Red Star

A 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 a Red Star in the Gateway Galaxy. It transforms him into Flying Mario or Flying Luigi, respectively, who has the ability to fly through the air, similar to Wing Mario from Super Mario 64. However, unlike with the effects of the Wing Cap, a Red Star allows Mario or Luigi to fly more freely, changes the color of his clothes, does not 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 the player obtains a Red Star, Mario's or Luigi's clothing changes. Instead of his normal red or green cap and blue overalls, he wears a black cap and black overalls, while his red or green shirt remains unchanged. While Mario or Luigi flies, his hands glow, and he leaves red streaks in his path. By holding, the player stops in midair, and red streaks point in the direction Mario or Luigi is facing. After the player collects 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.

Super Mario 3D All-Stars

 * North American website bio: "Only available in the Comet Observatory’s Gateway Galaxy, this power-up lets Mario temporarily fly around the planet."

Trivia

 * This is the only power-up not to be listed in the Super Mario Galaxy instruction booklet, probably because it is 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 with 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.