Starman (Nintendo item)
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The starman (or invincible star) is a power-up from the Mario series of video games. It is a flashing star, traditionally about the size of "regular" Mario, that grants the player about 20 seconds of invincibility when touched. Depending on the game, the music may also change and Mario's jumping animation may become a somersault. The Starman debuted in Super Mario Bros. and is so named because it has a pair of small eyes, as if the topmost point of the star were its head.
Because of the highly valued invincibility it grants, the starman and stars in general are used by the Mario series to denote special areas, rewards, and secrets. For example, in Super Mario Bros. 3, three consecutive star cards earned from the roulette goal boxes at the end of each level would grant the player five extra lives, whereas three consecutive mushroom cards would grant only two, and three consecutive flower cards granted a mere three. In Super Mario World, secret levels lined Star Road, a location which isn't marked on the main map of the game. Winning the Star Cup in Super Mario Kart will unlock hidden tracks. Super Mario RPG was subtitled "Legend of the Seven Stars." In Super Mario 64, it is necessary to collect all 120 stars to fully complete the game.