Super Mario Sunshine - Plot

Plot

The game takes place on the tropical resort of Isle Delfino, which is shaped like a dolphin and comprises ten primary locations. The island is mainly inhabited by the races of the Piantas and Nokis. All the levels either have Piantas, Nokis or both. Delfino Plaza is Isle Delfino's largest city and the game's main hub.

Mario sets out for Isle Delfino for a vacation with Princess Peach, and her long-time steward Toadsworth. Upon a rough plane landing at the island's airstrip, they find that the once-pristine island has been polluted and plastered with graffiti. 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, who is named "Shadow Mario." To help with cleaning the airstrip, Mario finds FLUDD, a powerful water cannon which is toted like a backpack. Mario is promptly arrested after the player defeats a slime-covered Piranha Plant at the airstrip and recovers a Shine Sprite, falsely accused of vandalizing the island. He is put on trial, however it turns out to be a mere Kangaroo Trial where the judge immediately finds Mario guilty and orders him to clean up the graffiti and recover the Shine Sprites. Until then, he is forbidden from leaving the island. Mario then 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 that unlock portals from Delfino Plaza to three of Isle Delfino's other locations, including an attempted kidnapping of Princess Peach, Mario follows Shadow Mario, who has kidnapped Princess Peach, to Pinna Park, an amusement park located just off the coast of Isle Delfino's "tail". There, Mario defeats a huge Bowser robot being controlled by Shadow Mario which is called Mecha Bowser. It is then revealed that Shadow Mario's real identity is Bowser Jr., the youngest son of Bowser. Bowser Jr. takes off in a hot air balloon with Princess Peach, having been told by Bowser that Peach is his mother. When learning the truth, Peach 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. After Mario defeats Bowser Jr., still disguised as Shadow Mario, at least once in all of the areas of the island, a flood falls upon Delfino Plaza, opening up a cave that leads into Corona Mountain. Mario enters the volcano, defeats Bowser and Bowser Jr. by destroying the hot tub they are in, and rescues the Princess. Mario and the Princess fall from the sky with Bowser and Bowser Jr. While the others are plummeting down, Princess Peach floats down to safety using her parasol. Princess Peach lands on an island beside Delfino Plaza on her feet, but on the same island, Mario gets his head stuck in the sand, but gets out. However, FLUDD becomes damaged during the battle with Bowser, supposedly beyond repair. The Toads repair FLUDD shortly afterward and Mario, Peach and the others resume their vacation, while Bowser admits to his son that Peach was not really his mother. After the credits, if the player has collected less than all 120 shine sprites, a picture shows Il Piantissimo, a sprinter that Mario raced during the game, finding the brush that Bowser Jr. used to vandalize Isle Delfino. However, if the player has collected all 120 shine sprites, a picture of the entire cast with the words "Have a relaxing vacation" is displayed instead.