Beach Bowl Galaxy


 * Not to be confused with Boulder Bowl Galaxy.

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. Its tropical setting is similar to many levels in Super Mario Sunshine.

Beach Bowl Galaxy is considered to be a "penguin paradise". This planet is shaped like a bowl (as the name of the galaxy implies). It is divided into 2 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 2 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 Swoopers 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 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.

This 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 2 Cataquacks on this planet, which are used in order to obtain a Question 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.

This planet is similar to the starting one, but with an icy design. It is reached when finding a Launch Star while wall-jumping of the waterfalls of the Waterfall 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 Ice Mario, 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.

A rather unusual planet for this galaxy, reached when finding a Launch Star in the Secret Underground Cavern of the starting 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 is graced with a Power Star encased in a crystal. When a Prankster Comet is in orbit, the enemies move twice as fast.

Sunken Treasure
The swim students are distracted by the 5 Star Chips under the water. Mario needs to collect all of them. The resulting Launch Star blasts Mario to the upper part of the main planet. The player will have Ground Pound the red switch to activate some platforms, and Mario will have to quickly backflip and Spin onto the platforms to reach the top of the planet. The player needs to Ground Pound the red switch here to activate some timed walls that Mario can use to Wall Jump to the Power Star.


 * Enemies
 * Urchins
 * Gringills
 * Piranha Plants
 * Huge Piranha Plant
 * Wiggler


 * Planets Visited
 * Starting Planet

Passing the Swim Test
The player needs to talk to the Penguin Coach, and he will tell Mario that the final swim test is today. To pass the swim test, he must obtain the Golden Koopa Shell. The gold shell is in the possession of a fast-moving penguin underwater, so Mario must catch up to him and Spin to steal the shell away. Mario will have to take the gold shell to the Penguin Coach to obtain the Power Star.


 * Enemies
 * Urchins
 * Gringills
 * Swoopers
 * Piranha Plants


 * Planets Visited
 * Starting Planet

The Secret Undersea Cavern
To enter the undersea cavern, the player needs to simply dive underwater, grab a Koopa Shell, and toss it at the breakable blocks in the wall that lines the ocean. Then the player has to swim through the tunnel to reach the land on the other side and Mario needs to break the crates in the fence and the crates on the other side to reveal a Launch Star. The Launch Star will send Mario flying to an area called the Cyclone Stone. The Cyclone Stone is a long stone path filled with Tox Boxes and Thwomps. Mario must dodge all enemies to reach the end of the path, where the Power Star awaits. In a pre-release version of the game, this star is known as Keepers of the Sky Gauntlet.


 * Enemies
 * Urchins
 * Gringills
 * Swoopers
 * Thwomps
 * Tox Boxes


 * Planets Visited
 * Starting Planet
 * Cyclone Stone

Fast Foes on the Cyclone Stone (Fast Foe Comet)
This Power Star is accessible when a Fast Foe Comet appears over the Beach Bowl Galaxy. Mario begins this level on the Cyclone Stone encountered in The Secret Undersea Cavern. He must reach the other end of the Cyclone Stone to gain the Power Star, as before, but this time the Thwomps and Tox Boxes move much more quickly.
 * Enemies
 * Thwomps
 * Tox Boxes
 * Goomba


 * Planets Visited
 * Cyclone Stone

Beachcombing for Purple Coins (Purple Comet)
This Power Star is accessible when a Purple Comet appears over the Beach Bowl Galaxy. Mario must collect the hundred Purple Coins scattered around the main planet. Only five of them are located in the sea; the rest are scattered around the landmasses. There is a Spring Mushroom located behind the waterfall that will aid in the collection of some Purple Coins. This Purple Coin mission has no time limit.


 * Enemies
 * Urchins
 * Gringills
 * Swoopers
 * Piranha Plants


 * Planets Visited
 * Starting Planet

Wall Kicking up Waterfalls
This hidden Power Star is accessible from both The Secret Undersea Cavern and Passing the Swim Test. The player will have to grab a Koopa Shell and break the chest located to the right of the waterfall (when facing the main landmass), revealing a Launch Star. Mario will land on a planet with many waterfalls, a ? Coin floating high in the air, and a Cataquack. The player needs to lure a Cataquack under the ? Coin to collect it, which will make an Ice Flower appear. After obtaining the item, Mario has to wall kick up waterfalls. The Power Star floats high above an isolated snowy island, and another small island contains a Cataquack. Mario must grab the Ice Flower, head to the Cataquack's island, and then create an icy bridge to allow the Cataquack to reach the island with the Power Star. However, the icicles moving in the water may break the icy bridge, costing the player some time. The Cataquack will then launch Mario at the Power Star, completing the mission.


 * Enemies
 * Urchins
 * Gringills
 * Swoopers
 * Piranha Plants
 * Cataquacks
 * Prickly Piranha Plant


 * Planets Visited
 * Starting Planet
 * Waterfall Planet
 * Glacier Planet

Trivia

 * 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 Kicking 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.