Star Switch
| Star Switch | |
|---|---|
| |
| First appearance | Super Mario 64 DS (2004) |
| Effect | Temporarily spawns a Power Star inside a nearby Star Sphere |
- “In front of you is a Star Switch. Step on it to make a Star appear in the course. Hurry to collect the Star before it disappears!”
- —Sign in Goomboss Battle, Super Mario 64 DS
A Star Switch is a type of Purple Switch appearing only in Super Mario 64 DS. Star Switches resemble yellow stars and have an exclamation mark imprinted on each. Any playable character can activate a Star Switch by stepping on it. In doing so, a Power Star temporarily appears in a nearby Star Sphere, so the player is given limited time to collect it, or else they will have to press the Star Switch again. The time limit varies per Star Switch, with some having a longer duration than others. Star Switches appear in 10 of the 15 main courses, where they are necessary for one of the seven missions, each having "Switch Star" somewhere in its name, respectively. Five more Star Switches can be found in the other secret levels, so there is a total of 15 Switch Stars. Most of these missions require Wario to complete because the Star Switch, or the actual Power Star itself, is usually obstructed by something too powerful for Yoshi, Mario, and Luigi to break.
Locations[edit]
| Image | Course Star | Location |
|---|---|---|
|
Whomp's Fortress Switch Star of the Fortress |
In an alcove below the Moving Bars. The switch is hidden under a Brick accessible to anyone but Yoshi. |
|
Jolly Roger Bay Switch Star of the Bay |
Behind a rock in the underwater cave with the falling stone pillars, near where the third Star is located, accessible only to Vanish Luigi. This Switch Star has the shortest timer. |
|
Cool, Cool Mountain Switch Star of Cool, Cool Mountain |
On a floating isle near the chairlift that connects the snowman head area with the penguin pond area. |
|
Big Boo's Haunt Switch Star in the Basement |
In the shallow water outside the merry-go-round in the basement. The switch is located under a Black Brick that only Wario can break. |
|
Hazy Maze Cave Underground Switch Star |
Under a Black Brick in a corner of the Elevator Area. |
|
Shifting Sand Land Tox Box Switch Star |
On the course roamed by Tox Boxes above a field of quicksand. The switch is located under a Black Brick. |
|
Dire, Dire Docks Koopa Surfin' Switch Star |
Near the access point of the level, on a small shoreline. The switch is located under one of the three Black Bricks. |
|
Tiny-Huge Island Switch Star on the Island |
In the cave underneath the area where Wiggler is fought. |
|
Tick Tock Clock The Pendulum Switch Star |
On the platform patrolled by a Heave-Ho and two Goombas, near the two large pendulums. |
|
Rainbow Ride Switch Star of the Manor |
On the far end of a wooden platform, outside the Cloud House, where the second Star is. |
|
Goomboss Battle | On a long platform next to the huge caged shaft, accessible only by Mario's Wall Kick. |
|
The Secret Under the Moat | On a remote area opposite the large slope at the beginning, accessible by either Mario's floating ability or wall-kicking. This Switch Star has the longest timer. |
|
Bowser in the Dark World | Behind the Warp Pipe that leads to the boss battle with Bowser. |
|
Bowser in the Fire Sea | On top of the obstacle course with the rising and sinking grid platforms near the end of the level. |
|
Bowser in the Sky | On the far end of the platform underneath the first set of Ferris wheel platforms. |
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| French | Interrupteur d'étoile[?] | Star switch | |
| Italian | Interruttore Stella[?] | Star Switch |
