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. Their overall look and Japanese name suggests they are directly based on great white 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.
History
Super Mario series
Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS
Two Sushi[2] first appear in Super Mario 64 and later in Super Mario 64 DS. They are in the starting area of Dire, Dire Docks. Sushi swim in a wide circle and do not actively pursue or attack Mario, but it does three units of damage on contact. Sushi can neither be attacked nor defeated.
New Super Mario Bros.
Multiple Sushi[3] appear in World 1-A from New Super Mario Bros., reusing their model from Super Mario 64 DS. Two of them swim horizontally at different heights on the screen, harming Mario if he touches them. Sushi can now be defeated from a fireball or the invincibility effects of a Super Star, giving 200 points in both cases.
Mario Party series
Mario Party
Sushi is one of the obstacles in the Treasure Divers minigame of Mario Party. It is just as hazardous as the two Bloopers, because if Sushi hits a player character, they drop any treasure chest that they are carrying.
Mario Party 2
A Sushi is one of the board features of Pirate Land in Mario Party 2. If a player lands on a Blue Space on a dock, Sushi charges them five coins to take them to the dock on the opposite island. However, Sushi still allows for payments of 1-4 coins if the player has only said amount, or even for free if they have no coins.
Mario Party 3
Sushi manages the torpedoes of the Deep Bloober Sea board in Mario Party 3. It forces any player who arrives at a fork to activate one of four buttons, but if the player activates the one that fires a torpedo, they have to take the path they did not select. The foreground also has a large pink shark resembling a Sushi, and it appears to be chasing a giant turquoise eel.
A Sushi also appears in the minigames Dizzy Dinghies and Swinging with Sharks.
Mario Party 4
Two Sushi are obstacles in the Manta Rings minigame in Mario Party 4. They circle around many bubble rings about partway through and take away two points from whomever crashes into them.
Mario Party Advance
- “You're amazing! I can't believe you solved it! I'm impressed!”
- —Sushi, Mario Party Advance
In Mario Party Advance, Sushi is a supporting character found at 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
Sushi are among the enemies that the solo player can summon during the 1-vs-3 Mic minigame Be My Chum! in Mario Party 7 to try and attack the team players. If summoned, Sushi swims at a fast speed in a single direction.
Mario Party 9
Sushi appear on the board Blooper Beach in Mario Party 9. If the player encounters a Dolphin, a Sushi proceeds to follow the vehicle by moving four spaces each turn, though it swims away from the first Boss Battle Space. If the Sushi manages to catch up, it takes away half of the captain's Mini Stars, then Sushi is replaced by a Dolphin.
Super Mario Party Jamboree
In Super Mario Party Jamboree, Sushi is a possible standee image in both the Trading Cards and Luigi Rescue Operation minigames. It is also a hazard in the returning minigame Treasure Divers, where it behaves the same way as in the Mario Party version.
Mario Hoops 3-on-3
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
Mario Kart Arcade GP DX
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
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
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
Dr. Mario World
- 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
- For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Sushi.
Super Mario 64 DS
Naming
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) seems derived from the Japanese name for great white sharks,「頬白鮫」(hōjirozame).
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ホージロー[10][11][12] Hōjirō |
From「頬白鮫」(hōjirozame, "great white shark") and given name「次郎」(Jirō) | |
| Chinese (simplified) | 大白鲨[12] Dàbáishā |
Great White Shark | |
| Chinese (traditional) | 大白鯊[12] Dàbáishā |
Great White Shark | |
| French | Sushi[12] | - | |
| German | Hainz[12] | Pun on Hai ("shark") and the male given name "Heinz" | |
| Sharky[13] | Diminutive form of "shark" | Super Mario 64 | |
| Italian | Sushi[12] | - | |
| Korean | 상얼이[12] Sang'eori |
From "상어" (sang'eo, "shark") and possibly the Korean affetionate honorific "~돌이" (-dori) | |
| Portuguese (NOA) | Sushi[12] | - | |
| Spanish (NOA) | Sushi[12] | - | |
| Spanish (NOE) | Sushi[12] | - |
References
- ^ "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).
- ^ 「任天堂公式ガイドブック スーパーマリオ64」 (Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Super Mario 64). Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 5.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j internal filenames from Dr. Mario World (Glossary_Characters.bytes\SubSushi)
- ^ 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.
