Sand Spiral Galaxy

Sand Spiral Galaxy
Sand Spiral Galaxy
Galaxy Information
First appearance	Super Mario Galaxy (2007)
Area	Comet Observatory
How to unlock	Get 38 Power Stars including the Power Stars from Faster Than a Speeding Penguin, and Luigi and the Haunted Mansion, then feed the Hungry Luma outside the Engine Room 1000 Star Bits.
Number of Stars	1
Missions	Choosing a Favorite Snack
Enemies	Boos Magikoopas Bats
Planets	Wrecked Airship Planet (Starting Planet) Sand River Planet Spiral Moon Planet Airship Debris (Inaccessible)

The Sand Spiral Galaxy is a galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy and the secret galaxy for the Garden Dome. It can be accessed by feeding the Hungry Luma at the top level of the Comet Observatory, although Mario needs to have at least 38 Power Stars in his possession in order to summon him. These Power Stars include the ones from the missions Faster Than a Speeding Penguin and Luigi and the Haunted Mansion. Due to its nature as a Hungry Luma Galaxy, the Galaxy has no icon.

Missions

Choosing a Favorite Snack

Mario begins the level on an abandoned Airship, and then takes a Sling Star to the next planet. He can speak to various members of the Toad Brigade throughout the mission. Here, Mario can choose either the Bee Mushroom or Boo Mushroom to fly over the Quicksand, but he can also switch to Boo Mario along the way. Boos in the tunnel will chase down Boo Mario, but he will "hide" from the Magikoopa (provided they survived), while the Magikoopa will fire on him if he is in the Bee form. If Mario takes damage, Bee Mario is hit by a Water Shooter, or if Boo Mario flies under one of the lights, he will lose the Power-Up and can fall into the Quicksand.

At the other end of the tunnel is a checkpoint and beyond that, a moon-like planet with a large platform orbiting around it. Mario can use a Rainbow Star to run quickly across the orbiting platform, but must careful not to fall, as despite his invincible form's ability to destroy any enemy in his way, his speed can send him into the gaps. However, Mario can use his Bee Suit from earlier in the stage (provided it didn't get stripped away prior). The Boo Suit cannot be taken past the checkpoint. The Power Star is located on the top of the moon.

Planets

Starting Planet (Wrecked Airship Planet)

This planet is just the front half of an airship that seemingly crashed into something or was blasted. Mario starts out here and continues to the sand planet. It is more likely that it was blasted by some sort of weapon due to the scattered debris floating nearby and the fact that the division where the two halves would meet is made up of jagged, protruding chunks of deck, wood, and some individual wooden beams that would support or make up the decks. On the airship, there is a Magikoopa.

Airship Debris

Inaccessible airship debris can be found surrounding the Starting Planet. This debris is most likely the destroyed ship's back half.

Sand River Planet

This is a large pipe-like planet that is filled with sand. Mario must navigate through the obstacles and avoid falling into the sand by either using the Bee Mushroom or the Boo Mushroom. The tunnel's exit marks a checkpoint.

Spiral Moon Planet

This is a small moon with a large spiraling planet spinning around it. Mario must cross this spiral planet while avoiding mines to reach the moon where the Power Star is.

If Mario gets across the entire Sand Planet as Bee Mario, he can fly to the moon. He will have to stop on the platforms once or twice while taking this shortcut. If Mario reaches the area as Boo Mario, the power-up wears off. The Purple Toad explains that the moonlight is too bright.

Enemies

• Magikoopa: A single Magikoopa appears in the level, haunting the Starting Planet. If not killed there, they will escape to the Sand River Planet and begin harassing Mario.
• Ghost: These monsters are found in the tunnel. They can be destroyed with a spotlight, but Mario will have to keep his distance from their location regardless his current Power-Up.

Nomenclature

The Japanese and Korean names of the Sand Spiral Galaxy (respectively Sando Ribā Gyarakushī and Saendeu Ribeo Galleoksi, written サンドリバーギャラクシー and 샌드 리버 갤럭시) come from a transliteration of "Sand River Galaxy." This is translated properly into French, resulting in "Galaxie Rivière de Sable." The Chinese name, Luóxuán liúshā yínhé (written 螺旋流沙银河), means "Spiral Quicksand Galaxy." The German name, Sandstrom-Galaxie, means "Sand Current Galaxy." In Spanish, the Galaxy's name is Galáxia Río Arenoso ("Sandy River Galaxy"). In Italian, it is called the "Grain of Sand Galaxy," or Galàssia Granello di Sábbia.

Trivia

• A nameless red Mushroom Retainer can be seen near the entrance to the Sand River planet. His reaction if approached when Mario has the Bee Suit indicates that this may still be Captain Toad (who has a cowardly side that would eventually wear off).