Quarterframes

What is a “frame”?

Sunshine runs at 29.97 frames per second. Visually, Mario’s position, speed, and physics update once per frame (~33.37 milliseconds).

So you’d expect:

• Inputs → processed once per frame
• Physics → applied once per frame
• Movement → advances in full-frame steps

But that’s not all that actually happens.

What is a “quarterframe”?

Like Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine runs physics checks on a “quarterframe” basis (4 times per frame). These are commonly referred to as “QF 0, QF 1, QF 2, and QF 3”. While physics are checked 4 times a frame, your inputs are intuitavely only sent in at the first quarterframe, once per frame.

This means:

• Mario can gain or lose tiny amounts of height or speed, seemingly at random.
• Even if everything looks identical visually, things can still be different (like fruit throws or wall interactions).

Option	QF Allignment
Pause	+1 QF
Pause and Save	+2 QF
Blue Coin Savebox	Set to 3

Object	QF Reaction
Banana	QF 0 - Pushback
	QF 1 - Pushback
	QF 2 - Pushback
	QF 3 - Normal
Pineapple	QF 0 - Normal
	QF 1 - Pushback
	QF 2 - Pushback
	QF 3 - Normal
Coconut	QF 0 - Pushback
	QF 1 - Pushback
	QF 2 - Pushback
	QF 3 - Normal
Pepper	QF 0 - Pushback
	QF 1 - Pushback
	QF 2 - Pushback
	QF 3 - Pushback
Papaya	QF 0 - Normal
	QF 1 - Pushback
	QF 2 - Pushback
	QF 3 - Normal
Barrel	QF 0 - Normal
	QF 1 - Pushback
	QF 2 - Pushback
	QF 3 - Normal

Video Explanations: AverageTrey - SMS

Bismuth - SM64