Q & A
Super Mario Galaxy 2 Q & A
You've got questions, we've got answers. If you need help with something you didn't find in our guide, we can still help you. We publish the best and most common questions we get here—take a look to see if your question has already been answered. If your problem isn't addressed, feel free to add it here by hitting "edit" and inserting it at the top of the page, or using the comments section on this page.
I collected 120 Stars, where are the Green Stars? What's this "Monster"?
As stated in our Secrets section and elsewhere, you must BEAT BOWSER IN WORLD 6 AGAIN after collecting all 120 stars to unlock the Green Stars. Make sure to beat Bowser as Luigi this time.
What's that above the star?
That simply indicates there's a hidden star in the level that can be accessed by choosing the star with the ? above it. Hidden Stars can be found in Warp Pipes and secret areas. We list the location of every single hidden star in our guide. If you are wondering what that ? means, why not just click on the galaxy in our index and see what star you are missing? Easy! Now stop writing us about it o_O. (Note by Legofan613: These will also appear on the Star List on each galaxy as its own, empty star with a ? in it.)
EDIT by Legofan613: You might also be referring to the
that appears above some stars. That just indicates that it's an unfinished Prankster Comet level.
How do I get a lot of star bits?
Generally, just playing early levels can land you scads of star bits. The Boulder Bowl galaxy has a bunch since you can roll into stuff for massive amounts of bits. Another easy area to rack up bits is the Twisty Trials galaxy. IGN's own Craig Harris claims that the Melty Monster Galaxy's "A Stroll Down Rolling Lane" Star is great for bit-hounds looking for that elusive 9,999 count as well. Remember, you must collect a Star to save your star bits! Also, make sure you have fed all the Hungry Lumas, to ensure that you get maximum star bits.
What use are the coins outside of the galaxies?
You can spend coins on a 1-Up minigame on Starship Mario. It's in the warp pipe by Mario's ear. You unlock it pretty late in the game, though. Your coins are tallied up into an overall collection after you beat levels.
Is there any real difference between playing Mario and playing Luigi?
Luigi runs faster, jumps higher and has trouble STOPPING and SLOWING DOWN. He's harder to control.
How many stars do you need to beat the story mode?
70.
If you have a Bronze Star can you go back and complete the level again to turn it into a Gold Star?
Well of course, that's the whole point! But you can't get bronze stars as Luigi, so beat it as Mario.
When playing as Luigi, do any Stars go to the overall Star collection?
Yeah. That makes no difference.
Nope. You just get the satisfaction of winning, as well as a new record time.
How do you make comets appear on all of the levels?
First of all, we kinda answered this already below; second of all, you just need to keep playing and collecting Medals. Comets appear randomly after you've collected a Medal. The GRANDMASTER COMET only appears once you collect 9,999 star bits.
EDIT by Legofan613: As noted below, comet medals do NOT appear randomly, but after certain pre-requisites are met.
What's up with the crowns?
Silver crowns by a Galaxy show you've completed that Galaxy by collecting all the Gold Stars. Gold crowns show you've gathered all the Green Stars as well.
What levels have secret stars?
Just look at the Walkthroughs section of the wiki. We've completed all the levels we've visited so you can use this to cross reference with your collection. If a level has two or three stars and NOT COMETS, then there may be a Hidden Star. Normal stars just appear anyway, so if you don't have the second or third star you know its Hidden! Note: Hidden Stars are sometimes tied to letters you get later in the game. We note this in the TOP of our sections so you won't spoil anything. Also, Hidden Stars are titled as such on the TOP of the pages too.
How do I unlock the suits for use on Starship Mario?
You don't! Those are for DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY. A Cloud Flower and a Yoshi Egg do appear on Starship Mario's surface.
EDIT by Legofan613: However, here's the list of levels you must complete to unlock the display cases in the engine room:
- Spin-Dig Galaxy: Silver Stars Down Deep - Unlocks Spin Drill.
- Fluffy Bluff Galaxy: Search for the Toad Brigade Captain - Unlocks Cloud Flower.
- Boulder Bowl Galaxy: Rock and Rollodillo - Unlocks Rock Mushroom
- Chompworks Galaxy: Spring Into the Chompworks - Unlocks Spring Mushroom
- Honeyhop Galaxy: The Sweetest Silver Stars - Unlocks Bee Mushroom
- Boo Moon Galaxy: Haunting the Howling Tower - Unlocks Boo Mushroom
- Upside Dizzy Galaxy: Burning Upside Dizzy - Unlocks Fire Flower
As for that Yoshi egg and usable Cloud Flower, the former is unlocked after Yoshi Star Galaxy: Saddle Up With Yoshi, and the latter is unlocked after Starshine Beach: Climbing the Cloudy Tower.
Are the Green Stars just stars that Luigi gets or are they different?
The Green Stars are stars in NEW LOCATIONS in every (old) Galaxy! You simply have to figure out how to get to them -- no bosses or minigames. And they have nothing to do with Luigi.
Does a bronze star count as a regular star?
Yes, they add to your star count, but they are not as cool. Or shiny.
Also, in order to beat the game, you need to beat every level by yourself, bronze stars are just to progress. And you can't get a bronze star on a comet mission.
Is Rosalina in the game?
When do the comet challenges appear?
When they darn well please! Comet Challenges appear at random. Keep beating levels and collecting stars and they will appear. Of course, to have a chance at a comet appearing at all you need to collect the Comet Medals.
EDIT by Legofan613: Actually, there is a set pattern to these guys. Check out the Comet Medals page for more info.
Do you play as Luigi from the start or halfway through the levels?
I'm not sure what you mean -- you unlock Luigi after collecting your 30th Star. He appears at the beginning of levels. See our Unlockables, Cheats, and Tips section for more. You can also play as Luigi on any level by using the Luigi door after beating Bowser in World 6.
EDIT by Legofan613: You probably mean "can you switch from Mario to Luigi in the middle of a level". The answer is no.
Is there a way to make Mario stop walking on his own?
ANSWERED by Legofan613: Sometimes when you start playing the game Mario will start walking around randomly on Starship Mario without you touching the Wiimote or Nunchuk. Not sure what causes this issue, but if you unplug the Nunchuk, wait for the notification to show up on the screen to plug in your Nunchuk, and then plug it back in, Mario usually gets his head screwed on straight.
How do you unlock characters for Starship Mario?
ANSWERED by Legofan613: All of them are unlocked after completing certain levels in the game. Some are unlocked after completing Hidden Stars; others are unlocked by completing normal levels. Other than the unlockable Yoshi, which appears on the nose, the Lumalees, which appear in an underground area accessable by a warp pipe, and the Toad Brigade, which appears on its own spaceship accessable by a warp pad, all characters appear on the tree stumps around the Starship Mario. You can unlock a Star Bunny, two Gearmos, Jibberjay, Honeybee, Whittle, Bomb-omb Buddy, Penguin, and more.
Unfortunately, Peach does not appear on the Starship after she is rescued. I don't know if it's possible for her to appear, but I'm guessing it's not.