- “Those are Star Bits. To Lumas, they are the tastiest, most delectable treats imaginable.”
- —Polari, Super Mario Galaxy
Star Bits (known as star shards during development)[1] are common collectibles introduced in Super Mario Galaxy. They are modeled after konpeitō, a traditional Japanese candy that is primarily made from sugar. In Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, they can be used as projectiles to stun enemies, be fed to Hungry Lumas to progress to new areas, and can make the player gain extra lives by collecting a certain number of them. Star Bits can also be used to feed a Lumalee, who uncommonly appears in some areas, in exchange for a 1-Up Mushroom or Life Mushroom. Star Bits come in many colors, including red, yellow, green, blue, purple, and silver. According to Rosalina's Storybook, they are said to taste like honey.
History
Super Mario series
Super Mario Galaxy
Star Bits debut in Super Mario Galaxy, and are first introduced in the form of small rocks from space, landing when Mario arrives at Peach's Castle at the beginning of the game. They also appear in its Nintendo Switch port, where they serve the same purpose as the original. To collect them, the player can move the Star Pointer over them or simply run into them. For every 50 Mario collects, he receives an extra life. Mario keeps collected Star Bits after losing a life in a stage, but he loses his coins. The games' tally of Star Bits collected on the HUD can only count a maximum of 999 Star Bits, and any more collected after neither raises the counter to accommodate four digits nor counts towards any more extra lives. After completing a mission, Mario's Star Bits are added to his total number. If 9,999 Star Bits are collected, all coconuts in the games become watermelons permanently, even if the Star Bit total drops below 9,999 again.
The stored Star Bits are used to feed the Hungry Lumas found in the Comet Observatory and several galaxies to unlock galaxies and planets. The player can talk to Comet Luma[derived], in which they can either receive information about Prankster Comets or use him to move the positions of Prankster Comets in exchange for 20 Star Bits. They can also be used to feed other Lumas, without any practical reward for doing so except for quick, charming dialogue in the excitement of being fed.
Bowser Jr. releasing several Star Bits
Pressing the 
button shoots a Star Bit at the location of the Star Pointer. This can be used to stun or defeat some enemies. If a player holds the button, Star Bits can be shot continuously. Fired Star Bits cannot be recovered. The color of Star Bits shot are in a looping pattern: blue, red, silver, purple, yellow, and green.
The average enemy, such as a Goomba, releases three Star Bits when defeated. However, that only happens if the Star Spin is used, as simply jumping on one produces a single Coin. This holds true for most, but not all enemies. For example, Magikoopas only release coins no matter what method they are defeated by. Additionally, some bosses release a few Star Bits after being hit. Mario can also make Star Bits appear by Ground Pounding certain buttons or activating Flipswitch Panels in various galaxies. If Mario is hit by a rubbery bulb, he falls over and loses some Star Bits.
There is a larger variation of a Star Bit called the giant Star Bit, many of which are normally seen in Launch Star paths. They are broken upon impact and produce at least six Star Bits that Mario must collect quickly before they fly away.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
A ring of Star Bits in
Super Mario Galaxy 2Star Bits reappear in Super Mario Galaxy 2, where they function mostly the same as its predecessor. It now takes 100 Star Bits for Mario to gain an extra life. If Yoshi is shot by a Star Bit while stationary, he runs off.
On Starship Mario, Banktoad can hold up to 9,999 Star Bits along with Mario's Star Bit total, allowing for 19,998 Star Bits to be in the player's possession. Banktoad changes his outfit depending on the number of Star Bits in he has. The number of Star Bits Banktoad has is shared across the three save files. If Mario has 777 or 7,777 Star Bits on hand while on Starship Mario, Lubba remarks on how lucky that is, in reference to the number 7's cultural significance as a "lucky" number. She also has dialogue for having 9,999 and multiples of 1,000 of them on hand. Within Starship Mario are two Lumalees that allow Mario to spin Lucky Cubes in exchange for Star Bits.
Star Piece Clusters appear on the World Map in World 1 and World 2. The player can collect them by maneuvering Starship Mario into them. In addition, Star Piece Cluster Rocks appear during A Stroll Down Rolling Lane.
In the Nintendo Switch port, the Banktoad no longer stores the player's Star Bits.
Super Mario 3D World
Star Bits also appear in Super Mario 3D World. Here, they appear in the background of every special world (Star, Mushroom, Flower, and Crown), serving no real purpose.
Super Mario Odyssey
In Super Mario Odyssey, the regional coins found in the Moon Kingdom are shaped like Star Bits.
Mario Kart series
Star Bits appear in Rainbow Road in Mario Kart Wii and its reappearance in Mario Kart Tour and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, merely serving as decorations on various parts of the track. In Mario Kart Wii, they are absent in split-screen mode to conserve game performance.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
Star Bits appear in the Individual and Team versions of Dream Ski Jumping in the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, where the player can collect them to score points. The Star Bits come in three different colors, each with a different point value. Green Star Bits are worth 10 points, purple ones are worth 30 points and orange ones are worth 50 points.
Super Smash Bros. series
Star Bits are used as Rosalina & Luma's side special move in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which is called Star Bits. When used, Rosalina commands the Luma to shoot a small number of Star Bits. It is a long-ranged attack that cannot be absorbed or reflected, thus not making it a projectile attack. Nothing happens if a Luma is not present when Rosalina uses this move.
In the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U installments, the move has two variations that can be swapped out once the player unlocks them. Floaty Star Bit is a large Star Bit that is slow and gets in the way of fighters. Shooting Star Bit shoots only one Star Bit, but has longer range and more power. Unlike the default variation, these two variations are considered projectiles and can be reflected or absorbed.
Mario Party series
Mario Party 10
In Mario Party 10, Star Bits are exclusive to the amiibo Party on the Rosalina Board. They appear in Crystal-like recipients. When the player lands on an Event Space, the Star Bits inside the recipient fly out and fall in the center of the board, where they have to be quickly collected with the cursor within five seconds. They can then be exchanged for an equal number of Coins.
Super Mario Party Jamboree
In Super Mario Party Jamboree, Star Bits appear in the background of Rosalina's Radical Race.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
In Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, Star Bits are collected when defeating an enemy and in various other locations throughout the game. They are used to level up Sparks. Orange Star Bits appear among the six colors from the Super Mario Galaxy series. In an update, the Star Bits can be seen being shot at the Sparks' mouths when feeding them, similar to how Hungry Lumas and Lumalees are fed.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
A Star Bit landing on Mario's glove in
The Super Mario Galaxy MovieStar Bits appear falling from the sky during a meteor storm over the Mushroom Kingdom in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.[2]
Tetris 99
In Tetris 99, Star Bits serve as the Tetriminos if the Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 theme is in use.
Profiles
Super Mario Galaxy trading card
| Image
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Name
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Description
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Star Bits
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Twinkle, twinkle, little star...
Star Bits are vital in Super Mario Galaxy. Mario must collect as many of these as he can to use as ammo and to feed Hungry Lumas. Mario gets an extra life for every 50 Star Bits he collects.
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Gallery
- For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Star Bit.
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|
| Japanese | スターピース
Sutā Pīsu | Star Piece | | [?] |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 星屑
Xīngxiè (Mandarin) | Star Bit | Super Mario Galaxy | [?] |
星之碎屑
Xīng zhī Suìxiè (Mandarin) | Star Fragment | [3] |
星尘
Xīngchén (Mandarin) | Stardust | Super Mario 3D All-Stars | [?] |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 星塵
Xīngchén (Mandarin) | | [4] |
星星碎片
Xīngxīng Suìpiàn (Mandarin) | Starry Fragment | Diolauges & Results (Switch) | [?] |
| Dutch | Sterrenstukje | Star Piece | | [5] |
| French (Canada) | Éclat d'Étoile | Star Luster | | [?] |
| French (Europe) | Fragment d'étoile | Star Fragment | | [?] |
| German | Sternenstaub | Star Dust | | [?] |
| Italian | Astroscheggia | Astral Shard | | [?] |
| Korean | 스타구슬
Seuta-guseul | Star Marble | | [?] |
| Portuguese (Brazil) | Estrelita | Tiny Star | | [6] |
| Portuguese (Europe) | Estrelinha | Little Star | | [7] |
| Pedaço de Estrela | Star Piece | | [8] |
| Russian | Осколок звезд
Oskolok zvyozd | Star Shard | | [?] |
| Spanish | Trozo de estrella | Star Bit | | [?] |
Notes
Mario shooting Star Bits at
Polari- The minimum number of obtainable Star Bits for Super Mario Galaxy is 5 due to the Star Bit tutorial. For Super Mario Galaxy 2, the minimum is 8, due to the giant Star Bit on the Grand World Map blocking the second half of World 2.[9]
References
