Shine Sprite
| Shine Sprite | |
 Super Mario Sunshine artwork of a Shine Sprite, later reused as a spirit image for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | |
| First appearance | Super Mario Sunshine (2002, overall) Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003, with Donkey Kong-related content) |
| Latest appearance | Super Mario 3D All-Stars (2020, overall) Super Mario Odyssey (update) (2018, with Donkey Kong-related content) |
Shine Sprites, or simply Shines,[1] are golden entities formed in the sun's image that appear in the Mario franchise. The main purpose of Shine Sprites, specifically in their debut appearance Super Mario Sunshine, is being guardians of Isle Delfino, where they gather at the Shine Gate to collectively provide bright sunlight to the entirety of Isle Delfino. Shine Sprites are typically appear as an item in most of their appearances, including specific modes in a few Mario Kart games. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is the first game that they appear in alongside Donkey Kong.
History[edit]
Mario Kart series[edit]
In the Mario Kart series, they are usually named Shines, and are the focus of certain battle modes in a few Mario Kart games, namely Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Mario Kart DS, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Shine Thief, a battle mode in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe based somewhat on Capture the Flag, has players attempting to hold a Shine Sprite and keep it away from the other players for long enough for a timer to expire. Being struck with an item causes the character to drop the Shine Sprite, allowing another character to pick it up (or, in the case of a Mushroom, Star, or Feather, immediately giving the Shine to the user of the item). Mario Kart DS features a different battle mode, Shine Runners, in which there are nine Shines rather than only one, and racers are tasked with collecting as many as they can. In the mode, a timer resets every 30 seconds, at which point whoever has or is tied for the fewest Shines collected is eliminated.
Shine Sprites are also featured on a few billboards in the race courses in Mario Kart Wii, Mario Kart 7, and Mario Kart 8. In the latter game, Sunshine Airport's logo is a Shine Sprite itself. In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the crown that is worn by the character in first place in Battle Mode and is used as the emblem of the mode has a Shine Sprite on the top of it (unless it is worn by Iggy, Lemmy, or Larry, who use a version of the crown with the Shine Sprite removed so that their hair can fit through it).
In Mario Kart Tour, Shine Sprite designs appear on Mario (Sunshine)'s shirt, the Sunshine Outfit, which originally appeared in Super Mario Sunshine as an outfit provided to Mario by the sunglasses vendor.
Mario Golf: Advance Tour[edit]
In Mario Golf: Advance Tour, Shine Sprites appear in Item Boxes on Star Courses. When received, the Shine Sprite stops the rain.
Mario Power Tennis[edit]
Shine Sprites appear in Mario Power Tennis in the special game Tic Tac Glow. In it, the player must hit the water balls at goop puddles at the opposite side of the court. If the player manages to get rid of enough goop, Shine Sprites will appear granting points. Shine Sprites also appear on the menu screen as outlines of the six modes.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis[edit]
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, a Shine Sprite, though without eyes, appears as the sun in the background of Tropical Island.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, a Shine Sprite appears as a sticker. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a Shine Sprite appears as a Legend-rank, support spirit, which slightly increases the power of special moves when equipped. Both depict the Shine Sprite artwork from Super Mario Sunshine, although the sticker depicts a variation without bright rays emitting from the Shine Sprite.
Additionally, in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the Shine Gate can be seen in the background of the Delfino Plaza stage.
Minecraft[edit]
In the Super Mario Mash-up in Minecraft, one of the paintings is a Shine Sprite.
Super Mario Odyssey[edit]
Through an update for Super Mario Odyssey released on February 21, 2018, the Sunshine Outfit, which depicts Shine Sprites, was made available.
Profiles and statistics[edit]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl sticker[edit]
| Name | Image | Game | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shine Sprite | 
|
Super Mario Sunshine | [Body, Spin] - Attack +5 |
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate spirit[edit]
| No. | Name | Image | Series / game | Type | Class | Strength / effect(s) | How to obtain | Spirit battle | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent(s) | Battle conditions | Stage | Song | ||||||||
| 67 | Shine Sprite |
|
Super Mario Series | Support (1) | Legend | Special-Move Power ↑ | World of Light (Light Realm); Spirit Board | Rosalina & Luma, Kirby ×3 | Rule: Temporary Invincibility; Sudden Final Smash; Item: Stars
|
Delfino Plaza (buildings) | Delfino Plaza |
Gallery[edit]
A Shine Sprite in a Shine Thief battle in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Mario Kart DS sprite
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | シャイン Shain |
Shine |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 太阳之力 Tàiyáng zhī Lì |
Power of the Sun |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 太陽之力 Tàiyáng zhī Lì |
Power of the Sun |
| Dutch | Zon | Sun |
| French | Soleil | Sun |
| German | Insignie der Sonne | Insignia of the Sun |
| Italian | Sole Custode Sole custode (Mario Kart 8) |
Guardian Sun |
| Korean | 샤인 Syain |
Shine |
| Portuguese | Sol | Sun |
| Russian | Фея солнца Feya solntsa |
Sprite of the Sun |
| Spanish | Sol | Sun |
References[edit]
- ^ Mario Kart DS English instruction booklet, page 21
