Shines, FLUDD and blue coins
A starter guide to Super Mario Sunshine: learn the hover nozzle, follow episode progression, record blue coins immediately, separate completion from story progress.
Original GameCube campaign; controller mappings vary in later releases.
Learn the hover nozzle
Use FLUDD’s hover nozzle to correct a jump and line up a landing. Keep an eye on the water supply and refill before an extended platforming section.
Follow episode progression
Collecting arbitrary Shines does not replace the story’s episode requirements. Work through each main area’s episodes and its Shadow Mario mission to advance toward the finale.
Record blue coins immediately
Blue coins can depend on the selected episode. Note the area, episode and exact location when collecting one, because a total alone does not tell you what is missing.
Separate completion from story progress
There are 120 Shine Sprites in total. Blue-coin exchanges and optional challenges contribute to full completion even when they are not needed for your next story objective.
This is a starter reference, not a complete walkthrough or item database. Use the linked game reference for detailed routes and collection lists.