From the Toysit archive
Super Mario Sunshine — GameCube
Mario’s water pack turns a sunny island into a place to explore, with an original island-restoration postcard activity.
The play at a glance
A sunny island with another route to discover
Mario stands inside a golden, sun-shaped frame with water equipment on his back. Palm-like shapes and bright colors give the small cover an unmistakable holiday feeling. Super Mario Sunshine makes that island a place to investigate: look across a plaza, look up toward a roof, then imagine how to reach the view beyond it.
Water changes the way through the scene
The original GameCube adventure follows Mario across Isle Delfino as he cleans up goop and gathers Shine Sprites. FLUDD gives water more than one job: the spray nozzle can wash a surface, while the hover nozzle gives Mario a brief lift. The camera can be moved to look around the island and find a useful angle.
That combination suggests two different questions to carry into a scene: what might be hidden here, and what would this place look like from above? A wall, a narrow path or a high platform can become part of the route you are trying to understand. This is a single-player game; a companion can still enjoy noticing a detail or discussing the next destination.
Make an island-restoration postcard
Set the controller aside and fold a sheet of paper into two panels. Draw an imaginary harbor in both. Give it three places worth finding: perhaps a fountain, a stairway and a rooftop garden. In the first picture, hide their entrances behind large, invented goo shapes. In the second, draw the same harbor with those paths revealed.
Ask a partner to choose a route through the restored picture. What would they visit first? Let each stop contribute one sentence to an island story. The fountain might supply a meeting place, the stairway might lead to a lookout, and the garden might belong to someone waiting for a letter.
On the back, write a greeting from your invented island. Add one small detail that appears in both panels, such as a striped boat or a waving resident, so the reader can recognize the place as it changes. A spoken description works too: one person describes the hidden harbor and another tells the story of its return.
Return to the island at your own pace
The GameCube edition uses a Memory Card to save progress. Follow the matching booklet and on-screen save instructions for the copy being played. The paper harbor can remain beside your other drawings, ready for another visitor and a different route.
The historical record
Original Toysit coverage
The complete earlier product account and commentary are preserved below as historical coverage.
Great new Mario game for Gamecube
Someone is mucking with Mario's vacation. All he wanted was a relaxing holiday, but Mario's in store for his biggest adventure ever in Super Mario Sunshine for Nintendo GameCube. An imposter has turned the tropical paradise into a polluted mess, and it's up to Mario to save the day. It won't be easy, but Mario has a wide variety of new moves to make things easier.N o one messes with Mario's vacation! Super Mario Sunshine for the Nintendo GameCube is Mario's biggest, most amazing adventure ever. When Mario, Peach, and an entourage of Peach's loyal Toad friends set out for a tropical vacation on lovely Dolphin Island, they're in store for much more than a relaxing holiday. A mustachioed maniac has mucked up the entire island, and Mario is accused of committing the crime. Armed with a high-tech water cannon called FLUDD (Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device), Mario sets out to clean the island, clear his name, and solve the mystery of the villainous vandal. Super Mario Sunshine sparkles with the same spot-on play control that's made Mario the main man in the vid biz for so many years. Mario has a gang of moves at his disposal, from his trusty jumping maneuvers to all-new FLUDD techniques. Mario can use FLUDD to clean up sludge pools, attack enemies, hover through the air, and more. Special nozzle attachments scattered throughout the island provide even more ways for FLUDD to come in handy. Like in Super Mario 64, Mario has many things to accomplish in each area of Dolphin Island. Every time Mario completes a task, he is rewarded with a Shine Sprite. Mario's missions include battling giant Piranha Plants, navigating treacherous platform challenges, solving mysteries, and collecting Blue Coins. As Mario collects Shine Sprites, new areas of Isle Delfino are unlocked. This is Mario's biggest challenge ever! Luckily, Mario isn't alone. Princess Peach and her entourage of Toads aren't much help, but the island's natural population of Yoshis sure are! Mario can ride multicolored Yoshis throughout the island, using their tongue-slurping strength to accomplish various tasks. Other familiar characters make cameos throughout the game, along with a wide variety of all-new characters. Powered by Nintendo GameCube, Super Mario Sunshine is a must-play. Classic Mario action, exciting new moves, and surprises galore will keep you clutching your controller for months to come.
Super Mario Sunshine is a beloved video game released by Nintendo for the GameCube console in 2002. This delightful installment in the Super Mario series whisks players away to the tropical paradise of Isle Delfino, where Mario, equipped with his trusty F.L.U.D.D. water-spraying device, must clean up the island's pollution and save Princess Peach from a mysterious imposter. The game is celebrated for its vibrant and sunny world, offering players a refreshing change of scenery from the typical Mushroom Kingdom. Super Mario Sunshine introduces inventive gameplay mechanics, including platforming challenges centered around F.L.U.D.D.'s water-based abilities, like hover and rocket nozzles, adding depth and variety to the gameplay. Its cheerful atmosphere, charming characters, and imaginative level design make Super Mario Sunshine a cherished classic among fans of the franchise.
Sources and editorial notes
Nintendo’s GameCube booklet text was reviewed for the island premise, FLUDD, camera, single-player play and saving. The host blocked direct access; original diagrams could not be independently inspected. The retained cover is promotional artwork with a Rating Pending mark. Earlier Dolphin Island naming, superlatives and the later retrospective remain historical coverage. The postcard is an original Toysit activity. No physical play-testing or video-playback verification was performed.
- Original Toysit image — Existing same-site image reviewed and retained unchanged.
- Nintendo Super Mario Sunshine booklet text — Manufacturer booklet reproduced by Manuals+; relevant text reviewed through the web reader. Direct retrieval returned HTTP 403; diagrams remain unverified.
- Original Toysit coverage — Complete historical account retained, including its original claims and wording.
Images and descriptions are retained as historical material. How Toysit covers toys.
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