You finally did it. You chased Shadow Mario through the brush of Bianco Hills, the industrial grease of Ricco Harbor, and the sunset-soaked hills of Pianta Village. You’ve gathered at least seven Shine Sprites from every major world. Now, Delfino Plaza is flooded, the music is ominous, and that giant cave behind the Shine Gate is finally open.
Corona Mountain.
For a lot of us, this is where the nostalgia takes a sharp turn into pure, unadulterated frustration. It’s the final level of Super Mario Sunshine, and honestly, it’s kinda weird compared to the rest of the game. It doesn't feel like a beach vacation anymore. It feels like a gauntlet designed by someone who really, really wanted to see how much you’ve mastered FLUDD’s mechanics before the credits roll.
The Brutal Reality of the Lava Gauntlet
The first thing you’ll notice is that Corona Mountain is basically one giant "the floor is lava" game, except the lava actually kills you instantly. No swimming back to shore here. One toe in the red stuff and you’re back at the start of the cave.
It starts with a series of platforms that are just mean. You've got spiked platforms that retract on a timer and flaming platforms that you have to spray down just to stand on them for a few seconds. If you linger too long, they reignite and toast Mario’s feet.
Most people try to rush this. Don’t. The trick is actually in the Hover Nozzle. You want to spray the flaming platforms from a distance, then hover over. If you're timing it right, you can skip the spiked platforms entirely by hovering from one safe stone island to the next. There’s a 1-Up Mushroom right at the start and another in a crate halfway through. Basically, the game is giving you these because it knows you’re going to die. A lot.
That Infamous Mud Boat
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The boat.
Once you get past the initial platforming, you reach a dock with a small wooden mud boat. This thing is the reason controllers were broken in 2002. It’s janky. It’s sensitive. It’s sort of a nightmare if you don't understand the physics.
Basically, you move the boat by spraying water in the opposite direction you want to go. If you want to go forward, you stand at the back of the boat, face the rear, and spray. But here’s the kicker: the boat’s health is nonexistent. If you tap a single rock or the wall, the boat sinks instantly.
How to actually control the boat:
- Use short bursts. Never just hold the button down.
- Positioning matters. Stand on the left side to turn right, and vice versa.
- Use the front spray to brake. If you’re coming up on a rock too fast, face forward and spray to kill your momentum.
Honestly, if you're going for the 10 Blue Coins hidden in this section, it’s way easier to just accept that you might sink a few times. Nine of those coins are scattered around the lava pillars in the second half. Most experts recommend circling the area clockwise. It’s a slow, tense process, but rushing is what gets you killed.
The Final Ascent and the Rocket Nozzle
If you manage to navigate the boat to the final platform, you’ll find a Red Nozzle box. This is the Rocket Nozzle. From here, the level shifts from horizontal stress to vertical precision.
You have to rocket jump between several cloud platforms to reach the top. It’s surprisingly easier than the boat, but don’t get cocky. The clouds move. If you miss a jump, you’re falling all the way back down to the lava.
Once you hit the very top, you’ll see a large, dark red cloud. Rocketing through this triggers the final cutscene and the boss fight with Bowser and Bowser Jr. in their giant green-goop hot tub.
The Bowser Fight: What You Need to Know
This isn't a traditional Bowser fight. You aren't jumping on his head or throwing him into bombs. You're trying to tip over the entire tub.
The arena is a giant circle with five "tips" that look like the points of a Shine Sprite. At the end of each point, there’s a flame icon. You need to use the Rocket Nozzle to fly high into the air and then perform a Ground Pound (the "Atmospheric Re-entry" move) directly onto those icons.
- Watch for fire. Bowser breathes a stream of fire that follows you. Run in the opposite direction or slide to stay ahead of it.
- The tub breaks. Every time you smash a point, part of the walkway disappears. By the time you’re on the fifth one, you’ll have to make some pretty precarious jumps just to get to the icon.
- Bowser Jr.’s Bullet Bills. They’re annoying, but you can spray them out of the air. Don’t let them knock you into the green water while you’re charging your rocket.
Once all five points are smashed, the tub flips, and you’ve officially beaten the game.
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Actionable Tips for Mastering Corona Mountain
If you're stuck, try these specific strategies used by the speedrunning community and long-time players:
- The "Boatless" Strategy: If you absolutely hate the boat, you can actually skip it. By using precise spin-jumps and the Hover Nozzle, you can leap between the stalagmites (the rocks sticking out of the lava) to reach the end. It’s risky, but for some, it’s better than steering that wooden deathtrap.
- Rocket Storage Glitch: For the technical players, you can "store" a rocket blast by pressing R just before it clicks and then canceling with L. This lets you blast off instantly, which can be a lifesaver during the Bowser fight if you need to escape the fire quickly.
- Lava Invincibility: If you get hit by a Lava Cheep Cheep (those jumping fish), you have a brief window of invincibility frames. During those frames, you can actually stand on the lava without dying. It’s a niche trick, but it can save a run if you’re quick.
Corona Mountain is a polarizing end to a legendary game. It’s claustrophobic and punishing, but it’s also the ultimate test of how well you can handle Mario and his mechanical backpack. Take your time, watch your corners on the boat, and don't forget to refill your water at the sprinklers before the final climb.
Now that you know the rhythm of the spikes and the physics of the boat, head back into the volcano. Focus on the short bursts of water for steering and keep your cool during the Bowser fight. You're only a few well-placed ground pounds away from seeing the credits roll on Isle Delfino.