Bowser's Fury takes Mario on yet another adventure to save a kingdom in peril from the likes of Bowser, but what if Mario's venture to Lake Lapcat takes place immediately after the events of Super Mario Sunshine? While Mario's vacation-turned-parole took place almost 19 years ago, neither Nintendo nor Mario have been fans of keeping a concise timeline. Much like The Legend of Zelda, Mario games can take place in any number of orders, and the similarities between Bowser's Fury and Super Mario Sunshine are too uncanny to be a coincidence.
While it isn't a full experience, Bowser's Fury is a standalone adventure bundled with Super Mario 3D World for the Nintendo Switch. During this adventure, Mario teams up with Bowser Jr. to take down the menacing Fury Bowser as he terrorizes the land of Lake Lapcat. This open-world adventure is likened to Super Mario Odyssey as Mario is given free rein over a large area and is tasked with collecting Cat Shines (the cat version of Power Moons).
However, Bowser's Furry and Super Mario Sunshine share eerily similar plot points and mechanics that could tie the two titles together. This article will discuss how Bowser's Fury is likely a direct sequel to Super Mario Sunshine, proving that Mario truly never gets a break.
Bowser's Fury: The Proof is in the Goop
The biggest thing that Bowser's Fury and Super Mario Sunshine have in common are their main hazard: goop. When Mario lands on Isle Delfino, he is arrested for the harmful goop that has been spread all across the island. This mysterious ink-like substance covers Isle Delfino's attractions, citizens, and shorelines similar to how the goop pollutes the waters of Lake Lapcat. Both share an ink-like quality and cause damage to those who touch it, and it could be argued that the goop from Isle Delfino found its way across the ocean into the waterways pouring into Lake Lapcat.
Bowser Jr. is a key player in both titles as well. Bowser's son only appears in a handful of Mario titles, and an even smaller number of those features the koopaling equipped with his Magic Paintbrush. Bowser Jr. is responsible for the pollution of Isle Delfino, and it's also the first time he used the brush, meaning he likely didn't have full control over its abilities. At the end of Super Mario Sunshine, Bowser Jr. is seen drifting out to sea with his father, vowing to fight Mario again once he gets older.
Now on to Bowser's Fury, where Mario is summoned by Bowser Jr. to help save his father. Bowser's Fury explains that the reason Bowser has been transformed into his new gargantuan form is because of his prolonged exposure to the inky black goop. The same goop that damaged Mario has had a very different effect on Bowser, and that could be because of his partnership with Bowser Jr. in Super Mario Sunshine. Similar to the effects of radiation, Bowser's close proximity to the goop in Super Mario Sunshine could have turned him into Fury Bowser, whereas Mario's direct exposure causes him physical damage.
It's also important to note that, after the events of Super Mario Sunshine, Bowser Jr. doesn't use his Magic Paintbrush too often. In fact, he had yet to use it again in a 3D Mario game prior to the release of Bowser's Fury. This could be due to Bowser Jr. feeling remorseful for the damage his actions caused leading to his father's monstrous transformation. Mario and the Bowser family's interactions have always had a sense of playfulness to them, and maybe Bowser Jr. won't use the paintbrush anymore because of the serious repercussions it once wrought.
It's easier to believe that Mario titles are released chronologically and Mario's life is a constant battle for survival, but there's a lot of dots that connect Bowser's Fury and Super Mario Sunshine. Maybe Bowser's Fury is a lesson on the importance of environmental safety 19 years in the making. Or, maybe Nintendo is reusing ideas because it's easier than creating brand-new ones.