Episode 4: The Secret of Ricco Tower

Master Episode 4 of Ricco Harbor in Super Mario Sunshine! Learn how to navigate the treacherous Ricco Tower without FLUDD and grab that elusive Shine Sprite.

Alright, let's dive into Episode 4 of Ricco Harbor, titled "The Secret of Ricco Tower"! This is where things get a little tricky because Shadow Mario nabs your FLUDD, meaning you'll have to rely purely on your platforming skills. Don't worry, I'll guide you through it step-by-step!

First off, to even get to Ricco Harbor, you need to have at least 3 Shines and have defeated that nasty Polluted Piranha. Then, look for the Rainbow M on the side of the Boathouse in Delfino Plaza. If you haven't activated the Rocket Nozzle boxes back in Episode 3, you'll need to do that first. Once that's sorted, head to the Course entrance, Ground Pound the sewer, and follow it. Keep going past the first exit, then take a left at the fork. You'll pop out at the rooftops.

Now, from the rooftops, use your Rocket Nozzle (you'll need to find a box for this) to blast yourself up towards the blue platforms. Make your way across those to another Rocket Nozzle box, then head back to the sewer exit you just came from. Use the Rocket Nozzle again to launch yourself up the tower itself. You're aiming for the walkways that will lead you to the very top, where the tower entrance is.

Ricco Tower Challenge:

As soon as you enter, you'll see Shadow Mario has made off with FLUDD! The Shine Sprite is at the end of this obstacle course. Your first challenge involves rotating wooden beams. You'll need to run up them as they spin in both directions. Before you move on to the cogs, try to use a Wall Jump to grab a 1-Up Mushroom that's up for grabs. It's a good idea to have an extra life for this part!

Next up are the cogs. They spin just like the beams, but they should be a bit more manageable. The trick here is to go from right to left, and wait for the cogs to get close enough before you make your jumps. You'll eventually reach a platform with nails in the middle.

The final part of this course brings you back to rotating wooden beams, but this time they're all moving in different directions. You'll need to be really careful with your timing here. Make sure your landings aren't too steep, or you'll just slide right off to your doom. Keep an eye out for the second to last wooden beam – it's longer than the others. You'll need to dash to the right on it before jumping forward again to reach the very last beam and, finally, the Shine Sprite!