Sushi
- This article is about the recurring shark foe. For Mario's Cheep Cheep partner from Paper Mario, see Sushie.
| Sushi | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Sprite from Dr. Mario World | |||
| First appearance | Super Mario 64 (1996) | ||
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024) | ||
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Sushi, occasionally pluralized as Sushies,[1] are somewhat recurring shark enemies in the Super Mario franchise that debuted in Super Mario 64. Though their design has varied throughout history, Sushi are generally depicted as large-bodied sharks with broad heads and pointed snouts. Originally drably colored, Sushi have more consistently been depicted with vibrant blue dorsa and white underbellies since their standardized redesign introduced in Super Mario 64 DS. This pattern emulates the countershading of real sharks.
In the Super Mario series, Sushi idly swim and direct contact damages the player character. They do not not actively pursue or attack the player. Their behavior is more diverse in the Mario Party series, in which they have made the majority of their appearances. Like Unagi, another fish enemy introduced in Super Mario 64, Sushi share their English name with a Japanese dish. Their Japanese name 「ホージロー」(Hōjirō) suggests they are directly based on great white sharks, known in Japanese as 「頬白鮫」(hōjirozame).
History[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS[edit]
Two Sushi[2] first appear in Super Mario 64 and later in Super Mario 64 DS, inhabiting the beginning section of Dire, Dire Docks. The Sushi swim around in circles with no active intent to hurt the player character, but one of them will get hurt if they bump into the Sushi. Sushi can neither be attacked nor defeated.
New Super Mario Bros.[edit]
Multiple Sushi[3] appear in World 1-A from New Super Mario Bros., reusing their model from Super Mario 64 DS. They travel two at a time, swimming horizontally at different heights on the screen. They hurt Mario if they swim into him, but can be defeated with a fireball or by touching them while under the effects of a Super Star.
Mario Party series[edit]
Mario Party[edit]
A Sushi appears in the Treasure Divers minigame of Mario Party, swimming from one side of the screen to the other, alongside two Bloopers. If it collides with one of the playable characters, it stuns them briefly, causing them to drop their treasure chest if they are carrying one.
Mario Party 2[edit]
In Mario Party 2, a Sushi appears in Pirate Land, and will ferry anyone who lands next to the dock of one island to the dock on the opposing island, charging five coins per trip unless the player has fewer or none, in which case they give the player the trip for free or for however many coins they have.
Mario Party 3[edit]
Sushi is in charge of the torpedo controls of Deep Bloober Sea, a board in Mario Party 3. This Sushi will ask everyone who passes to push one of four buttons upon reaching a fork; one of them serves as the detonator, which will fire a torpedo when pushed, forcing the player to take the path they didn't select. A Sushi is also present in the minigames Dizzy Dinghies and Swinging with Sharks. A large pink shark resembling a Sushi is also visible in the foreground of Deep Bloober Sea, which seems to be pursuing a giant turquoise eel.
Mario Party 4[edit]
Two Sushi appear as obstacles halfway through the Manta Rings minigame from Mario Party 4, where they swim in circles around several bubble rings. Colliding with a Sushi deducts two points from the player.
Mario Party Advance[edit]
- “You're amazing! I can't believe you solved it! I'm impressed!”
- —Sushi, Mario Party Advance
In Mario Party Advance, Sushi appears in the seaside area of Shroom City. He commonly surrounds the ocean near Sushi Cliff[4] and despises criminals.[5]
Sushi is found at the base of the cliff, calling out for help, because he saw someone fall off of a cliff.[6] Sushi is startled when Shroomlock dives out of the water,[7] When Sushi tells the alibis of the three possible culprits (Blooper, Cheep Cheep, and Dolphin), it is concluded that Blooper is the only one who could have done it, since neither of the other two have appendages. Sushi happily gives the player the Digitizer Gaddget as a reward, impressed at their crime-solving skills.[8]
In the end, Sushi decided to open a bed and breakfast at the sea.[9]
Mario Party 7[edit]
In the 1-vs-3 minigame Be My Chum! of Mario Party 7, Sushi is one of the enemies that the single player can call from the Nintendo GameCube Microphone to attack the other players. Sushi swims straight forward in a speedy manner.
Mario Party 9[edit]
In Mario Party 9, Sushi appear only on the board Blooper Beach. They appear after the player runs into a Dolphin. They advance from behind the player, moving four spaces per turn. If they catch up to the vehicle, then the captain loses half of their Mini Stars; it is then replaced by a Dolphin. If the player is near the first Boss Battle Space when a Sushi is the active creature, it swims away. Sushi are one of the characters with no constellation in their likeness.
Super Mario Party Jamboree[edit]
In Super Mario Party Jamboree, Sushi makes minor appearances in several minigames, such as a possible standee image in both the Trading Cards and Luigi Rescue Operation minigames. Sushi also returns as a hazard in the Treasure Divers minigame, swimming across the screen and causing players to drop any chest they may be carrying.
Mario Hoops 3-on-3[edit]
A Sushi is an environmental feature of Bloocheep Sea in Mario Hoops 3-on-3. It swims in the background and is not interactable.
Mario Kart series[edit]
Mario Kart Arcade GP DX[edit]
In Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, a large statue of a Sushi can be seen above the race courses Splash Circuit and Tropical Coast. Sushi can also be seen on signs in the background of Splash Circuit.
Mario Kart Tour[edit]
While no Sushi physically appear in Mario Kart Tour, three karts based on Sushi appear: the Pirate Sushi Racer, introduced in the Pirate Tour; the Sushi Racer, introduced in the 2020 Los Angeles Tour; and the Gold Sushi Racer, introduced in the 2023 Bowser Tour.
Dr. Mario World[edit]
Sushi appears in Dr. Mario World as an assistant. In stage mode, it has a chance of eliminating the remaining blue viruses when there are only two of them left regardless of how many hits they take to eliminate, but it only activates once throughout the stage, meaning that it will not activate again in a scrolling stage or Daily Booster after the effect successfully activated once despite the condition being met again. In versus mode, it grants a chance in defending against two-line attacks, which does not stack with the doctor's innate defense. One also appears on the World 18 map after all the levels are cleared, alongside some Cheep Cheeps and Deep Cheeps. A Sushi assistant is rewarded after clearing the first area in World 18.
Profiles and statistics[edit]
Dr. Mario World[edit]
- Stage mode: "If there are blue viruses (2) remaining, grants 40%/50%/60%/70%/80% chance all blue viruses will be eliminated."
- Stage mode (Prior to version 2.3.0): "If there are blue viruses (2) remaining, grants 20%/25%/30%/35%/40% chance all blue viruses will be eliminated."
- Versus mode: "Grants 30%/35%/40%/45%/50% chance of defending against two-row attacks."
Gallery[edit]
- For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Sushi.
Super Mario 64 DS
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ホージロー[10] Hōjirō |
From「頬白鮫」(hōjirozame, "great white shark") and given name「次郎」(Jirō) | |
| Chinese (simplified) | 大白鲨[?] Dàbáishā |
Great White Shark | |
| Chinese (traditional) | 大白鯊[?] Dàbáishā |
Great White Shark | |
| French | Sushi[?] | - | |
| German | Hainz[?] | Pun on Hai ("shark") and the male given name "Heinz" | |
| Sharky[11] | Diminutive form of "shark" | Super Mario 64 | |
| Italian | Sushi[?] | - | |
| Korean | 상얼이[?] Sang'eori |
From "상어" (sang'eo, "shark") and possibly the Korean affetionate honorific "~돌이" (-dori) | |
| Portuguese | Sushi[?] | - | |
| Spanish | Sushi[?] | - |
References[edit]
- ^ "The one filled with Dolphins and Sushies and all the sunshine a guy could ever need? That's Blooper Beach!" – Bowser (March 11, 2012). Mario Party 9 by NDcube (North American localization). Nintendo of America.
- ^ "You won't want to get close too close to Sushi the shark, either. He prowls continuously, hungry for heroes." – Pelland, Scott and Dan Owsen (1996). Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English).
- ^ Loe, Casey (May 15, 2006). New Super Mario Bros. Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). ISBN 1-59812-009-3. Page 12.
- ^ "Always near Sushi Cliff (in the water)." – Title (2005). Mario Party Advance. Nintendo (English).
- ^ "Has a sharp tongue and even sharper teeth. Hates crooks." – 2005. Mario Party Advance. Nintendo (English).
- ^ "Help! Help! Somebody's fallen off the cliff!" – Sushi (2005). Mario Party Advance. Nintendo (English).
- ^ "Whaaaaa!!!" – Sushi (2005). Mario Party Advance. Nintendo (English).
- ^ "I'm impressed! Here, take this Gaddget!" – Sushi (2005). Mario Party Advance. Nintendo (English).
- ^ "Sushi opened a seaside bed and breakfast." – Ending (2005). Mario Party Advance. Nintendo (English).
- ^ Shogakukan editors (2006). 「敵キャラクターリスト」in『ニュー・スーパーマリオブラザーズ: 任天堂公式ガイドブック』. Tokyo: Shogakukan (Japanese). ISBN 4-091063-07-1. Page 16.
- ^ Kraft, John D., Thomas Görg, and Marko Hein, editors (1997). Der offizielle Nintendo 64 Spieleberater "Super Mario 64". Großostheim: Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German). Page 8.
