Red Star

The Red Star is an item that appears only in Super Mario Galaxy. It resembles a red Grand Star and holds the power of the Red Lumas, one of whom first gives Mario or Luigi the Red Star in the Gateway Galaxy. It transforms them into Flying Mario or Flying Luigi respectively, who have the ability to fly through the air, similar to Wing Mario from Super Mario 64. However, unlike the effects of the Wing Cap, the Red Star allows Mario or Luigi to fly more freely, changes the color of their clothes, doesn't give the player wings, and is self-propelled, like the P-Wing. It additionally grants the player a gravitational pull when they spin, pulling in nearby Star Bits and Coins on the ground or in flight.

After obtaining the Red Star, Mario's or Luigi's clothing changes. Instead of their normal red or green cap and blue overalls, they wear a black cap and black overalls, while their red or green shirt remains unchanged. While flying, the player's hands glow, and leaves red streaks in his path. By holding, the player stops in midair, and red streaks point in the direction he is facing. After collecting a Red Star, flight is activated by executing a Star Spin in the air, as opposed to performing a Triple Jump, as is required with Wing Mario.

Red Stars play a very limited role in the game. Other than allowing Mario or Luigi to complete a Purple Coin challenge in the Gateway Galaxy, the only other appearance of any Red Stars in the entire game is in the Comet Observatory, where they can be used for exploration, and for reaching a few 1-Up Mushrooms that are otherwise inaccessible, such as the one on top of the Garden spire and the one beneath the Gate.

Trivia

 * This is the only power-up to not be listed in the Super Mario Galaxy instruction booklet, probably because it's introduced near the end of the game.
 * The Red Star is one of two power-ups not to return in Super Mario Galaxy 2, the other being the Ice Flower. However, like the Ice Flower, the Red Star's theme returns, and is updated to match the other power-ups. Unlike the Ice Flower, though, Flying Mario is complete on the disc, suggesting it was cut very late in development. In fact, all the player has to do to use the Red Star is disable the "event table" for obtaining a power-up for the first time.