Power Star

From the Super Mario Wiki, the Mario encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
Not to be confused with Super Star.
This article is about a collectible item. For the Gaddget from Mario Party Advance, see Power Star (Gaddget). For a collectible essential to winning in the Mario Party games, see Star (Mario Party series). For Rosalina's Final Smash in the Super Smash Bros. series originally named "Power Star", see Grand Star (move).
Power Star
Power Star from Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.
Artwork of a Power Star from Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
First appearance Super Mario 64 (1996)
Latest appearance WarioWare: Move It! (2023)
“We got a Power Star!”
Yellow Toad, Super Mario Galaxy

Power Stars, also referred to as Stars, are collectible items introduced in Super Mario 64 that can grant Mario access to more levels in-game, unlike the similar-looking Super Stars, which only give brief invincibility. In Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, and Super Mario Galaxy 2, when the Star for any given level has been collected, playing the level again turns the Star into a translucent version of itself (similar to how Star Coins work). This Star can be collected, but it does not add to the player's total Star count. While Power Stars themselves do not appear in Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario 3D Land, and Super Mario 3D World, the Shine Sprites, Star Medals, and Green Stars work similarly, unlocking levels should enough be collected.

History[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS[edit]

Power Star Power Star
Mario getting a Power Star on the Bob-omb Battlefield in Super Mario 64 (left image) and in Whomp's Fortress in the Nintendo DS version (right image)

In Super Mario 64, Power Stars are scattered throughout the various courses, most pertaining to a certain mission. By obtaining a Power Star, the corresponding mission is cleared. Power Stars appear either in plain sight or after the player completes a mission objective, such as defeating a boss. There are seven Power Stars in each course; one is a secret Power Star that Mario can obtain from collecting 100 coins, although these Power Stars are not associated with a mission. The various ★ doors and Big Star Doors of the Mushroom Castle require Mario to have at least a certain number of Power Stars (which is displayed on normal doors). There are eight Red Coins in each course, and collecting all of them causes a Power Star to appear over a Star Marker. If Mario has already collected a Power Star, it appears transparent gray on the course. The Jumbo Star does not count toward the Power Star total. There is a total of 120 Power Stars. Fifteen of them are Secret Stars, either found in secret areas or held by Toads. A minimum of 70 Power Stars are required to access Bowser in the Sky. Once Mario collects every Power Star, the cannon outside the Mushroom Castle becomes available for use, giving access to the castle's roof.

Super Mario 64 DS features a total of 150 Power Stars, 30 more than in Super Mario 64. An extra mission was added in each course, making a total of eight Power Stars per course (one of which is the 100-Coin Star). The game doubles the number of Secret Stars to 30. At least 80 Power Stars are required to enter Bowser in the Sky. Some Power Stars can be earned only by a certain character: two for Yoshi, six for Mario, nine for Luigi, and 12 for Wario. Some courses have a mission where five Silver Stars must be collected for the Power Star to appear in a Star Sphere. If the character loses a Silver Star, the Power Star disappears until he retrieves the Silver Star. In VS Mode, the objective is for each Yoshi to get the most Power Stars within the time limit. In the mode, most Power Stars are contained within Star Spheres except for those in The Princess's Secret Slide. If a Yoshi is hit, it drops a Power Star, which bounces around the stage nonstop, much like Silver Stars, until a Yoshi picks it up.

Super Mario Galaxy[edit]

Mario collecting a Power Star
Mario getting a Power Star in the Good Egg Galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy

Power Stars return in Super Mario Galaxy, where there is a total of 121 Stars to collect each for both Mario and Luigi (for a total of 242). They have a more metallic and rounded appearance than before. At least 60 stars are required to restore the Comet Observatory's full power and lead to the final battle with Bowser.

There are four types of Power Stars: First, there are regular Power Stars which serve the same purpose in other 3D Super Mario games. The second kind is the three Green Stars that, in addition to acting as normal Power Stars, unlock the Green Launch Star in the Comet Observatory which leads to the Trial Galaxies. The third type is the Red Power Star, of which only one appears in the game; it appears in the mission "Gateway's Purple Coins". Last are the seven Grand Stars, the first of which, and the only one obtained without a boss fight, is the first star in Gateway Galaxy. Subsequently, the other six Grand Stars are each collected by beating Bowser or Bowser Jr. These power up the Comet Observatory and unlock new Domes to explore. Silver Stars also return from Super Mario 64 DS, working in the same way, though they float alongside Mario once collected, and can't be lost by taking damage.

In Hurry-Scurry Galaxy, as well as the planet that appears in Sea Slide Galaxy when the Hungry Luma transforms in the third mission, collecting notes turns the black hole into a Power Star.

In the game's file system, there is an unused blue texture in the Power Star's data folder, suggesting that Blue Power Stars were originally going to be collectibles, but they were scrapped during development. This was removed in the sequel's file system.[1][dead link]

Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]

Mario and Yoshi get a Power Star in the Yoshi Star Galaxy of Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Mario and Yoshi getting a Power Star in Yoshi Star Galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy 2

In Super Mario Galaxy 2, Power Stars play the same role as in Super Mario Galaxy. There are 242 Power Stars in total (116 normal Power Stars, six Grand Stars, and 120 Green Stars). If the Cosmic Spirit is used to complete a mission, the star collected is a Bronze Star instead of a gold one.

Super Mario Maker[edit]

Captain Toad costume pose in Super Mario MakerToadette costume pose in Super Mario Maker

Power Stars make a cameo appearance in Super Mario Maker, where both the Captain Toad and Toadette Mystery Mushroom costumes hold up a Power Star in their poses when the player presses +Control Pad up.

Super Mario Odyssey[edit]

Mario standing next to the Tail Tree and a Mushroom Kingdom Power Moon

In Super Mario Odyssey's Mushroom Kingdom, Power Moons resemble the original appearance of the Power Stars, even playing the jingle that plays upon collecting a Power Star in Super Mario 64 when they are collected, which replaces the standard Power Moon jingle in this kingdom. When Mario collects his first Mushroom Kingdom Power Moon, Cappy suggests that Power Moons come in different shapes, implying Power Moons and Power Stars are the same type of object. When loaded into the Odyssey in the Mushroom Kingdom, they appear as regular Power Moons.

Mario Pinball Land[edit]

Stars reappear in Mario Pinball Land, working just as they do in Super Mario 64, obtained after the player completes certain trials, such as defeating a boss or a certain number of enemies in time, and their use is to make Mario's way to Bowser. Collecting a Star grants 10,000 points. If the player does not get a Game Over, every Star collected after that grants 10,000 more points than the previous one. At the end, the number of Stars obtained determines how much the point bonus is worth.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U[edit]

Main article: Grand Star (move)

A Power Star appears in Rosalina's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, it is replaced by a Grand Star.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker[edit]

Power Stars reappear in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker and its Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS ports, appearing at the end of each stage. However, unlike in previous 3D platformers, which has the Power Stars counted when collected, the game does not count Power Stars, treating them more as Goal Poles in that they only serve to be the end of the level.

Minecraft[edit]

In the Super Mario Mash-up in Minecraft, a Power Star makes a cameo appearance on a painting of a Big Star Door.

Variants[edit]

There are several variations of the Power Star, some of which serve a different purpose from that of normal ones.

Name Description
Power Star from Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.
Power Star
The yellow Power Stars allow Mario to access other levels. Sometimes, a mission is required to be completed to obtain one.
Mario and the Jumbo Star.
Jumbo Star
A giant Power Star only found in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS, appearing after Bowser is defeated for the last time. Mario uses it to transform into Wing Mario and to free Princess Peach from the stained-glass window on her castle.
Artwork of a Green Star from Super Mario 3D World.
Green Star
In Super Mario Galaxy, Green Stars act like normal Power Stars, but also unlock the Green Launch Star leading to the Trial Galaxies. In Super Mario Galaxy 2, Green Stars appear when all regular Power Stars are collected, and are hidden in every galaxy. In Super Mario 3D World, Green Stars act like Star Coins; they appear in most courses and permanently stay gray after being collected. Some Green Stars can be obtained by collecting all eight Green Coins from a Green Star Ring.
RedPowerStar.png
Red Power Star
Only a single Red Power Star is found in Super Mario Galaxy, and is granted to Mario by a red Luma after collecting all 100 Purple Coins in Gateway Galaxy.
Artwork of a Silver Star from Super Mario Galaxy 2
Silver Star
When five Silver Stars are collected, they merge to form a Power Star.
Artwork of a Bronze Star from Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Bronze Star
Bronze Stars are brown, "rusty" Power Stars which replace normal Power Stars when Cosmic Guide mode is activated by the Cosmic Spirit in Super Mario Galaxy 2. While they function identically to normal Power Stars, they are not added to the player's Power Star count to access Grandmaster Galaxy.
A Grand Star from Mario Kart Tour
Grand Star
The Grand Star is the largest and most powerful version of the Power Star, being able to power up the domes on the Comet Observatory (in Super Mario Galaxy) or generate portals (in Super Mario Galaxy 2) to help Mario reach more galaxies.

Gallery[edit]

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Power Star.

See also[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese パワースター
Pawā Sutā
Power Star

Chinese (simplified) 力量之星[2]
Lìliàng zhī Xīng
能量之星
Néngliàng zhī Xīng
力量星星[3] (Super Mario 3D All-Stars)
Lìliàng Xīngxing

Power Star

Energy Star

Power Star



Chinese (traditional) 力量星星
Lìliàng Xīngxing
Power Star

Dutch Krachtster
Power Star
Finnish Tehotähti (Super Mario Galaxy 2 instruction booklet)
Power Star
French Étoile de Puissance
Super étoile (Super Mario Galaxy / Super Mario Galaxy 2)
Power Star
Super Star
German Power-Stern
Power Star
Hungarian Erő-Csillag[4]
Power-Star
Italian Power Star[5]
Stella[6][7][8] (Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS)
Superstella (Super Mario Galaxy / Super Mario Galaxy 2)
Iper stella (Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker)
-
Star
Superstar
Hyper Star
Korean 파워스타
Pawo Seuta
Power Star

Russian Звезда силы
Звезда энергии
Zvezda sily
Zvezda energii

Power Star
Energy Star

Spanish Hiperestrella
Superestrella (Super Mario Galaxy / Super Mario Galaxy 2)
Estrella de Poder (Super Mario 64 DS)

Hyper Star
Super Star
Power Star
Spanish (NOE) Cosmoestrella (Super Mario Galaxy 2 instruction booklet)
Cosmic-Star

Trivia[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ https://twitter.com/supernoelybros/status/1297589843657138177/
  2. ^ Super Mario Galaxy Nvidia Shield screenshot thread. Twitter. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  3. ^ 《超级马力欧64》、《超级马力欧阳光》和《超级马力欧银河》。 3款历代的3D马力欧收录在Nintendo Switch的《超级马力欧 3D 收藏辑》,将于9月18日发售! Nintendo. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  4. ^ Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Wii. nintendo.hu. Archived January 6, 2011, 12:36:00 UTC via Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  5. ^ Super Mario 64 European manual, pag. 36
  6. ^ Super Mario 64 DS European manual, pag. 98
  7. ^ Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia, pag. 92
  8. ^ Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online, Super Mario 64 description: "Scopri i segreti del castello della Principessa Peach e trova tutte le 120 stelle mentre guidi Mario in una nuova dimensione in questo indimenticabile titolo di lancio di Nintendo 64."