Super Mario Sunshine



Super Mario Sunshine (スーパーマリオサンシャイン Sūpā Mario Sanshain?) is a platforming video game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube. It was released in Japan in July 2002, in North America in August 2002, and in Europe and Australia in October 2002. It is the second 3D Mario platformer since the release of Super Mario 64 in 1996. 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, Toadsworth, Princess Peach and five Toads are taking a vacation. A villain resembling Mario, known as "Shadow Mario", vandalizes the entire island with graffiti, and Mario gets blamed for the mess. Later on, Mario is ordered to clean up Isle Delfino, while saving Princess Peach from Shadow Mario. Mario cleans up the island with a device called F.L.U.D.D (Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device).

Super Mario Sunshine was very well received by players and reviewers alike. The game has sold over 5.5 million copies, and was the tenth best-selling game of 2002 in the United States. Due to the game's commercial success, it was re-released as a Player's Choice title in 2003. {| class="toc" id="toc"

Contents

 * 1 Gameplay
 * 2 Plot
 * 3 Development
 * 4 Reception
 * 5 Legacy
 * 6 References
 * 7 External links
 * }

Gameplay
Mario using the Hover NozzleSuper Mario Sunshine shares many similar gameplay elements with its predecessor, Super Mario 64, but it also introduces new features, like the ability to spin while jumping. FLUDD, a water-squirting accessory, is another new element in Super Mario Sunshine, which Mario uses to complete his mission. When Mario first acquires FLUDD (an acronym for Flash Liquidizing Ultra Dousing Device), 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 blasts Mario up high into the air; and the Turbo Nozzle, which lets Mario sprint at high speed on land and water and break down specific doors.[1]

Mario can also ride Yoshi later in the game, who can eat fruit and squirt 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. For example, if Yoshi eats a pineapple or papaya, he will turn orange. A coconut or banana will turn Yoshi pink, and he will turn purple if he eats a durian or a pepper. Yoshi will disappear if he touches a body of water deep enough to warrant swimming, or if he goes too long without eating a fruit.[2]

There are 240 blue coins and 120 "Shine Sprites". The game contains a number of independent levels composed of various locations on Isle Delfino, which can be reached from the hub, Delfino Plaza. Gameplay is based on collecting Shine Sprites by completing various tasks in the levels (called "Episodes" in-game). The player is then returned to Delfino Plaza and a new task is unlocked in that level.[3] Each level consists of eight tasks, which may be played again at will once they are completed.[4] 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.[5] 24 of the 120 Shine Sprites available are gained by collecting and trading Blue Coins at a rate of 10 Blue Coins per Shine Sprite.[6] Gameplay proceeds in this fashion until all of the Shadow Mario-related missions are completed, which unlocks the level containing the final boss.

Plot
The game takes place on the tropical resort of Isle Delfino, which is shaped like a dolphin and comprises ten primary locations. The island is mainly inhabited by the races of the Piantas and Nokis and all the levels either have Piantas, Nokis or both.[7] Delfino Plaza is Isle Delfino's largest city and the game's main hub.

Mario sets out for Isle Delfino for a vacation with Princess Peach, and her long-time steward Toadsworth. Upon a rough plane landing at the island's airstrip, they find that the once-pristine island has been polluted and plastered with graffiti. 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, who is named "Shadow Mario." To help with cleaning the airstrip, Mario finds FLUDD, a powerful water cannon which is toted like a backpack. Mario is promptly arrested after the player defeats a slime-covered Piranha Plant at the airstrip and recovers a Shine Sprite, falsely accused of vandalizing the island. He is put on trial, however it turns out to be a mere Kangaroo Trial where the judge immediately finds Mario guilty and orders him to clean up the graffiti and recover the Shine Sprites. Until then, he is forbidden from leaving the island. Mario then sets out on an adventure to clear his name and locate the real criminal, while restoring tranquility and order to Isle Delfino.[8]

After numerous incidents that unlock portals from Delfino Plaza to three of Isle Delfino's other locations, including an attempted kidnapping of Princess Peach, Mario follows Shadow Mario, who has kidnapped Princess Peach, to Pinna Park, an amusement park located just off the coast of Isle Delfino's "tail". There, Mario defeats a huge Bowser robot being controlled by Shadow Mario which is called Mecha Bowser. It is then revealed that Shadow Mario's real identity is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowser_Jr. Bowser Jr.], the youngest son of Bowser.[9] Bowser Jr. takes off in a hot air balloon with Princess Peach, having been told by Bowser that Peach is his mother. When learning the truth, Peach is visually upset for a second. He is last seen heading for Corona Mountain, a volcano where Bowser is holding a family vacation of his own. After Mario defeats Bowser Jr., still disguised as Shadow Mario, at least once in all of the areas of the island, a flood falls upon Delfino Plaza, opening up a cave that leads into Corona Mountain. Mario enters the volcano, defeats Bowser and Bowser Jr. by destroying the hot tub they are in, and rescues the Princess. Mario and the Princess fall from the sky with Bowser and Bowser Jr. While the others are plummeting down, Princess Peach floats down to safety using her parasol. Princess Peach lands on an island beside Delfino Plaza on her feet, but on the same island, Mario gets his head stuck in the sand, but gets out. However, FLUDD becomes damaged during the battle with Bowser, supposedly beyond repair.[10] The Toads repair FLUDD shortly afterward and Mario, Peach and the others resume their vacation, while Bowser admits to his son that Peach was not really his mother.[11] After the credits, if the player has collected less than all 120 shine sprites, a picture shows Il Piantissimo, a sprinter that Mario raced during the game, finding the brush that Bowser Jr. used to vandalize Isle Delfino. However, if the player has collected all 120 shine sprites, a picture of the entire cast with the words "Have a relaxing vacation" is displayed instead.

Development
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.[12] Super Mario Sunshine was first shown at Nintendo Space World 2001.[13] The game was later shown again at E3 2002.[14]

In an interview about the development of Super Mario Sunshine with producer Takashi Tezuka and directors Yoshiaki Koizumi and Kenta Usui, it was mentioned that the game's development began with the idea of gameplay involving a water pump.[15] 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."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Interview_14-1">[15] There were ten candidates for possible water nozzles, and FLUDD was chosen because of 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.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Interview_14-2">[15] They also stated that several Yoshi features were omitted, such as Yoshi vomiting juice fed to him.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Interview_14-3">[15]

Koji Kondo and Shinobu Tanaka composed the score to Super Mario Sunshine.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15">[16] The soundtrack features various arrangements of classic Mario tunes, including the underground music and the main stage music from the original ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_Bros. Super Mario Bros.]<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gaming_Age_16-0">[17] Super Mario Sunshine'' featured many of the usual voice actors for the various Nintendo characters. This is the only Mario game which features full English voice acting in cut-scenes. The voice cast consisted of Charles Martinet as Mario and Toadsworth, Jen Taylor as Princess Peach and Toad, Scott Burns as Bowser, and Dolores Rogers as Bowser Jr.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17">[18] Other voice actors included Kit Harris.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18">[19]

Reception
Super Mario Sunshine was commercially successful, having sold 5.5 million copies as of June 2006.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32">[33] In 2002, Super Mario Sunshine was the tenth best-selling game in the United States according to the NPD Group.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33">[34] It was re-released in 2003 as part of the Player's Choice line, a selection of games with high sales sold for a reduced price.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34">[35]

Super Mario Sunshine received critical acclaim by game reviewers. IGN praised the addition of the water backpack for improving the gameplay,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-IGN_29-1">[30] and GameSpy commented on the "wide variety of moves and the beautifully constructed environments".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GSpyReview_28-1">[29] The game received a perfect score from Nintendo Power, who commended the "superb graphics, excellent music, clever layouts, funny cinema scenes and ingenious puzzles".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NPReview_30-1">[31] GamePro also gave Super Mario Sunshine a perfect score, stating that the game was "a masterpiece of superior game design, infinite gameplay variety, creativity, and life."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GamePro_3-1">[4] The American-based publication Game Informer said that the game is arguably "the best Mario game to date."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GIReview_26-1">[27] ComputerAndVideoGames.com also mentioned the game is "better than Super Mario 64."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CVG_22-1">[23] The game placed 46th in Official Nintendo Magazine's 100 greatest Nintendo games of all time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35">[36]

Some reviewers criticized the game. GameSpot criticized the various additions, including the water backpack and Yoshi, calling them "mere gimmicks." They also criticized the camera system, and cited that the game seemed somewhat unpolished and rushed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GSpot_27-1">[28] They also criticized the voices, stating that "Super Mario Sunshine's FMV also houses some of the lousiest voice-over work to be found on the GameCube. None of the voices fit particularly well. Princess Peach sounds too ditzy, Mario is limited to grunts and other nonverbal communications, and the game's bad guys are completely miscast and downright disappointing."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GSpot_27-2">[28] Matt Wales of ComputerAndVideoGames.com accused the game of having a "distinct lack of polish."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36">[37]

Legacy
Super Mario Sunshine has introduced several elements which were carried over to subsequent Mario titles. This was the first game in the Mario series to introduce the Shine Sprites. These Shine Sprites have appeared in later Mario titles like in Mario Kart DS. This was the first game in the Mario series which included [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowser_Jr. Bowser Jr.];<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bowser_8-1">[9] he has since appeared in ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Super_Mario_Bros. New Super Mario Bros.], New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-game_37-0">[38] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38">[39] and in Mario sports games such as the Mario Kart series since Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Kart Wii.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39">[40] Also, Toadsworth appeared for the first time in this game.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-toadsworth_7-1">[8] He has later appeared on various Mario games such as Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and Super Princess Peach.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Peach_gets_Deprived_40-0">[41] The recurring character Petey Piranha, known as Boss Packun (ボスパックン<span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?) in Japan, was also introduced.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-packun_41-0">[42] He also appears in New Super Mario Bros., Super Princess Peach'' and several spin-off games.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-packun_41-1">[42]

This game was the first Mario platformer game to be released for the Nintendo GameCube. It was also the first 3D Mario platformer which included the ability to ride Yoshi and to have him change colors.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-yoshi_1-1">[2] This feature reappeared in the Wii 3D platformer Super Mario Galaxy 2.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-trailer_42-0">[43]

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario uses FLUDD as a new special move; it's not added as an attack, as it just pushes opponents aside. Brawl also has the fighting stage Delfino Plaza, an almost-exact replica of Isle Delfino's capital city, with a platform carrying the fighters to any location of the stage on occasion. The original BGM of Delfino Plaza occasionally plays on the stage, as well as the BGM for Ricco Harbor. The game also features several stickers based on artwork from Super Mario Sunshine.