Super Mario Sunshine - Gamecube

"Look at that goop! It’s all over the place! I don't know who this 'Shadow Mario' think he is, but he's making a real mess of our vacation. I just wanted a nice nap and some tropical fruit... now I'm on cleaning duty!"

Released in 2002 for the Nintendo GameCube, Super Mario Sunshine is the sun-drenched successor to Super Mario 64, whisking Mario away from the Mushroom Kingdom to the tropical paradise of Isle Delfino. What was supposed to be a relaxing getaway with Princess Peach and Toadsworth quickly turns into a legal nightmare when a shadowy doppelgänger vandals the island with magical graffiti. Wrongfully convicted by the local Piantas, Mario is sentenced to clean the entire island using the F.L.U.D.D. (Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device), a sentient water-pack invented by Professor E. Gadd. To clear his name and restore light to the island, Mario must track down "Shadow Mario," rescue the kidnapped Princess, and recover the missing Shine Sprites that power the island’s solar energy.

The gameplay of Super Mario Sunshine evolves the 3D platforming formula by centering mechanics around the versatile F.L.U.D.D. system. Players use the water-pack not just to wash away toxic goop and defeat enemies, but as a sophisticated traversal tool. With the Hover Nozzle, Mario can stay airborne to bridge gaps; the Rocket Nozzle launches him to extreme heights; and the Turbo Nozzle allows for high-speed sprinting across land and sea. The game also marks the 3D debut of Yoshi, who assists Mario by clearing obstacles with fruit-powered juice. Despite the tropical setting, the game features challenging "Secret" stages where F.L.U.D.D. is stripped away, forcing players to rely on pure, old-school platforming skills that are widely considered some of the most difficult segments in the entire Mario franchise.

E. Gadd’s Legacy: While the eccentric Professor E. Gadd does not appear in person, his influence is everywhere. F.L.U.D.D., the magic paintbrush used by Shadow Mario, and even the nozzle crates all bear the signature "E. Gadd" logo first seen in Luigi's Mansion.

Controller Geometry: In a clever meta-reference, the layout of the Sirena Beach hotel and pool area is modeled exactly after the silhouette of a Nintendo GameCube controller when viewed from a top-down perspective.

Retro Scans: When F.L.U.D.D. first "scans" Mario at the Delfino Airstrip, sharp-eyed players can see brief clips of Mario's past adventures—including footage from the original Super Mario Bros., Super Mario World, and Super Mario 64—appearing on the device's internal screen.

Product Details:

• Japanese Title: スーパーマリオサンシャイン (Sūpā Mario Sanshain)

• Platform: Nintendo GameCube (NTSC-U)

• Rating: E (Everyone)

• Genre: 3D Platformer

• Players: 1 player

• Language: English

• Developer: Nintendo EAD

• Publisher: Nintendo

• Release Year: 2002
  
  Nintendo GameCube discs are region-locked. This NTSC-U copy requires a North American GameCube or Wii.
  

**All media assumed to be VG+ unless otherwise noted