Beach Bowl Galaxy

"Yeah, this Beach Bowl is pretty much penguin paradise!"

- Penguin

The Beach Bowl Galaxy is one of the galaxies in Super Mario Galaxy. The galaxy is accessed from a dome called the Kitchen. The largest planet in this galaxy is a beach area filled with Penguins, called a "penguin paradise". The name is a pun on "beach ball". This galaxy is one of the only three major galaxies to not feature a boss battle; the other two being the Dusty Dune Galaxy and Sea Slide Galaxy. Concept art for the game displays Beach Bowl combined with Sea Slide Galaxy, with the Beach Bowl in the middle instead of the usual middle island found in Sea Slide.

This is the only galaxy where it is possible to get the three main Power Stars out of order. If the player gets the secret Star, Wall Jumping Up Waterfalls, during the second mission, upon reselecting the hidden Star, the third mission will play out even if the second star has not been collected. If the third Star is collected this way then its mission will not appear on the selection screen until the second Star has been collected as well. However, the third mission can still be played by selecting the hidden Star.

Heavenly Beach Planet
The Heavenly Beach Planet is shaped like a bowl (as the name of the galaxy implies). It is divided into two sides: the first, mostly underwater, has a few floating islands and some underwater ruins. The other side has a shallow pool in the middle ringed with grassy knolls. The dividing line between the two sides is a steep mountain with a waterfall falling out onto the first side. There is also an underground cave that opens up into the second side of the planet which shelters bats and Goombas. The planet is home to some penguin swimming school students and their teacher, as well as some sea life (Urchins and Gringills). In the back there is an area with a few Piranha Plants, Wigglers, and some Music Notes in the first Mission. There is also a Secret Underground Cave, reached by launching a Koopa Shell into a cracked wall.

Twin Fall Lake Planet
The Twin Fall Lake Planet is reached when a treasure chest is opened on the far side of the starting planet (using a Koopa Shell) and using the Launch Star that appears. It is filled with numerous waterfalls that can be wall-jumped upon using an Ice Flower. There are two Cataquacks on this planet, which are used in order to obtain a ? Coin, which makes the previously stated Ice Flower appear. In an early image of the game, this planet can be seen in the Gusty Garden Galaxy.

At the top of the Twin Fall Lake Planet, the design is similar to the Heavenly Beach Planet, but with an icy design. It is reached when finding a Launch Star while wall-jumping of the waterfalls of the Twin Fall Lake Planet. There is a giant body of water in the bowl filled with tiny icebergs. At the beginning of the planet, there is an Ice Flower encased in a crystal. It is used to transform into the Ice form, and skate across the water and reach the icebergs. There is also a Cataquack, which can be used to obtain Coins, Star Bits, and even a Power Star.

The Cyclone Stone
The Cyclone Stone is reached when finding a Launch Star in the Secret Underground Cavern of the Heavenly Beach Planet. The planet itself is a twisted stone path filled with Thwomps and Tox Boxes. In the center is a large path of rushing water, leading into a black hole. The end contains a Power Star encased in a crystal. When a Prankster Comet is in orbit, the enemies move twice as fast. In Super Mario Galaxy 2, the Stone Cyclone Galaxy uses this planet, only that the enemies move four times as fast.

Trivia

 * A blurry screenshot prototype of Beach Bowl is used in the files as the texture of the black hole's.