Delfino Plaza

Delfino Plaza is the main hub of Isle Delfino, lying at the dolphin's nose. It is situated on the foot of Corona Mountain. The city is named for the island it is located on, and "Delfino" itself means "Dolphin" in Italian, which is both the shape of the island and the codename of the Nintendo GameCube.

Super Mario Sunshine
Delfino Plaza is the main central location on Isle Delfino where Mario, Peach, and the Toads go to enjoy their vacation in Super Mario Sunshine. It is the largest city in the game, and features a few landmarks, including the Shine Gate and the Grand Pianta Statue. It also houses a lighthouse, a boathouse, and multiple small fruit stands. The Piantas that inhabit Delfino Plaza rely heavily on the presence of the many Shine Sprites as a source of safety and comfort. However, after Shadow Mario polluted the island with toxic Graffiti, the Shine Sprites fled, casting Delfino Plaza into darkness. The island's inhabitants subesquently blamed Mario for the mess, and therefore tasked him with the cleaning of the entire island. After Mario chases and defeats Shadow Mario in Episode 7 of every level, Shadow Mario releases the boiling water from Corona Mountain, flooding Delfino Plaza and forcing the citizens to retreat to their rooftops for safety.

Delfino Plaza also serves as the hub world of the game, as all seven main levels can be accessed from here, and Mario will return here after exiting a level. Bianco Hills, Ricco Harbor, and Gelato Beach can all be accessed via Color Portals is the shape of an "M" (painted by Shadow Mario), which are located on the Grand Pianta Statue, the boathouse, and the lighthouse respectively. Pinna Park can be accessed via a cannon on the west side of Delfino Plaza, and Noki Bay can be entered by staring at the sun while standing on a picture of a Shine Sprite. Sirena Beach and Pianta Village are both accessed by means of red Warp Pipes, which are located on a local rooftop and the Shine Gate respectively. Corona Mountain (when it is unlocked) can be entered via a small cave directly behind the Shine Gate. After Bowser has been defeated or Corona Mountain has been entered and left for the first time, a boat will appear near the boathouse, which will take Mario back to Delfino Airstrip if he has 10 coins. Many secret levels and hidden Shine Sprites can also be found in various locations around Delfino Plaza. In addition, there's a large sewer system built directly under the town, which contains many coins, Blue Coins, and 1-Ups.

There are multiple events specific to Delfino Plaza only, which gradually become more frequent as the game progresses. They are listed as follows:

Itadaki Street DS
Delfino Plaza appears as a board in Itadaki Street DS, released only in Japan. It was one of seven Mario boards that appeared in the game.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Delfino Plaza is a Stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It takes place mostly in the skies of Delfino Plaza, on a set of floating platforms. However, not all gameplay is on the platforms - they frequently land in different areas of the Plaza, allowing a proper fight to take place. For example, the platform may land in front of where the Grand Pianta statue is supposed to be. The platforms soon appear again and take the fighters to a different area.

Other places the platforms may land are - on top of the Shine Gate, on the different sized pillars near the pipe to a secret level, outside the building containing the crate-smashing game, the small island where a Pianta was looking for fruit, the boat canal area, and on top of the house with the pipe leading to Sirena Beach. After the platform has been to every Delfino Plaza location, the platform will then return to the initial position, over the sea. The order the places are visited is randomized.

It should be noted that a few minor adjustments to the city have been seen. The most noticeable are the two platforms mounted on either side of the Shine Gate, making that a perfect spot for a fight; these platforms were absent in Super Mario Sunshine. Also, the Shine Sprite when the Shine Gate is constantly spinning in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, whereas it was immobile (unless being sprayed by Mario) in Sunshine. Other differences are the absence of Piantas, the change in tree type, and the disappearance of the Grand Pianta Statue. Just south of the location of the Grand Pianta Statue, there is a square-shaped extension of the stone dock that was absent in the original game. Finally, if one compares the sizes of Mario and/or Peach in Brawl to their sizes in Super Mario Sunshine, it is apparent that the entire plaza has been shrunk to the point where Mario appears larger and a few inches taller.

Mario Power Tennis


A Delfino Plaza Court appears in Mario Power Tennis.

Official Profiles and Statistics
''Tourists get off the ferries here, in Isle Delfino's largest city. Attractions include the Shine Gate and Grand Pianta Statue.''

Music
The music and theme of Delfino Plaza invokes Italian folk music. The melody alternates between guitar and accordion, while another guitar provides rhythm and an upright bass adds the pizzicato bassline.