The Star Pointer appearing onscreen inSuper Mario Galaxy

P2's Pointer inSuper Mario Galaxy 2

“Use to grabthem!”

—Toad,Super Mario Galaxy 2

TheStar Pointer,^[1] also called thepointer^[1] orCursor,^[2] is a cursor that appears on the screen inSuper Mario Galaxy,Super Mario Galaxy 2, andSuper Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2. Its position is controlled by the wireless motion sensitivity of theWii Remote, so the player can move it around the screen by aiming the Wii Remote at different angles. In theSuper Mario 3D All-Stars version, the Star Pointer is controlled via theJoy-Con/Nintendo Switch Pro Controller's motion controls in TV and tabletop mode and the touchscreen in handheld mode. In the former mode, it can be activated/reset by pressing. The Star Pointer enables the player to perform a variety of actions, including collectingStar Bits, shooting Star Bits atenemies to stun them, activatingPull Stars, and controllingSling Pods. The player is able to collect large numbers of Star Bits at once simply by moving the Star Pointer over them. When the Star Pointer is used to activate Pull Stars, it temporarily changes to a hand icon, and it changes back when there are no more Pull Stars to grab. It serves an important role in a fewgalaxies centered around thebubble, including theBubble Breeze Galaxy and theBubble Blast Galaxy; afterMario (orLuigi) has entered a bubble, the Star Pointer acts as a wind blower to propel the bubble along.

InCo-Star Mode,P2's Pointer^[3] appears. This cursor is orange, and it allows a second player to perform all the tasks that the first player's pointer can, along with some that it cannot. For instance, it can manipulate the environment and freeze enemy movement to aid the first player as needed. Both players' pressing the button at the same time allows Mario or Luigi to perform theCo-Star Super Jump, as explained by the in-game instructions on how to use Co-Star Mode on the file-selection screen ofSuper Mario Galaxy. Unlike the first player's pointer, P2's Pointer begins to spin when it is positioned over an object,item,character, or enemy in the environment that it can affect in some way.

InSuper Mario Galaxy 2, the Star Pointer has essentially the same functionality as it does inSuper Mario Galaxy, with some minor differences. For instance, the Star Pointer is replaced by a small red dot while the player ridesYoshi; while the player cannot shoot Star Bits as long as this dot is present, they can still collect Star Bits and point at enemies orfruits that Yoshi can eat to produce Star Bits, as well asflowers that he can grapple on with his tongue. Additionally, inSuper Mario Galaxy 2's Co-Star Mode, the second player's orange Star Pointer is effectively used to control theCo-Star Luma, which performs actions along with the Star Pointer where the Star Pointer itself would perform the actions inSuper Mario Galaxy's Co-Star Mode. For instance, when holding an enemy back, instead of the player simply stopping the enemy's movement with the Star Pointer, the Co-Star Luma now flies to the location of the Star Pointer and visibly holds on to the enemy to stop its movement. The Star Pointer is slightly larger (and a different shade of orange) in this game than in the first game.

InSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS /Wii U andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate,Rosalina uses the Star Pointer to perform herGravitational Pull move.

Gallery[edit]

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  Sprite fromSuper Mario Galaxy

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  Sprite fromSuper Mario Galaxy (nozzle peripheral forbubble)

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  Instructional page texture for Co-Star Mode fromSuper Mario Galaxy

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  Instructional page texture for Co-Star Mode fromSuper Mario Galaxy

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  Instructional page texture for Co-Star Mode fromSuper Mario Galaxy

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  Instructional page texture for Co-Star Mode fromSuper Mario Galaxy

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  Instructional page texture for Co-Star Mode fromSuper Mario Galaxy

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  P1 dialogue sprite fromSuper Mario Galaxy 2

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  P2 dialogue sprite fromSuper Mario Galaxy 2

Names in other languages[edit]

2P's Pointer

References[edit]

• Game mechanics
• Stars
• Super Mario Galaxy
• Super Mario Galaxy 2
• Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate