After an entire (real life) day on the 75th floor, I admitted defeat. Having failed to find either stairs or pitfalls, I therefore reloaded. As in Island of Happiness, each time you reload on any given floor, the configuration will change. In any case, I was able to reach the 75th floor with recovery items still in my Rucksack only to discover that the floor contained neither stairs nor pitfalls. You must use your Watering Can on the lava to melt it. A new option in the form of lava rocks that contain 'gelatin' has been added to Sunshine Islands. As in IoH, there are both stairs and pitfalls to enable you to move downward. Without a large quantity of provisions, you will be in danger of passing out. Maintaining your Energy Levels in the Mine is critical both in Island of Happiness and Sunshine Islands. It was when I was exploring the Mine that I discovered the degree to which my point totals determined my ability to reach new floors.

As in Island of Happiness, your point totals are not visible to you, but your title often will give you an indication of your progress. In Sunshine Islands, it is your point totals in each area that determine a variety of things, including the appearance of Wonderfuls in Chen's Shop in Winter, your ability to make progress in the Mine and your ability to cook certain Dishes successfully. Main and Subsidiary Characters in Island of Happiness were linked to ALL activities: Farming, Ranching, Fishing, Cooking and Mining. If you neglected mining for a full season, certain Characters would leave the Island. Island of Happiness did this by linking the appearance and continuing presence of both Main and Subsidiary Characters to your own shipping performance.

Both games rather cleverly force your character to involve himself/herself regularly in all activities. This brings me to the subject of balance in your priorities. No longer is the Fishing Rod a gift, but is sold at Gannon's Shop for 5000G. In terms of acquiring a Fishing Rod, however, it is possible to achieve this almost immediately in Sunshine Islands. I could be wrong about this, as personal experience always has an element of luck attached to it, but it took far longer for me to catch a Medium Fish in Sunshine Islands than it did in Island of Happiness. Sunshine Islands may be slightly easier than Island of Happiness in terms of obtaining and using Grains and Grain Products, but in other areas, it is equally challenging.

Sunshine islands watering twice