Super Mario and the Rainbow Stars

Feature	Detail
Engine	SMBX2 (Super Mario Bros. X2)
Genre	2D Platformer / RPG Hybrid
Chapters	7 Unique Chapters
Main Antagonist	Starnox
Partner System	Yes, with unique partner abilities (Paper Mario-style)
Life System	3 HP system (non-standard)
World Map	3D world map with free exploration
Cutscenes	Yes, fully scripted story sequences
Original Soundtrack	Yes
Status	In active development
Platform	Windows (Mac/Linux via Wine)

What Makes Rainbow Stars Special?

Super Mario and the Rainbow Stars stands out among SMBX2 episodes for its remarkable production quality and creative vision. While most SMBX2 fan games focus purely on level design, Rainbow Stars builds an entire RPG-flavored adventure around the engine, complete with a partner system, story-driven cutscenes, an original soundtrack, and a fully explorable 3D world map that feels more like a console Mario title than a fan project. The game draws heavy inspiration from Paper Mario and the Mario & Luigi RPG series, weaving those narrative and companion mechanics into traditional 2D platforming. Every chapter introduces new environments, new partners, and new challenges, keeping the gameplay fresh throughout the entire adventure. It is frequently praised in the SMBX2 community as one of the most polished and feature-rich episodes available.

Gameplay and Features

Rainbow Stars offers a deep and varied gameplay experience that goes far beyond standard Mario platforming:

• 7 Distinct Chapters: Each chapter presents a unique world with its own theme, enemies, level mechanics, and boss encounters. From lush forests to volcanic landscapes, every chapter feels like a new adventure.
• 3 HP Life System: Unlike standard Mario games where a single hit can spell doom, Rainbow Stars uses a 3 HP system that gives players more room to take risks and explore without constant restarts.
• 3D World Map: Navigate between levels on a fully rendered 3D overworld map, allowing free exploration and secret discovery between stages.
• Story-Driven Cutscenes: Fully scripted narrative sequences advance the plot between chapters, giving context to Mario's quest against Starnox and building emotional stakes throughout the journey.
• Original Soundtrack: A custom-composed soundtrack accompanies each world and major story moment, enhancing the atmosphere significantly.
• Quality Level Design: Levels are carefully crafted to combine platforming precision with RPG-style exploration, rewarding thorough players with secrets and collectibles.

The Partner System

One of the most distinctive features of Rainbow Stars is its partner system, directly inspired by Paper Mario. Throughout the adventure, Mario meets and recruits various partners, each with their own personality and unique set of abilities:

• Unique Partner Abilities: Each partner brings a different skill to the table — some help Mario reach new areas, others provide combat advantages, and some unlock hidden secrets within levels.
• Strategic Selection: Choosing the right partner for each level or situation adds a layer of strategy not found in most Mario platformers. Some obstacles can only be overcome with specific partner abilities.
• Story Integration: Partners are woven into the narrative, with their own dialogue and character arcs that develop as the story progresses.

This system transforms Rainbow Stars from a straightforward platformer into a game where players must think carefully about which companion best suits each challenge.

Controls

The game uses the standard SMBX2 control scheme, which can be fully customized in the launcher settings:

• Movement: Arrow keys (or remappable to gamepad).
• Jump: Default is Z, fully remappable.
• Run / Interact: Default is X, used for sprinting and interacting with NPCs and objects.
• Partner Actions: Contextual controls that vary depending on your active partner.
• Pause: Escape or Enter to pause the game.

A gamepad is recommended for the best experience, though keyboard controls work well once configured to your preference.

Tips for New Players

• Set Graphics to High: Rainbow Stars is one of the most visually impressive SMBX2 episodes. Set the graphical quality to "High" in the launcher settings to experience it at its best.
• Resize the Game Window: For a better view of the detailed environments, resize the game window or use fullscreen mode through the SMBX2 launcher.
• Experiment with Partners: Each partner has hidden uses. If you're stuck on a section, try switching to a different partner to see if their ability opens a new path.
• Explore Thoroughly: The 3D world map and individual levels are packed with secrets. Take your time exploring every corner before moving on.
• Use the 3 HP System: With three hit points, you can afford to take a hit while exploring. Don't play too cautiously — the HP system is designed to encourage exploration.
• Track Achievements: Check the trophy icon on the episode list to monitor your progress and discover what secrets remain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Super Mario and the Rainbow Stars finished?

Not yet. The game is still in active development, with new chapters and content being added over time. However, the available content already offers many hours of gameplay and is highly polished.

What engine does this game run on?

Rainbow Stars is built on SMBX2 (Super Mario Bros. X2), a powerful community-driven engine for creating Mario-style 2D platformers. You need the SMBX2 launcher to play the game.

Can I play this on Mac or Linux?

Yes. While SMBX2 is designed for Windows, Mac and Linux users can run the game through Wine. The setup requires installing Wine first, then running the SMBX2 launcher through it.

Will Nintendo take this game down?

SMBX2 has been available for years without legal issues from Nintendo. Fan games that are free and non-commercial generally operate in a safe space, though there is never a guarantee.

Is there multiplayer support?

Multiplayer is not currently available in Rainbow Stars, though the SMBX2 engine does support multiplayer in some configurations. Future updates may add this feature.

Is Mario the only playable character?

Mario is the main playable character, though certain sections allow interaction with and control of partner characters, similar to the Paper Mario games that inspired this project.

Screenshots