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Super Mario Sunshine
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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 Sunshines 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.
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Encyclopedia
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 Sunshines 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 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 FLUDD invented by Professor E. Gadd.
Super Mario Sunshine was generally well-received by reviewers. 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.
Gameplay
Super 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 a 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 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.
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 does not eat a fruit within a time limit.
Shine Sprites
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 that level. Each level consists of eight tasks, which may be played again at will once they are completed. 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. Shine Sprites are also available by collecting and trading blue coins. 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 (Italian for "dolphin"). The island is mainly inhabited by the races Piantas and Nokis. Isle Delfino is in the shape of a dolphin. The island comprises ten available locations. Delfino Plaza is Isle Delfino's capital and the game's main hub.
Mario sets out for Isle Delfino for a vacation with Princess Peach, her long-time steward Toadsworth, and some other Toads, hoping for a relaxing vacation. Upon arrival, Mario finds that the once-pristine island has been polluted and plastered with grafitti. 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"). Falsely accused for the crime, 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.
After numerous incidents, Mario follows Shadow Mario, who has kidnapped Princess Peach, to an amusement park. There, Mario defeats a huge Bowser robot being controlled by Shadow Mario. It is then revealed that Shadow Mario's real identity is Bowser Jr., the son of Bowser. Bowser Jr. takes off in a hot air balloon with Princess Peach, having been told by Bowser that she is his mother. However when learning the truth he 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 with Peach. After Mario beats Bowser Jr., still disguised as Shadow Mario, in all of the locations, he enters Corona Mountain, defeats Bowser and rescues Princess Peach. However, FLUDD becomes damaged and is supposedly beyond repair. The Toads repair FLUDD shortly afterward and Mario, Peach and the others then begin their well-deserved vacation.
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 to Super Mario 64, and some elements from Super Mario 128 were used in Super Mario Galaxy. Super Mario Sunshine was first shown at Nintendo Space World 2001. The game was later shown again at E3 2002.
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. 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." 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. They also stated that several Yoshi features were omitted, such as Yoshi vomiting water fed to him.
Audio
Koji Kondo and Shinobu Tanaka composed the musical score for Super Mario Sunshine. 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. Super Mario Sunshine featured many of the usual voice actors for the various Nintendo characters. 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. Other voice actors included Isaac Marshall, Kit Harris, Deanna Mustard, and Kazumi Totaka.
Reception
Super Mario Sunshine was commercially successful, having sold 5.5 million copies as of June 2006. In 2002, Super Mario Sunshine was the tenth best-selling game in the United States according to the NPD Group. 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.
Super Mario Sunshine received critical acclaim by game reviewers. IGN praised the addition of the water backpack for improving the gameplay, and GameSpy commented on the "wide variety of moves and the beautifully constructed environments". The game received a perfect score from Nintendo Power, who commended the "superb graphics, excellent music, clever layouts, funny cinema scenes and ingenious puzzles". 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." The American-based publication Game Informer said that the game is arguably "the best Mario to date." ComputerAndVideoGames.com also mentioned the game is "better than Super Mario 64." The game placed 46th in Official Nintendo Magazine's 100 greatest Nintendo games of all time
The game also received some negative criticisms from reviewers. 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. 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." Matt Wales of ComputerAndVideoGames.com accused the game of having a "distinct lack of polish."
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