of the locations, he enters Corona Mountain, defeats Bowser and rescues Princess Peach.^[14] Mario, Peach and the others then begin the vacation.^[15]

A sequel to Super Mario 64 had been in the works for several years. The cancelled games Super Mario 64 2 and Super Mario 128 were some ideas Nintendo had for a direct sequel to Super Mario 64.^[16] Some elements from Super Mario 128 were used in Super Mario Galaxy.^[17] Super Mario Sunshine was first shown at Nintendo Space World in 2001,^[18] as a semi-sequel rather than a direct sequel to Super Mario 64. The game was shown again at E3 in 2002.^[19]

In an interview about the development of Super Mario Sunshine with producer Takashi Tezuka and directors Yoshiaki Koizumi and Kenta Usui, it was said that the game's development began with the idea of gameplay involving a water pump.^[20] However, at first the developers thought that the world was too daringly out of character with Mario. Therefore, they tried using a man-type character, but thought this was too odd and that "if there was a man next to Mario, there is a sense of incongruity."^[20] There were ten candidates for possible water nozzles, with FLUDD chosen due to its fitting in the game's setting despite it not being one of the favorites. Some preliminary gun-like water nozzles were removed due to all the controversy in the United States.^[20] They also stated that several Yoshi features were omitted, such as Yoshi vomiting out water fed to him.^[20]

Koji Kondo and Shinobu Tanaka composed the musical score for Super Mario Sunshine.^[21] The music contains tropical tracks, as the game takes place on a tropical resort. The game also features some classic tracks, like the underground music and the main stage music from the original Super Mario Bros.^[22] Super Mario Sunshine mainly featured the usual voice actors for the various characters, with Charles Martinet as Mario and Toadsworth, Jen Taylor as Princess Peach and Toad, Scott Burns as Bowser, and Dolores Rogers as Bowser Jr.^[23] Other voice actors included Isaac Marshall, Kit Harris, Deanna Mustard, and Kazumi Totaka.^[24]

Super Mario Sunshine was initially well received by game reviewers. IGN praised the addition of the water backpack for improving the gameplay,^[2] and GameSpy praised the "wide variety of moves and the beautifully constructed environments".^[30] The game received a perfect score from Nintendo Power, who commented the "superb graphics, excellent music, clever layouts, funny cinema scenes and ingenious puzzles."^[1] The Australian video game magazine Hyper gave Super Mario Sunshine the "Hyper Big Rubber Stamp of Approval." GameSpot criticized the various additions including the water backpack and Yoshi as mere gimmicks. They also found fault in the camera system and cited that the game seemed somewhat unpolished and rushed.^[31] GameCritics.com criticized the game for featuring "little of the gameplay innovation that the Mario series is so famous for".^[32] Matt Wales of ComputerAndVideoGames.com accused the game of having a "distinct lack of polish and occasional moments where the game practically stood up and shouted 'Oh my god! Somebody forgot to finish me!'" and that it "had Mario fans frothing at Nintendo's door."^[33]

The voice acting received criticism from reviewers. Craig Majaski of Gaming Age stated that Peach sounded odd because her voice was high pitched, and that Mario barely utters a word. He also stated: "Let's just say that if Nintendo decides to put voices in the next Mario game I hope they utilize some better voice talent or better audio compression methods to make it sound clear and halfway decent."^[22] The voice acting also received criticism from N-Philes, who said that Peach's voice was sickeningly girly, and that Toadsworth was laughable. They also mentioned that Mario had very little to say, and that his speaking parts had been reduced to grunts.^[34]

As of June 2006, 5.5 million copies of Super Mario Sunshine have been sold, making it the second best-selling game for the Nintendo GameCube,^[3] after Super Smash Bros. Melee.^[35] It was also re-released as part of the Player's Choice titles, a selection of games with high sales sold for a reduced price, in 2003.^[4]

• Official Super Mario Sunshine website
• Super Mario Sunshine at Wikia
• Super Mario Sunshine at Nintendo.com (archived at the Internet Archive)
• Super Mario Sunshine at MobyGames

v • d • e Super Mario series
Early Mario games	Donkey Kong · Mario Bros.
Main series	Super Mario Bros. · The Lost Levels · Super Mario Bros. 2 · Super Mario Bros. 3 · Super Mario Land · Super Mario World · Super Mario Land 2 · Super Mario 64 · Super Mario Sunshine · New Super Mario Bros. · Super Mario Galaxy
Related articles	Characters · Mushroom Kingdom · Games by year / platform / genre