Super Mario Sunshine

Super Mario Sunshine
Developer	Nintendo EAD
Publisher	Nintendo
System	Nintendo Gamecube
Release Date	JP: July 13, 2002 US: August 22, 2002 EU: February 2, 2002
Gallery	GH Gallery
Rating	ESRB: E

Super Mario Sunshine was Mario's first adventure on the Nintendo Gamecube. A follow-up to Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine brought back many elements from Super Mario 64 while adding new gameplay elements such as the FLUDD water-pack.

Story

A mysterious vandal resembling Mario has polluted Isle Delfino with gunk. Mario, who has arrived on vacation with Princess Peach, is blamed for the attacks and forced to clean up the island. Luckily, he has a new partner named FLUDD to help him. Mario quests to stop this mysterious Shadow Mario, make Isle Delfino clean again and keep Princess Peach safe at the same time.

Gameplay

Mario retains most of his acrobatic moves from Super Mario 64. The FLUDD is the game's new gameplay mechanic, a water-shooting backpack. It's main function is to wash away Shadow Mario's gunk in the manner of a powerful hose. Other nozzles allow Mario to hover in the air and propel himself at rocket speeds. Oddly enough, most of the traditional Mario enemies (such as the Goomba) are absent in favor of various gunk-based enemies. It is also possible to ride Yoshis at several points in the game, although these are not normal Yoshis as they dissolve upon contact with water.

The different worlds are similar to Super Mario 64 as certain numbers of a collectible item (in this case, the Shine Sprite) must be collected in each world in order to open up new worlds.

Continuity Notes

• When FLUDD meets and scans Mario, video footage from Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario 64 appears in a corner of the screen.
• Various products developed by E. Gadd appear throughout the game, and this is the first reference to the character outside of his debut in Luigi's Mansion. A local Pianta also references the game's plot when wishing that someone would suck up the ghosts in the haunted hotel with a vacuum cleaner. Finally, King Boo from Luigi's Mansion also makes his return appearance in his wackier-looking redesign.

Legacy

FLUDD and Isle Delfino went on to appear in several Mario sports and party games. Petey Piranha, a boss introduced in this game, also made frequent appearances in later games, both adventure and sports-oriented.

Sequels

Super Mario Galaxy, while not a direct sequel, is the next 3-D Mario game. It is uncertain how closely it will follow the gameplay styles of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine.