Prankster Comet

“It seems that a Prankster Comet has appeared somewhere...Prankster Comets have very strange effects on galaxies...”

—Rosalina, Super Mario Galaxy

Mario approaching the Gold Leaf Galaxy, which is currently orbited by a Cosmic Comet.

Prankster Comets are special levels that appear in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2. They affect galaxies by changing the gameplay of the level.

In Super Mario Galaxy, there are five different types of Prankster Comets, each one a different color: red, white, blue, yellow, or purple. They will appear from time to time in the orbits of the 15 major galaxies, starting at the point when Mario or Luigi collects his 13th Power Star. The missions can only be done if the player travels to a galaxy with a Prankster Comet in orbit. Prankster Comets will only appear in galaxies after a specific Power Star in any given galaxy is collected. Also, when a Prankster Comet is in orbit, the player is forced to choose its level. No option is given to choose "normal" levels. However, the Lumacomète positioned near the Terrace will shuffle the comets between available galaxies if fed 20 Star Bits by the player. It will either remove all comets from orbiting in galaxies, remove some of them, or make some appear.

By completing the event, the player will receive a Power Star. While a Prankster Comet is in orbit of a galaxy, players will need to completely restart the level each time they lose a life, instead of coming back at the last checkpoint. Once a Prankster Comet's star has been collected, its star will become a selectable mission, only causing the comet to return to the corresponding galaxy at the player's request. All the Prankster Comets (except some Purple Comets) also have their own music that plays during their missions.

In Super Mario Galaxy 2, Prankster Comets only appear once the player has collected a Comet Medal in a certain galaxy, as well as a certain number of those from other galaxies. In this game Prankster Comets with different effects are no longer considered different types of Comets. Galaxies under the influence of a Prankster Comet are given a generic symbol. Below, the Super Mario Galaxy 2 comets are grouped together based on the title of the mission they appear in. Comets are now yellow if they give Power Stars, while green if they give Green Power Stars. Traveling to a galaxy with a comet in orbit opens up the comet Star mission, although the player may have the option to select a normal mission, unlike in the first game. Also, a Prankster Comet will always be in orbit around a galaxy once unlocked, unlike in the first game, where completing a mission could move the Prankster Comet to another galaxy. Certain galaxies (Fluffy Bluff Galaxy, Boo Moon Galaxy, etc.) don't have Prankster Comets.

Prankster Comets

Speedy Comet

Mario battling Dino Piranha with limited time.

The Speedy Comet (レッドコメット Red Comet) requires the player to complete a level within a certain time limit, from four to six minutes. Also, there will be small changes in the galaxies. For example, Good Egg Galaxy's boulders are all replaced by Chomps. Four galaxies are visited by the Speedy Comet: the Good Egg Galaxy, Space Junk Galaxy, Dusty Dune Galaxy, and Dreadnought Galaxy.

Galaxy	Episode Title	Based on	Time Limit
Good Egg Galaxy	Dino Piranha Speed Run	Dino Piranha	4:00
Space Junk Galaxy	Pull Star Path Speed Run	Pull Star Path	4:00
Dusty Dune Galaxy	Sandblast Speed Run	Blasting through the Sand	4:30
Dreadnought Galaxy	Topman Tribe Speed Run	Revenge of the Topman Tribe	6:00

This comet also appears in Super Mario Galaxy 2. A list of galaxies visited by it includes the Sky Station Galaxy, Bowser Jr.'s Fiery Flotilla, Hightail Falls Galaxy, Bowser's Lava Lair, Rolling Masterpiece Galaxy, Supermassive Galaxy, Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet, Throwback Galaxy, Bowser's Galaxy Generator, the Stone Cyclone Galaxy, and the Boss Blitz Galaxy. Unlike the previous game, the Speedy Comet in Super Mario Galaxy 2 can dramatically change the original level in addition to setting a time limit, e.g. Hightail Falls Speed Run has damaged platforms and meteors, and Masterpiece Speed Run has an entirely new planet not seen in the original star mission as part of the level.

While in the level Peewee Piranha's Speed Run, the sign on the Starting Planet is signed by "Yoshi the space dragon." In all the other missions, it is signed by simply "Yoshi." This message is strange, for Yoshi is a dinosaur and not a dragon. This may be an Easter egg.

Galaxy	Episode Title	Based on	Time Limit
Sky Station Galaxy	Peewee Piranha's Speed Run	Peewee Piranha's Temper Tantrum	0:20*
Bowser Jr.'s Fiery Flotilla	Fiery Flotilla Speed Run	Gobblegut's Aching Belly	2:00
Hightail Falls Galaxy	Hightail Falls Speed Run	Hot-Stepping Dash Pepper	3:00
Bowser's Lava Lair	Lava Lair Speed Run	Bowser's Big Lava Power Party	0:30*
Rolling Masterpiece Galaxy	Masterpiece Speed Run	Silver Chomp Grudge Match	2:00
Supermassive Galaxy	Big Wigglers Speed Run	Huge Trouble with Big Wigglers	2:30
Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet	Gravity Star Speed Run	Breaking into Bowser's Castle	0:30*
Throwback Galaxy	Whomp Silver Star Speed Run	Silver Stars in the Whomp Fortress	2:00
Bowser's Galaxy Generator	Bowser's Big Bad Speed Run	Bowser's Fortified Fortress	0:30*
Stone Cyclone Galaxy	Tox Box Speed Run	Silver Stars on the Cyclone	0:20*
Boss Blitz Galaxy	Throwback Throwdown Speed Run	Throwback Throwdown	5:00

Galaxies marked with * next to their time limits have Timers scattered throughout the mission; collecting one adds 10 seconds to the player's time limit. However if the player loses a life, then the Time will be set back to where it was at the point where the player lost the life.

Daredevil Comet

Mario battling Kamella under daredevil conditions.

The Daredevil Comet (デスコメット Death Comet) cuts Mario's maximum health down to only one hit point, as opposed to the usual three (or six with a Life Mushroom). Additionally, it removes all Life Shrooms and even coins from the level so that the player cannot get them. Five galaxies are visited by the Daredevil Comet: the Battlerock Galaxy, Ghostly Galaxy, Gusty Garden Galaxy, Deep Dark Galaxy, and Melty Molten Galaxy. Four of them have the player battle a previously fought boss: Topmaniac, Bouldergeist, Major Burrows, and Kamella respectively, with the sole exception being Melty Molten Galaxy, which has the player complete the entire first mission (The Sinking Lava Spire) with only one hit point. Fortunately, at the start of the first four aforementioned galaxies, the player will automatically be brought to the last planet where the boss resides, without the need to travel throughout the galaxy.

Note: All the levels in Daredevil Comets' French (NOE) version include "pas de seconde chance", based on the only 1 health unit avaibility.

Galaxy	Episode Title	Based on
Battlerock Galaxy	Topmaniac's Daredevil Run	Topmaniac and the Topman Tribe
Ghostly Galaxy	Bouldergeist's Daredevil Run	Beware of Bouldergeist
Gusty Garden Galaxy	Major Burrows's Daredevil Run	The Dirty Tricks of Major Burrows
Deep Dark Galaxy	Ghost Ship Daredevil Run	The Underground Ghost Ship
Melty Molten Galaxy	Lava Spire Daredevil Run	The Sinking Lava Spire

The Daredevil Comet is also in Super Mario Galaxy 2 in Spin-Dig Galaxy, Bowser Jr.'s Fearsome Fleet, the Slipsand Galaxy, Bowser Jr.'s Boom Bunker, the Battle Belt Galaxy, and the Grandmaster Galaxy. Unlike the original Galaxy, however, some of the Daredevil Runs in Super Mario Galaxy 2 have Checkpoint Flags. Just like the Speedy Comet, the original level can be dramatically changed when visited by a Daredevil Comet.

Note: In the French version, every level having the Daredevil Comet has an end suffix as "pas de seconde chance" meaning "no second chance", showing the important fact that there's only one health slice.

Galaxy	Episode Title	Based on
Spin-Dig Galaxy	Digga-Leg's Daredevil Run	Digga-Leg's Planet
Bowser Jr.'s Fearsome Fleet	Megahammer's Daredevil Bash	Bowser Jr.'s Mighty Megahammer
Slipsand Galaxy	Squizzard's Daredevil Run	Squizzard's Sandy Sinkhole
Bowser Jr.'s Boom Bunker	Boomsday Machine Daredevil Run	Bowser Jr.'s Boomsday Machine
Battle Belt Galaxy	Mini-Planet Daredevil Run	Mini-Planet Mega-Run
Grandmaster Galaxy	The Perfect Run	The Ultimate Test

Cosmic Comet

File:Cosmicclone.png

Mario racing Cosmic Mario in Sea Slide Galaxy.

The Cosmic Comet (シャドウコメット Shadow Comet) pits Mario in a race against Cosmic Mario in a predetermined course with a star at the end. Mario must beat his duplicate to the Star. Four galaxies are visited by the Cosmic Comet: the Honeyhive Galaxy, Freezeflame Galaxy, Gold Leaf Galaxy, and Sea Slide Galaxy. If the player uses Luigi, they will be racing against Cosmic Luigi instead. Unlike Cosmic Mario, Cosmic Luigi long jumps frequently and takes advantage of some shortcuts that are available. Cosmic Comets only appear in Super Mario Galaxy.

Galaxy	Episode Title	Based on
Honeyhive Galaxy	Honeyhive Cosmic Mario/Luigi Race	Bee Mario/Luigi Takes Flight
Freezeflame Galaxy	Frosty Cosmic Mario/Luigi Race	Hot and Cold Collide
Gold Leaf Galaxy	Cosmic Mario/Luigi Forest Race	When it Rains, it Pours
Sea Slide Galaxy	Underwater Cosmic Mario/Luigi Race	Faster Than a Speeding Penguin

Fast Foe Comet

File:FastFoeComet photo.png

Mario crossing the Cyclone Stone in the Beach Bowl Galaxy.

The Fast-Foe Comet (クイックコメット Quick Comet) speeds up all enemies and obstacles in a stage. Mario must complete the stage while avoiding the accelerated enemies or obstacles. Only two galaxies are visited by the Fast-Foe Comet: the Beach Bowl Galaxy, and Toy Time Galaxy. Tox Boxes, Thwomps, and moving platforms are the only objects affected. Fast Foe Comets only appear in Super Mario Galaxy.

Galaxy	Episode Title	Based On
Beach Bowl Galaxy	Fast Foes on the Cyclone Stone	The Secret Undersea Cavern
Toy Time Galaxy	Fast Foes of Toy Time	The Flipswitch Chain

Purple Comet

File:TTG M3.png

Mario collects purple coins at Tall Trunk Galaxy.

The Purple Comet (パープルコメット Purple Comet) is only available after the main story is beaten. Purple Coins are hidden throughout the galaxy, and Mario must retrieve 100 purple coins, sometimes within a time limit, to retrieve the Star. Some Purple Comet missions have more than 100 Coins, but Mario still only needs to collect 100 for the Star. All 15 major galaxies are visited by the Purple Comet. Timed Purple Comet missions, as well as the Battlerock and Dreadnought Galaxy's Purple Comet missions, use a unique background music, which is a remix of the Gusty Garden Galaxy music.

Galaxy	Episode Title	Purple Coins available	Time Limit
Good Egg Galaxy	Purple Coin Omelet	100	None
Honeyhive Galaxy	The Honeyhive's Purple Coins	100	None
Space Junk Galaxy	Purple Coin Spacewalk	100	2:00
Battlerock Galaxy	Purple Coins on the Battlerock	100	If Mario leaves a Purple Coin behind, he loses a life.
Beach Bowl Galaxy	Beachcombing for Purple Coins	100	None
Ghostly Galaxy	Purple Coins in the Bone Pen	100 out of 149	1:00
Gusty Garden Galaxy	Purple Coins on the Puzzle Cube	100 out of 150	2:30
Freezeflame Galaxy	Purple Coins on the Summit	100	None
Dusty Dune Galaxy	Purple Coins in the Desert	100	None
Gold Leaf Galaxy	Purple Coins in the Woods	100	3:30
Sea Slide Galaxy	Purple Coins by the Seaside	100	None
Toy Time Galaxy	Luigi's Purple Coins	100 out of 150	3:00
Gateway Galaxy	Gateway's Purple Coins	100	None
Deep Dark Galaxy	Plunder the Purple Coins	100	None
Dreadnought Galaxy	Battlestation's Purple Coins	100	If Mario leaves a Purple Coin behind, he loses a life.
Melty Molten Galaxy	Red-Hot Purple Coins	100	None
Grand Finale Galaxy	The Star Festival	100	None

There are also Purple Comets in Super Mario Galaxy 2. They are the same as Super Mario Galaxy but, instead of having to beat the game for Purple Comets to come, only the Galaxy's Comet Medal is required. The mission in Starshine Beach Galaxy plays the Hightail Falls Galaxy music, since the Dash Pepper is needed to clear, even though the normal level has a Dash Pepper and using it won't change the music. The specific Purple Coin theme music from the first game plays in the Flip-Swap Galaxy, Puzzle Plank Galaxy, Clockwork Ruins Galaxy, and Mario Squared Galaxy.

Galaxy	Episode Title	Purple Coins available	Time Limit
Flip-Swap Galaxy	Purple Coin Flip 'n' Sprint	100	3:00
Puzzle Plank Galaxy	Purple Coin Shadow Vault	100	1:00
Tall Trunk Galaxy	Tall Trunk's Purple Coin Slide	100 out of 140	If Mario has less than 100 Purple Coins, he loses a life.
Flipsville Galaxy	Purple Coin Spin Speed Run	100	2:30
Starshine Beach Galaxy	Purple Coin Beach Dash	100 out of 140	0:35
Sweet Mystery Galaxy	Bulb Berry's Purple Coin Glow	100	None
Clockwork Ruins Galaxy	The Adventure of the Purple Coins	100	5:00
Mario Squared Galaxy	Luigi's Purple Coin Chaos	100	2:00
Rolling Coaster Galaxy	Purple Coins on the Rainbow Road	100 out of 110	2:00 and if Mario has less than 100 Purple Coins, he loses a life.

Clone Comet

File:CWG5.png

Mario being chased by Cosmic Clones in the Chompworks Galaxy.

Multiple Cosmic Clones appear on a selected mission. The player needs to redo the whole or part of the mission while there are Cosmic Clones. The comet appears in the Cloudy Court Galaxy, the Haunty Halls Galaxy, the Chompworks Galaxy, and the Flip-Out Galaxy. It is fused with the missions Purple Coin Shadow Vault for Puzzle Plank Galaxy, Luigi's Purple Coin Chaos for Mario Squared Galaxy, and Green Star 2 for Flip-Out Galaxy. The specific music for the Cosmic Clones theme does not play (except Cloudy Court Galaxy) even though the soundtrack says the same. This music is also played in other stages such as Stone Cyclone Galaxy. Clone Comets only appear in Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Galaxy	Episode Title	Based on
Puzzle Plank Galaxy	Purple Coin Shadow Vault	The Puzzling Picture Block
Cloudy Court Galaxy	The Shadow Lining	Head in the Clouds
Haunty Halls Galaxy	Spooky Cosmic Clone Chase	Sneaking Down the Creepy Corridor
Chompworks Galaxy	Cosmic Clones in the Chompworks	Where the Chomps are Made of Gold
Mario Squared Galaxy	Luigi's Purple Coin Chaos	Make Mario a Star
Flip-Out Galaxy	Cosmic Clone Wall Jumpers, Green Star 2	Wicked Wall Jumps

Romp Comet

File:FBG3.png

Mario jumping on an Octoomba.

Defeat a horde of 30 enemies within a time limit, often with a power-up. The comet appears in the Yoshi Star Galaxy, the Boulder Bowl Galaxy, the Flash Black Galaxy, and the Shiverburn Galaxy. Romp Comets only appear in Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Galaxy	Episode Title	Based On	Power-Up Used	Time Limit
Yoshi Star Galaxy	Spiny Rainbow Romp	Spiny Control	Rainbow Star	1:00
Boulder Bowl Galaxy	Rolling Crabber Romp	Rock and Rollodillo	Rock Mushroom	1:00
Shiverburn Galaxy	Octo-Army Icy Rainbow Romp	Prince Pikante's Peppery Mood	Rainbow Star	0:50
Flash Black Galaxy	Dark Octo-Army Romp	Jumping Around in the Dark	Yoshi	1:20

Double Time Comet

File:SMGTT3.PNG

Mario and Yoshi discovering that obstacles move faster.

Makes the player redo a level, but with the obstacles moving faster. It appears in Beat Block Galaxy and Twisty Trials Galaxy. This is similar to the Fast Foe Comet from the first game, except that instead of enemies, the stage hazards move faster, and slightly slower overall than when a Fast Foe Comet is in orbit. Despite being called the "Double Time Comet," the objects actually move at four times the normal speed. Double Time Comets only appear in Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Galaxy	Episode Title	Based On
Beat Block Galaxy	Silver Stars in Double Time	Step to the Beep
Twisty Trials Galaxy	Turning Turning Double Time	Spinning and Spinning and Spinning

Green Comet

Luigi obtaining a Green Star in Sky Station Galaxy.

Makes Green Stars appear in various levels in every galaxy except the Grandmaster Galaxy, usually in hidden or hard-to-reach places. There is one Green Star for every normal Power Star mission; galaxies with two missions have two Green Stars to find, and galaxies with three missions have three Green Stars to locate. In either case, Green Power Star levels are always named as "Green Star 1" and "Green Star 2" (as well as "Green Star 3" for galaxies with six Power Stars total) as opposed to being named in the same way as normal galaxy levels. Green Comets only appear in Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Dutch	Pretkomeet[?]	Fun comet
German	Schabernack-Komet[?]	Mischief Comet
Italian	Cometa Burlona[?]	Joker comet
Korean	장난꾸러기 혜성[?] Jangnankku-lugi Hyeoseong	Joker comet
Spanish	Cometa Pícaro[?]	Naughty comet

Trivia

• When a Prankster Comet level is selected, shades cover the corners of the screen. In Super Mario Galaxy, the shades match the comet's color, while in the sequel, the shades are simply black.
  • For Green Comets, there are no shades at all, presumably to give the players more vision.