Super Mario Sunshine

The game

An island of changing assignments

Your goal is to recover Shine Sprites, the island's missing source of energy, while uncovering who caused the trouble. Stages contain multiple episodes, each with a particular task. One assignment might involve reaching an awkward destination; another asks you to defeat an enemy or meet a resident's conditions. Recovering a Shine advances the episode sequence, while your growing collection opens access to new stages.

More than a water gun

FLUDD gives water several jobs: cleaning surfaces, affecting enemies and helping Mario travel. Later nozzle options include an upward rocket burst and a high-speed turbo dash that also works in water. Yoshi adds another layer of experimentation: fruit hatches his egg and supplies juice, whose effects depend on what he eats. Keep him fed, and remember that Isle Delfino's Yoshis cannot tolerate water.

This edition

The original GameCube edition

This is the single-player Nintendo GameCube adventure. On the original console, saving requires a Memory Card in Slot A with at least seven free blocks. Whenever the pause screen is available, its Save option lets you record progress. The file menu also offers a Score view for checking collected coins and Shine Sprites.

Start here

1. Begin at the airstrip

   Meet FLUDD and tackle the pollution at the Airstrip to earn your first Shine. Use this opening assignment to get comfortable directing water before heading into the wider island.

2. Listen around Delfino Plaza

   Speak with residents and watch the D.E.B.S. news messages along the bottom of the screen. Investigating the plaza's problems helps open routes into stages; local information gives your exploration a direction.

3. Read your assignment

   Check the episode title when entering a stage. You can read it again on the pause screen, and its wording often points toward the current objective. Watch for FLUDD's hint window as you proceed.

Original controls

These are the original game's controls. For keyboard, controller and touch settings in this player, see Controls & help.

Control Stick and A

Tilt lightly to walk or farther to run. A jumps; while swimming, it helps Mario swim faster.

B

Talk or pick up an object when nearby. While running, B makes Mario dive.

R: pressure matters

With the Squirt Nozzle, partially hold the original analog R trigger to spray while moving. Press fully to stop and aim. Stand in water and hold R to refill.

X and hovering

X switches between the Squirt and Hover Nozzles in your starting setup. With Hover selected, fully press R to hover.

L and camera controls

L centers the camera; pressing L after jumping with A performs a ground pound. The C Stick rotates and zooms the camera, while Y enters the over-the-shoulder view.

Z

Open the Guidebook to consult area information and collection totals.

Playing tips

• Plan the landing before hovering

  Hover lasts only a limited time. Pick a landing spot before leaving a ledge, and use a mid-jump hover to extend your reach rather than expecting indefinite flight.

• Leave a little healing nearby

  Ordinary coins restore health; red and blue coins restore two points. When you are healthy, consider leaving an accessible coin untouched so you have something to collect after a mistake.

• Check your nozzle before committing

  A nozzle collected from a box replaces your secondary nozzle, while Squirt stays equipped. Before attempting a route that depends on hovering, check your equipment and find a Hover Nozzle box if needed.

• Look beneath the plaza

  Ground-pound manhole covers to enter underground passages. Their connections can provide useful shortcuts, so exploring one may save you a longer trip across the surface.