You probably remember the first time you stepped into the Comet Observatory. It felt huge. Floating there in the middle of space with Rosalina, the music swelling—it was pure Nintendo magic. But there’s this one specific thing that usually drives people crazy. You see these little red stars floating around high up on the balconies. You try to jump to them. You fail. You try to long jump from the top of the garage. You fail again. Honestly, the Super Mario Galaxy red star is one of the most elusive and arguably underutilized mechanics in the entire Mario franchise. It’s the Red Space Red Star, and it grants Mario the ability to fly. Not just "hover" like the Bee suit or "float" like the Boo suit. We're talking full, 3D, unrestricted flight.
It’s weirdly late-game. Most players won't even see the Red Star until they’ve basically finished the primary loop of the game. That’s because the Red Star is tied to a very specific trial that only opens up after you’ve dealt with the main threat to the Gateway Galaxy. It’s a reward, sure, but it feels more like a superpower that Nintendo was scared to let us use too much.
How To Actually Get The Red Star
To get your hands on the Super Mario Galaxy red star, you have to be patient. You can’t just stumble into it in the first few hours. First, you need to beat Bowser at the center of the universe. Once the credits roll and you’re back at the Observatory, a new hungry Luma appears on the Gate, or more specifically, a Red Luma appears near the trial galaxies. This leads you to the "Gateway's Celestial Zombie" mission—well, actually, it's "Gateway's Peak" or the "Gateway Galaxy Red Star" mission depending on your region's localization.
The mission is a collection quest. You have to find 100 Purple Coins scattered around the starting area of the game. It’s not hard. It’s mostly a tutorial for the flying mechanic itself. Once you grab that first Red Star, Mario transforms into Flying Mario. His cap turns black, his overalls turn a deep red, and he gains this shimmering aura. By shaking the Wii Remote (or pressing the spin button on the Switch version in the 3D All-Stars collection), Mario launches into the air.
Here is the thing about the controls: they are sensitive. If you’ve played Super Mario 64, you know the Wing Cap was a bit of a nightmare to steer. The Red Star is different. It’s much more precise, but it still has momentum. You can’t just stop on a dime. You tilt the stick to dive or climb, and the camera usually does a decent job of keeping up, though it can get a bit wonky if you try to pull a 180-degree turn too fast.
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The Disappointment of the Comet Observatory
Once you finish that Purple Coin mission, the Red Star finally spawns on the Comet Observatory. It sits right there near the Garage and the Kitchen. You’d think this would be the moment the game opens up. You’d think you could take this power-up into the Gusty Garden Galaxy or Freezeflame and just soar over the obstacles.
But you can't.
That is the biggest "gotcha" in the game. The Super Mario Galaxy red star is restricted almost entirely to the Observatory and that one specific mission in the Gateway Galaxy. It’s basically a tool for exploration in the hub world. It lets you reach the top of the Beacon or find some hidden 1-Up mushrooms on the floating islands nearby. It’s kind of a letdown when you realize the developers didn't want you breaking their meticulously designed platforming levels. If you could fly in every level, the game wouldn't be a platformer; it would be a flight simulator.
Why the Red Star Matters for Completionists
Even if it’s limited, the Red Star is a status symbol. It represents the "Post-Game." In the original Wii release, and even more so in the 3D All-Stars port, seeing that red glow in the Observatory means you’ve put in the work. It’s also the only way to comfortably explore the "underbelly" of the Comet Observatory without falling into the abyss.
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There are some minor glitches and tricks, though. Speedrunners and exploit hunters have spent years trying to smuggle the power-up into other stages. While you can't technically "bring" the item with you through a level portal, the physics of the Red Star influenced how Nintendo designed the flying in Super Mario Galaxy 2, even though the Red Star itself didn't make the cut for the sequel. Instead, we got the Cloud Suit, which is much more restrictive. It shows that the developers realized the Red Star was just too powerful.
Technical Details of Flight
- Activation: Spin in mid-air after grabbing the star.
- Duration: It lasts for about a minute, but the music (a fantastic remix of the Mario 64 Wing Cap theme) lets you know when it's about to run out.
- Controls: The joystick controls pitch and yaw. Shaking the remote again while flying gives you a little speed boost.
- Landing: Just touch the ground, and you transition back to a walk, but you stay in the "Flying Mario" form until the timer hits zero.
The Design Philosophy Behind Flying Mario
Shigeru Miyamoto and the team at EAD Tokyo clearly had a vision for Galaxy. They wanted to play with gravity. The Super Mario Galaxy red star is the ultimate expression of that. While the rest of the game is about being pulled toward spherical objects, the Red Star lets you ignore gravity entirely.
Think about the music for a second. The track is titled "Flying Mario." It’s composed by Mahito Yokota, and it’s meant to feel triumphant. When you’re flying around the Observatory, looking at the distant nebulas and the different Domes (the Fountain, the Bedroom, the Engine), the game feels infinite. It’s a moment of peace after the stress of the final Bowser fight.
Comparison to Other Flight Mechanics
If we look at the history of Mario flying, the Red Star is the pinnacle of control.
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- The Raccoon Tail (Mario 3) was about building up speed on a runway.
- The Cape (Super Mario World) was about rhythmic diving and pulling up.
- The Wing Cap (Mario 64) was about constant forward motion and triple jumping.
- The Super Mario Galaxy red star is just... freedom.
It doesn't require a runway. It doesn't require a triple jump. You just spin and go. It’s the most "superhero" Mario has ever felt. Honestly, it’s a shame it hasn’t returned in Super Mario Odyssey or any recent titles. The closest we got was the P-Wing or the White Tanooki Suit, but those feel like "easy mode" buttons rather than earned rewards.
Hidden Secrets in the Observatory
Since you’re mostly using the Red Star in the hub world, you should know what to look for.
First, fly to the very top of the Comet Observatory. There isn't a secret level there, but the view of the star map is incredible.
Second, try to fly underneath the Kitchen area. There are often star bits tucked away in corners you can't see from the main path.
Third, look for the Red Luma who gave you the power-up. He hangs out near the Library. Talking to him doesn't do much after the mission, but it completes the "vibe" of the post-game Observatory.
Is It Worth The Grind?
You might be wondering if it's even worth going back into the game just to unlock a power-up you can only use in the lobby.
The answer is yes.
Unlocking the Super Mario Galaxy red star is a rite of passage. It changes the way the Comet Observatory feels. It transforms the hub from a series of paths into a 3D playground. Plus, if you're trying to get all 121 stars (and eventually the final star with Luigi), you're going to be spending a lot of time in the Gateway Galaxy anyway.
Actionable Steps for Players
If you want to experience the Red Star right now, here is exactly what you need to do:
- Finish the Game: You must defeat Bowser in the "Galaxy's Fate" mission. You'll know you're done when the "The End" screen appears and you save your file.
- Return to Gateway: Head to the Gate (the small building near the Terrace) and find the Red Luma.
- The Purple Coin Challenge: Complete the "Gateway's Celestial Zombie" mission. Pro tip: Don't rush. The flying controls take a minute to click. Practice hovering in place before you try to zoom through the coins.
- Master the Spin: Remember that the Red Star flight is toggled by the spin. If you're falling and panic, just shake the controller or hit the spin button. It will instantly reset your flight path.
- Check the Garage: After the mission, the Red Star will always be available near the Garage. Grab it every time you return to the Observatory just to make moving between Domes faster.
The Super Mario Galaxy red star remains a fascinating footnote in Nintendo's design history. It’s a power-up that is almost too good for its own game, which is why it’s kept behind a velvet rope. But once you have it, the sky—literally—is the limit. Use it to appreciate the scale of the game Nintendo built. It’s a rare moment where the player is given total control over a world that spent 40 hours trying to pull them down.