Starship Mario

This article is about the main hub of Super Mario Galaxy 2. For its musical theme, see Starship Mario (theme). For the board in Fortune Street, see Starship Mario (board).

“Nice spaceship, yeah? More like a faceship! Har har! Well, at least you'll never lose it in a parking lot! Am I right? Har har!”

—Lubba , Super Mario Galaxy 2

Starship Mario is a Mario-head-shaped planet and spacecraft that is used to travel across the universe in Super Mario Galaxy 2 and its Nintendo Switch port. Although smaller than the previous games' hub areas, it serves as the hub of the game, replacing the Comet Observatory from Super Mario Galaxy . Other than its smaller size, another difference from the Comet Observatory is that it also has changing backgrounds, the appearance of which depends on the world that it is currently in. A flock of gulls can be seen on and around Starship Mario in the first two worlds as well as the final world. Starship Mario is able to access different worlds by traveling through portals between them.

Starship Mario always looks like Mario, even when the player is Luigi, although a Toad mentions they think it looks more like him instead.

History[edit ]

Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit ]

In Super Mario Galaxy 2 and its Nintendo Switch port, after Mario collects his first Power Star from Peewee Piranha, he finds himself on a rocky meteor-battered planetoid. It is captained by Lubba, who commands a crew of Lumas. After beholding the Power Star, and seeing Baby Luma's trust in Mario, she strikes a deal with Mario and hands the ship over to him, reshaping it to look like Mario's head for as long as he continues to collect Power Stars (though it actually remains this way for the remainder of the game).

While on the ship, Mario is able to explore and interact with various non-playable characters, including Lubba and the Co-Star Luma. Some other characters in the game appear after certain Power Stars are collected or a specific goal is met. Starship Mario's theme "Starship Mario 1" also gains more instruments as Mario progresses through the various worlds, being subsequently called "Starship Mario 2" and "Starship Mario 3". However, when the player first visits Starship Mario, a unique theme, "The Starship Appears", plays.

Much like in Delfino Plaza from Super Mario Sunshine , Mario can ride Yoshi on Starship Mario. The egg that contains him is located on the "nose" of the ship, having been obtained after Mario rescues Yoshi in the Yoshi Star Galaxy. A small circular platform floating just above Starship Mario has many fruits, as well as three Boards that advise the player on how to control Yoshi. If Yoshi eats all of the fruits on this small platform, the player gets a 1-Up Mushroom. There is also a room under the area with the pressure switch, which can be accessed only by jumping into a large chimney that leads into the room or by going through a secret door in the bill of the ship's "cap". The room contains a large ball of light similar to the beacon in the Comet Observatory, a telescope, and some books. There are also several platforms near the edge of the room, which later become display cases. Various power-ups, such as the Fire Flower and Rock Mushroom, begin to appear on the display after they are used to obtain certain Power Stars over the course of the game. However, the display cases cannot be penetrated, and thus the power-ups inside cannot be used. A usable Cloud Flower does appear in front of the ship's wheel after Mario has completed "Climbing the Cloudy Tower" in Starshine Beach Galaxy, however. This is the only power-up that can actually be used onboard Starship Mario. The Toad Brigade's Starshroom also stays close to the ship. Transfer between the two ships is possible via a Warp Pad located in the ship's right ear.

However, the ship's main feature is to allow Mario to travel between and select galaxies to visit. To leave the ship and go to the World Map, one must step up to the ship's wheel near the top, in front of which is a small weight-activated button. When pressed, the button sends the player to the World Map, from which they can select galaxies to visit. If the game was turned off, the player instead goes to the Grand World Map, from which the player can select worlds to visit. Whenever the player selects a galaxy to fly to from the World Map, Starship Mario turns to look at Mario as he flies to the galaxy. If the player wishes to return to Starship Mario without visiting a galaxy, they must position Starship Mario over an empty point on the World Map and then select it, which brings up the option to return. Mario also automatically returns to the ship if he receives a Game Over at any point during gameplay (unless "Peewee Piranha's Temper Tantrum" is not cleared, in which case the player returns to the introductory level, just before the Launch Star), as opposed to returning to the title screen as would happen in Super Mario Galaxy.

Engine Room[edit ]

The ship's engine room can be entered either by entering a small door in the middle of the ship's "cap" or by using the small chimney on the head of the starship as a Warp Pipe (standing on top of it). Inside is a single Luma, whose purpose is to convert the energy from each Power Star into fuel for the spaceship. A small ball resembling the beacon can also be found on the ceiling. In addition, as Mario completes certain missions with power-ups, they appear in the Engine Room under small glass domes (all except for the Rainbow Star, which does not appear here for unknown reasons). However, they cannot be used by the player, so their purpose is thought to be more for viewing purposes as souvenirs. Below are listed the seven power-ups that appear here, as well as the conditions that must be met before they will appear here:

• Cloud Flower – Complete "Search for the Toad Brigade Captain" in the Fluffy Bluff Galaxy.
• Rock Mushroom – Complete "Rock and Rollodillo" in the Boulder Bowl Galaxy.
• Spring Mushroom – Complete "Spring into the Chompworks" in the Chompworks Galaxy.
• Spin Drill – Complete "Silver Stars Down Deep" in Spin-Dig Galaxy.
• Bee Mushroom – Complete "The Sweetest Silver Stars" in Honeyhop Galaxy.
• Boo Mushroom – Complete "Haunting the Howling Tower" in the Boo Moon Galaxy.
• Fire Flower – Complete "Burning Upside Dizzy" in Upside Dizzy Galaxy.

In the Nintendo Switch version, the Engine Room is where Rosalina's Storybook can be read. Below are listed the conditions that must be met before each chapter becomes available:

• Chapter 1: Twins – Collect a Star in World 4. Under normal gameplay, the Star can be from "Huge Trouble with Big Wigglers", "In Full Bloom", or "Bulb Berry's Mysterious Glow".
• Chapter 2: Alone – Collect a Star in World 5. Under normal gameplay, the Star can be from "Follow Me, Bob-omb" only.
• Chapter 3: Hope – Collect a Star in World 6. Under normal gameplay, the Star can be from either "The Magnificent Magma Sea" or "The Chimp's Bowling Challenge".
• Final Chapter: Light – Collect a Star in World S. Under normal gameplay, the Star can be from "Make Mario a Star" only.

Passengers[edit ]

After certain missions have been completed, different species appear on the ship. All creatures stand on tree stumps on the surface of Starship Mario except for the Toad Brigade, who resides on the Starshroom (accessed via a Warp Pad in Starship Mario's right ear); two Lumalees that sell Lucky Cubes for coins and Star Bits (accessed via a Warp Pipe in Starship Mario's left ear); and Luigi, who resides in a small door towards the top back of Starship Mario, and switches places with Mario at any point after he has defeated Bowser for the first time.

Below is a full list of every character that makes an appearance on Starship Mario, as well as the conditions that must be met before the characters will appear. All non-playable characters make an appearance on Starship Mario, with the exception of Coach, Penguru, Piantas, Princess Peach, and The Chimp.

Totals Sign[edit ]

“Well now...you've found quite a few of those Power Star Power Stars, huh? We'll keep track of how many ya got. That's it, the sign next to the helm right there.”

—Lubba , Super Mario Galaxy 2

After Mario has collected sixteen Power Stars, a glowing light-blue signpost appears directly to the left of Starship Mario's wheel. This sign lists all of the Power Stars and Comet Medals that Mario has currently collected, as well as the galaxies that have been unlocked thus far (and whether the galaxies have been completed or not). This sign is used to help the player keep track of how many Stars they have at any various point in the game. The same information can also be accessed by clicking the "Star List" button on the pause menu at any time during gameplay.

Fortune Street[edit ]

Main article: Starship Mario (board)

Starship Mario is a default board in Fortune Street .

Super Smash Bros. series[edit ]

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit ]

On the stage Mario Galaxy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U , Starship Mario can be seen above the main stage in the background. Lubba can also be seen onboard, as well as several other Lumas. Starship Mario also appears as a trophy. However, it is removed from the stage in 8-Player Smash, alongside Bowser's Airship and the Starshroom.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit ]

Starship Mario returns as a background element in the Mario Galaxy stage in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate . It also appears as an Advanced-class support spirit, using its artwork from Super Mario Galaxy 2. When equipped, it increases the fighter's jump height. In Adventure Mode: World of Light, the Starship Mario spirit is encountered in the outer space region, northeast on the Light Realm map, on the path leading to Falco's battle. To earn the spirit, the player has to beat a Giant Mario on the stage Mario Galaxy.

Unused appearances[edit ]

Super Mario Galaxy[edit ]

While Starship Mario never appears in Super Mario Galaxy and its Nintendo Switch port, Yoshiaki Koizumi wanted to include "a platform that was a planet shaped like a head" in this game, but it did not make the cut.^[1]

Super Mario Odyssey[edit ]

Concept art showcased in Super Mario Odyssey 's art book The Art of Super Mario Odyssey depicts a replica of Starship Mario as a souvenir that was considered for Honeylune Ridge alongside other Super Mario Galaxy–inspired memorabilia.^{[citation needed]}

Gallery[edit ]

Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit ]

• Artwork from Super Mario Galaxy 2

  Artwork from Super Mario Galaxy 2

• Starship Mario before it was reshaped to resemble Mario's head

  Starship Mario before it was reshaped to resemble Mario's head

• Starship Mario flying in World 1

  Starship Mario flying in World 1

• Mario standing aboard the bridge of Starship Mario

  Mario standing aboard the bridge of Starship Mario

• The face of Starship Mario, with Yoshi's egg on the nose

  The face of Starship Mario, with Yoshi's egg on the nose

• Luigi's room

  Luigi's room

• Mario's room

  Mario's room

• The garden area

  The garden area

• Mario near two green Lumas

  Mario near two green Lumas

• The fruit platform

  The fruit platform

• The Starshroom

  The Starshroom

• A Warp Pad

  A Warp Pad

• A ring of Star Bits around a Luma

  A ring of Star Bits around a Luma

• The river near the bottom of the ship

  The river near the bottom of the ship

• Inside the ship

  Inside the ship

• Starship Mario positioned over World 2

  Starship Mario positioned over World 2

• Starship Mario exploring World 3

  Starship Mario exploring World 3

Other[edit ]

• 2005 proposal documents for "Super Mario Revolution", featuring a planet shaped like Mario's head

  2005 proposal documents for "Super Mario Revolution", featuring a planet shaped like Mario's head

• Screenshot from Fortune Street

  Screenshot from Fortune Street

• Key art from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U

  Key art from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U

• Key art from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U (Japanese logo)

  Key art from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U (Japanese logo)

• Screenshot from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

  Screenshot from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

• Starship Mario with the starting planet of Gateway Galaxy in the Yoshi's Adventure ride in Super Nintendo World

  Starship Mario with the starting planet of Gateway Galaxy in the Yoshi's Adventure ride in Super Nintendo World

Profiles[edit ]

Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit ]

• Website description:
  • English (United States):
    This grass-sprouted ship sure looks familiar... helmed by Mario himself, the hero and his friends will travel the universe in this majestic spaceship! New friends, secret rooms, and much more will appear as you progress.^[2]

Super Smash Bros. series[edit ]

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit ]

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit ]

Names in other languages[edit ]

Notes[edit ]

• In early screenshots for Super Mario Galaxy 2, a much different planet shaped like Mario's head is shown, looking more similar to the actual Mario than the final one but being smaller.
• The teacups on the ship look empty, but upon the player zooming in, they are filled to the brim with water. They also have the same ripple as other bodies of water in the game.
• On the cover of Super Mario Galaxy 2, a ? Block and a Goomba both appear on Starship Mario, even though neither of these things ever appears on Starship Mario in the actual game. Also, the Warp Pipe has been repositioned, as it now appears higher up on Starship Mario's cap, as opposed to in Starship Mario's left ear.

References[edit ]

• Cosmic areas
• Spacecraft
• Hubs
• Mario lookalikes
• Super Mario Galaxy 2 locations
• Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophies
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate spirits

• Articles with unsourced statements
• Articles with unsourced foreign names