Pianta Village
- “Well, I guess I'll be heading back to Pianta Village soon. It really is the only place for me!”
- —Pianta, Super Mario Sunshine
Pianta Village is the ancestral home of the Piantas on Isle Delfino in Super Mario Sunshine. It is run by the Pianta Village Mayor. Pianta Village is built in a huge crater in the branches of a titanic palm tree to protect it from predators; in fact, the highest point on Isle Delfino that Mario can reach is located in this area, atop one of the giant trees. The village is also home to another special tree, which bears all the fruits (except the Pepper) of Isle Delfino.
The village's underside is composed of giant, bouncy mushrooms. The ceiling in this area is made of bamboo platforms, mesh, and catwalks. Wind Duppies are also lurking down there, making it very tricky for Mario who can fall into the abyss below. A secret area is found in the underside, which is blocked by a yellow Forcefield. Mario has to bring a Yoshi here to remove it. Piantas live in the secret area of the underside.
In order for Mario to travel to Pianta Village, he will need to have the Rocket Nozzle and at least thirty Shine Sprites. After entering the pipe on top of the Shine Gate, Mario will start out on a ledge of the crater. To get to the village Mario must cross a bamboo bridge or jump off onto the mushrooms underneath. On the village side of the bridge is a Bees' nest, and sometimes a Yoshi Egg.
This level is unique in that the time changes between day and night. Odd-numbered episodes take place at night, while even-numbered episodes are during the day. The Piantas are awaiting the Fluff Festival, which draws nearer each episode, and finally takes place in Episode 8.
Episodes
Episode 1: Chain Chomplets Unchained
In the first mission of Pianta Village, Mario will enter the stage and notice some angry Piantas. When he talks to them, they will explain to him about the Chain Chomplets, who have a high fever and are red-hot with rage, causing chaos in the village. These Chain Chomplets are covered in lava and leave a trail of Lava Goop behind, and the Chomplets themselves will inflict fire damage on Mario if he touches them. Mario needs to cool them down by squirting water at them with F.L.U.D.D. to get their attention, and then squirting their heads to cool them down. When they have cooled down, Mario will have to grab their tail and pull it back, then let go of them so they can fling in a certain direction. Mario must keep on leading them to the lake, where they can cool down, but if he is too slow, the Chomplet will fire up again. Once all three of the Chomplets are in the water, Mario will be awarded with a Shine Sprite.
- Names in Other Languages
Episode 2: Il Piantissimo's Crazy Climb
In the second episode, Mario will go see Il Piantissimo at the end of the bridge. He will challenge Mario in a race to the flag on the hot spring's big tree. When Mario accepts the offer, both racers will run to the northwest side of the village, avoiding obstacles. Near the hot spring is a large tree. They must travel up it quickly and turn right, where the flag is. If Mario beats Il Piantissimo, he will be awarded with a Shine Sprite. This is the last race with Il Piantissimo.
- Names in Other Languages
Episode 3: The Goopy Inferno
The entire village is covered in Lava Graffiti, and the mayor is stranded. Shadow Mario steals F.L.U.D.D. from Mario and he must re-obtain F.L.U.D.D., by entering a specific grate and traversing the much more dangerous underside of the tree and rescue the mayor. If the player revisits this episode, Mario will still get F.L.U.D.D. taken away. Mario must find a way to explore the underside of the village, where he will find numerous enemies and grates on his path to get the Shine Sprite. An alternative to this is traversing the village to the small lake, jumping out of the lake to spread water over the goop, and then Spin Jump in order to get to the mayor. Yet another (though much harder) alternative is to have full or near full health and enter the grate near the Piantas making music. Once Mario is out on the other side, he can not go back through the grate, because part or it will have fallen down on his way there. However, he can climb the wall by sideways somersaulting onto it. (the edges are not covered with Lava Graffiti). He must get as close to the mayor's platform while being very careful not to accidentally touch Lava Graffiti, face opposite of the platform (on Lava Graffiti, Mario bounces opposite of the way he is facing), jump, then, while in the air, move toward the platform. If performed correctly, Mario will bounce across the Fire Graffiti to the mayor's platform. Once acquiring F.L.U.D.D., Mario can simply spin jump and hover to get to the top of the yellow mushroom where the mayor is, then spray him with water and talk to him to get the Shine Sprite.
This is the last level that Electro-Koopas appear in.
- Names in other languages
Episode 4: Chain Chomp's Bath
In this episode, Mario will, once again, see that it is chaos in Pianta Village, as yet another Chain Chomp is red-hot with rage because it does not want to take a bath. Mario will have to cool it down by spraying it with F.L.U.D.D. or throwing a Water Barrel at it and guide it towards the Pianta Hot Spring. Once sprayed, it will start moving around, though it always tries to stay away from the Pianta Hot Spring. Mario must get in the way of paths that allow the Chain Chomp to go away from the spring, forcing the Chain Chomp to go towards it. Once Mario gets close to the Pianta Hot Spring, Mario must spray it until it turns blue. If done incorrectly, the Chain Chomp will turn around and run away, meaning Mario must chase, block, and guide it again; if done correctly, the Chain Chomp will turn around, jump into the Pianta Hot Spring (that fits him perfectly), and turn gold. He will then reveal a Shine Sprite that will be on top of him. Interestingly, when the Chain Chomp jumps into the Pianta Hot Spring, it does not displace any water, which is physically impossible.
In this episode, it seems like the Pianta Hot Spring is being advertised heavily, for many female Piantas hold signs that point towards the spring and say sentences that try to attract potential customers. However, the Pianta Hot Spring appears to be free, and the arrows mainly serve in-game as a guide for Mario to direct the Chain Chomp. It is also unknown how the Pianta Hot Spring is a spring, for it is more reminiscent of a hot tub. It is possible that the word "Spring" is just a advertising reference to how warm to the water is. This is supported by the fact at a Pianta claims that the Pianta Hot Spring is burning hot. However, Mario does not get burned if he jumps in, so the water is probably not as hot as claimed.
- Names in Other Languages
Episode 5: Secret of the Village Underside
The player will find a Yoshi Egg at the front of the bridge that will request a random fruit, using the tree that grows all the fruits, (except Peppers) the player must take the fruit to Yoshi. They must then go to the underside of the village, and find a flat, green mushroom with a hole covered with a Forcefield. Using Yoshi's juice, the player must destroy the Forcefield and then fall in the hole. Once there, Shadow Mario will steal Mario's F.L.U.D.D., and there will be a level made up of green blocks. This level is flooded with Chucksters, which are Piantas that throw Mario. Mario must talk to them in the opposite of the direction that he wants to be thrown to access several platforms; however, he must take note that each Chuckster can only throw him a specific distance. In addition, some of them move, making placement and timing important. There is also a Pianta on fire that the player can douse if they come to the level a second time. After being "chucked" by all the chucksters in the right direction, Mario will receive the Shine Sprite.
- Names in Other Languages
Episode 6: Piantas in Need
In this episode, the mayor will tell Mario about ten Piantas stuck in Lava Goop, and will go ask him to rescue them. Mario must save all of the Piantas engulfed in Lava Goop by shooting water at them. When rescued, they give Mario Blue Coins. If Mario manages to clean all ten of the Piantas within the three minute time limit, the Mayor will award Mario with a Shine Sprite.
- Names in Other Languages
Episode 7: Shadow Mario Runs Wild
This episode marks the final appearance of Shadow Mario outside of Delfino Plaza. Completing this episode is required to access the final boss. In this episode, Shadow Mario leaves some Lava Goop behind as Mario chases him (which is the only time he does this in the entire game) which can damage Mario. When Shadow Mario is squirted enough, he disappears and leaves a Shine Sprite for Mario to collect.
- Names in Other Languages
Episode 8: Fluff Festival Coin Hunt
The Fluff Festival is going on, and Mario must find the eight Red Coins scattered throughout Pianta Village. The Red Coin locations are:
- In the tall grass at the left of the village.
- Under the fruit tree.
- On top of the tallest tree in the center of the village.
- In the bottom of the hot spring.
- Under the beehive next to the hot spring.
- Hidden in the large stack of crates at the right of the village.
- On one of the leaves on the tree right next to the entrance to the village.
- On top of one of the paths in the underside of the village.
After collecting them all, he must ride on bits of fluff to the largest of several clouds near the top of the giant palm tree and collect the Shine Sprite which appears there after the Red Coins are collected.
- Names in Other Languages
Episode 9: Red Coin Chucksters
In this episode, Mario must replay Episode 5, though this time he must enter the flat, green mushroom and collect eight Red Coins. If he manages to collect them all before the 1:30 time limit is up, a Shine Sprite will be revealed.[1]
Episode 10: Soak the Sun
In this episode, Mario must replay Episode 8, though this time he must travel directly to the top of the enormous palm tree located in the center of Pianta Village. Once here, the player must position Mario on the wooden platform with a picture of a Shine Sprite on it and have Mario look up into the sky at the sun. When the player sprays the sun with water from F.L.U.D.D., a picture of a Shine Sprite will gradually be revealed. When it has been completely revealed, a hidden Shine Sprite will appear.[1]
Blue Coin Locations
| # | Episode(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | All | Obtained by spraying the "M" Graffiti on the wall behind the starting point. |
| 2 | All | Obtained by spraying the "M" Graffiti in the center of the underside of the village, it cannot be seen unless the player is in the first-person camera mode. |
| 3 | All | Obtained by spraying the "M" Graffiti on the wall of a structure near the center of the village. |
| 4 | All | Same as Coin 3, but in a slightly different location. |
| 5 | All | On a leaf of a tree on the left side of the entrance of the village. |
| 6 | All | Hidden in the tall grass on the left side of the village. |
| 7 | All | At the end of a stream flowing from the center of the village to the edge of the village. |
| 8 | All | Under a small bridge spanning over the stream in the center of the village. |
| 9-10 | All | Obtained by spraying the corresponding triangle Graffiti on the gate next to the hot spring, and on a wall on the right side of the village. |
| 11 | All | On the very top of a tree located next to the hot spring. |
| 12 | All | Obtained by spraying into a hollow on the side of the tree at the center of the village. |
| 13 | Night episodes | Obtained by spraying the moon when standing on top of the golden mushroom. |
| 14 | Night episodes | Obtained by Ground Pounding the nose of the Pianta statue next to the hot spring. |
| 15 | Day episodes | Obtained by spraying a signpost near the entrance of the village. |
| 16 | Episode 3 | Obtained by spraying the "M" Graffiti next to where F.L.U.D.D. is found under the golden mushroom. |
| 17 | Episode 3 | Obtained by spraying the "M" Graffiti under the Goop near the golden mushroom. |
| 18 | Episode 3 | Obtained by spraying the flaming Pianta on the right side of the village. |
| 19 | Episode 5 (Yoshi Required) | Obtained by having Yoshi spray the beehive and eat the bees next to the bridge at the entrance of the village. |
| 20 | Episode 5 (Yoshi Required) | Obtained by having Yoshi spray the beehive and eat the bees behind the tree next to the Pianta Hot Spring. |
| 21 | Episode 5 (Yoshi Required) | Obtained by having Yoshi eat all of the blue butterflies on the mushroom next to the fruit tree. |
| 22-29 | Episode 6 | Reward for cleaning off all eight grown-up piantas and talking to them. |
| 30 | Episode 8 | Obtained by spraying a blue bird flying near the tree in the center of the village. |
Nozzle Locations
Nozzle Boxes only appear in the 8th episode. For unknown reasons, the Turbo Nozzle doesn't appear anywhere in the village.
Rocket Nozzle
- On a fungal platform connected to the enormous tree in the center of the village.
Hover Nozzle
- On a cloud far west from the rest of the village.
Official Description
The ancestral home of the Piantas was built in a giant tree as protection against wild beasts. Giant mushrooms thrive beneath the village.
Media
Pianta Village's theme was composed by Shinobu Tanaka.
Names in other languages
Trivia
- It is possible to visit this location earlier than is required, either by Triple Jumping while riding a Yoshi, or by skillfully using F.L.U.D.D.'s Hover Nozzle. In fact, it is possible to access Pianta Village before starting Bianco Hills by Wall Jumping to the top of the Shine Gate and entering the Warp Pipe that leads there (the small cutscene that zooms in on the Warp Pipe may not show). However, the player can only complete up to Episode 5 without using glitches, as Yoshi is required to finish this episode but is not unlocked at this point.
- It is possible to see a small glimpse of Noki Bay if the player climbs to the top of the large palm tree in the center of the village. This is the only location where Noki Bay can be seen without the occurrence of glitches.
- An alternate version of the Pianta Village soundtrack featuring slightly different instrumentation (known as the Pianta Village Nighttime theme) exists in the game's coding.
References
- ^ a b This episode was named in the official Nintendo Power Player's Guide for Super Mario Sunshine.
