Gelato Beach

"Isle Delfino is often referred to as a slice of paradise on earth. And Gelato Beach? Why, it's its most sun-kissed shore! All of the local Piantas and Nokis just love to have festivals here!"

- Noki

Gelato Beach is a beach area of Isle Delfino in Super Mario Sunshine and is located on the stomach part of the dolphin shaped island, east of Sirena Beach. Its name is likely derived from Gelato, the Italian word for ice cream. It is the largest and sunniest beach on Isle Delfino and also the resting place of the great egg of the legendary Sand Bird, which is located inside the Shine Tower; a large stone building in the center of the beach. Large mirrors have been installed around the tower that reflect sunlight at the egg to keep it warm until it hatches. According to a local Pianta, they have been doing this for a century.

Gelato Beach is also notable for being the only place on the island where Dune Buds grow, special plants that make bizarre objects rise from the sand when sprayed with water. Red and blue Cataquacks seem to have their main territory at Gelato Beach and roam great parts of the level. They leap Mario into the air on sight and can only be defeated by using the Dune Buds, or swallowing them with Yoshi. Other localities of Gelato Beach are the Surf Cabana on the end of the pier to the west, and the Sand Cabana to the east, which is, for whatever reason, closed most of the time. A coral reef inhabited by fish swarms can be found near the Surf Cabana, and there is a great amphitheater on the hillside of the beach which overlooks the whole level, where many colored Birds gather. Several surfboards and catamaran boats are scattered across the beach, but the player is unable to interact with them.

To enter Gelato Beach the player needs at least five Shine Sprites and has to defeat the Polluted Piranha Plant which swallowed Delfino Plaza's lighthouse. After that the level becomes accessible through a Graffiti. Mario encounters the Noki species in this level for the first time and it is also the first level to feature Il Piantissimo. He has to battle several creatures like Plungelos and a giant Wiggler here. The people are mostly busy with making preparations for the Watermelon Festival which they are eventually holding in the last episode of the level. Gelato Beach shares the same musical theme with Ricco Harbor, Delfino Plaza and Bianco Hills. However, Gelato Beach's music is arranged in the style of Trinidadian calypso, with prominent saxophone and steel drum instrumentation. It was composed by Koji Kondo.

Episode 1: Dune Bud Sand Castle Secret
The first Episode of Gelato Beach sets in with a shot of the small peninsula on the west side of the beach and pans over to a Dune Bud in front of the peninsula. Mario will find several Dune Buds across the level which cause strange effects when being sprayed with water. The special Dune Bud shown in the introduction scene makes a small sand castle known as the Sand Portal rise from the ground on the peninsula. The Sand Portal is not very stable however, and will collapse shortly after being summoned. If Mario manages to reach its entrance in time, he will be transported into a secret area.

After having entered the Sand Portal, Mario will have F.L.U.D.D. taken away by Shadow Mario. The player has then to complete the following obstacle course without water-based aid. The course consists mainly of a path made from numerous Sand Blocks which dissolve when stepped on. Mario must hurry along the path, occasionally hopping across small gaps, until he reaches a great complex made form Sand Blocks. On top of the building he finds a Shine Sprite. After the player has cleared this secret level once, Mario can take F.L.U.D.D. with him when he re-enters the level and participate in a Red Coin challenge for an additional Shine Sprite. Several 1-Up Mushrooms can also be found in this area.

Episode 2: Mirror Madness! Tilt, Slam, Bam!
The second Episode opens with the camera rotating around the tower containing the Sand Bird egg and then comes to rest in a close-up of a sleeping Wiggler curled around the top of the tower. Right after entering the level, a Pianta will talk to him and tell him about the Wiggler, while a cutscene shows the three mirrors around the tower, infested by Plungelos. Most people on the beach are shown worrying about how the lack of sunlight will affect the Sand Bird. Mario's objective in this Episode is to defeat all the six Plungelos in order to save the Sand Bird's egg.

Mario must climb on top of the trees and jump onto a mirror. Once Mario steps onto one of the mirrors, a mini-boss battle will begin. Depending on the mirror, he has to deal with one, two, or three Plungelos simultaneously. Mario must defeat them by spraying them with F.L.U.D.D. to push them to the edge and make them lose their balance. Mario must wait until the mirror tilts to the Plungelo's side, and then he must Ground Pound the other side of the mirror. This will launch the Plungelo off the mirror forcefully. After Mario defeats all of the Plungelos on one mirror, a cutscene will show the egg flashing and radiating light. After Mario finishes off the Plungelos on all three mirrors, the Wiggler will fall off, fully revealing the egg. A Shine Sprite emerges after that and flies to the peninsula at the beach.

Episode 3: Wiggler Ahoy! Full Steam Ahead!
The Episode begins with a view from the base of one of the big mirror buildings and shows how the Wiggler from the previous Episode is rampaging at the beach. The people of Gelato Beach can either be found protecting the Dune Buds from the raging creature, or gathered inside the Sand Cabana which is surprisingly opened during this Episode. The boss battle against the Wiggler begins immediately after Mario entered the level and takes place over the whole level.

In order to defeat the giant Wiggler, Mario has to spray water at a Dune Bud when the Wiggler tramples over it. This will cause an object to rise from the sand, making the Wiggler trip and roll over onto its back. While lying on the floor, Mario can deliver a Ground Pound attack to the Wiggler's weak point. The weak point is one segment of the caterpillar's body and changes position frequently, but is always marked with an arrow. After three hits, the Wiggler dissolves into sand and releases another Shine Sprite.

Episode 4: The Sand Bird is Born
In this Episode the legendary Sand Bird finally hatches. The introduction scene shows a rotating view around the tower in the middle of the level while showing the remains of the broken Sand Bird egg and a great hole in the tower's roof. Some people have gathered at the amphitheater to get a better look of the situation. To reach the amphitheatre, Mario can either ascend the hill or simply talk to the juice shop owner who is waiting for his son to slide down the hill. The Pianta will mention that he is going to throw his son up again after he came down and proceeds to demonstrate this by throwing Mario up the hill. From there, Mario can slide down the hill and use the spring board platform along the way to bounce into the hole in the tower.

After entering the tower, Mario will find himself on the back of the Sand Bird which flies through a cloudy realm with stone pillars and a huge tower in the center. The air currents in this area is strong and Mario is likely to fall off the giant bird, down into a Bottomless Pit. To complete this challenge, the player has to collect a set of eight Red Coins. Seven of these Coins are scattered across the Sand Bird's back and the player has to be careful when collecting them. The last Coin can be found on top of the giant stone tower, where the Shine Sprite will appear as well. The Sand Bird will eventually fly high enough to afford reaching the tower. Along its flight, the Sand Bird frequently tilts to the side, making it important to switch position in order to remain on the creatures back.

Episode 5: Il Piantissimo's Sand Sprint
The introduction scene of the fifth Episode shows the amphitheatre at the hillside and a great flag with a Pianta emblem painted on it. Several people have gathered at that spot, including the Doot-Doot Sisters. Mario finds Il Piantissimo at the beach near the closed Sand Cabana and will be challenged to a race upon approaching him. The two of them then have to get their way up to the amphitheater as quickly as possible. If Mario comes in first, he will be rewarded with a Shine Sprite. If he loses to Il Piantissimo, he will lose an Extra Life when talking to him at the flag. The player can evade this however, by exiting the level through the menu.

Episode 6: Red Coins in the Coral Reef
This Episode's introduction cutscene shows an underwater shot of the coral reef at the west side of the beach and focusses on various colorful plants and a single Red Coin. The Episode is a Red Coin Challenge, so Mario has to collect a set of eight Red Coins to obtain another Shine Sprite. The Coins are hidden between the mazy rocks and the colorful flora of the reef, making it relatively hard to find them. Some of the Coins are even hidden inside swarms or red fish and swim along with them. From this Episode on, the player can find a Yoshi Egg at the peninsula, which can be hatched with fruit found along the beach or inside the Sand Cabana. However, Yoshi is useless in this Episode since he cannot traverse through water in this game.

Episode 7: It's Shadow Mario! After Him!
The seventh Episode of Gelato beach is also the Shadow Mario Episode of this level, making a successful end of this part a requirement for making Corona Mountain accessible, where the final boss lurks. The Episode sets in with a shot from inside the Sand Cabana and zooms in on Shadow Mario at the beach, waiting for the player. Some people in this Episode are busy with preparations for the Water Melon Festival which takes place in the following Episode, while others comment on the strangeness of seeing two Marios at the same time. The player has to chase Shadow Mario through the level and spray him with enough water to make him give up. Mario will receive a Shine Sprite after that.

Episode 8: The Watermelon Festival
The Watermelon Festival, which was mentioned several times during the previous Episodes, finally takes place during this part of the level. The Episode opens with a shot of the Surf Cabana at the pier, which is now crowded with people. Giant Watermelons are scattered across the level during this Episode, and some people are standing in front of the pier with the fruits, hoping to enter and win a contest for the biggest Watermelon on the beach. The Doot-Doot Sisters can also be found next to the contestants. In order to clear this Episode, Mario has to find the biggest Watermelon on the beach and bring it safely to the owner of the Surf Cabana by rolling them there. The prize-worthy Watermelon can be found at the amphitheater, while the other ones found at the beach will only bring the player some coins. The player has to be careful when moving the Watermelons, since they explode when they crash into an object too hard.

Secret Shine 1: Red Coins in the Sand Castle
In this level, Mario must replay the "Dune Bud Sand Castle Secret" level, though this time he must enter the Sand Portal sand castle and collect eight Red Coins. If he manages to collect them all before the 1:00 time limit is up, a Shine Sprite will be revealed.

Secret Shine 2: Sandy Shine Sprite
In this level, Mario must locate a Dune Bud toward the back of Gelato Beach, directly behind the Shine Tower. When he sprays this Dune Bud with water from F.L.U.D.D., a small staircase will be revealed in the sand. The player must quickly spray the sandy wall at the end of this staircase before it rises back up. When sprayed, a picture of a Shine Sprite will slowly be revealed. When it has been fully revealed, a secret Shine Sprite will appear.

Official Profiles and Statistics
''The isle's largest beach sprawls under perfect blue skies. Have a swim, enjoy a famous smoothie, and bask in the glow of the Shine Tower.''

Trivia

 * Gelato Beach and Pinna Park are the only levels that weren't infested by goop.
 * Gelato Beach can be seen from Pianta Village along with Pinna Park.
 * It is the only beach on Isle Delfino that contains a snack bar hut at the edge of the shore.
 * This, together with Pianta Village, are the only places that contain a hidden Shine Sprite.