Hobbies And Interests
Power-Up Duration
The durations for power-ups in "Super Mario Galaxy" are unusually varied compared to the rest of the series. The Ice, Fire, Rainbow and Flying power-ups are limited duration bonuses that automatically expire. The Bee power-up has a flight meter which indicates how long until it wears off. Unlike the other power-ups, the flight meter only depletes when you use the power and collecting coins while flying does refill it. The Spring power-up lasts until Mario takes damage or lands in the water. The Boo power-up lasts until Mario flies through a light.
Hidden Star Indicator
There are numerous hidden stars scattered around the levels in "Super Mario Galaxy." Once you collect all three stars in a level, a hidden star indicator appears. On the level select screen, highlight any of the missions. A star shadow appears above any mission that has hidden stars left in it. This indicator only applies to stars hidden directly in the levels. This gives a clue where most, but not all, the hidden stars are located.
Grand Finale Galaxy
The Grand Finale Galaxy is the most difficult area to unlock and can be easily missed for players unaware of existence. The first step requires getting all 120 stars and then defeating Bowser. This unlocks Luigi as a playable character. You must then collect all 120 stars and defeat Bowser again as Luigi. This unlocks the Grand Finale Galaxy, which is accessed from the green trial planet. This galaxy contains the final star, which is earned for finding 100 purple coins in this level. Getting this star with both Mario and Luigi displays the death count meter.
Cosmic Mario Starting Boost
There are several instances where you need to race Cosmic Mario to complete a mission. There is a secret way to get a starting boost at the beginning of the race to gain a significant advantage. Hold forward as the countdown timer begins. Hold down the "Z" button once the timer reaches two. This causes Mario to crouch down. Press the "A" button as soon as the race starts. If done correctly, Mario should flash yellow and run faster than normal the first few seconds.