Hightail Falls Galaxy

"Climb fast!"

- Whittle

The Hightail Falls Galaxy is a galaxy that appears in Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the Wii. This galaxy introduces the Dash Pepper, and the bulk of the galaxy accommodates its use, which transforms Yoshi into Dash Yoshi and allows him to scale walls and steep slopes; it is from this that the galaxy derives its name (the word "hightail" meaning "move quickly"). The background of this galaxy consists of several large waterfalls cascading over rocks.

Planets/Areas
NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, all names are unofficial.

Starting Planet
On the Starting Planet, there is a small rope bridge, in the middle of which is a single Paragoomba. After crossing the bridge, Mario must crack a Yoshi Egg to release Yoshi. Mario and Yoshi must move up a near-vertical ramp by using a Dash Pepper to turn Yoshi into Dash Yoshi. After the ramp flattens out, there are a set of platforms that fall and then a second ramp, after which is a Launch Star.

Giant Ramp Planet
This large ramp comprises the second planet of the galaxy. The planet itself has two main paths. If Mario takes the left path upward, he finds Penguru at the top, who advises Mario to collect as many Coins as possible; if Mario aims the camera to the left of Penguru, he can collect many Star Bits. The right path is shorter in length and easier to navigate, and ends with a Launch Star.

Falling Platforms
The Launch Star from the Giant Ramp Planet leads Mario to this planet, where Yoshi must incorporate the Dash Pepper's speed capabilities to quickly race across the falling platforms of the planet. Two different types of platforms exist here: solid, unmoving blocks, and grey, touch-sensitive plates. The latter will fall a short time after Mario and Yoshi have stepped on them. Few Coins litter the expanse, found only on touch-sensitive platforms. The mission's Teleporter is located here as well.

Double Slope Planet
After Mario and Yoshi get past the Falling Platforms Planet, they end up on this planet. Yoshi must eat a Dash Pepper and run up the left ramp. After navigating the turns, along with the various pegs protruding from the surface, they end up on the other side, where there is a bridge that connects this planet to the Left Turn Slope Planet.

Left Turn Slope Planet
After crossing the bridge from the Double Slope Planet, Mario and Yoshi end up on this small, yet difficult, slope. To the right of the slope is a Hungry Luma who transforms into the Kleptoad Planet if fed thirty Coins. Yoshi needs to eat a Dash Pepper in front the slope to be able to run up it. There is one big moving platform and a sharp left turn at the top; the Comet Medal is located at this turn. After the two reach the other end, they must use the flowers to reach the U-Turn Slope Planet.

U-Turn Slope Planet
Once Mario and Yoshi cross the gap via flowers, they end up on this final slope. This slope proves challenging because Mario and Yoshi need to make a sharp U-turn at the top, and because there are many blocks that protrude from the slope and act as obstacles. The Power Star is located on top of a diamond-shaped block.

Kleptoad Planet
After feeding the Hungry Luma thirty Coins, it flies off into the distance and transforms into this planet. The planet is spherical and has a mixture of grassy and dirt terrain. The player must track down the Kleptoads that inhabit this planet in order to find five of them that are carrying one of five Silver Stars. After recovering all five Silver Stars, they turn into a Power Star.

Green Star 1
The player repeats the Hot-Stepping Dash Pepper mission. The Green Star is located on the top of the Giant Ramp Planet; in order for the player to reach it, they must use Dash Yoshi. When running up the Giant Ramp Planet, the player needs to stay to the left, avoiding the obstacles and getting a second Dash Pepper to make it to the top.


 * Planets visited

Green Star 2
The player repeats the Hot-Stepping Dash Pepper mission. This time, they must make their way to the Left Turn Slope Planet. The player must use Dash Yoshi to get to the top of the slope. However, instead of making a left turn, the player must go out of boundaries on the top portion and Flutter Jump to the purple block. The Green Star is floating in the air on the right and must be obtained by using a Flutter Jump.


 * Planets visited

Green Star 3
The player repeats the Hot-Stepping Dash Pepper mission. They must make their way to the Left Turn Slope Planet once again. However, they need to use Dash Yoshi to reach the end of the planet and the area with the flowers. The Green Star is floating in the air to the right of the flowers. The player has to climb to the top of the grapples and execute a perfectly-timed Flutter Jump to obtain the Green Star (or Flutter Jump and then jump off Yoshi).

According to page 82 of the Prima Games guide, this Green Star was originally located at the top-left corner of the Left Turn Slope Planet, floating in mid-air beside the pole above the upper blue ramp. The player would have had to steer Dash Yoshi off the wall's top-left corner to collide with the Green Star.


 * Planets visited

Dr. Mario World
The Kleptoad planet can be seen in the first area of the World 8 map from Dr. Mario World.

Music
The music is an orchestrated arrangement of the athletic theme from Super Mario World for the SNES. The arrangement also plays in Starshine Beach Galaxy in the mission "Purple Coin Beach Dash".

Prima Official Game Guide description

 * "Hightail Falls shoots into the sky, promising incredible rewards to heroes without fear of heights. With Yoshi's help, you can scale the falls and recover the lost Power Stars needed to unlock new worlds."

Names in other languages
Riesenwasserfall-Galaxie