J.E.T. (F.L.U.D.D.) : la pompe à eau de Mario

F.L.U.D.D.: Mario's water pump

1434 mots | Temps de lecture : 7 minute(s)

In Super Mario Sunshine, Mario is not alone in facing the graffiti that sullies Isle Delfino: he carries a talking water pump on his back called J.E.T. (for "Jerrycan Expérimental Transformable"), known in English as F.L.U.D.D. Much more than a simple accessory, this conscious device is the very heart of the game released on GameCube in 2002.

An invention of Professor E. Gadd, F.L.U.D.D. transforms classic platforming into a ballet of water jets, hovering, and vertical propulsion. Here is the complete guide to this ingenious yet controversial power-up.

Summary

An invention of Professor E. Gadd

F.L.U.D.D. was born from the imagination of Professor E. Gadd, the brilliant and slightly eccentric scientist already well-known to fans of the Mario universe. This is the same inventor who would later equip Luigi with vacuum gadgets in the Luigi's Mansion series.

Specifically, F.L.U.D.D. is an electronic talking water pump that Mario wears on his back with a utility belt. The device is not just a silent tool: it possesses artificial intelligence, dialogues with Mario, offers him advice, and displays information on the screen. This personality makes F.L.U.D.D. a true traveling companion, not just an interchangeable accessory.

The four nozzles and their uses

The richness of F.L.U.D.D. lies in its interchangeable nozzles. The game offers four, but Mario can only equip two at a time:

  • Squirt Nozzle: the basic water jet, always available. It is used to clean graffiti, slow down or eliminate enemies, and activate mechanisms.
  • Hover Nozzle: it deploys two side jets that allow Mario to hover for a few seconds in the air, ideal for crossing a chasm or correcting a misjudged jump.
  • Rocket Nozzle: like a rocket, it charges water then propels Mario very high into the air with an explosion of steam.
  • Turbo Nozzle: a backward propulsion that makes Mario run and swim faster, capable of breaking through certain doors.

How to obtain each nozzle

The Squirt Nozzle and Hover Nozzle are the two starting nozzles: Mario has them from the beginning of the adventure, and the Hover Nozzle recharges automatically in each new area.

The other two are earned in Delfino Plaza, the central hub of the game. They are stolen by Shadow Mario, who must be chased and sprayed to force him to drop them:

  • Turbo Nozzle: available once 25 Shine Sprites are collected.
  • Rocket Nozzle: accessible after collecting 30 Shine Sprites.

One detail not to forget: F.L.U.D.D.'s water tank empties with use. To refill it, Mario must dive into the sea, a river, a fountain, or pass under a waterfall.

F.L.U.D.D.'s role in the Sunshine plot

F.L.U.D.D. is not just a gameplay tool: it is central to the story. Upon his arrival on Isle Delfino, Mario is wrongly accused of having covered the island with polluting paint. Convicted by local justice, he must clean everything up before he can leave — an impossible task without F.L.U.D.D.

The real culprit is Bowser Jr., disguised as Shadow Mario, who spreads his graffiti with a magic paintbrush received, he says, from a "strange old man in a white coat." Throughout the adventure, Shadow Mario regularly steals F.L.U.D.D. from Mario to deprive him of his abilities, especially in secret levels. In the denouement, the device is damaged during the final confrontation before being repaired.

F.L.U.D.D. in Super Smash Bros. and beyond

F.L.U.D.D.'s popularity has largely exceeded its original game. Since Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008), the device has become Mario's down special attack, a role it retains in subsequent installments, up to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

True to its origin, the attack causes no damage: it projects a powerful stream of water that pushes back opponents, further the more the player charges the nozzle. In Ultimate, this push has been reinforced and its range improved, making it a formidable tool to unbalance a rival near an edge and prevent them from returning to the stage.

Why this power-up divides players

F.L.U.D.D. remains one of the most divisive elements in Mario's history. Its proponents praise the variety it brings: cleaning, hovering, propelling, surfing... the range of actions is much richer than in a classic Mario game.

Its detractors, however, believe it moves the game away from pure platforming. The Hover Nozzle eliminates some of the difficulty of jumps, paint cleaning takes precedence over agility, and managing the water tank adds a constraint deemed superfluous. The debate even stirred Nintendo's studios: the idea of equipping Mario with such a central tool was the subject of serious internal discussions. Praised by critics and selling over five million copies, Super Mario Sunshine owes a large part of its ambivalent reputation to this unique aquatic companion.

F.L.U.D.D. at a glance

French name J.E.T. (Jerrycan Expérimental Transformable)
English name F.L.U.D.D. (Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device)
Inventor Professor E. Gadd
Original game Super Mario Sunshine (GameCube, October 4, 2002 in France)
The 4 nozzles Squirt Nozzle, Hover Nozzle, Rocket Nozzle, Turbo Nozzle
Unlock special nozzles Turbo Nozzle (25 Shine Sprites), Rocket Nozzle (30 Shine Sprites)
Role in Smash Bros. Mario's down special attack since Brawl (2008)

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FAQ

  • What do J.E.T. and F.L.U.D.D. mean?
    In the French version, J.E.T. stands for "Jerrycan Expérimental Transformable." The original English name, F.L.U.D.D., is an acronym for "Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device." In both cases, it refers to the talking water pump that Mario carries on his back in Super Mario Sunshine.
  • Who invented F.L.U.D.D.?
    F.L.U.D.D. is a creation of Professor E. Gadd, the eccentric scientist who also created many gadgets in the Mario universe, including those in Luigi's Mansion. He entrusts the device to Mario to clean up Isle Delfino.
  • What are F.L.U.D.D.'s four nozzles?
    The Squirt Nozzle (basic water jet, always available), the Hover Nozzle (for hovering for a few seconds), the Rocket Nozzle (vertical propulsion with a burst of water vapor), and the Turbo Nozzle (acceleration on land and in water). Only two nozzles can be equipped at a time.
  • How do you unlock the Rocket and Turbo Nozzles?
    These two special nozzles are recovered from Shadow Mario in Delfino Plaza. The Turbo Nozzle is unlocked after collecting 25 Shine Sprites, and the Rocket Nozzle after collecting 30. You then need to spray Shadow Mario to make him drop the nozzle.
  • Why does F.L.U.D.D. divide players?
    Some love the variety F.L.U.D.D. brings to the gameplay, including cleaning, hovering, and propulsion. Others regret that it moves Super Mario Sunshine away from pure platforming: the Hover Nozzle makes jumps easier, and managing the water tank adds a constraint. Even within Nintendo, the idea of equipping Mario with such a tool was debated.
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