Puzzle Plank Galaxy

Puzzle Plank Galaxy
The Puzzle Plank Galaxy
Galaxy Information
First appearance	Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010)
Area	World 2
How to unlock	Have at least 7 stars, and complete Bowser Jr's Fiery Flotilla
Number of Stars	6
Missions	The Puzzling Picture Block Purple Coin Shadow Vault Bugaboom's Back Green Star 1 Green Star 2 Green Star 3
Enemies	Cosmic Clones Flipbugs Mandibug Slurples Wigglers
Bosses	Mandibug Stack Bugaboom

The Puzzle Plank Galaxy is a galaxy that appears in the game Super Mario Galaxy 2. It is a medium-sized galaxy, featuring its own unique soundtrack and a Hungry Luma. The galaxy heavily utilizes the Ground Pound mechanic, to defeat enemies and to solve puzzles (hence the name). The bosses of the galaxy, Mandibug Stack and Bugaboom, return from Super Mario Galaxy.

Missions

The Puzzling Picture Block

This is the only main mission of this galaxy. The Puzzling Picture Block starts out by placing you on the Starting Planets, where Mario must Ground Pound the middle of the planet to move into the area below. He can then find a Launch Star to go to the Pound Pillars Planet, where he must solve a puzzle to move on to the Wood Road Planet. The saws will cut off parts of the planet, so Mario must go as fast as possible in order to stay on the platforms. After he has done this, he can finally reach the Puzzling Picture Block, and when he solves the puzzle there, he will be confronted by the Mandibug Stack. Defeating them will grant Mario a Power Star.

Purple Coin Shadow Vault

This mission is only accessible, until completed, when a Purple Comet is in orbit. Mario starts the mission by entering the pipe leading to the Shadow Vault, where there are 100 Purple Coins that need to be collected. This is no easy feat however, due to there being a large number of Cosmic Clones trying to stop Mario. If Mario is careful and does not retrace his steps, he will obtain all of the Purple Coins, and then a Power Star will appear.

Bugaboom's Back

On the Pound Pillars Planet, there is a Hungry Luma that asks to be fed 70 coins. However, there are only 72 coins found on the planets up to this point, so Mario must explore very thoroughly to find them. Most of the coins are found by collecting 2 ? Coins. Once Mario has met the requirements, the Luma will transform into the Wood Island Planets and Bugaboom's Planet. Mario can then use the Cloud Flower to traverse the planets, and then fight Bugaboom to claim a Power Star.

Green Star Missions

All three Green Stars can be found on the The Puzzling Picture Block mission.

Green Star 1

The first Green Star is found on the Starting Planets. Mario should go around the planet to find a trampoline, with a ? Block and a Green Star above it. However, if Mario hits the ? Block, the Green Star will be unaccessable. Mario has to be careful and land on top of the ? Block, then backflip and Spin to obtain it.

Green Star 2

This one is found on the Wood Road Planet. Before the tall plank is cut down, Mario can execute a Triple Jump followed by a Wall Jump to obtain it. If the plank is cut down, it is not impossible to reach the star, but much harder.

Green Star 3

Also found on the Wood Road Planet. Near the end of the section, Mario must deliberately wait for the saws to cut the platform, as the Green Star is hiding underneath. Mario can then fall right onto it.

Layout

Starting Planets

The planet is split up into two sections. The top section is made up of two large, wooden blocks connected by a wooden structure in the shape of an "H". Ground pounding the symbol on the "H" will take the player to the second portion of the planet. In this area, there are two Wigglers walking in a circular fashion. There are also four red switches, one in each of the corners. The bottom left contains Star Bits. The upper left activates musical notes that will go in an inwards spiral motion. The notes will play the bonus game theme from Super Mario World. The upper right has coins and the bottom right switch reveals the Launch Star.

Pound Pillars Planet

This planet has three pillars on it, each pounded on the other side of the planet. The player has to ground pound them again so he can access the Launch Star by using them. There are also Grinders along the sides and some Octoombas scattered around the planet. There is also a Hungry Luma who wants 70 coins and a green Warp Pipe that leads into a room with a ? Coin, which will make many sets of 3 coins appear. Once the Hungry Luma is fed 70 coins, it will transform into three planets rather than one: the Wood Island Planets as well as Bugaboom's Wooden Planet. If the player collects all coins before time runs out, he'll get a 1-Up. The player can also backflip and spin jump next to the Launch Star on the planet to activate it. This planet is also one of three planets that appear on the cover of Super Mario Galaxy 2. The launch star may be reached with Luigi by ground-pounding the red block once then back flipping up to the star.

Puzzling Picture Block

This planet is a picture block puzzle, with the picture being that of a green beetle with large, swirly eyes and a long antennaes. The player has to solve the puzzle and get the full Mandibug picture. To complete the puzzle, the player must ground pound blocks into the open space until all the blocks form the picture. After that, a couple of Mandibugs appear and the player has to defeat them to get the Power Star.

This planet is named in the first mission, The Puzzling Picture Block.

Shadow Vault

This is not a planet, but rather a location only accessible during the Purple Coin Shadow Vault mission. It is located inside the Warp Pipe on the Pound Pillars Planet. The vault has a total of 100 Purple Coins, split up into 25 separate groups of four coins. Cosmic Clones are found in this area as well. In other missions, it has generic coins inside.

Wood Island Planets/Bugaboom's Wooden Planet

This is the planet where the player battles Bugaboom. The player must feed a Hungry Luma 70 coins on the Pound Pillars Planet to allow it to transform it into this planet. It is a wooden bonsai-like planet that has trampolines, several Cloud Flowers, and dandelions on it. The planet also has some parts of it covered in shallow streams and lakes of water. The planet's environment resembles an autumn version of the same planet in Honeyhive Galaxy in the first Super Mario Galaxy.

Trivia

• Oddly enough, once the Hungry Luma is fed 70 coins, it will transform into three planets rather than one: the Wood Island Planets as well as Bugaboom's Wooden Planet, however, it could be possible that they're all the same.
• In the original Super Mario Galaxy, Bugaboom is fought with the Bee Mushroom instead of a Cloud Flower.
• In the E3 2009 trailer for Super Mario Galaxy 2 in the scene showing the Puzzle Plank Galaxy, the Comet Medal in this galaxy is not present. A 1-Up Mushroom was on the wooden platform instead.
• On the cover of Super Mario Galaxy 2, Dash Yoshi is seen running around the Pound Pillars Planet in this galaxy, even though neither Yoshi nor Dash Peppers ever appear in this galaxy at all. However, this may have been just for show as there are instances on other game covers depicting characters in areas they aren't found in-game.