FLUDD

FLUDD
Affiliation	Mario
Origin	E. Gadd Scientifics, Inc.
Debut	Super Mario Sunshine

FLUDD (short for Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device) is a sentient invention from E. Gadd Scientifics, Inc. that was originally featured as Mario's companion and primary tool in Super Mario Sunshine. It provides hints and witty comments to Mario, and it appears to have a database of knowledge in regards to the Mushroom Kingdom.

Background

Super Mario Sunshine

Mario first discovered FLUDD at the Delfino Airport, where a Pianta told him to use the device to clean up the mess Shadow Mario had created. After Mario was arrested for Shadow Mario's crimes and sentenced to clean up the mess, FLUDD assisted in the task. When the duo confronted Bowser Jr. at Pinna Park, they learned Bowser Jr. had acquired magic paintbrush from E. Gadd, inciting in FLUDD a memory of its own creator.

Mario used FLUDD throughout most of the tasks in this game. Prior to the start of any of the game's secret stages, Shadow Mario would swoop past and steals FLUDD from Mario, forcing him to finish by himself. If Mario returned to the secret stage afterwards with FLUDD, he could earn a Shine Sprite for grabbing eight red coins on the course within a time limit. FLUDD was also stolen during The Goopy Inferno mission of Pianta Village and was not found until near the end of the course.

FLUDD began to short-circuit during the final battle with Bowser, emphasized by its drawn-out comments. The fall from the hot tub caused it to shut down completely, which was somewhat upsetting to Mario. Fortunately, Peach's Toad escorts were later able to fix it, and it joined in with the vacationing.

Other Games

The same FLUDD from Super Mario Sunshine has yet to reappear in a Mario game, but other FLUDDs and similar machines have appeared in other Mario games. Several FLUDD nozzles appeared during certain mini games in Mario Power Tennis, where they lobbed balls of water at a player who must hit them into piles of goop on the court. Red and blue colored FLUDD nozzles appeared as obstacles in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2. The red nozzles sprayed fire, while blue nozzles will spit bubbles that can trap Mario inside, often taking him to places that he could not reach otherwise. Super Mario Galaxy 2 also introduced another yellow variation that tried to shoot electric orbs at Mario. FLUDD nozzles also appeared as items in Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 and Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, where they were referred to as Water Spraying and could shoot water at opponents to stun them.

In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, the Mario Bros. and their younger selves encountered E. Gadd at Thwomp Volcano in the past; when his lab caught on fire, Baby Mario and Baby Luigi put it out with their tears. The younger Gadd was struck by inspiration that reached the older Gadd in the present day. This led him to invent the Hydrogush 4000, a device similar in appearance to FLUDD, though much larger. The Hydrogush was used to extinguish Thwomp Volcano, and it was used again later to spread a substance similar to baby tears across the Mushroom Kingdom to rid it of Shroob influence.

Abilities

As a water pump, FLUDD can generate a stream of water drawn from the tank that makes up its body. Throughout the game, FLUDD can be used to clean up the various types of goop, including graffiti that turns into world entrances or Blue Coins. It can also be used to spray enemies and stun them (or defeat them in some cases) and to turn birds into coins or 1-ups. However, FLUDD's abilities become dormant while riding a Yoshi. Mario can refill FLUDD by stepping into any body of water and absorbing the liquid, by collecting water bottles, or by being splashed with water from various sources.

FLUDD can equip four different nozzles, their functions listed below:

Squirt Nozzle

This is FLUDD's primary nozzle and the only one that cannot be swapped out for another. The Squirt Nozzle allows for all of the abilities listed above, and will spray a single stream of water in whatever direction Mario is facing. It can be used while moving or while zoomed in for better accuracy.

Hover Nozzle

The Hover Nozzle is FLUDD's automatic secondary nozzle and will be equipped at the start of every stage. The Hover Nozzle fires two jets of water downward from Mario's back that will slowly propel him upward and allow him to move horizontally over gaps. Spare Hover Nozzles appear in blue-trimmed E. Gadd Scientifics crates throughout the game.

Turbo Nozzle

The Turbo Nozzle will not be activated until after Mario has collected 25 Shines and completed The Wilted Sunflowers mission of Pinna Park. It must first be taken from Shadow Mario in a chase across Delfino Plaza. It becomes FLUDD's secondary nozzle when collected and allows the device to fire a stream of water behind Mario, forcing him to run at high speeds; this takes a few moments to charge, however. While running this fast, Mario can skim across water and smash through objects he couldn't before. Spare Turbo Nozzles appear in gray-trimmed E. Gadd Scientifics crates throughout the game, though often a specific crate must be opened for others to become available.

Rocket Nozzle

FLUDD's final nozzle, the Rocket Nozzle is not available until after Mario collects 30 Shines and the Turbo Nozzle. As with its predecessor, this nozzle must be taken from Shadow Mario first and replaces FLUDD's current secondary nozzle when collected. The Rocket Nozzle allows FLUDD to fire a concentrated burst of water downward that launches Mario into the air. Like the Turbo Nozzle, it must be charged up first; however, it can be used in mid-air to further increase Mario's height. Spare Rocket Nozzles appear in red-trimmed E. Gadd Scientifics crates throughout the game, though often a specific crate must be opened for others to become available.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• In WarioWare: Smooth Moves, FLUDD was featured in a microgame based on Super Mario Sunshine where players had to adjust the trajectory of the water it was spraying to put out fires.
• In the Super Smash Bros. series from Super Smash Bros. Brawl onwards, FLUDD has been included as one of Mario's special moves. It replaced the Mario Tornado as Mario's down special move. This move consists of Mario using FLUDD to spray water at opponents to push them away, without causing any actual damage. This move can be charged up to increase the force behind the push. In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U, there were two available custom variations on the FLUDD move: Scalding FLUDD (which released a short-range burst of burning water) and High-Pressure FLUDD (which released a much stronger burst of water at the cost of knocking Mario back in the process). FLUDD's appearance is accompanied by trophies of it in Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, FLUDD also appears as an Advanced-rank Support Spirit that can be equipped to make the player fighter immune to the effects of sticky floors.
• FLUDD was included as part of the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack available for the Nintendo releases of Minecraft. It essentially replaces all bucket items, and a skin of Mario wearing FLUDD is also available.

Trivia

• His name is a simple play on the word "flood".
• When FLUDD is identifying Mario during its introduction, scenes from Super Mario Bros., Super Mario World, and Super Mario 64 can be seen in the lower left corner of the screen.
• When FLUDD is shutting down during the ending, the "GAME OVER" scene can be seen in the lower left corner of the screen.