Prankster Comet
- “It seems that a Prankster Comet has appeared somewhere... Prankster Comets have very strange effects on galaxies.”
- —Rosalina, Super Mario Galaxy
Prankster Comets are special missions that appear in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2. They affect galaxies by changing the gameplay of the level. Prankster Comets resemble fireballs with tails, like real comets, hence their name.
In Super Mario Galaxy, there are five different types of Prankster Comets, each one a different color: red, white, blue, yellow, or purple. They appear occasionally in the orbits of the 15 major galaxies, starting at the point when Mario or Luigi collects his thirteenth Power Star. The missions can be done only if the player travels to a galaxy with a Prankster Comet in orbit. Prankster Comets appear in galaxies only 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 the Prankster Comet's level. No option is given to choose "normal" levels until the Prankster Comet's completion. However, Comet Tico, who is positioned near the Terrace, can shuffle the comets between available galaxies if fed 20 Star Bits by the player. Comet Tico's actions either remove all the comets from orbiting in galaxies, remove some of them, or make some appear.
By completing the event, the player receives a Power Star. While a Prankster Comet is in orbit of a galaxy, players 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 becomes a selectable mission, only causing the comet to return to the corresponding galaxy at the player's request. All the Prankster Comets (except Purple Comets without time limits) also have their own music that plays during their missions. Prankster Comets give their levels a haze whose color depends on what effects they have.
In Super Mario Galaxy 2, Prankster Comets appear only once the player has collected a Comet Medal in a certain galaxy, as well as a certain number of Comet Medals from other galaxies (and collected at least four Power Stars from World 3), and their levels have a black haze, regardless of the effect. 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 regular Power Stars, while comets are green if they give Green Stars. Traveling to a galaxy with a comet in orbit opens 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 is always in orbit around a galaxy once unlocked, unlike in the first game, where completing a mission can move the Prankster Comet to another galaxy. Certain galaxies such as the Fluffy Bluff Galaxy and Boo Moon Galaxy do not have Prankster Comets.
Variations[edit]
Speedy Comet[edit]
- Not to be confused with Red Comet.
A Speedy Comet requires the player to complete a level within a certain time limit, from four to six minutes; failing to do so results in the player losing a life. Also, there are small changes in the galaxies. For example, the Good Egg Galaxy's Ruby Rocks are all replaced by Chomps. Speedy Comets are red, and their respective levels have a red haze that becomes more pronounced at the edges of the screen. Four galaxies are visited by Speedy Comets: the Good Egg Galaxy, Space Junk Galaxy, Dusty Dune Galaxy, and Dreadnought Galaxy.
| Galaxy | Mission | 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 |
Speedy Comets also appear in Super Mario Galaxy 2. A list of galaxies visited by Speedy Comets 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 in the previous game, a Speedy Comet in Super Mario Galaxy 2 can dramatically change the original level in addition to setting a time limit. For example, 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. Unlike in the first game, the timer disappears once the Power Star appears. The haze is also changed to black, akin to the Daredevil Comet.
Galaxies marked with "+" next to their time limits have clocks scattered throughout the missions; collecting one adds 10 seconds to the player's time limit.
Daredevil Comet[edit]
A Daredevil Comet cuts Mario or Luigi'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 Mushrooms and coins from the level so that the player cannot gain more health or exploit a glitch to take damage without losing a life, and coins do not spawn from stomping enemies. Daredevil Comets themselves are white, though their icons are light grey and the haze in their respective levels is black. Five galaxies are visited by Daredevil Comets: Battlerock Galaxy, Ghostly Galaxy, Gusty Garden Galaxy, Deep Dark Galaxy, and Melty Molten Galaxy. The former four have the player battle a previously fought boss (Topmaniac, Bouldergeist, Major Burrows, and Kamella, respectively), while Melty Molten Galaxy has the player complete the entire first mission (The Sinking Lava Spire) with only one hit point. Taking any damage during a Daredevil Comet requires the player to start the mission over from the beginning. At the start of the first four aforementioned galaxies, the player is automatically brought to the last planet where the boss resides, without the need to travel throughout the galaxy.
Daredevil Comets are 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 in the first game, however, some of the daredevil runs in Super Mario Galaxy 2 have Checkpoint Flags. Just like with a Speedy Comet, the original level can be dramatically changed when visited by a Daredevil Comet. For instance, one planet is replaced by another one in Bowser Jr.'s Boom Bunker.
Cosmic Comet[edit]
A Cosmic Comet pits Mario in a race against Cosmic Mario in a predetermined course with a Power Star at the end. Mario must beat his duplicate to the Star; if he fails, he loses a life. Cosmic Comets are blue, as is the haze in their respective levels. Four galaxies are visited by Cosmic Comets: the Honeyhive Galaxy, Freezeflame Galaxy, Gold Leaf Galaxy, and Sea Slide Galaxy. If the player uses Luigi, they race against Cosmic Luigi instead. Unlike Cosmic Mario, Cosmic Luigi long-jumps frequently and takes advantage of some shortcuts that are available. Cosmic Comets appear only in Super Mario Galaxy; they are replaced by Clone Comets in Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Fast-Foe Comet[edit]
A Fast-Foe Comet speeds up all enemies and obstacles in a stage. Mario must complete the stage while avoiding the accelerated enemies and obstacles. Fast-Foe Comets are yellow in color, though their icon and the haze in their respective level are of a golden hue. Only two galaxies are visited by Fast-Foe Comets: the Beach Bowl Galaxy and Toy Time Galaxy. Tox Boxes, Thwomps, and moving platforms are the only objects affected. Fast-Foe Comets appear only in Super Mario Galaxy; they are replaced by Double Time Comets in Super Mario Galaxy 2.
| Galaxy | Mission | 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[edit]
A Purple Comet is available only after the player clears Bowser's Galaxy Reactor. When they strike a galaxy, Purple Comets scatter Purple Coins throughout the galaxy or a specific region of it, and Mario must retrieve at least 100 Purple Coins, sometimes within a time limit, to retrieve the Star. Some Purple Comet missions have more than 100 Purple Coins, but Mario still needs to collect only 100 for the Star. Purple Comets give their levels a purple haze. All 15 major galaxies are visited by Purple Comets. Timed Purple Comet missions, as well as the Battlerock Galaxy's and Dreadnought Galaxy's Purple Comet missions, use a unique background music track, which is an arrangement of the Gusty Garden Galaxy music.
The total number of Purple Coins available in a mission is 100 plus the number listed in the "Extra Purple Coins available" column.
There are also Purple Comets in Super Mario Galaxy 2. They are the same as in Super Mario Galaxy, but their levels gain a black haze, and 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 does not change the music. The specific Purple Coin theme from the first game plays in the Flip-Swap Galaxy, Puzzle Plank Galaxy, Clockwork Ruins Galaxy, and Mario Squared Galaxy. Unlike in the first game, during the Purple Coin missions with time limits, the timer disappears once the required number of Purple Coins is collected.
| Galaxy | Mission | Based on | Extra Purple Coins available | Time limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flip-Swap Galaxy | Purple Coin Flip 'n' Sprint | Think Before You Shake | No extras | 3:00 |
| Puzzle Plank Galaxy | Purple Coin Shadow Vault | The Puzzling Picture Block | No extras | 1:00 |
| Tall Trunk Galaxy | Tall Trunk's Purple Coin Slide | Tall Trunk's Big Slide | 40 | If Mario has fewer than 100 Purple Coins, he loses a life. |
| Flipsville Galaxy | Purple Coin Spin Speed Run | Flipsville's New Digs | No extras | 2:30 |
| Starshine Beach Galaxy | Purple Coin Beach Dash | Surf, Sand, and Silver Stars | 40 | 0:35 |
| Sweet Mystery Galaxy | Bulb Berry's Purple Coin Glow | Bulb Berry's Mysterious Glow | No extras | None |
| Clockwork Ruins Galaxy | The Adventure of the Purple Coins | Time for Adventure | No extras | 5:00 |
| Mario Squared Galaxy | Luigi's Purple Coin Chaos | Make Mario a Star | No extras | 2:00 |
| Rolling Coaster Galaxy | Purple Coins on the Rainbow Road | The Rainbow Road Roll | 10 | 2:00 If Mario has fewer than 100 Purple Coins, he loses a life. |
Clone Comet[edit]
A Clone Comet[citation needed] replaces the Cosmic Comet from the first game. Multiple Cosmic Clones appear in a selected mission. The player needs to redo the whole or part of the mission while there are Cosmic Clones. Clone Comets appear in the Cloudy Court Galaxy, the Haunty Halls Galaxy, the Chompworks Galaxy, and the Flip-Out Galaxy. The comets are 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 in the Cloudy Court Galaxy), even though the soundtrack stays the same. This music is also played in other stages such as Stone Cyclone Galaxy. Clone Comets appear only in Super Mario Galaxy 2, and their levels have a black haze, just like all the other Prankster Comets.
Romp Comet[edit]
A Romp Comet[citation needed] requires Mario to defeat a horde of 30 enemies within a time limit by using a power-up, with the exception of the Flash Black Galaxy, where no power-up is given. Romp Comets appear in the Yoshi Star Galaxy, the Boulder Bowl Galaxy, the Flash Black Galaxy, and the Shiverburn Galaxy, and their missions often feature a fast-paced theme, such as the minigame theme. The comets appear only in Super Mario Galaxy 2.
| Galaxy | Mission | 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[edit]
A Double Time Comet[citation needed] makes the player redo a level, this time with the hazards moving faster. Double Time Comets appear in Beat Block Galaxy and Twisty Trials Galaxy. Their effect is similar to that of the Fast-Foe Comets 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 the comet being called the "Double Time Comet," the objects actually move at four times the normal speed. Double Time Comets appear only in Super Mario Galaxy 2.
| Galaxy | Mission | 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[edit]
- "Green Comet" redirects here. For the kart in Mario Kart Tour, see Green Comet (kart).
A Green Comet 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 Star levels are always named "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 the same way as normal galaxy levels. Green Comets appear only in Super Mario Galaxy 2. Unlike most Prankster Comets, Green Stars do not give their respective levels a haze.
Gallery[edit]
Luigi approaching the Good Egg Galaxy, which is currently orbited by a Speedy Comet
Luigi approaching the Deep Dark Galaxy, which is currently orbited by a Daredevil Comet
Luigi approaching the Beach Bowl Galaxy, which is currently orbited by a Fast-Foe Comet
Luigi approaching the Honeyhive Galaxy, which is currently orbited by a Cosmic Comet
Luigi approaching the Space Junk Galaxy, which is currently orbited by a Purple Comet
Names in other languages[edit]
Prankster Comet[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | いたずらコメット (Super Mario Galaxy)[?] Itazura Kometto |
Mischievous Comet | |
| いたずら彗星 (Super Mario Galaxy 2)[?] Itazura Suisei |
|||
| Chinese (simplified) | 淘气彗星[?] Táoqì Huìxīng |
Naughty Comet | |
| Chinese (traditional) | 搗蛋彗星[?] Dǎodàn Huìxīng |
Mischievous Comet | |
| Dutch | Pretkomeet[?] | Fun comet | |
| French (NOA) | Comète blagueuse[?] | Joker Comet | |
| French (NOE) | Comète farceuse[?] | Joker Comet | |
| German | Schabernack-Komet[?] | Mischief Comet | |
| Italian | Cometa Burlona[?] | Joker Comet | |
| Korean | 장난꾸러기 혜성[?] Jangnankkureogi Hyeoseong |
Joker Comet | |
| Spanish | Cometa Pícaro[?] | Naughty Comet |
Speedy Comet (Super Mario Galaxy)[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | レッドコメット[?] Reddo Kometto |
Red Comet | |
| Chinese | 红色彗星[?] Hóngsè Huìxīng |
Red Comet | |
| French | Comète rouge[?] | Red Comet | |
| German | Roter Komet[?] | Red Comet | |
| Italian | Cometa Rossa[?] | Red Comet | |
| Spanish | Cometa Rojo[?] | Red Comet |
Daredevil Comet (Super Mario Galaxy)[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | デスコメット[?] Desu Kometto |
Death Comet | |
| Chinese | 死神彗星[?] Sǐshén Huìxīng |
Death Comet | |
| French (NOA) | Comète Casse-Cou[?] | Daredevil Comet | |
| French (NOE) | Comète blanche[?] | White Comet | |
| German | Risikokomet[?] | Risk Comet | |
| Italian | Cometa Pericolo[?] | Danger Comet | |
| Spanish (NOA) | Cometa Oscuro[?] | Dark Comet | |
| Spanish (NOE) | Cometa Mortal[?] | Deadly Comet |
Cosmic Comet (Super Mario Galaxy)[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | シャドウコメット[?] Shadou Kometto |
Shadow Comet | |
| Chinese | 影子彗星[?] Yǐngzi Huìxīng |
Shadow Comet | |
| French (NOE) | Comète d'ombre[?] | Shadow Comet | |
| German | Schattenkomet[?] | Shadow Comet | |
| Italian | Cometa Fantasma[?] | Ghost Comet | |
| Spanish | Cometa Fantasma[?] | Ghost Comet |
Fast-Foe Comet (Super Mario Galaxy)[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | クイックコメット[?] Kuikku Kometto |
Quick Comet | |
| Chinese | 极速彗星[?] Jísù Huìxīng |
Speed Comet | |
| French | Comète rapide[?] | Fast Comet | |
| German | Tempokomet[?] | Tempo (Speed) Comet | |
| Italian | Cometa Rapida[?] | Fast Comet | |
| Spanish (NOA) | Cometa Rápido[?] | Quick Comet | |
| Spanish (NOE) | Cometa Rapidín[?] | Fast Comet |
Purple Comet (Super Mario Galaxy)[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | パープルコメット[?] Pāpuru Kometto |
Purple Comet | |
| Chinese | 紫色彗星[?] Zǐsè Huìxīng |
Purple Comet | |
| French | Comète violette[?] | Violet Comet | |
| German | Lila Komet[?] | Purple Comet | |
| Italian | Cometa Viola[?] | Violet Comet | |
| Spanish | Cometa Púrpura[?] | Purple Comet |
Trivia[edit]
- When a Prankster Comet level is selected, a vignette covers the corners of the screen. In Super Mario Galaxy, the color of the border matches the comet's color. In Super Mario Galaxy 2, the vignette is always black (the same as the Daredevil Comet effect in Super Mario Galaxy).
- For Green Comets, there is no vignette at all, presumably to give the players more vision. Instead, the black border during the mission intro and the black fade-out circle after the player gets a Star or loses a life become green.
- In Super Mario Galaxy 2, Mario and Luigi do not fall asleep while idle when a Daredevil Comet is active, with the exception of The Perfect Run.
- The Speedy/Daredevil Comet music also plays toward the ends of the missions Sunbaked Sand Castle in the Dusty Dune Galaxy and The Sinking Lava Spire in the Melty Molten Galaxy.
