Video Game References, Power-Ups and More

“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” opens with Princess Rosalina reading a bedtime story to the Lumas, the cuddly star-shaped creatures who call her “Mama.” She first tells them about a faraway princess named Peach before they beg her to tell them about “the plumbers” — Mario and Luigi. The cozy library in which they’re all gathered is a key room on the Comet Observatory, the hub world in the “Super Mario Galaxy” game. Mario can visit the room to read the origin story of Rosalina.

In the first scene featuring Mario and Luigi in “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” the brothers are seen motorbiking across the desert to Tostarena Town, the Mexican-themed world in “Super Mario Odyssey.” There, the skull-shaped Tostarenans have a pipe problem, which leads Mario and Luigi to find Yoshi.

Another relic of “Super Mario Sunshine” is Bowser Jr.’s Magic Paintbrush. In the GameCube title, he uses the brush to disguise himself as Shadow Mario, covering Isle Delfino with graffiti and spawning enemies. In “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” he uses the brush as a weapon and traps his enemies — like Rosalina — in paint-like goop. 

The night before Peach sets out on her galactic journey, Mario gives her a birthday gift at the Mushroom Kingdom: a parasol. The iconic pink umbrella has been associated with the princess since “Super Mario RPG,” and in the film she uses it as both a weapon and a glider.

The celestial launchpads that help transport Mario across planets in “Super Mario Galaxy” are ever-present in the movie adaptation. In one pivotal scene, Peach and Toad jump into a launch star that shoots them into the sky, much farther than a warp pipe could take them.

In a montage sequence with Mario and Luigi solving minor problems at the Mushroom Kingdom (a Toad’s ice cream falls on the ground, for example), the brothers get involved with the Hammer Bros., fighting them in the traditional floating-brick set-up as they toss hammers at Mario and Luigi.

In one of the first scenes of “Super Mario Galaxy,” when Mario first arrives in space, he must chase a bunny who teaches him the controls. These bunnies appear throughout the game, providing stars when Mario catches them. In the film, they’re seen hopping across a planet in the background.

In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it easter egg, Kamek the Magikoopa is seen sipping from a mug from inside the Megaleg control pod next to Bowser Jr. On the mug is the logo for Gadd Science, Incorporated, the company owned by Professor E. Gadd (“Luigi’s Mansion,” “Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time”). The emblem is perhaps most recognizable on the nozzle boxes in “Super Mario Sunshine,” as Gadd invented the FLUDD device that powers the tropical platformer.

The Tyrannosaurus rex from “Odyssey” also appears in the “Galaxy” movie, as Baby Mario climbs into its mouth and out of its nostril while it’s sleeping. Babies Mario, Luigi and Toad narrowly escape the dino while riding Yoshi, and finally the are able to curb the beast by shooting it with the de-aging blaster, turning the T. Rex into a baby dino.

In “Super Mario Galaxy,” while Mario is collecting stars aboard the Comet Observatory, he often receives letters from Princess Peach, which typically come with a 1-Up or two. In the movie, Peach is (at first) the one in space, while Mario and Luigi tend to the Mushroom Kingdom in her absence. Still, she sends a letter back to Mario telling him she has gone to save Princess Rosalina.

Toward the end of the film, Bowser Jr. traps Mario and Peach inside a platforming level of sorts, building it in live time on a system called “Bowser OS,” which looks a lot like “Super Mario Maker.” Sitting at a computer, Bowser Jr. places Thwomps and spinning fire bars from a computer system, as Mario and Peach speedrun his nearly impossible custom level. They survive the challenge and make it to the top of the flagpole, triggering the classic “Super Mario” level complete music.

The terrifying dragon from “Super Mario Odyssey” swoops in at the end of “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” to threaten Mario, but no fire-breathing boss is too big for the heroic plumber.

The final showdown in “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” sees the mustachioed protagonist fighting Bowser on a bridge over lava. Mario jumps over Bowser to retrieve the axe that cuts the bridge, sending King Koopa plummeting into the fire. It’s just like the final level of the original “Super Mario Bros.” — and many games after that. 

The opposite of the Fire Flower, this ice power-up allows Mario to shoot icy projectiles that freeze enemies solid. The items first appeared in “Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time” and returned in “Super Mario Galaxy,” where they turned the hero into the frosty Ice Mario.

The Frog Suit first appeared in “Super Mario Bros. 3” and allowed Mario to jump higher and swim faster. It’s more of an uncommon power-up and was later replaced by the Penguin Suit.

Introduced in “New Super Mario Bros. Wii,” the Penguin Suit lets players shoot ice balls, like the Ice Flower, swim faster and slide on their bellies to break blocks. It’s a must-have in the slippery ice levels.

The Drill Mushroom was recently introduced in “Super Mario Bros. Wonder,” and it transforms the plumber into Drill Mario. It turns his ground pound attack into a drill that breaks through blocks and burrows underground.

“Super Mario Galaxy 2” introduced the Cloud Flower, which lets Mario create platforms made of puffy clouds to jump on. It was the most common alternate form for the characters in the game.

Yoshis come in many colors, and one special type is the blown-up Blimp Yoshi. In “Super Mario Galaxy 2” when Yoshi eats a Blimp Fruit, the dinosaur swells up like a balloon and can float through the air.

The Bubble Flower is another new power-up from “Super Mario Bros. Wonder.” It lets Mario blow bubbles that turn into temporary platforms to traverse through the level.

The Red Star is the ultimate power-up in “Super Mario Galaxy” and turns the character into Flying Mario. It lets him glide through the level on his own and pulls in coins when he spins.

The Cape Feather from “Super Mario World” turns the hero into Cape Mario, which lets him float through the air and attack enemies with his yellow cape. In the “Super Smash Bros.” games, Mario can use it to reflect projectiles thrown by opponents.