7 Video Games That Broke Their Own Rules
4. Shine Sprites Are Tricky To Get (Super Mario Sunshine)
Less of a single rule, and more the entire concept of the game being fundamentally broken (and no, we're not talking about its awful camera), Super Mario Sunshine finds our hero trying to save Isle Delfino from a plague of pollution.
To do this, he must collect over 100 Shine Sprites - the island's source of power - which are scattered throughout the world.
The game sets up that Mario is gonna have to work real hard to get those Shine Sprites back, engaging in some difficult platforming sections, puzzles, and contending with Bowser (and Bowser Jr.) along the way.
So, if we consider this story setup as our "rule", the break occurs when you discover that most of the Shine Sprites are held by ordinary townspeople who could easily give them back to you, but, for some bizarre reason, decide not to.
One particular NPC will even give you 24 sprites - but only in exchange for 240 blue coins. Mate, don't you want to fix your town?! Just give Mario the sprites goddamnit!
This has been a running joke among fans for years, and was highlighted once again when the Mario 3D All-Stars collection launched in 2020. A plot thread could've easily been added about the NPCs being possessed by an evil force or something, but instead, they're all just being dicks for no reason.