Super Mario Galaxy/Controls

Basic Controls

 * : Move Mario
 * Jump
 * Confirm menu selections
 * Talk to people
 * Swim
 * Activate Pull Stars
 * Grab poles
 * Fire cannons
 * Shoot Star Bits
 * Cancel menu selections
 * Shake Wii Remote or Nunchuk:
 * Spin Attack
 * Climb vines
 * Activate Launch Stars
 * Grab and throw objects
 * Skate on ice
 * Use special abilities when transformed
 * Duck
 * Dive in water
 * Drop out of bubbles
 * : Move camera
 * : Center camera behind Mario
 * , : Pause
 * : Move camera
 * : Center camera behind Mario
 * , : Pause

Advanced Techniques

 * Triple Jump: Press to jump, then press it again just as you land to jump higher. Press it a third time just as you land for an even higher jump.
 * Spin Jump: While in the air, use the Spin Attack to gain some extra height.
 * Backflip: Hold and press  to jump backwards. This goes higher than a normal jump.
 * Long Jump: While running, hold and press  to jump across long distances.
 * Side Somersault: Start running, then tilt in the opposite direction and press  to perform a high jump.
 * Wall Jump: Jump towards a wall and hold towards it. Mario will grab the wall and start sliding down it. Press  to jump off the wall. When between two walls, do this repeatedly to jump back and forth and climb the walls.
 * Ground Pound: Press in midair. Mario plummets straight down with great force. This can be used to break things, attack enemies, or activate certain switches.
 * Homing Stomp: Perform the Spin Jump, and press while spinning. A variation of the Ground Pound that homes in on the nearest enemy, if one is in range.