GAME · 2002 · JAPAN
Super Mario Sunshine
23 archived facts 2 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
23 Interesting Facts About Super Mario Sunshine
Interesting Facts (21)
- #001
FLUDD was created by E. Gadd Industries, the same company that created the Poltergust vacuum in Luigi's Mansion (2001).
- #002
In the Japanese version of Super Mario Sunshine, "Isle Delfino" is known as "Dolphic Island". When a player collects a Shine Sprite, the message reads "Shine Get!" instead of the English "Shine!", and when a player loses a life, the message reads "Miss!" instead of the English "Too bad!".
- #003
Interestingly, the Japanese version of the game retains the English voice acting with Japanese subtitles added. As a result, the Japanese version has no option to turn the subtitles off.
- #004
Shadow Mario is actually a new character: Bowser Jr., Bowser's son in disguise.
- #005
Luigi does not appear in this game, possibly because he decided to rest in the mansion he acquired at the end of Luigi's Mansion (2001).
- #006
The game contains a major glitch that lets you access a sub-world sometimes called "Blue Hell". Game physics are lowered (for example, you can move normally underwater, but jumping returns things to normal), and many areas, especially the Yoshi fruit boats, can be reached with little or no effort.
- #007
If the player collects 99 coins in the main plaza and then collects one more coin in the hidden "Red Coin Field" level, the game will freeze in the Japanese version, because there is no spawn point for the 100-coin Shine Sprite in that level. Although there are no yellow coins in this level, Pokeys release some coins when they are sprayed against a wall. A spawn point for the Shine Sprite was added to the English versions, and it counts as the 100-coin Shine for Delfino Plaza. In Episode 3 of Sirena Beach, the 100-coin Shine Sprite that appears on the beach in the Japanese version is also missing. Although collecting 100 coins on the beach in Episode 3 is impossible, the spawn feature was added back in the English versions.
- #008
In Episode 6 of Sirena Beach, the English version requires the player to clean about 95% of the goop polluting the level in order to complete it. In the Japanese version, the player must clean about 99% of the goop.
- #009
Some level names differ between the Japanese version and the US version. US: Pianta Village - Japan: Monte Village. US: Gelato Beach - Japan: Mamma Beach. US: Noki Bay - Japan: Mare Bay.
- #010
Some speculated that human NPCs would appear in the game, because a human girl can be seen in the 2001 Space World trailer, though only for a tiny fraction of a second.
- #011
Every location on Isle Delfino contains an Italian word, probably related to Mario's nationality. Delfino Plaza - Dolphin Plaza. Bianco Hills - White Hills. Ricco Harbor - Rich Harbor. Gelato Beach - Ice Cream Beach. Pianta Village - Plant Village. Noki Bay - Shell Bay. Pinna Park - Fin Park. Sirena Beach - Siren Beach. Corona Mountain - Crown Mountain.
- #012
There is an unused music track in the game's Noki Bay theme that sounds as if you are riding Yoshi, even though Yoshi is not present in Noki Bay. Many have speculated that this is because Yoshi was going to be in the same level but was removed.
- #013
In this game, you fight Bowser only once, unlike the previous 3D Super Mario game, Super Mario 64 (1996), which had three fights against Bowser.
- #014
The button icons used when the game explains how to use an in-game function differ slightly between versions. In the Japanese version some buttons take a square shape, while in the English version the buttons were redesigned to resemble the actual buttons on the controller more closely so the images could be seen better.
- #015
During the game's opening scene, several shots of Peach on the airstrip appear to contain a glitch in which the texture of her earrings uses the texture of her eyes. The glitch appears to have been fixed from the first close-up onward.
- #016
Early in development, the game was to feature an enemy called "Tramplin' Stu," another version of the game's Stu. Tramplin' Stu was to spawn Swoopin' and Strollin' Stu behind it as it walked. To defeat a Tramplin' Stu, you had to fill it with water so its outer shell popped off, then shoot the eye on it. Data for Tramplin' Stu can be found in a test map where it appears correctly without its shell. When Tramplin' Stu is moved to the Delfino Plaza map, it appears correctly with its shell. Tramplin' Stu's Japanese name is Hinokuri2.
- #017
Inside one of the bell towers in Delfino Plaza there is a Rocket Nozzle box. The box cannot be reached without using a cheat device and can only be seen using camera glitches.
- #018
This is the first video game in which Bowser has truly extensive spoken dialogue. When Scott Burns was cast to voice Bowser, he was shown Bowser's 8-bit design and told to think of a voice. He therefore decided to sound evil and threatening, but also added a cheerful tone like the way Santa Claus is usually depicted.
- #019
The tutorial level, the Delfino airstrip, becomes available again after the player first completes the game. After the game is completed, make your way to the Rico Harbor portal on the left side; there is a boat with a villager next to it. Talk to the villager and he will take you to the airstrip for 10 coins, where the player can try to collect 8 red coins before time runs out to earn a second Shine Sprite.
- #020
Mario's idle animation of wiping the sweat from his forehead only occurs when he is standing in the shade.
- #021
The locals are plant people, which explains their lack of common sense: they do not get enough sunlight to photosynthesize. Their minds therefore slowed, and they latched onto the first idea that worked. Even though Mario had only just arrived and does not resemble the impostor Shadow, they forced him to do community service for a crime he did not commit.
Deeper Meaning (2)
- #022
At the beginning of the game, while FLUDD is scanning Mario, videos play in the lower-left corner of the screen. These videos show Mario fighting Bowser in Super Mario Bros. (1985), Iggy Koopa in Super Mario World (1990), and Bowser again in Super Mario 64 (1996). In the opposite corner is a list of reversed names representing past Mario games. On closer inspection, both Super Mario Kart (1992) and Mario Kart 64 (1996) are spelled with the word KIRT instead of KART.
- #023
The layout of the beach in the Sirena Beach area closely resembles a GameCube controller. One of the pools represents the grey analog stick, while the others represent the A, B, X and Y buttons. The flame in the middle is the START button, and the chairs sit where the Nintendo GameCube logo would be. Two cabana huts are positioned to form the D-pad and the C analog stick.