History Videogame / SuperMarioGalaxy

'''''SPECIAL NOTE:''' Please add any examples about the sequel, ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2'', to its own page, and not here. Also, please help us by moving any entries about it that are already here over there.''

** BabyPlanet: Practically all of them. Heck, some planets aren't much bigger than Mario himself, yet still have enough gravity to hold him down. The most extreme example is in Deep Dark Galaxy, where Mario will encounter a bonus planet that, once he undoes a screw to reveal a circle of coins, is constantly shrinking, and no matter how small said planet gets, Mario won't escape from its gravitational pull until the planet vanishes completely.
*** Also quite literal as some Lumas (which are literally babies) will ''explode into planets when you feed them enough Star Bits.'' Some will explode into ''galaxies'' later on in the game.
** ConvectionSchmonvection: So off the wall here, it had to be mentioned ''twice''. The final fight between Bowser and Mario have them fighting on an exposed battleground inside ''an artificial sun''! C'mon people!
*** Not to mention Melty Molten Galaxy, which takes place on a ''planet'' '''''made of lava!'''''

** SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: Those are ''not'' galaxies, those are clusters of asteroids, or small moons at ''best''. in there is no reason to assume Mario is doing more than visiting the part of the galaxy relevant to him but each gateway looks more like it's selecting from a solar system.
*** Also, along with that, Bowser Jr.'s airship armada can not be viewed that huge a couple of thousand miles away, as that "galaxy" is smaller than even the other galaxies in the game.

** UnrealisticBlackHole: Several are localized around planets and are only a couple of feet in diameter.
*** And the black holes are extremely picky about what they want to suck in. In real life, all those black holes in Honeyhive Galaxy (for example) would suck in the ''entire level and everything in it'', not just Mario!
*** Wait... Did that black hole [[SpaceDoesNotWorkThatWay collapse into a star?]]

* BossArenaRecovery: Many of the boss arenas have little lights or plants on the ground that you can shoot star bits at to produce coins to restore your health. Some of the fights even have coins and star bits in the arena itself.
** As if you weren't constantly picking up Star Bits during both the preceding level and boss fight, hitting a boss enough times to start their next phase usually causes dozens of Star Bits to pop out of them.

* TheCameo: Yoshi actually makes a brief appearance in this game as two different planets: one in the save file screen, and the other in Space Junk Galaxy. Also serves as an EarlyBirdCameo, since in [[SuperMarioGalaxy2 the sequel]], Yoshi finally appears in space in person.

* DummiedOut: The sheer amount of unused stuff found upon cracking the game open is enough to make one's head spin. Everything from unused boss designs to unfinished planets can be found in there.

*** There is also the alternative hub planet shown at the E3 2005, and an urn-shaped planet with a question mark on it. Another planet has a dozen of climbable poles with some spiked urchins down.
** Mario himself has some unused moves, such as punching... and tennis moves. An unused 3D model for a kart exist also, along with Donkey Kong Jungle Beat models. The titular Super Mushroom is unused, both in this game and its sequel.

* {{God}}: [[spoiler:Implied to be Rosalina, which makes the GainaxEnding make more sense.]]

* MusicalGameplay: Coins that pop up out of blocks or bushes will have their usual coin SFX be in tempo and harmony with the backing music.
** Additionally, when fighting King Kaliente, every time you hit one of the coconuts (or it hits him) a musical cue plays.

* NintendoHard: Dreadnought Galaxy in general[[hottip:*:(although the first level is ''epic'')]], Sling Pod Galaxy, the Trial Galaxies, etc. In short, anything that you do not have to do to beat the game with the bare minimum of stars is going to be NintendoHard.
** Let's just say that all the comets are this trope in some way:
*** Speedy (red) Comets make you do forced {{speedrun}}s, typically of levels that required you to think more (and, therefore, take more time).
*** Daredevil (white) Comets give you only 1 HP, typically on levels where taking damage was easy, especially on difficult levels.
**** Melty Molten and Dreadnought Galaxies had their comets switched somehow; Dreadnought's should have been a White Comet (since it involved a boss fight), while Melty Molten's should've been a Red Comet (since you're practically speedrunning the actual sinking lava spire part of that level anyway).
*** The Cosmic (blue) Comets, which force you to race through the stage against a "cosmic" [[MirrorMatch version of yourself]]. Cosmic Mario is hard unless you spam your long jump (Koopa shells and boost rings in Sea Slide Galaxy) and get that boost at the start (and if you hit a wall while long jumping, you crash and lose time!). Cosmic Luigi is even harder than Cosmic Mario, to the point where [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard he's a cheating bastard]].
*** The rare Fast Foe (yellow) Comets (there are only two) make you fall victim to DamnYouMuscleMemory by speeding up the enemies. Worse yet, they only occur in sections with Tox Boxes and Thwomps, which kill you in this game (as opposed to merely hurting you in previous games).
*** And finally, the Purple Coin Comets make you scour the area for Purple Coins. Sometimes these are timed, or maybe you'll have to dodge the obstacles. There are also levels that combine these attributes, though they attempt to make it easier by placing 50 extra coins. The timed ones put you under intense pressure with a strict time limit, while the untimed ones are very tedious and you'll often jinx yourself into dying on your way over to the Star after getting all 100 coins.
* NoDamageRun: The daredevil comets force you to complete a challenge without taking any damage. Usually it's redoing a boss fight, but one of the more sadistic ones forces you to replay an entire level like this. And it's a hard one, too -- the sinking lava spire in Melty Molten Galaxy.
** Also the second segment of Honey Climb Galaxy, when meteors can, in a single hit, rob you of your bee suit, and send you falling to your death by black hole.
* NominalImportance: For some reason, the English translation didn't give names to any Lumas, while the original Japanese (which called them Chikos) did indeed have names for some of them. You know the Luma that grants Mario's ability to spin? The one that Rosalina introduces with the line, "To save your [[color:red:special one]], you'll need to power to travel through space. [[color:red:Luma]] can give you this power. I will entrust you with his care"? He is named Tyke in the Japanese version.
** They also didn't mention the name of the black/dark brown Luma who is always at Rosalina's side and in the observatories. His name is Polari, after the star Polaris.
*** He's mentioned in the Enclosed Instruction Book, though.
** This oversight makes the storybook a tad confusing in the English version, since [[spoiler:upon meeting the Lumas for the first time, Rosalina makes a point of thinking up names for all of them.]]

* RecurringBoss: Topmaniac has to be fought four times: twice in regular battles, once in a daredevil battle, and once as part of a speed run. Kamella and Bowser have to be fought three times each, and there are several other bosses you have to fight twice.
** Special mention goes to Dino Piranha who is fought in the first level and the second to last level (as [[IncendiaryExponent Fiery Dino Piranha]]). The first version is pretty much your standard WarmUpBoss while the second is a freaking ThatOneBoss. Talk about TakingALevelInBadass!

* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Lumas.
** You can feed them Star Bits and they'll thank you and spin around (one of the little ones responded with "Happy!"). You can't help but {{Squee}}!

* SceneryPorn: Just ''look'' at some of the space backgrounds. They look absolutely amazing.
** In the first level of Melty Molten Galaxy, there's a sequence which consists of Mario shooting through several launch stars in a row. The main point of the sequence seems to be to show off the impressive graphics of the volcano level.
* SelfImposedChallenge: Getting all 150 purple coins in Toy Time or Gusty Garden Galaxy (only 100 are required for the star). [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inPSGDUsn24 Yes]], [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PraZGgdwRU&annotation_id=annotation_991106&feature=iv both]] are actually possible! Not enough for you? Here's [[http://speeddemosarchive.com/forum/index.php?topic=7615.0 a bunch more!!]]
** The developers made it so that getting Starshrooms are optional. Add that to avoiding extra lives by avoiding Star Bits and 1-up Mushrooms, and the game gets NintendoHard.

* ShoutOut: The planet shaped like a [[{{Pokemon}} Poké Ball]] in Buoy Base Galaxy. It even ''opens'' like one.

* TookALevelInBadass: Bowser. In previous titles, his goal is just to kidnap Peach. In Galaxy, capturing Peach seems to just be a bonus for him; his real goal is ''the conquest of the entire universe.'' (See AGodAmI above.)
** Thought that [[IncendiaryExponent Fiery Dino Piranha]] would only be slightly harder than the normal one? '''''[[ThatOneBoss WRO]][[LightningBruiser NG!]]'''''

* VariableMix: All over the place! Gateway, Battlerock, Beach Bowl, Buoy Base, Sea Slide, and Freezeflame Galaxies all feature instrument variations in their background tracks depending on what you're doing or where in the stage you're at. Other tracks that change up at will include stage select domes, the ball rolling minigame, rabbit chasing, and any boss fight with Bowser. That a significant number of these tracks were recorded by a full orchestra makes the switchovers all the more impressive.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The flying saucer seen in the opening, which is equipped with lasers capable of ''slicing through the ground effortlessly'', and which is obviously not from Earth, is never mentioned after the opening.
** It showed up briefly before the final Bowser level, however.
** At the start of the game, Peach tells Mario to come to the Star Festival because "there's something I'd like to give you." We never find out what that something is.
*** She is seen clutching the Luma later on, so maybe that's what is was.

* CriticalAnnoyance: The "low battery" sound and icon implemented in the game for the Wiimote.
** Of course, it's all for your sake, as it would really stink to find the controller out of power and unresponsive during a critical moment.

*** Wait... Did that black hole collapse into a star?

* AttentionDeficitOohShiny: The penguins in Beach Bowl Galaxy can't concentrate on their swimming lessons because they're distracted by the "[[BuffySpeak sparklies]]" in the ocean.

** Additionally, when fighting King Kaliente, every time you hit one of the melons (or it hits him) a musical cue plays.

* NintendoHard: Dreadnought Galaxy in general, Sling Pod Galaxy, the Trial Galaxies. In short, anything that you do not have to do to beat the game with the bare minimum of stars is going to be NintendoHard.

*** Red Comets make you do forced {{speedrun}}s, typically of levels that required you to think more (and, therefore, take more time).
*** White Comets give you only 1 HP, typically on levels where taking damage was easy, especially on difficult levels.

*** The Blue Comets, which force you to race through the stage against a "cosmic" [[MirrorMatch version of yourself]]. Cosmic Mario is hard unless you spam your long jump (Koopa shells and boost rings in Sea Slide Galaxy) and get that boost at the start (and if you hit a wall while long jumping, you crash and lose time!). Cosmic Luigi is even harder than Cosmic Mario, to the point where [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard he's a cheating bastard]].
*** The rare Yellow Comets (there are only two) make you fall victim to DamnYouMuscleMemory by speeding up the enemies. Worse yet, they only occur in sections with Tox Boxes and Thwomps, which kill you in this game (as opposed to merely hurting you in previous games).
*** And finally, the Purple Comets make you scour the area for Purple Coins. Sometimes these are timed, or maybe you'll have to dodge the obstacles. There are also levels that combine these attributes, though they attempt to make it easier by placing 50 extra coins. The timed ones put you under intense pressure with a strict time limit, while the untimed ones are very tedious and you'll often jinx yourself into dying on your way over to the Star after getting all 100 coins.

* UnrealisticBlackHole: All over the place! Mario is the only thing they appear to suck in (except for the ones in the Cyclone Stone.)
** [[spoiler:Averted and taken UpToEleven at the end. The black hole that formed from the massive fireball that the final boss planet was inside [[ApocalypseWow sucked up the whole universe!]]]]

* SurpriseCreepy: The whole game is level after level of pure joy, but at the end, [[spoiler:the universe ends and the Lumas give themselves up to bring it back.]]

** Thought that [[IncendiaryExponent Fiery Dino Piranha]] would only be slightly harder than the normal one? '''[[ThatOneBoss WRO]][[LightningBruiser NG!]]'''

* UnderTheSea: Three main galaxies[[hottip:* :Beach Bowl, Sea Slide, and Deep Dark]] and four mini-ones[[hottip:* :Buoy Base, Drip Drop, Bigmouth, and Bonefin]].

* SlidingScaleOfLinearityVsOpeness: The levels are mostly linear compared to ''SuperMario64'' and ''[[SuperMarioSunshine Sunshine]]''.

** SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: Those are ''not'' galaxies, those are clusters of asteroids, or small moons at ''best''. Each gateway looks more like it's selecting from a solar system anyway. Maybe if you put ''all'' of the "galaxies" together, it might constitute a galaxy...

* [[spoiler:AllJustADream]]

* KillEmAll: [[spoiler:The ''entire universe'' is destroyed. Sure, everyone gets reincarnated, but still, ''everyone dies''. In a ''Mario game,'' no less.]]

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Super_mario_Galaxy_Wallpaper2.jpg]]

* FloatingContinent: [[strike:Multiple galaxies.]] ''Every galaxy!''

* TheBusCameBack: This is the first 3D Mario platformer in which Luigi appears AT ALL, let alone in a playable form, [[UnlockableContent assuming you've collected all the stars]].
** Well, only if you don't count Super Mario 64 DS, where he's one of four playable characters

* BaitAndSwitchBoss: Bowser Jr.'s final apparance in the game.

** An almost-finished planet, the Starman Fort, resembling an excavation site, still has its files inside the game, albeit with messed-up gravity, but nevertheless is much more complete than some of the planets thet made it to the final version. It was even supposed to house a bunch of missions, and even the first boss battle according to a concept art!

* MadeOfIron: [[spoiler:Bowser gets punched right into a sun at the centre of the galaxy, and [[IGotBetter then shows up unscathed in the next cutscene lamenting the collapse of his empire]]. And then dies. And then wakes up in Peach's front yard.]]
* MeaninglessLives: It's pretty easy to stock up on lives. Good thing, since you start with 4 lives whenever you begin playing (regardless of how many you had when you finished your last session), and some of the later levels [[NintendoHard can get pretty gorramn tough]].

* BootstrappedTheme: The overworld and underworld themes from the original ''[[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros Super Mario Bros]]'' both appear in several levels, as does the second overworld theme from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3''. "Koopa's Road" from ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' appears in the first two Bowser levels.
** In a more meta example, the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z2kxFCQ_mQ Gusty Garden galaxy theme]], particularly at around 1:26, is pretty much the main theme of the Galaxy series now.
*** YourMileageMayVary. There's plenty of folks who consider the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjGJgtNRjzc Good Egg Galaxy music]] to be the Galaxy games' theme.

* AGodAmI: [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever Not quite as literal]] as in [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2 the sequel]], perhaps, but Bowser has ''definite'' shades of this trope in this game. Seriously, he's trying to [[spoiler:'''''destroy the universe''' so he can recreate it as his own galactic empire''. With Princess Peach as his [probably unwilling] queen.]] Granted, [[spoiler:it blows up in his face at the end (rather literally, too)]], but then [[spoiler:the universe nearly gets destroyed in the aftermath anyways]].

* AnIcePerson: Ice Mario.

* UnderTheSea: Three main galaxies and four mini-ones.

* MilesGloriosus, CompensatingForSomething: The self-appointed leader of the Toad Brigade. One of the other Toads {{lampshade|Hanging}}s this. [[spoiler:In the Grand Finale Galaxy, upon learning that the captain is being promoted to Royal Guard Commander, one Toad says "But the leader is the least brave of all!"]]

* ButtMonkey: [[spoiler:The non-playable (until you collect all 120 stars with Mario)]] Luigi always gets captured or trapped while he is looking for a star. At one point, he gets trapped on the top of a ''small house'' that Mario can easily triple jump on top of. (Considering that there's no Falling Damage in this game, his ''only'' excuse is cowardice.)
** Or maybe he's stuck on the planet, but just likes the top of the house best.