Gateway Galaxy

The Gateway Galaxy is one of the many galaxies from Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii. It serves as the opening level for the game. This is the first Galaxy in the game, and after Mario clears the first level in the Galaxy, he won't be able to return until he unlocks the Gate, later on in the game.

This is the first planet (other than the Mushroom Planet) Mario explores. It is where Mario first wakes up after being blasted off Princess Peach's castle by the Magikoopa. Here he meets two yellow lumas and the apricot luma that will be at Mario's (or Luigi's) side until the end of the game. Mario also meets Rosalina for the first time. It has three holes (two of which connect), two connecting pipes, several elastic plants, two pools, two cottages, and a small castle. The planet also shows it's surrounded by a blue atmosphere. Later in the game, Mario must collect 100 purple coins to earn the Red Star.

The ending sequence the player watches after the credits have rolled after collecting 120 Stars and beating Bowser again is on this planet. During the sequence it is revealed that the door of the blue cottage links to the Comet Observatory and that Rosalina's starship is hidden on the planet (although it cannot be seen when the player actively explores the planet).

Super Mario Galaxy Trading Card Description
''After Bowser's attack and blast that sent Mario drifting out into space, our hero wakes up on this planet. He's greeted by a Luma that wants to teach him an important planet-hopping tricks. This is where he meets Rosalina, who grants him a critical power-the Star Spin. Mario wiil stop here again toward the end of his journey to acquire the power of flight from a Red Luma.''

This is a planet made of dirt and stone. Not only is it being eaten away by a Black Hole, the planet is also under bomboardment by a meteor shower, so Mario must be careful. There are five yellow Star Chips that Mario needs to collect in order to proceed, as well as a rock with a 1-Up mushroom on top.

These are two metal planets that look very similar. Both have tall spires that, when spun next to, will send vibrations across the planets, stunning enemies. There are many goombas on these planets, as well as several item crystals. There is also a Grand Goomba,the only one in the game. The flipswitch area is inside the second planet.

When Mario/Luigi enters the warp pipe on the second metal planet, he will be taken to an inverted, spherical metal chamber with Goombas and flipswitches inside. To shut down the reactor and save the first Grand Star, Mario(or Luigi) must change all of the flipswitches from yellow to blue, while avoiding the goombas and electric platforms. There are several coins floating in the air above the platforms.

Grand Star Rescue
When Mario awakens on this planet, a Star Bunny will challenge him to a game of hide-and-seek. The player will have to follow the bunny until he reaches his two friends, who will run and hide. One is found in a crater near the tree stump and a small lake, another in the grass near the Warp Pipe, and the last in a Warp Pipe. When Mario catches one, it will give him a clue where the others are. Once the player catches them all, and a new structure on the planet will appear. Mario will meet with Rosalina and gain the Spinning ability. Mario needs to Spin the nearby Launch Star to reach the next planet, which has five Star Chips scattered about.

To go to the next planet, Mario will have to grab the Star Chips to make a Launch Star and blast Mario to the next planet. Here, a Luma in a cage tells Mario that one of the Goombas on the planet has the key. The player will have to defeat the Goombas on the planet until one gives up a key. The Luma then transforms into a Sling Star, which slings Mario to the next planet. On this planet, Mario must defeat the Giant Goomba near the top of the planet to free the other Luma and enter the Warp Pipe. The inside of the planet is filled with yellow switches and moving electrical walls. A big machine stands in the middle of the room; a Grand Star is inside it. Mario needs to step on all the yellow switches to turn them blue, which will shut the machine down and reveal the Grand Star.
 * Enemies
 * Giant Goomba
 * Goombas
 * Star Bunnies


 * Planets Visited
 * Black Hole Planet
 * Flipswitch Area
 * Main Planet
 * Metal Planets

Gateway's Purple Coins
This Power Star is only accessible after the Garden has been opened. When Mario enters the galaxy, Rosalina will greet him. A Red Luma notices how much Rosalina trusts Mario, so he gives Mario the challenge of collecting 100 Purple Coins scattered around the planet to earn his trust as well. There are seventy coins on the planet and thirty in the air. Mario must use the new Red Star power-up that gives him the ability of flight to reach the thirty in the air. Completion of this mission will award Mario with the game's sole Red Power Star, as well as use of the Red Star power-up in the Comet Observatory.


 * Enemies
 * Goombas


 * Planets Visited
 * Starting Planet

Trivia

 * A planet in the Deep Dark Galaxy resembles the first planet of the Gateway Galaxy. It can be seen from a planet full of Electrogoombas. The planet is also reachable, but is much smaller. There are three Goombas, and a cork can be unscrewed using the spin to shrink the planet and disappear, also revealing many coins.
 * This is one of the two galaxies to have only two Power Stars, the other being the Buoy Base Galaxy.
 * When the player reaches the last of the Metal Planets, they can see Airships in the background, though they are inaccessible.
 * The "Grand Star Rescue" mission was originally called "The Imprisoned Grand Star".